Page 66 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

I swallowed a bite of toast before glancing up—and met Zander’s gaze.

He was watching me, his expression unreadable.

Beside him, Cade flicked a glance my way, then shook his head, but the slight twitch of his lips told me something.

They were speaking to each other.

And it was about me.

I huffed and turned back to my food, focusing on finishing breakfast before we were called to the Ascension Grounds.

Those of us who had failed to anchor yesterday were sent back to the training grounds, while the others were assigned lessons with Major Ledor and Major Kaler.

Jax and Eilvin walked beside me, our group a mix of Thrall Squad, a handful from Iron Fang, and a few from Warborn and Stormforge.

I noticed, however, that not a single member of Crownwatch had been required to come.

Typical. The highborns were trained to be in the guild since they could walk. Or so I was told.

Zander was already waiting when we arrived, standing in his usual rigid stance, arms crossed over his chest, his flight jacket unbuttoned just enough to show the form-fitting black shirt beneath.

He wasted no time.

“Jax, you’re up first.”

Jax cracked his knuckles. “Alright, let’s see what this magic thing is all about.”

He rolled his shoulders, stepping forward with his usual swagger, but there was a tension to him this time—a seriousness that wasn’t normally there. Yesterday, he hadn’t been able to call on his power, and I knew it had irritated him more than he let on.

But today, his dragon was here.

Koddos landed with a thunderous impact, shaking the very ground beneath our feet.

Like all Palisades, he was a massive beast—his thick, bulky scales forming a nearly impenetrable hide. The double-spiked tail was particularly vicious-looking, but it was his color that stood out the most. Unlike the usual deep blues, Koddos was so dark he was nearly black, an inky shade that seemed to drink in the light around him.

Zander studied him for a beat before giving a curt nod.

“Call on your power.”

Jax inhaled deeply, planting his feet firmly on the ground. He pressed his palm down and closed his eyes, his jaw tightening as he reached for the connection.

For a moment, there was nothing.

Then, the air around him shimmered.

A distortion, like the air itself, was rippling. It expanded outward in a perfect sphere, a translucent bubble that seemed to bend the light around it.

Zander observed it with keen interest, then motioned to Perin.

“Try to hit him.”

Perin’s face lit up with pleasure. “Gladly.”

He stepped forward and threw a brutal punch—aimed directly at Jax’s jaw.

The moment his fist connected with the barrier, a sharp snap of energy discharged, and Perin staggered back violently, clutching his face.

A second later, blood dripped from his nose.