Page 61 of Under Restless Skies

With that, he walks away, leaving me here, trembling, a storm brewing in my mind. Had he tried to kiss my lips, would I have stopped him? Was there any reason to stop him?

The night was lovely. Alayel was lovely.

But he’s a prince. I’m not even a recruit.

Debating with myself will hardly give me any answer.

I insert the key and open my dark, gloomy, small room, close the door behind me, then sit on the bed, resting my face on my hands. What did I get myself into?

A movement on the corner of the bed catches my eye.

Not again.

11

Ashadow moves from under the pillow. Not a shadow; a dark blue, tiny little dragon.

I catch Ava with one hand. “What are you doing here?”

She lets out a whimper, and I pull her to my chest.

“Who brought you to this room?” I whisper.

At least I’m sure it wasn’t Alayel, considering he’s been with me this whole time.

But who’s doing it? And why?

Ava wriggles and coos in my hand, and I pat her head softly.

Regardless of who put her here, now I have to return her to her room—and to her brother. I lean in to kiss her head, and she moves closer, a little paw reaching for my chin.

I might be confused about Alayel, but there’s no doubt that this little dragon has stolen my heart.

“You little charmer,” I whisper.

She replies with short coos, as if trying to continue the conversation.

I place her in my left arm, nestled in the crook of my elbow, and then cover her with a thin cloth. Before I can secure the cloth with my arm, it falls on the floor, and Ava climbs on my dress until she’s perched on my shoulder.

“You like that?” I ask, looking straight into her dark blue eyes, then placing her back on my elbow. “You can climb on my shoulder later. I have to hide you.”

Her claws grab my arm tight, and I throw the cloth over her. If someone sees me, hopefully they’ll think I’m carrying a bundle or something.

I open the door, then head to the discreet stairs. On my way down, I cross a couple of recruits and a few guards, but they pay no attention to me.

Downstairs, by the dungeons, I open the door to the hallway, close it behind me, then head to the hatchlings’ nursery. The room is dark and gloomy, with no source of light other than some diluted moonlight coming from the sunholes and a tiny lumos jar.

Reaching out a hand to avoid bumping into anything, I walk carefully. When I’m about to crouch to let Ava down, she gets off my shoulder, but I can’t see if she jumped or flew.

As my eyes slowly get used to the shapes of the room, I see Vos, sitting on a rock, and crouch by his side. “Hello, you.”

He chirps three times, as if annoyed, perhaps because someone took his sister, but then he jumps on me, and I hold him in my arms. A small weight lands on my right shoulder—Ava. I should return to my room, but I don’t want to leave these two alone, so I lock the door, then find a place with straw behind some rocks. If someone comes in, they won’t see me—hopefully.

This time, I’m going to stay alert to ensure I don’t fall asleep, and yet it’s so comfortable to lie down with these two little creatures.

Ava is nestled on my belly, while Vos snuggles by my side, and I don’t want to be anywhere else in the world but here, with these adorable little dragons.

Ava coos in front of my face, the dim light coming from the sunhole illuminating her blue skin.