Page 7 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

I watched, captivated, as the Sentinel’s vast wings beat steadily against the twilight sky, her gaze shifting toward the castle as if keeping a silent watch. Meanwhile, Riven busied herself with her belongings, meticulously hanging her things in her wardrobe and placing a few items on her side table.

“Tae, if you were here last year, does that mean you have a dragon?” I asked.

He nodded with a small, proud smile. “His name is Kieren. He’s a green Clubtail. I consider myself pretty lucky, he isn’t as surly as some of them.”

I grinned. “The courier dragon seems nice.”

Tae laughed, a warm, rich sound that filled the quiet room. “To some, I guess. He scorched a prospect last year, so I’m not sure that guy would agree.”

I tilted my head, my brow furrowing. “Scorched... as in killed him?”

Tae’s expression turned serious as he nodded. “If a dragon doesn’t like you, run. And trust me, you’ll know.”

I motioned toward the window, trying to focus on the serene view once more. “Tae, do they normally fly at us like that?”

Tae stepped back to the window, his eyes widening in alarm. “Everybody, get down!” he shouted. The purple dragon’s long, sinuous neck expanded in an ominous display before Tae tackled me to the floor, and fire burst through the window.

Chapter

Three

Warmth flooded my chest, a gentle pulse rippling outward. Magic surged, a force not my own, yet intimately familiar. Above us, a shimmering veil formed, translucent silver threads weaving swiftly into place. Each strand caught the faint glow of candlelight, stretching until they connected, sealing the room beneath a dome of crystalline protection.

I felt the hum deep in my bones, strength, safety, certainty, but knew instinctively it wasn’t mine. It was as if someone else held the threads, guiding the shield into place. A heartbeat later, the connection faded, slipping through my grasp like smoke, leaving only an echo of warmth behind.

Tae knelt beside me, his strong hands steadying my unsteady legs as I struggled to rise. “Easy now,” he said, his tone a mix of concern and wry amusement. The room was still hot from the blast, the stone walls and tiny window having saved us from being completely incinerated. I managed a crooked smile as I pushed myself upright.

“Does that happen often?” Jax piped up, his eyebrow arching as he looked around at the singed walls and smoldering air.

Tae shook his head, his expression incredulous. “I’ve never seen the Sentinel come this close to the castle before, let alone attack like that. Just avoid her if you see her again,” he advised firmly.

Had they not noticed the shield? Maybe I had imagined it.

Riven, inspecting her shirt now marked by a fresh burn on the shoulder, chimed in with a laugh, “No kidding.”

As we began to gather our scattered belongings and set up our bunks, the banter flowed as naturally as the heat from the lingering fire. Naia leaned against one of the rough stone walls and remarked dryly, “Well, if it weren’t for your famous Rebec family luck, you might have been dead.”

I rolled my eyes and retorted, “Oh, come on, Naia. If incineration were my destiny, I’d at least go out with a bang. Not a half-hearted smoky exit.” My voice dripped with sarcasm.

Jax was setting up his bunk by the door. “You should stay away from the window, Ashe.”

“Honestly, I’m just grateful these stone walls did their job. Nothing like a good brick barrier to keep you from turning into dragon toast,” Tae said.

“This day just gets better and better,” Jax quipped, eliciting a chuckle from the group.

Riven glanced at me as she neatly arranged her few belongings. “Hey, Ashe, do you always manage to infuriate a dragon and nearly get yourself incinerated, or is today special?”

I shot her a smirk. “I was just trying to make a lasting impression.”

Naia shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite her earlier severity. “I call it as I see it—the Rebec family attracts trouble like moths to a flame.”

“Trust me, Naia,” I shot back, my tone playful yet edged with defiance, “if trouble was a fashion accessory, I’d have it embroidered in gold.”

I was just putting my things in the small wardrobe beside my bunk when Riven sat down on my bunk. “Need any help?”

“Just company,” I replied, my tone engaging. I had to align myself with those I could trust, and right now, that was Thrall Squad. “How did you end up here? I mean—what’s your story?”

Riven sighed, leaning back against one of the bunk frames. “My family owns a small tavern on the outskirts of town. It’s been struggling for years, and we need every coin we can get. Hopefully, the money I brought in will provide for them for years to come. My mom has always displayed a few… unusual abilities over the years, but neither my brother nor my sister ever caught that spark.”