We both laughed as he lowered me to the ground and started to stretch my legs like a physical therapist. The pain as he pulled my legs to my head brought tears, but when our eyes met, they disappeared. I felt better afterwards,but it wasn't what I’d hoped for.
We used the last half hour for a run. His pace was fast and my lungs burned after five minutes. I had to make him stop by the lake so that I could catch my breath.
“I—can’t—go—on.”
He jogged in the same place. “C’mon, Sweetheart, we still need to do some sit-ups.” He chuckled.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“You see how unfit you are?”
I wanted to hit him with my fist in the gut,but I didn’t have the energy. Instead, I grunted.
“Can we please go back now?”
“No, Elena, c'mon.” He pushed me from behind and forced me to run again. I held my breath, wishing for the pain to disappear.
“We're almost there.”Lucian sounded like he hadn’t run at all.
“I would so like to kill you right now,” I said through clenched teeth.
“I don't believe that,” he said, and it made me giggle.
I followed him to an open area right next to the lake. I collapsed on the ground and lay on my back, heaving. “This feels good.”
“You ready for sit-ups?”
“Urgh! Fine, let's just get this over with.”
We had done about a trillion sit-ups when my stomach felt as if it was about to tear. I didn't know if I would ever feel anything other than this excruciating pain again.
I was so glad I had tutoring with someone else today. Then I realized it was Latin with Blake,and my throat closed up. If he was the best at it, I’d just have to deal with it like I did with Arianna.
Lucian made sure we stretched afterwards before we walked back towards the dorms. After shower number two, I didn't feel as stiff as before. I was still busy gulping down muesli and yogurt in the cafeteria when the bell rang.
The day flew fast and before I knew it, it was lunch.
“Elena.” Sammy yelled my name. She and Becky were sitting at a different table today, because Princess wanted to sit at the table we usually sat. She was such a pain in the ass.
“So anyone get the riddle yet?” I asked, showing Ariannathat switching tables didn’t bother me.
“No, but I’m getting my saddle,” Becky said, bouncing up and down on her pillow.
“Saddle?” I looked at Sammy.
“Dragon saddle.” She rolled her eyes.
“George finally let the tailors take his measurements this morning.” Becky ignored Sammy's eye roll.
“When a Dragonian claims a dragon, Clifford and Brook’s tailor makes your saddle. They were here today to take George's measurements.” Sammy gave me the full explanation.
“And why is that exciting?”
“Elena! It means that I'm finally going to feel what it's like to glide with him in the air,” she said as she closed her eyes and sighed.
“Well, when you put it like that, getting a saddle sounds pretty cool.” I tried to sound excited for her, but the reality of it scared the jeepers out of me. It was definitely the height thing.
“Way cool, it's like a girl’s first kiss,” Becky said.
“You're finally getting your saddle?” Lucian placed his tray of food on the table and plunged down on the pillow next to me. He gave me a quick peck on the mouth and took a bite out of his pizza.
“Going to, next week,” she said, launching into the story all over again.
We finished our lunch quickly, forced to listen to Becky going on and on about what kind of leather she chose and the type of buckle and rope she picked out for the reins.
When the bell finally rang,I curled up my lip. I wasn’t looking forward to Art of War.
Chapter Eighteen
After school, knots twisted violently in my stomach. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I fought the urge to puke, not knowing what to expect with Blake's Latin lesson. He’d told Sammy to have me meet him in the library. I cringed, thinking back to how I had ogled him the first time we met like some star-struck idiot blinded by his unnatural beauty. I was such a dork when it came to things like that.
Taking a deep breath, I braced myself as I entered the large room. I saw him sitting deep in thought and playing with a lighter at one of the tables. What was it with him and fire? Don't stare, Elena, blared in my head. Walking up to him,I silently recited my choreographed greeting. Should I say“Hi, Blake” in a chirpy voice, but then he would know that he had some kind of an effect on me. If I said it in a dull tone,he would think I was depressed. When the time came, it was worse than I’d imagined. For the love of blueberries, I was speechless, I couldn't even say hello like a normal person.