A dragon shifter novel Chapter 20

Testing Every Part of You

I wake to the sound of Tessa humming. When I crack one eye open, she is already sitting cross–legged on the bed, hair a tangled halo around her, rifling through one of the bags we left piled at the foot. She glances up when she notices me, her face lighting with that infectious grin of hers. “Morning, sleepyhead. So, I was thinking…” She holds up a little jar of enchanted sugar crystals as if it were proof of her brilliance. “We should stock your kitchen. Like, properly. That way, we don’t have to eat in the food hall unless we want to.” I groan, dragging a pillow over my face. “You just want an excuse to eat pastries at midnight.” Her laughter rings out bright. “Guilty, but come on, Alison. Think about it. No more crowds. No more people staring. No more communal stew slop. Just us, fresh bread, tea, maybe even enchanted eggs that cook themselves.” The pillow muffles my laugh, but I can’t stop it. “Fine. You win. We’ll stock it.” Satisfied, Tessa hops off the bed and grabs her uniform from the wardrobe. I reluctantly follow, tugging on the pleated skirt and blazer again, the outfit no less ridiculous than yesterday. At least today I have clean socks. By the time we are dressed and mostly put together, the morning bells are chiming through the Academy. Tessa links her arm through mine like it is the most natural thing in the world. “Breakfast in the hall first,” she says, tugging me toward the door. “We’ll stock the kitchen after classes. Promise.” I let her drag me along, stifling another yawn.

The corridors are already busy with students, uniforms crisp, voices buzzing with energy I can’t begin to match. When we push open the doors to the food hall, the wave of noise hits me full in the chest. Hundreds of magicals cram into the long rows of tables. Enchanted plates flicker, filling and emptying at command. The smell of bacon, fruit, and spiced tea hangs thick in the air. I tighten my grip on the strap of my bag, the weight of eyes prickling on me already. At least I’m not walking in alone.

Tessa steers me toward an empty stretch at the end of one of the long tables, chattering about how she is going to charm the pots in my new kitchen so they clean themselves. I am just about to test the plate in front of me when a familiar voice carries over the din. “There’s my stray.” I close my eyes, already groaning. Kael strolls toward us with a plate piled high, that infuriating grin stretched ear to ear. His dark hair is a mess, his tie half undone, like the Academy’s rules bend themselves to tolerate him. He drops into the seat across from me without asking, shoving a grape into his mouth. “Morning, Rivers,” he says around it. “Sleep well in your attic tower?” Before I can bite back, another shadow falls across the table. This one is larger. Evander Drayke. The dragon shifter moves with an ease that makes every girl at the neighbouring table track his progress with hungry eyes. His white shirt is crisp, sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms corded with muscle, and he carries his plate like he has all the time in the world. He sits beside Kael, setting his food down neatly before glancing at me with those steady, golden eyes. A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, the same one he gave me yesterday when he handed me his shirt. “Kael,” he says casually, “try not to scare her off before she’s had breakfast.” Kael clutches at his chest. “Me? Scare her? I’m her favourite part of this place.” “Favourite headache, maybe,” I mutter, picking at my enchanted plate. With a swirl of my finger around the edge, it fills itself with eggs, toast, and fruit. “And stop calling me your stray.” Kael leans his elbows on the table, grin sharpening. “What should I call you, then?”

“Nothing would be a good start.” Tessa snorts into her juice, and Evander chuckles under his breath, low and warm.

Kael forks a piece of sausage and points it at me like it is proof of something. “We didn’t see you in the showers this morning, stray. I’m beginning to think you might start to stink.” I roll my eyes, shoving toast into my mouth to keep from snapping back. The last thing I am going to do is hand him the secrets of my attic on a silver platter. “There’s no way in hell you’d catch me in there,” I say flatly once I swallow. Tessa, bless her, jumps right in without missing a beat. “She showered in my dorm,” she chirps, all innocent smile and bouncing braid. Kael’s grin widens, eyes glinting with amusement. “Oh, did she now? Sharing showers already? How scandalous.” Heat prickles my cheeks. “You’re disgusting.” He laughs, leaning back in his chair like he has won something. Evander finally cuts in, his voice a calm rumble. “Kael, give her a break. Not everyone’s thrilled by the thought of communal showers.” Kael shrugs, unbothered. “What? I’m just saying, she’s full of surprises. Slips past the Council for seventeen years, hides from the showers, bites like a cornered cat. I’m intrigued.” I stab an egg so hard the juice splatters across my plate. “You’re insufferable.”

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10

Jul 6

19:37 Mon, JG THO

Testing Every Part of You

“Mm, and you love it.” Evander shakes his head, chuckling like Kael is a chuld, but the way his gaze lingers on me, steady and searching, tells me he is paying attention too.

Tessa, ever the saviour, leans forward with her juice cup and breaks the tension before I can stab Kael’s hand with my fork “So,” she says brightly, eyes flicking between us, “what’s your first class today, Allison?” She is still rattling off her schedule when my eyes catch the next line of mine. “Power Assessment,” I read aloud, voice flat. Tessa winces. “Oh. Yikes.”

“Yikes? I repeat, already suspicious. She leans closer, whispering like the table itself might tattle. “It’s where they fest what you can do, measure your strength, and assign you to groups. Everyone gets one in their first week” Great. Just what I need. Academy officials poking around at powers I am not supposed to have. I shove the parchment back into my bag, chewing the inside of my cheek. If I go in like this, half empty, they’ll see right through me. Which means I need to borrow more. “Uh,” I say, pushing up from the beach, “I should probably… head over early.” Tessa tilts her head. “Want me to walk with you?” “No,” I say quickly, fording a smile. “I’ll be fine.” Kael narrows his eyes, curiosity flickering there, but for once, he keeps his mouth shut. I sling my bag over may shoulder and slip out of the food hall, heart pounding Sorry, professor, but I’m going to need to borrow more of your gift.

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