A dragon shifter novel Chapter 41

A Gift for Your Fated

Allison

Cores aspe

Professor Fenwick claps his hands once, the sound carrying like a crack of thunder. The room stills instantly, every pair of eyes dragone to him. His grin stretches fox-wide. “Since the Moonlight Festival is drawing near,” he says, “let’s try something with a bit of army and

sentiment. Today, you will be crafting gifts. Something you could give to your mate, if fate deigns to grant you one “Half the

The other half practically sighs, already imagining dancing under moonlight in some fairytale. I roll my eyes. Typical Fenwick sets a

on the desk, each student’s name etched faintly in glowing script above a silver bracelet. “Here’s how it works,” he says, rubbing six

hands together. “You’ll inscribe a series of runes into the metal. Each rune will hold a piece of you, your essence. When done correctly

the gemstone will reflect your emotions. Colours will shift to show your mood, even at a distance. It is romantic, practical, or possibly a

recipe for disaster depending on who ends up holding it.” A ripple of uneasy laughter moves through the room. I pick mine up, feeling the

cool weight of the metal. Fenwick winks. “No flashy spellwork necessary, just intent. Etch the runes, carve meaning into them, and the

band will take your magic or your spirit just the same.”

The scrape of carving tools fills the room as students bend over their bracelets. Sparks sputter, and someone’s rune snaps in half. Another bracelet cracks down the middle, its gemstone skittering across the floor. Swears follow, then a tiny explosion of smoke and a shriek. ! take my time. The runes are easy enough. All it takes is patience and care. I trace them along the inner band, pressing power into each mark. The bracelet faintly pulses once, like a heartbeat. I add the final rune and the gemstone flares. There’s thankfully no pop, no shatter and no pathetic smoke cloud. It hums instead, a low, steady vibration that sinks into my bones. The stone glows bright, radiant yellow, like sunlight caught beneath glass. Fenwick leans over just as the colour locks into place. His brows arch, impressed. “Happy,” he says, the rune markings glowing faintly in agreement. He gives me a crooked smile, something almost proud in it. “And you should be. Excellent work, Ms Rivers. Better than most of the class combined.” I grin back. I don’t care that it’ll probably never be used. It worked. ! learned something on my own. Being here feels a little less like a prison right now.

Tessa leans over the desk as she peers at the glow on my bracelet. Her eyes widen. “Oh my gods, Ally, that’s… that’s perfect.” She flips her own band in her hand. The gemstone flickers blue to red to orange to purple so fast it looks like a dying lantern. I raise a brow. “What is yours doing? Are you about to have a heart attack?” She snorts, clutching her stomach as she laughs. “Shut up.” She wiggles the band again, winces when it lands on violent green, then tosses it onto the desk like it personally offended her. Before I can say more, the bell cuts through the room. Students scramble, and bracelets are shoved into pockets or left smouldering on desks. I slip mine into my skirt pocket. No way in hell I’m leaving it behind. “Please tell me we’re eating in your room today?” Tessa asks, still grinning, hopeful enough that she’s serious. I smile, already picturing the attic and our quiet kitchen. “Yeah. Definitely.” Tessa’s shriek in the hallway nearly gives me a heart attack. I spin, hand flying to my chest, only to find her plastered to the corridor wall, clutching a glossy poster like it’s a sacred relic. “Moonlight Festival!” she squeals, bouncing on her toes. “Look, look, look!” I narrow my eyes at the paper she shoves in my face. Elegant silver script curls across enchanted parchment, glittering like it’s been written in starlight.

Moonlight Festival

This Year’s Theme: Enchanted Garden

“Oh, Ally, you should’ve seen last year’s,” Tessa babbles, eyes already dreamy. “It was a winter wonderland. There was snow falling from the ceiling, ice sculptures of famous fated couples, and enchanted sleigh rides. But this one? Enchanted garden! The flowers, the lights. it’s going to be magical.” Her words tumble faster as she goes on about gowns, shoes, and whether she can braid a crown into her hair without looking ridiculous. Then she grabs my wrist mid-step, eyes wide and hopeful. “Do you think this could be my year? Imagine it, me finding my mate under enchanted wisteria.” I blink at her, fighting a laugh. “You’re really counting on it?”

15:30 Sat, Jul 11

A Gift for Your Fated

“Of course I am.” She clasps her hands to her chest. “Don’t you? Don’t you wonder who yours will be?” We round the corner, and Evander and Kael freeze in front of us, their broad backs stiffening like someone just shoved an icicle down their spines. I slow, frowning. Tessa, oblivious, keeps going. “Do you have any clue who might be your mate, Ally?” she asks, beaming.

I open my mouth to answer, but I never get the chance. In four long strides, both Evander and Kael close the distance. “Hey, Ally,” Evander says first. His voice is softer than I’ve ever heard it. He rubs the back of his neck, sheepish in a way that doesn’t match the dragon I saw tear through the sky. “How are you feeling? I’m… sorry about last night.” The sincerity throws me. There’s something heavy in his eyes. Guilt, maybe? Something more? I shrug it off. “I’m fine,” I say. “And thank you. For saving me.” His shoulders ease, just a fraction, as if it matters more than it should. Before it can get awkward, Kael cuts in, his grin snapping back into place. “Great,” he drawls. “Then we’ll walk you to lunch.” I bristle, but Tessa beats me to it. “We’re actually eating in Ally’s room.” Kael’s smirk widens. “Even better.” I shoot him a silent warning that says, “Don’t you dare.” Kael ignores it completely. “I think the least you could do for your

two heroes is supply them with lunch, don’t you think?”

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