“I can't be on guard with Blake!” I could feel my voice rising.
“You have no choice. You're safe with him.”
“Who's with you?”
“Tabitha,” he said through clenched teeth.
“The Snow dragon.” I pursed my lips together as a picture of the two of them together jumped inside my head.
Lucian chuckled. “Are you jealous?”
“Don't.”
“Come here?” He grabbed my shirt and pulled me closer. “Does it help if I told you that I don't even like her?”
It worked. I smiled. “I don't want to be in stupid Blake's group or have him as my guarding partner.”
“Well, I don’t think it's fair that Tabitha is in mine either.” He smiled as he pressed his forehead to mine.
“There's something wrong with the Viden, I swear it,” I growled.
Master Longwei's voice came through the school's system. We quickly dispersed as he ordered us to go to our rooms and wait for further instructions.
* * *
They declared school was out until further notice. We were all stuck on guard duty until the sword was found.
The ambience around the school changed drastically during the next two days. Lucian's group was first. I was worried sick about him, because they were assigned to guard the main gate during the night. Blake chose the exact same spot when it was our turn on the third night. Lucian explained that he was most alert during the night, choosing the best post to guard. As if the enemy was going to attack the main entrance.
I slept most of the day when my turn came up. Lucian came with me. He walked me to the main gate and said goodbye while Master Longwei was talking to Blake, who was already waiting at his post. I hated that spot.
Lucian's watch beeped, and I knew it was nine. I was so not looking forward to this at all. To stay awake for nine hours when you're supposed to be asleep was not cool. Not to mention I had to do it with Blake.
“Just relax. Blake's one of the best dragons in Paegeia, not just Dragonia," Lucian warned me. "And if he transforms, don't freak out.”
I’d only seen a Rubicon in the museum, and he was huge. I couldn't imagine what Blake’s dragon form looked like for real.
He kissed me as Master Longwei passed. He teased Lucian and me, and I blushed a deep scarlet.
A knot formed in my throat as Lucian winked and let go of my hand. We looked at each other until the door closed. The click of the lock made my heart beat a bit faster, and I sulked to my post where Blake waited.
“Hey,” I greeted him.
He didn't say anything, as he stared intently into the night.
I made myself comfortable by a small fire in front of the stone dragons. I remembered Cheng telling me in one of his lessons how they would come to life in times of danger. The idea still crept me out, but at the moment, I didn't care. I felt safer here than on the edge, looking down on the forest and part of Elm.
All sorts of things flew through my mind as I stared into the embers. My biggest concern was what they would do if the sword was destroyed. If its existence could destroy an evil sorcerer like Goran, then that sword was mighty powerful and our only hope of keeping Paegeia peaceful. Skyscrapers burning down and tumbling to the ground, turning Paegeia into ruins, took the sword’s place. The picture wasn't a beautiful one, and I couldn't see myself living in a world like that.
My other concern revolved around Goran's power. Cheng told me in one of his lectures that his magic was advanced, which made him one of the best sorcerers that ever lived. What if Becky was right, and he knew how to destroy the wall? What would happen then? Humans would know that dragons existed.
That couldn't happen. Deep down in my heart I was begging for that siren to go off, announcing the sword's safe return.
As I sat there thinking, Blake spoke for the first time. “There's coffee in the flask when you feel tired.”
I looked at my watch. It was just after ten. “No thanks, I'm fine.” I stared into the night too. A million stars sparkled in the sky above our heads.
“It's the perfect night to watch,” he said. “I hope you don't mind me choosing this time.”
As if I had a choice. I rolled my eyes at the thought.
I fell on my arms. If I didn't know any better, I could’ve sworn that he tried to make some sort of conversation. I looked at him from underneath my pathetic excuse for eyelashes, and my heart started to beat a little faster. Why did he have to be so beautiful?
“I guess I understand why you chose it.” I cleared my throat. “Your senses are most alert at night, right?” I decided to be nice and make the best of the terrible situation.
“Something like that,” he mumbled, and smiled. He should smile more. It fell silent again, and the stone dragon started to freak me out again. I didn't know if it was just me, but I could swear that I saw them move. “Will they wake?” I asked.