Page 68 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

“But you are too dangerous to train with the others until your dragon anchors you.”

Meri released me and rushed to Jax, kneeling beside him as he blinked rapidly, his face raw from the burn.

I felt my chest tighten with guilt.

“Jax.” My voice came out hoarse.

He dropped his hands, his blue eyes finally focusing as the burns on his face began to fade under Meri’s healing touch.

I swallowed hard.

“I’m so sorry.”

Jax huffed out a breath, flashing me a lopsided grin, even as his face continued to heal.

“Damn, Girl.” He exhaled, shaking his head. “If you wanted me dead, you could’ve just pushed me off a cliff.”

I grunted. “Not unless I want to go off the cliff with you. Backlash, remember.”

I was still reeling from the aftermath of my power surge, my veins buzzing from the raw magic that had coursed through them, when Cade appeared at the edge of the training ground.

He strolled over with his usual lazy confidence, though his sharp gaze flicked between me and Jax, then to Zander.

Zander barely spared him a glance before turning to the rest of the group.

“Monitor the rest of the prospects,” he ordered, his voice cold and firm. “I’m taking Ashlyn to the tower.”

That got a reaction.

Perin scoffed from his place among the Iron Fang prospects. “So she gets special treatment just because she can’t anchor?” His lips curled. “Guess someone’s teacher’s pet.”

Zander went still.

The air shifted, a sudden chill creeping over the training grounds.

When Zander turned back to Perin, his eyes were black.

Not just dark—pure void.

A slow, eerie ripple spread over his skin, darkening it like ink spreading through water, as if his very form were turning to shadow.

A predator looming in the dark.

He took a single step forward.

“I am more than willing to give you some one-on-one instruction, Perin,” he murmured.

His voice was serene.

Almost pleasant.

But there was something dark about it.

Perin paled instantly, his earlier bravado crumbling as he stumbled back a step.

“N-No, that’s okay,” he stammered. “Sorry, sir.”

Zander held his gaze for a moment longer—then blinked, and the shadow melted away, his skin returning to its normal color.