Chapter 37

Aelia

I stared across the grassy field at Sol towering over all the other hatchlings—stars, towering over the buildings of the Conservatory. At nearly a week old, he was already shoulder to shoulder with the Hall of Glory. And he was gorgeous. He'd shed his murky brown scales and they'd been replaced by glistening golden ones that radiated the glorious rays from above. His wings had expanded by leaps and bounds and were now in perfect proportion to his enormous body. He'd even grown into his awkward, bumbling talons.

"Noxus's nuts, did that beast double in size overnight?" Symon sauntered toward Rue and me with Griffinclaw at his side. The hippogriff was nearly full grown, standing tall beside his rider. His beady eyes scanned the field, before turning his anxious gaze on Sol.

As did most of the other hatchlings.

Though I'd insisted Sol would never hurt any of the other skyriders, tension remained high whenever my dragon appeared. Now that he was nearing maturity, he spent most nights scouring the court's lands for prey. It wasn't easy keeping that giant belly full.

"Thank the goddess he's nearly reached maturity," said Rue. Her pegasus, Winddancer, floated just overhead, eagerly neighing and whinnying at Griff to join her.

A part of me felt badly for Sol. He didn't have anyone to play with like the others did. My gaze flickered to Reign's unwittingly. Maybe someday he could meet Phantom… My volatile professor had barely spoken to me since our night in the cave. Not that I'd expected anything less after that stunning confession.

"I can't believe we begin our flying lessons today." Rue's gaze was fixed to the sky, watching her mount dart between the clouds.

"And then the Ethereal Trials begin shortly after," Sy added.

"And before we know it, the term will be over." Rue's expression turned pensive as she pivoted to face me. "Any luck with your rais?"

I hated keeping the truth from my friend, but Reign had sworn me to secrecy regarding our late-night romps with Sol to the Shadow Fae lands. My rais was becoming easier to summon, but it was nothing like the power I held when I crossed the river. "Getting better every day," I managed.

Symon slid his arm around my shoulders and tucked me into his side. "I'm so proud of my little Kin. How about this, when you ace the trials, you let me touch your sexy, rounded ear for a few minutes?"

"Sy!" I shoved him aside, laughing.

"Fine, then at least promise me that you'll take me to Feywood and introduce me to some of your Kin friends when we are allowed time off at the end of the term."

"Maybe… if you behave." I waggled a finger at my ridiculous friend.

"Let's begin, first-years, these skyriders are not going to train themselves." Professor Lumen, the flight instructor who'd recently joined our Combat class, marched to the middle of the field. "Now that you've had a week to bond with your hatchlings, flying should come as naturally as walking to most of you." His sharp eyes settled on me, and his lips twisted. "Now, there are always exceptions, and some beasts prove more difficult than others to bring to heel."

Did you hear that, Sol? He's talking about you.

My dragon's presence overpowered my own, filling my being until my skeletal confines became almost too tight for two. I've been doing this for centuries, little Kin. No need to worry. Warm golden eyes met mine from across the field and plumes of light smoke drifted from his nostrils. I have yet to lose a rider, and I certainly do not intend for you to be my first.

Well, that was comforting.

Another familiar presence bumped into me, the overwhelming darkness pushing against my light. I slanted Reign an uninterested glance as he stalked closer. "Are you ready?" he mumbled.

"Oh, so you're speaking to me again?"

Rue giggled and Sy bounced on his toes uncomfortably when Reign's unreadable mask twisted into something wicked.

"Leave," he growled at my friends.

Before I could open my mouth to object, my cowardly teammates darted toward their mounts. "You can't just treat them like that," I hissed.

"I can do whatever I want. I am their professor, and I require a moment alone with another student."

The hair on my arms lifted at the bite to his tone. Knotting my arms across my chest in a defensive maneuver, I glared up at my professor. "Fine, what is it?"

"Have you solidified the link between you and Solanthus?"

I nodded. "I've been able to speak to him all week. You would have known that if you'd bothered to look in my direction even once during Combat class."

"Aelia…" he gritted out and raked his fingers through his wild hair. "We've already been over this?—"

"Yes, yes, you're right, we have. No need to dredge it up again."

"Good." He heaved out a breath and motioned to Sol. "You've already ridden a dragon, so I hope that will give you an advantage," he whispered. "Only this time, my shadows and I won't be there to keep you seated." The hint of a smirk played across his mouth, and there was nothing I wanted more than to wipe that smug look right off his unfairly handsome face.

"I'm certain I'll do just fine. I've been strengthening my quadriceps all week."

"You should have told me, I could have helped." That wicked grin flashed brighter.

"Goddess, I despise you."

"Very good, use that anger to strengthen your resolve. That always worked for me."

"So you're purposely trying to piss me off?" I snarled.

Again, that veiled look.

"Aelia Ravenwood!" Professor Lumen's voice whirled my head over my shoulder. "Your turn to mount."

I swallowed hard, and as much as I hated myself for doing so, I found myself turning to Reign once more. "Any last bit of advice?"

"Don't die, princess."

Why was I so stupid to even bother asking?

I shot him a scathing glare and marched to the center of the field where Solanthus stood. Even Professor Lumen gave my dragon a wide berth. The old Light Fae peered up at the giant, a hint of envy in his gaze.

"Are you ready, Aelia?"

"You've got this!" Rue whisper-shouted from atop Winddancer. Her steed circled anxiously, ready to take to the skies. Or maybe it was still Sol who was making all the other hatchlings nervous.

"Yes," I murmured and inched closer to my skyrider. "You ready?"

Always, Aelia. The magnificent golden dragon dropped to his belly, the ground trembling beneath my boots. A few of the other students let out shrieks of surprise at the unexpected tremor. Sol extended one long leg and I began the climb.

I moved gingerly, careful to avoid the spikey protrusions across his flesh, and whispers abounded.

"She'll never make it."

"My bet is that beast will toss her off the minute he's airborne."

"How in the realms did the Kin get a dragon anyway?"

Squeezing my eyes closed, I attempted to drown out their voices and focused on the only one that mattered. Sol?

Yes, Aelia?

You promise not to drop me, right?

Not on purpose.

That's not overly reassuring. I reached for another nub and hauled myself fully onto his back.

A deep rumble vibrated his throat, and I was fairly certain the big beast was laughing at me.

Sit all the way at the front, between my wing bones. You'll be shielded from the worst of the backdraft and the curve of my bones will provide a seat of sorts.

"Got it." I crawled across his spine and settled into the designated spot, finding two thick nubs at the end of his reptilian neck to hold onto.

"Now take your mount to the skies," Professor Lumen shouted from below.

I glanced down and my head spun. Good goddess, I was high up.

"Today we will simply focus on remaining aboard. Understand?"

"Yes, professor," I called out.

"Whenever you are ready."

You heard him, Sol.

His massive wings unfurled, and a few shrieks erupted below. I couldn't help the satisfied smile when I noticed one came from Ariadne. She and Belmore were apparently dating now, and she'd become even more arrogant and spiteful than ever.

Sol's wings beat at the air and all other thoughts vanished as the thunderous thrashing drowned out all else. He took a step forward, then another and we catapulted into the sky. My stomach dropped, then my lungs constricted as I gripped the bony nubs so hard my fingers cramped.

Hold on.

I'm trying. I clamped my thighs around Sol's neckbone, praying to all the gods that months of training had strengthened my muscles enough to keep me seated.

A blast of air lashed dark hair across my face, then a streak of blonde whipped into my eyes. I blinked quickly to rid myself of the tears as we lifted off the ground and soared over the top of the Conservatory.

"Oh, my gods!" I cried out. The thrill of flight took hold and a giddy burst of laughter squeezed through my lips. "This is incredible."

Yes… Sol's voice sounded almost wistful as it dribbled through the excitement.

He banked left and soared over the training field, then past the Hall of Luce, and drifted over the Luminoc River. The curtain of darkness at the edge of the border sent a chill up my spine.

Sol, have you participated in many battles with the students of the Citadel? We had little more than a month remaining before the final contest that determined our fate.

More than I care to remember.

That bad?

A muffled grunt seeped through my mind.

Then why do they force the first-years to compete?

To weed out the weak and prepare you for what's to come…

But we are at peace with the Court of Umbral Shadows. We have been for decades.

A peace that is flimsy, at best. It's nothing more thana fragile fa?ade stretched thinly over the simmering unrest, threatening to snap at the slightest provocation.

Why was it that the more I learned about the Fae courts, the more I felt everything I knew was wrong?

What do you know, Sol?

It's nothing substantial, little one, only a feeling, a sense of foreboding deep in my old soul.

My brows knitted as we circled the training field and above the heads of dozens of students below. I wondered what had Sol suddenly waxing poetic.

Aelia, surely you know that dragons are known for our intelligence and strength, but were you also aware that we are the perfect mixture of dark and light? That we are blessed by the gods with rais and nox, while most beasts are neutral, carrying the gifts of neither god?

"No, I didn't." The answer popped out aloud. My thoughts fled back in time to what Reign's Shadow Fae friend had said about the crystal encrusted in my dagger's hilt—it, too, held rais and nox.

It is because of this blend of powers that we are so attuned to the world around us. His enormous neck curled around so that his eyes met mine. And why we are so wise. His lips peeled back, and I was certain of the smile this time.

Well then, I'm certainly lucky that the goddess chose you for me.

I am afraid you are mistaken, little Kin. She chose you for me.