Page 35 of Under Restless Skies

“I have to go.” I try to walk past him, but he holds my wrists.

“You’re not going anywhere before you talk to me.” He glances at his hands, frowns, releases my arms, then blinks slowly, his expression apologetic. “Please.” The worst is that he does look sweet and reminds me of our moments in the cave.

My stupid heart is again very much impressed, even if I’m trying to strangle it.

“We can talk here,” I say.

He sighs. “I’m supposed to lead you to your accommodations. It’s not this dormitory. And I need to explain more about your position in the academy. There was a mistake today. But the details are a little… special, let’s say, so our conversation needs to be in private.”

My chest untangles for the first time since I met the cleaning crew boss. A mistake, he said. It’s everything I wanted to hear. I’m not going to cheer and declare victory yet, but I can spare him some minutes.

I nod. “I’ll get my things and be right back.”

“And I’ll be waiting.” His smile is charming and would disarm me—if I wasn’t so guarded.

The dormitory is just as empty as before. Although I took note of the position of my part of the cabinet, by now I completely forgot it. After a few tries, I find my bag and clothes, pick them up, and leave the large room.

Alayel is waiting in the hallway and gestures for me to follow him. We go to a different and even smaller staircase than the one I used before. This time, I’m counting, and we climb six floors. He then leads me to a narrow, dark hallway, and I almost turn back, but then he opens a door, revealing a closet with yet another door inside it. He opens that one—and my jaw drops.

It’s the most splendid room I have ever seen, and I’m not even sure if I can call it a room. I mean, it’s so huge that I think he could host a small ball here.

Fading sunlight peers through five enormous windows, illuminating a round table bigger than the ones at the restaurant, large sofas with velvet cushions, and a bed that looks as if it was made for a giant. Gilded details adorn the wooden furniture, and a huge painting of the Claw Bay hangs behind the bed. Beside it, three golden doors with intricate details lead to who knows where. Fluffy rugs lie on the polished, decorated wooden floor, and six columns support lumos jars, except that jars sounds wrong for those fine glass containers.

Lightning strikes light up the room, as thunder cracks again and again, announcing the incoming storm.

“What do you think?” Alayel has a satisfied, boyish chuckle.

“It’s… wow.” I don’t even know what to say.

“I knew you’d like it.”

He pulls me toward one of those absurdly expensive sofas. I’m so stunned that I don’t resist, and find myself sitting beside him, his body close to mine, my fingers intertwined with his, heat climbing up my arm.

Rain starts to pour outside, and I pull my hand. “What’s this place?”

He grins. “Can’t you guess? It’s the royal suite.”

“The one meant for the king?”

Alayel grins. “It suits me, don’t you think?”

“Why would he…” I don’t even know what to ask or how to make sense of what I’m seeing. “Why are you here?”

“The king is … cautious, and prefers a room with sunholes instead of large windows that could be vulnerable to dragon attacks.”

“Don’t you fear dragons?”

“Nah.” He gets up and walks to one window, then pulls a cord, bringing down an external metal shutter. “I can close these if needed. It’s not like they attack every night. And it’s a beautiful room. Come, see the washroom, come.”

I follow him to one of the golden doors, which leads to a small corridor, and then a room bigger than the kitchen at the Grease & Spice, with a large bathtub.

He grins beside me. “You like it?”

I’m wondering how many buckets of water would be needed here, and then remember I could be the one bringing them, and my stupor and amazement evaporate at once.

“Was this your prize for completing your dangerous mission?”

“You’re angry.” He tilts his head and reaches out a hand.