Page 99 of Under Restless Skies

Then I recall the promise I made to Alayel. I might even scream Your Highness. What the fuck was I thinking?

16

Iget up early, then climb to the dormitory and to the bathing chambers, where I wash myself, then set this dress aside as my outfit to spend time with the hatchlings, making sure it doesn’t touch any of my other clothes.

When I return to the bedroom, Celine sits up and greets me. “Had a nice night?”

I shake my head. “Too much star nectar. Is it normal to see things? Weird things?”

She shrugs. “I’ve heard some people saying that, but it never happened to me.”

“I wasn’t… Did you see me leaving the beach?”

She tilts her head. “We walked together. With Alayel and Flavio. You don’t remember that?”

Her words undo a knot in my stomach. At least I know I wasn’t snatched through some strange portal back to Alayel’s room. “You walked with me?”

Celine bites her lip, thinking. “You looked normal, Mayara.”

It’s what Alayel told me, so he wasn’t lying. “But I don’t remember any of it.”

“Oh. Odd. Hang on.” Her eyes widen. “Did you do it with him and forget it?”

“No. I came back to myself, and it was all so strange that I left.” Wanting to change the subject, I ask, “Where’s Nelly?”

Celine smiles. “I think she had a good night.”

“I did.” Nelly walks into the room, yawning. “But didn’t sleep. So tired. Hungry too. Shall we go downstairs?”

We head to the refectory together, where few recruits are eating. Among them, I don’t see Alayel or Marcus.

Celine and Nelly have flying classes, so I’m on my own, and I go to that silly library. The book that I get is the one about the Kingdom of the Riders. My reading is not the fastest, but from a quick scan, I see nothing about magical objects or magical powers.

And yet Mallor wasn’t surprised when I mentioned magic to him. It means that Dracolius knows about it, and yet they don’t tell the recruits. There should be more books elsewhere. The question is where.

And where is the staff?

My heart is beating fast, my palms are cold, my chest is warm. Alayel’s hand in mine brings me some comfort, but not much, as he walks me toward his room.

The day went by in a blur, as I spent some time trying to study dragons with Celine, still unable to find any useful information. We had dinner at the refectory, and now I’m here, like I promised.

I might yell Your Highness.

Next time, I’ll remember not to make any promises under the evil effect of star nectar, but the truth is that there won’t be any next time, as I’m positive I’ll never take that vile drink again.

The rider and that staff haven’t left my mind, the bizarre image making me cringe from time to time. To be fair, most of the time I don’t cringe, I just…

The thought of admitting, even to myself, in the sacred space of my mind, what kinds of thoughts the rider conjures feels strange and scary and dangerous. Dark depths calling me. Depths I need to forget.

Well, I’m here.

With Marcus, it was different; we spent a lot of time getting to know each other, but it’s true that it was before the academy, when we thought we’d have an eternity before us.

But I don’t want to regret my decision to come here and I have no desire to walk back on my word. I even applied golden oil, to be sure I was prepared. I’ve wanted Alayel since I first laid eyes on him—but knowing that does nothing to ease my nerves.

When he opens the door, his room feels different.

A scent of warm wax cuts through the numbness still lingering in my nose. The lumos jars are covered and candles crowd every surface, an orange glow filling the room as shadows flicker on the walls.