Page 21 of Ava’s Love of the Dragons (Of Dragons, Love, and Destiny #2)

Ralph shrugged his muscular shoulders. "I've only been training with Master Boom for three months."

"She came two years ago," Marcus chimed in. When she looked at him with raised eyebrows, he waved it off casually. "You train, I gather information." He leaned towards her. "Can I talk to you in private for a moment?"

"Sure, I need to get to bed anyway. If I want to get up somehow tomorrow, I should finally go to sleep." She turned to the dragon, who contentedly puffed out a small cloud of smoke. "Are you staying with Lilly again tonight?"

"No, tonight I'm staying with you." He looked out the window into the dark sky, his eyes almost imperceptibly narrowed. Ava got goosebumps, and she also peered into the night. But she couldn't see anything outside.

"Do you sense danger?"

"I always sense dangers that concern you. Tonight they are particularly close."

Great. That statement would send her off to sleep nice and relaxed. But better for her to know about it. Maybe she shouldn't have left all the daggers in the arena but instead taken one to put under her pillow.

Heavens, how her life had changed...

"Good night." She said it loud enough for Magg to hear too, but the cadet didn't turn around. Lynn, however, stood up.

"I'm going to bed too, and you, Lilly, should do the same, because we're continuing with lessons tomorrow."

Lilly pointed behind her. "But the dragon—"

Lynn shook her head emphatically. "He'll stay wherever Ava is anyway. So, hop to it."

Grumbling and muttering, the girl stood up and walked with them into the hallway.

Draco rose as well. As he followed them, the floor trembled, and when they left the dining hall, his scales scraped along the doorframe.

He had to tuck his shimmering purple wings in tightly, otherwise he might have injured himself.

Nevertheless, he was still adorable, especially with the look in his wet, round eyes that might have been because Lynn patted his head before saying goodbye. Her room was in a different hallway.

Tired, they dragged themselves up the stairs, and Lilly yawned behind her hand. They took the girl to her room, then Marcus accompanied Ava to hers. While Ava remained standing at the door, Draco hopped right onto her bed, which creaked dangerously.

"What did you want to talk to me about, Marcus?"

He lowered his voice and looked at her imploringly. "The dragon rider is gone again."

Her heart clenched, yet she shrugged as if it meant nothing. After all, she had assumed as much herself. The less they saw each other, the better. Although, strictly speaking, she was glad Marcus had told her. He was making an effort to do his part, and she appreciated that.

"Good to know."

Marcus wasn't finished. "He's gone, and he's going to confront Rob. That means Rob knows you're here."

Damn! She hadn't thought of that until now. Was the danger Draco sensed coming from him? But she had to trust Kilian. He would know what to do.

"Kilian won't let him come here and kill me."

Her friend raised a warning finger. "Will he also be able to prevent Rob from telling the mages where you are?"

"Of course!" But her conviction was dampened as soon as Draco's unease came to mind again.

Had Rob already informed the mages, even though it would put the other students at risk of being injured in a fight?

How far would he go to get rid of her? To the extreme—he had proven that.

Shivering, she rubbed her upper arms. She wasn't ready to face him again. The training had only just begun.

Marcus noticed her nervousness and clasped his hands in front of his chest. "Let me sleep in your room. I'll even lie on the floor, I promise, without any advances or flirting, but I would never forgive myself if something happened to you."

"You can do that?" She tried for an innocent grin, although his concern touched her heart.

"I'd do anything for you, Ava. You know that."

Yes, she did know, but she waved him off nonetheless. She didn't want him to worry. He finally needed his own life again, his own goals, and shouldn't focus on her. "The dragon is with me. He'll keep watch." She pointed to Draco, who at that very moment was looking outside with narrowed eyes.

Marcus stiffened. "Does that mean he's already warned you?"

Ava would have liked to deny it, but Marcus easily recognized the truth in her expression. He was already squaring his shoulders before she had decided how to answer.

"I'm sleeping in your room!"

She shook her head firmly. As if that would happen... "No, you won't! I can take care of myself."

"But you need to rest, and I won't be able to sleep a wink anyway!"

"The dragon will keep watch, and I promise to call you if anything happens."

He grimaced painfully, a hand resting on his heart. "Please understand, I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you. Especially if I could have prevented it."

She read the affection in his eyes, and that was exactly why she had to stay firm.

She had to maintain boundaries, because he would never be the man by her side.

He should have the chance to give his attention to another woman.

Besides, he couldn't fight. He wasn't made to protect someone.

He would only be in danger if the mages really were planning an attack.

"Thank you, but I'm sleeping alone. Good night.

" She patted his hand in a friendly manner and closed the door before he could put his foot in the gap.

When she turned around, Draco was lying in front of the window, looking outside.

The unease emanating from him had grown stronger.

He was constantly slapping his tail on the floor.

"Will we be able to sleep tonight?"

"For a few hours, Ava, and you should use them. I'll wake you in time."

It was doubtful that she would fall asleep with that prospect.

"Wouldn't it be better if we told the others and prepared ourselves?"

"How can we do that when we don't know what for?"

She didn't have an answer to that either, but her stomach clenched and she stepped beside the dragon at the window. She still couldn't see anything. But that would probably change soon.