Page 74 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

Tae shrugged, dusting himself off. “Maybe when it stops feeling like a death wish.”

Major Ledor stepped forward, arms crossed. “Not until every member of this squad is a full-fledged cadet.” His gaze scanned us all, landing briefly on me. “You’re not ready for what comes next until the bond is solid. Until your dragon accepts all of you.”

He motioned. “Next.”

Riven stepped forward, palms raised. The moment her eyes narrowed, flames burst to life along her forearms, dancing up toward her elbows like molten veins. She turned, thrusting both hands forward, and a jet of controlled fire erupted into the training stones, searing them black.

“Anchored,” Major Ledor confirmed with a nod.

Cordelle gave her an impressed nudge with his elbow as she returned to the line. But when Ferrula stepped forward, a blade rose in the air before her then fell to the ground. Naia followed, electricity forming around her fingertips before fizzling out.

Then there was me.

My scale pendant remained mostly purple… but not enough.

Kaelith still held back. Watching. Waiting.

The major didn’t call on me.

Not yet.

He just scanned us again, eyes narrowed. “Train harder. When you’re all anchored, we move to advanced trials.”

He clapped his hands. “It’s time for dinner. Fall out.”

A half hour later the dining hall buzzed with laughter and clinking cutlery, the low hum of exhausted riders recovering from a day of combat and power training. Our table had claimed a corner bench near the arched windows, the glow of sunset spilling gold across half-eaten plates and refilled mugs.

I leaned back, warmth in my cheeks from Riven’s latest jab about Cordelle’s obsession with historical battle tactics, and Ferrula was halfway through a story about a drunk noble who once tried to ride a donkey into the Ascension ring.

Even I laughed.

But out of the corner of my eye, I caught the unmistakable stare.

Perin.

He sat with a few others from Iron Fang, his shoulders stiff and back straight like a soldier trying not to show weakness. But his eyes were locked on me, until I turned to meet them.

Then he looked away.

Coward.

I’d told both Zander and Remy I’d seen him near the saddles before we left for Vrangoth. But that wasn’t proof. Not enough to confront him, not yet.

Riven leaned toward me, voice soft. “Remy’s watching you again.”

I didn’t even need to check. “We’ll be leaving soon,” I said with a shrug, stabbing the last bite of my biscuit with a fork. “Let him look.”

“Does Zander know?” Tae asked from beside Cordelle, his eyes flicking toward the upper tables. But Zander wasn’t with his Crownwatch peers.

I shook my head. “No idea. We didn’t talk today. I barely saw him.”

Jax motioned with his chin, wiping crumbs from his mouth. “You’re about to.”

I turned, and there he was.

Zander strode through the doors, dark cloak swaying behind him, jaw tight and eyes scanning the room like he was ready to start a war. His gaze landed on me and didn’t waver.

“Ashe,” he said, his voice low but cutting through the hall like a blade. “If you’re done, may I have a private word?”