Page 32 of Ava’s Love of the Dragons (Of Dragons, Love, and Destiny #2)

All cadets and soldiers gathered for morning roll call in the vast courtyard leading to the arenas. The sun was rising, bathing the area in soft light. However, the warm colors couldn't hide the fact that within these walls, there was no place for human warmth.

Kilian walked through the ranks, accompanied by Allan.

The two didn't even come close to them—perhaps because Ava and the others had positioned themselves in the farthest corner.

Ava looked at the dragon fighters' leaders as rarely as the other cadets did, which meant she spent most of the time staring straight ahead.

Draco had already landed and was waiting for them. He had been so restless all morning that Ava had barely been able to eat anything at breakfast. Lilly hadn't either. She had constantly argued with Lynn that she wouldn't attend class—but ultimately, under Lynn's strict rule, she did.

"What's going on, Draco?"

"We have important visitors."

Frowning, Ava looked forward but couldn't see anything. "Who?"

Draco didn't answer, but his pulse quickened. Moreover, the unrest in the square increased, with more and more students whispering until Kilian whistled through his fingers and silence fell. However, it wasn't the kind of silence that promised relaxation.

Ava stood on her tiptoes but still couldn't see what was happening. "Can you see anything, Marcus?" After all, he was taller than her.

He nodded, suddenly pale as chalk. "Keep your head down."

"Why?"

But it wasn't Marcus who gave her an answer, but a cadet further ahead who gasped for air. "The king!"

All the blood drained from her face. She immediately tried to disappear into the crowd of those present. The king couldn't have come here by chance that morning of all days.

The whispers grew louder and the unrest increased until precisely what Ava had wanted to avoid at all costs happened. The crowd in front of her parted and the soldiers lined up in ranks moved aside so that the man in the golden robe and with the magnificent crown on his head could step towards her.

Directly in front of her.

King Eldric surveyed her with his chin thrust forward.

He wasn't particularly tall or particularly muscular.

To be honest, he didn't give the impression of being anything special at all.

But when he raised his hand, she realized that she had once again been deceived by appearances, for no one dared to speak or turn their back on him.

He was powerful and dangerous, and that made him her greatest threat.

"Come here, Dragon Leader!"

With firm steps, Kilian positioned himself next to him and looked at Ava nonchalantly.

"Is this the woman who hid the egg from Us?"

Ava opened her mouth, but Kilian cleared his throat loudly, causing her to pause. "This is the woman who succeeded in getting a dragon to hatch."

The king narrowed his eyes and looked down at Kilian, despite being at least a head shorter. He thrust out his chin and wrinkled his nose. "That was not Our question."

Kilian's expression remained inscrutable, but he didn't answer. How long would the monarch tolerate his defiance of the order?

He shouldn't put himself in danger for her.

"I hid the egg because as a guardian, I knew it wouldn't hatch otherwise. From the first moment, I was so strongly connected to the dragon that I knew what it needed."

The king raised his chin even higher. "By doing so, you placed yourself above Our wisdom and Our knowledge, which is punishable by death." He waved to the soldiers accompanying him, who immediately produced ropes.

She felt ice-cold.

Kilian wanted to say something, but Ava spoke first. "I am the first guardian in over two hundred years. With all due respect, I did what the dragon needed because he told me. I thought the survival of the dragons was of utmost importance."

"Wrong, We are of utmost importance. Guards!"

The soldiers stepped forward and bound Ava's hands behind her back. She didn't know whether it was wise to resist or not. Would there still be a trial, or was this her last chance to object?

"The dragon needs me!"

But the king just waved dismissively, as if her case was already settled. However, before he could continue his way through the ranks, Kilian stood in front of him, barely hinting at a bow.

"Allow me a word, Your Majesty, but the dragon has already bonded with her."

"He will have to choose another rider!"

Draco's angry roar sounded, and a salvo of fire rushed close over their heads. Even the king paused at that, and Kilian used the opportunity to continue working on him.

"As you hear, he by no means accepts that. He is a very powerful dragon that we absolutely need on our side. Elora is growing stronger and has conquered more territories in the south."

"Why do We know nothing of this?"

Ava wanted to say something else, but before she opened her mouth, Draco's words rushed through her head. "Let the dragon leader speak."

Kilian was already drawing himself up to his full height, as if the power dynamics were reversed. "If you don't want to anger the dragons, Your Majesty, you must accept the new dragon's choice. Believe me when I tell you that we need every single one in battle."

Draco roared deafeningly, as if to emphasize Kilian's words. Ava looked to the meadow where he stood. His head towered far above those present, and his dangerously flashing eyes were directed straight at the king.

Would he incinerate him if he had Ava led away?

Voices grew louder, prompting one of the soldiers to strike the ground with a staff until silence returned.

Ava still stood surrounded by the king's men, her hands bound behind her back. She wanted to say something, but a casual glance from Kilian warned her to remain silent.

The regent examined her thoroughly before narrowing his eyes. "We tolerate it, but We do not allow you to do anything without Our express command. Do you understand, Guardian?"

He practically spat out the last word.

She wanted to rebel, but that wouldn't be wise.

She didn't want to be at another's mercy again—especially not the king's.

She clenched her jaw and her gaze fell on Magg, who looked at her imploringly, as if she knew what was going through her mind.

Compliantly, Ava only bowed her head, unsure if she could hide the anger in her voice.

Only when the king and his entourage had left did she look up again. Marcus gripped her upper arms, his face chalk-white. "We need to disappear as soon as possible."

Magg stepped between them and hissed a warning at him. "Quiet, there are eyes and ears everywhere here. Besides, Ava can't just run away anymore. She's an enrolled cadet and under the king's special observation. If she leaves the grounds, anyone has the right to kill her."

Well, then. Wonderful.

"Does that mean I can't even fly on Draco?"

"Only if a commander explicitly allows it."

Ava couldn't help but look along the ranks, but there was no sign of the only commander who was on her side.

The training began, and she gave it her all, as it was the best way to release her frustration without getting herself or her friends into trouble. But it was clear that a plan was needed, and not just because the trainers couldn't match Master Clark's lessons.

At lunch, she shoveled food into herself listlessly, without noticing what she was eating. Marcus and Magg, along with hundreds of others, were eating, too. Although the dining hall was overcrowded, the noise level remained moderate. Private conversations were nonexistent.

At some point, Lynn appeared. Ava moved closer to Marcus so she could sit with them. "Hey, how was your class?"

But Lynn waved it off, unusually pale. "Have you seen Lilly?"

"I thought she was in class with you."

"She was, but I was supervising a different study group in the morning, and when I went to pick her up for lunch, she was gone."

"What do the other teachers say about where she is?"

"There are so many eager children here—no one pays attention to a girl who doesn't want to be in school."

Marcus just grinned. "Knowing her, she's snuck off to do her own thing. We don't need to worry. I'd much rather know where she is and hide with her."

"But she can't take her training lightly." Lynn let her gaze sweep through the huge dining hall. The girl was nowhere to be seen in the bustle.

Ava stood up and was searching the crowd with her when Kilian and Allan entered the room.

It was like a magnet, with Ava's attention immediately darting to him and his to her.

They looked at each other for a moment before Kilian turned his attention away as if she were just anyone.

Ava fought back the lump in her throat, instead continuing to scan the hall for Lilly.

"I'll help you find her." She wanted to rush out of the hall with Lynn, but Magg shook her head.

"I'll help her search, you'd better stay here." She subtly nodded to a group of cadets who appeared to be casually loitering by the door. They were probably just waiting for an opportunity to catch Ava alone.

She had really gone from the frying pan into the fire.

Reluctantly, she sat back down on the bench and nodded to Magg. "Thanks. And if you find her, tell her I'm working on it."

"On what?" Marcus wanted to know, but Magg just nodded and accompanied Lynn out of the dining hall.

If she were Lilly, she would have disappeared too.

The girl had probably taken her new best friends— the three thick books—to go find a cozy corner and do whatever she pleased.

Definitely enviable. But as soon as Ava had a plan for how they could get out of here, she would be in control of her daily life again.

The afternoon program worked up as much sweat as the morning, and after dinner Ava went straight to her room together with Magg.

They showered one after the other and collapsed onto their mattresses.

In silent agreement, they kept their uniforms on.

In this training camp, they had to be combat-ready day and night.

Only when they were lying down did Ava's gaze fall on Lynn's and Lilly's beds. Both were empty. She immediately sat up again. "Where are those two?"

Magg had followed her gaze and also jumped up. Before she could answer, someone burst through the door. Lynn came running in, a fear in her eyes that brought the sweat back to Ava's brow. Gasping, she struggled for breath.

Ava rushed to her. "Where's Lilly?"

"Gone."

"What do you mean by gone?"

"That I couldn't find her anywhere."

"Surely she's just hidden herself well."

The girl had lived on the streets for years without being caught by the soldiers. If anyone knew how to be inconspicuous, it was Lilly.

"I don't think so. No one has seen her since this morning. Ava, something's not right."

Ava looked thoughtfully at Magg, who shrugged her shoulders helplessly. "You know her better than I do."

Ava focused her thoughts on Draco. "Do you know where she is?"

"I have an idea."

"Tell me."

Draco let out a deep, animalistic growl. "I've just picked up her trail. It leads into the forest."

"Draco says she's in the forest." She wanted to rush to the door, but both Magg and Lynn blocked her way. The cadet crossed her arms over her chest.

"Forget it! You're not allowed to leave the grounds."

Lynn nodded in agreement, but Ava looked at the two challengingly. "I'm going out now to look for Lilly. Either you stay here or you help me, but you're not stopping me!"

The two exchanged a brief glance before looking her firmly in the eyes. "We're coming with you."