Page 130 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

“I’m telling you,” Meri whispered, “because most people with your power end up in the Second Guild.”

I leaned back and added softly, “Yeah... I expected that too.”

Before I could ask more, the door opened again. Zander returned, his expression unreadable. His eyes flicked between me and Meri before landing on me.

“Ready?” His voice was calm, but his gaze lingered like he suspected he’d walked in on something important.

Meri stepped back quickly, smoothing her robes. “She’s all set.”

I slid off the bench, feeling steadier than I had all morning. “Thanks, Meri.”

“Anytime,” she said with a smile.

Zander waited until we were outside before speaking. “You alright?”

I nodded, but my mind was still racing. Healing blood. Second Guild. And whatever secret the healers weren’t allowed to talk about.

I had a feeling my troubles were only just beginning.

Zander walked beside me in silence as we made our way toward the barracks, but just as we reached the courtyard, he stopped abruptly. His gaze sharpened, focused on something I couldn’t see.

“What are they doing?” he muttered.

“Who?” I asked, confused.

“Our dragons.” His tone was tense.

I instinctively reached for Kaelith through our bond, but I slammed into something solid—a wall of resistance I’d never felt before.

“I think she’s blocking me,” I said, uneasy.

Zander’s eyes narrowed. “Hein’s doing the same... which is rare.” His gaze drifted to the horizon. “They’re on the beach.”

“Can we see them?”

Zander nodded, motioning for me to follow him. We moved quickly to the nearest ladder leading up to the battlements. The wood was cold beneath my palms as I climbed, and when I reached the top, Zander was already there, peering over the edge.

I stepped beside him, and my breath caught.

The tide was low, leaving behind a stretch of wet sand that shimmered beneath the afternoon sun. Pools of seawater collected in the dips between jagged rocks. And there—moving through the shallows—were our dragons.

Kaelith’s deep-purple scales gleamed like polished amethyst, her wings slightly unfurled as she dipped her head toward thewater. Beside her, Hein’s silver bulk shifted with precision, his claws scraping over the rocky seabed as he mirrored Kaelith’s movements.

“What are they doing?” I asked quietly.

Zander shook his head, eyes narrowing. “I don’t know.”

Kaelith lowered her head beneath the water, her neck rippling with tension as though she were searching for something. After a moment, she pulled back, droplets cascading from her scales. Then her gaze turned inland—sharp and focused—like she was watching something we couldn’t see.

“Do you think they’re looking for something in the water?” I asked, still watching Kaelith dip her head beneath the waves again.

But before Zander could answer, Hein made a move—a low, sweeping glide through the shallows that carried him closer to Kaelith. He dipped his head, wings partially flared, his silver scales reflecting the sunlight in a way that looked... deliberate.

Zander stiffened beside me. “Oh shit.”

“What?” My pulse spiked.

He kept staring, tension rippling off him like a storm brewing. “That looked like Hein was... trying to gain favor.”