Page 150 of Under Restless Skies

Then protect them, the rider’s words come to me. That’s my plan, even if I’m definitely not going to use the staff to save the little dragons. What was that rider even thinking? Did he assume I’d get to keep the artifact? And if I did, what would I even do with it?

Maybe I’ll never get a chance to understand anything. Maybe my life’s about to face its end. At least I won’t flinch in shame when I meet Thantos.

My hands tremble as I rub three small cloths over Ava and Vos, gathering their scent. I seal them inside a cheesecloth bag and head for my room, the first part of the plan in motion.

Nelly’s still in bed and looks at me through half-closed eyes. “Had a good night?”

I appreciate that she never insisted on asking where I spend my nights, but I feel guilty for hiding the truth from her.

“I rested well. How was the party?”

“The same.” She chuckles. “I got bored and came back early.”

I smile at her. “The Outer Beach is always enchanting at night. I bet it was still worth it.”

“I suppose.”

“Did you see Alayel?”

“He was there, yes.” There’s a strange tension in her voice.

“And?” My heart speeds up. I don’t know why it does that. Maybe I still want to know that he loves me, and then cling to that feeling even if I’m about to leave him.

“I came back early, but he wasn’t flirting or anything, no. You should trust him, you know?” She still sounds odd, and maybe it’s because she’s tired.

“I’m just asking. Well, let me go get washed.”

I place the bag with the cloths carefully in a corner where they won’t touch anything, then go to the lavatory, where I thoroughly scrub my body and hair.

Celine’s absence still cuts deep, and much deeper when I sit with Nelly for breakfast. My hunger is a gaping hole I try to fill as I pile my tray with three oranges and two apples, along with three loaves of bread.

Nelly looks at my tray with wide eyes.

I know it’s odd, but what can I do?

“I’m trying to be healthy,” I say, even if it doesn’t explain the ridiculous quantity of food I’m getting.

“It’s good to eat well.” She smiles, then proceeds to cut her apple.

Except that it’s not normal. A shiver runs through my back. Could I be pregnant? I think back to the times I slept with Alayel. I always applied golden oil, and I’ve been drinking bitter tea frequently. I can’t be pregnant, but I’ll drink some more bitter tea, just in case.

Alayel doesn’t show up in the refectory, and since Nelly has class and I don’t, she goes her way before me, leaving me to my mountain of fruit.

When I finish, I go up to my room, take one of the cloths that has the hatchlings’ smell, put it in a small burlap bag, then descend the stairs, my heart racing.

I leave the academy through the front doors, and when no guards are looking, open the bag and drop the cloth by a tree in the plaza in front of the castle, then cross to the other side, wondering if the scent is enough to attract Auranius. He doesn’t appear to be flying anywhere, so I walk toward the city, eyeing the sky from time to time.

After many minutes, I spot the gigantic dragon flying out of his lair, circling the castle. From the looks of it, he hasn’t noticed the cloth yet, but I walk back to the plaza anyway. When I’m fairly close, Auranius dives.

I approach and see the monstrous dragon thrashing in the plaza, his tail shattering flagstones. He slams his huge head against the tree, sniffing, as guards scatter in terror.

An acolyte comes running with that golden thurible burning the herbs I can’t recognize. Their job is distasteful, but nobody can claim they aren’t brave.

Auranius then chomps at the cloth and swallows it. At least any proof of my involvement in this is gone. At the same time, the confirmation of why he’s so interested in the baby dragons horrifies me. And the fact that he can smell them from a long distance doesn’t bode well.

I return to the academy, and as I’m entering, a guard approaches me.

“Follow me.”