Page 18 of Dragon Heir

When I look up from pulling on a top, Sadie is watching me, her arms crossed. “Are you really wearing that?”

“Sure, why not?” I ask, pulling my hair from the neck of my shirt and making a tail out of it.

“You’re never going to get Pax’s attention dressing like a slob,” she says.

“Not taking fashion advice from my little sister,” I say. “And besides, who says I want to get Pax’s attention?”

She rolls her eyes. “Oh, please. When spellcasters make pleasure devices for women, they probably model them on Pax. Whatever he did this summer, he needs to keep on doing it.”

“Do not let him hear you say that,” I say, chuckling. “If his head gets any bigger, he might not be able to hold it up on his scrawny neck.”

“You mean big brawny neck?”

I laugh and reach out to tousle her hair again, but she ducks away and examines herself in the looking glass.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were after him,” I tease, poking her in the side.

“Gross. He’s basically my big brother.” She tugs her skirt a little shorter, rolling the top to keep it that way. “Just getting some practice while I leave the village for good. If I can get some older guys to notice me, that means I’ll snag a husband in no time.”

“Maybe you’re the one Father should worry about getting pregnant,” I say as we head out.

Pax comes with us, and we walk around campus together. I want to introduce her to Professor Sinetar, mainly to get her opinion, but he’s not in the library. But I do show Sadie the zones of the first floor that scholar-escorted visitors can access. She’s a lot less interested in the artifacts than I am.

As we step out, I see Sharp Tooth a little way off, but he doesn’t seem to notice me. A minute later, when we step into the bakery for lunch, he’s sitting at a table near the window, engrossed in a sticky bun. I don’t know how it’s possible, but the guy is literally everywhere I go. It’s getting creepier by the day.

I leave Pax and Sadie at the counter and step over to his table. “Are you following me?” I ask.

Sharp Tooth looks up, his expression sly. “How can I be following you? I was here first,” he points out. “Maybe you’re following me.”

“Are you following me?” I ask again, standing over him. “Because you were just behind me two minutes ago. Speaking of which, how did you even get here so fast?”

He watches me, then shrugs, a cheeky grin on his face. “I guess I’m just good like that.”

“Or really bad,” I say. “I’ve seen you following me a dozen times already. If you’re trying to be discreet, you’re failing miserably.”

“Or maybe I’m succeeding,” he says. “Depends on the goal.”

“Well, stop it,” I snap, but from his grin, I can tell I’m getting nowhere with him.

“We go to the same school, Vynessa. Of course we’re going to see each other around. Tell your friends to keep a better leash on you, before you end up angering the wrong people.”

Pax joins me, a steaming mug of coffee in each hand. “Is this guy bothering you?”

“Look, I’m just eating.” Sharp Tooth lifts his half-eaten fruit pastry. “She came up to me.”

“I got your coffee,” Pax says, steering me to an empty table. Once we’re seated, he leans across the table towards me. “What was that about?”

“Yeah,” Sadie chimes in. “He’s cute. Is that your lover?”

“No,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “Definitely negative. And you need to get your eyesight checked if you think he’s cute, Sadie. Guy’s a creep.”

“He can be both,” she insists, looking unbothered by my assessment.

“Nessie here definitely does not have a lover,” Pax admonishes.

I avoid their questioning gazes and busy myself spooning sugar into my coffee and dividing the different rolls they chose so we can each try them all. I don’t know what my problem is. I’ve been edgy lately, and it’s not like me to confront a stranger. But Sharp Tooth is seriously starting to annoy me with his ever-present presence.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” I say to Sadie again, shaking my head. “And I can’t believe you risked your life to come all this way. I’ll be home for a week this winter. It’s only two and a half moons away.”