A dragon shifter novel Chapter 22

Draconis

Scorched’s heavy steps echo as he crosses the chamber. He reaches into the folds of his dark coat and pulls out a small box, flipping it open with deliberate care, Inside is a pin, silver, polished so bright it catches the light from the runes underfoot. The crest etched into its surface looks like a dragon coiled around a crown with wings flared wide. He presses it into my palm. “Draconis.” I turn it over, confused. I’ve seen one of these before, clipped neatly onto Tessa’s blazer, though hers was different, crescent–shaped and softer. I hadn’t thought much of it at the time. Now it feels heavy in my hand. “So this is it?” I ask, holding it up between two fingers. “A shiny little badge?” Scorched’s golden eyes sharpen as they fix on me. His voice comes low, even, but edged with steel. “This is not just a badge. It is a symbol of what you can do and what you will do. Draconis members are not ordinary students. Many go directly to the front lines when they leave these walls. They are warriors, weapons, leaders, highly commended for their service.” I resist the urge to groan, because that’s exactly what I don’t want. To be drafted into someone else’s/war. “Aside from the front lines,” he continues, “others have gone on to become generals and council advisors. With this pin comes not just training, but status. It tells the world what you are capable of.” He lets the weight of his words settle before adding, “And come the Moonlight Festival, if you are privileged enough to be fated, others will see this crest, and they will know your worth. To be matched with someone of Draconis status is considered a great honour.” That stops me cold. My fingers tighten around the pin. Moonlight Festival. The words tickle something deep in my chest, sparking more questions than answers. “What the hell is the Moonlight Festival?” I ask before I can stop myself. Scorched’s lips curve, just slightly, just enough to make my stomach twist. “You’ll see soon enough, Ms Rivers. For now, wear your crest with pride.” Pride isn’t precisely what I feel as I pin the dragon to my blazer. Mostly, I feel like I’ve just been branded like a cow.

I slip out of the assessment hall as quickly as I can, the dragon pin heavy against my blazer. The hum of Scorched’s words still crawls under my skin. Front lines. Status. Honour. None of it sounds like something I want any part of. The bell is already ringing when I duck into my next class, breath short, bag bouncing against my hip. Tessa is there, perched on the edge of her seat like she’s been waiting for me. Her whole face lights up when she sees the pin. “Oh my gods, Allison, you’re in Draconis!” She claps her hands together, bouncing in her seat. “That’s incredible. I knew you’d be placed high.” I tug at the lapel of my blazer, scowling. “You say

that like it’s a good thing.”

“Of course it is!” she insists, her voice hushed but bursting with pride. “Draconis is the strongest House. People will respect you now. Fear you, even.” I eye her, then nod at the silver crescent pinned neatly to her blazer. “What about you? Which House are you in?” Her smile dims just a little, turning into something softer and more fragile. “Noctis,” she admits. “The lowest one.” She shrugs, like she’s rehearsed that motion a thousand times. “But that’s okay. I’m still proud of it. We may not be Draconis or Aureus, but Noctis students… we find our own ways to shine.” Something in her quiet bravery makes my heart skip a beat. She isn’t ashamed, not really; she’s used to being underestimated. I fiddle with the dragon crest, my frown deepening. “Tessa… what’s the Moonlight Festival?” Her eyes widen, then flick nervously around the room as though the very words are dangerous. She leans closer, dropping her voice to a whisper. “It’s the night the Academy gathers under the full moon. All the Houses. All the students. The magic in the air… it pulls at the bonds of fate. Mate bonds, that’s when they’re revealed.” Mate bonds. The word hits me like a punch to the face. Tessa’s expression softens. “It doesn’t happen for everyone. Only those that the gods have already marked, but for some… it changes everything.” I stare at her, my mind spinning. Mate bonds. Status. Draconis. Great. As if my life isn’t complicated enough.

I must look like I’ve swallowed a mouthful of ash, because Tessa tilts her head, studying me with that unshakable brightness in her eyes, “Hey,” she says gently. “Don’t worry about it. The Moonlight Festival isn’t all fate and bonds and serious stuff.” I arch a brow. “No?” She grins, leaning closer. “The best part is the celebration. Everyone dresses up, the whole Academy is lit with lanterns, and the ball…” Her eyes go dreamy, her voice softening. “It’s like something out of a fairytale. There’s music, dancing, and starlight pouring through the trees. Even if nothing changes, even if no bond shows itself, it’s beautiful and totally worth it.” The weight in my chest cases, just a little. I picture the ceiling in my attic room, the way the stars shimmered last night. Maybe it wouldn’t be so

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19:37 Mon, Jul 6 TMO

Draconis

terrible to see the night sky through a different kind of magic. I try not to think about the words Scorched used, about the ‘great honour‘ bestowed on me. Instead, I focus on Tessa’s ramblings about things that are supposed to be fun. “Pretty dresses and dancing,” I mutter, letting the corner of my mouth twitch upward. “Guess that doesn’t sound like the worst thing in the world.” Tessa grins like I’ve just agreed to a pact. “Exactly, and you can bet I’m helping you pick out your dress.” I groan, but this time, iz

doesn’t feel so heavy.

The lesson itself blurs past me. I go through the motions, scribbling half–hearted notes, nodding when the professor glances my way, but my mind isn’t in it. Not with the dragon pin burning against my blazer and Tessa’s words about the Moonlight Festival echoing in my ears. When the dismissal bell finally rings, the room fills with the scrape of chairs and the shuffle of books. Student spill into the aisles, laughing, chatting, already planning where to go before the next block. Tessa stuffs her parchment into her bag, her hair falling over her shoulder as she leans toward me. “See?” she says. “Survived another one. You’re practically a pro at this

whole Academy thing now.”

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this book is better than I thought it would be. I love the additude of the characters

7 days ago

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