Firebolt(51)

“Thank you, Lucian, I really needed that.” I hugged him from behind.

He turned around. “Everyone needs a break now and then. You will see everything is going to be fine.”

We entered the cafeteria hand in hand, and my eyes caught Arianna’s. She glared at me, clearly pissed, as if he belonged to her or something. I looked away, ignoring her, and walked with him to the buffet line.

The dinner conversation revolved around Becky complaining about George and how difficult he was making it not cooperating with her in class. I said goodnight to Lucian by the stairs and went to my room. I struggled to fall asleep, thinking about finals and Lucian. I didn’t want to fail.

When I finally drifted away, I found myself standing alone in the forest once again.



When Becky's alarm woke me up, my head felt stuffed, and the effects of the horse ride had vanished.

My first two periods of the day were Latin.

“Elena, Master Longwei wants to see you in his office,” Sir Deisenberg said, and I packed away my books once more.

Just like yesterday, I found him sitting behind his desk buried in a stack of papers.

“Sit, Elena. I have spoken to a couple of the staff, and each gave me a name of their best student in all the subjects that you struggle with. Here is a list. They all agreed to help you.”

I looked at the piece of paper with the names, times, and who was willing to tutor me. I froze when I looked at Monday and saw the name written next to Enchantments; it was Arianna's. History was on Tuesday and someone with the name of Cheng. I smiled as I saw Lucian's name on Wednesday right next to Art of War. My heart stopped on the name next to Latin that was on Thursday; Blake.





Chapter Fifteen





After I left Master Longwei’s office, it was time for lunch. I swiftly entered the cafeteria and found Becky's table. Lucian was not there yet.

“Are you okay?” Becky asked as I sat down.

“Just don’t make me think about anything.please,” I pleaded.

“Elena?” They both wanted to know what was going on.

“Hey, babes, you ready for sparring classes?” Lucian plunged down on the pillow right next to me, and I couldn't help but smile at him.

“I probably don't have a choice.” I sulked and he chuckled.

“It’s not that bad.”

“Excuse me, you are a slave drivingdemon when it comes to fighting,” Becky snapped at him playfully.

“It got you your dragon,” he countered.

“Not the one I was hoping for.”

“Sorry." I stood up. "I need to get something in my system before Professor Mia’s class. Collin’s probably going to kill me today."

“He’s a push-over,” Becky said, using a singsong tone.

“Give it a month, and he is going to be the one sulking,” Lucian promised and was right next to me. He gave me a side hug.



“Collin, enough!” I shrieked as he hit me with another blow that landed me flat on my butt. He laughed. Now I was sure that Lucian would deliver, because I was determined to kick Collin’s ass.

“Elena, go to Constance. She can heal the cuts and bruises,” Professor Mia said in a concerned tone. Blood soaked through my sleeves and my elbows felt raw and painful. “You don't need to walk around in agony.” A small smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, and I nodded before running to the exit.

Maybe it was all I needed, to see Constance's friendly face again. She somehow made me feel like I wasn’t an outcast. I knocked on the door, and she smiled, nodding for me to enter. “Look who’s here,” she sang, but her smile disappeared as she saw the agony on my face. “Come here.” Her arms were open and she hugged me tightly. Her arms felt so motherly, and she even gave me a soft kiss on my head.

“It's so hard,” I sulked, and my mouth felt parched. She poured me a glass of water and handed it to me. “Just look at me.” I showed her my elbows.

She took my arms softly and examined me.

She's really beautiful.

“It's going to be okay, Elena. Before you know it, everything is going to make sense and I'm sure with the help of Lucian, you’ll not have these anymore.” She gestured to my bruises.

“Why didn't you tell me?” I whispered.

She squinted and looked as if she was thinking really hard about what I was asking.

“That you’re a dragon.”

She giggled as her hands started to glow. I couldn't take my eyes off them.

“At the time you had a lot to cope with.” She laid her hands on both my raw elbows and a warm tingling sensation started to emerge from her palms. It went deep into my skin and felt as if it reached the inside of my bones.

“Why didn't you heal me the first time this way?”