Page 128 of Destined Dawn

We stand there, holding each other, both consumed in grief, both thankful for each other.

Winnie’s the first to pull away, steeling herself.

“They’re serving breakfast in the Great Hall. Do you fancy grabbing some together for old-time’s sake?”

She hooks her arm through mine.

I can feel my mates stirring through the bond. They may be wondering where I am but they can feel I’m near, feel I’m okay. I don’t think there’s any need to dash back to them. Not yet anyway.

“Sure,” I tell Winnie, “why not? A breakfast of stale bagels and soggy porridge. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Winnie pinches my arm. “You can’t seriously think they’re going to feed you that. Not when you’re the ‘chosen one’.”

“Chosen one?” I say.

“That’s what everyone is calling you now. You have to admit, it’s an improvement on Pig Girl.”

“Pig Girl was starting to grow on me actually.”

“Fine, I’ll keep using it then. I suspect someone might need to ensure your feet remain on the ground. Oh, and by the way, as soon as people notice the pig is missing, they’re going to start rumors.”

“I think we’re going to have more important things to worry about,” I say, spotting the sun hovering right above the horizon and the dragons circling above us in the sky.

“Oh, that won’t matter. You should know by now that students at this school won’t let a silly little thing like an apocalyptic battle and their impending doom stand in the way of a bit of gossip.”

I laugh and let Winnie pull me along to breakfast.

We only make it half way to the Great Hall though when a loud alarm begins to blast, shaking the path beneath our feet. I gape at Winnie about to ask her if this is it, when my question is answered. Chaos breaks loose, people running everywhere.

“Winnie!” I say.

“Yeah, I know, Rhi. You need to find those five men. Go, go, go quickly.”

I start to sprint, then skid to a halt and sprint straight back towards my friend, wrapping her in another hug.

“Stay safe, okay? Don’t do anything stupid.”

“Me? Do anything stupid? You can’t be seriously lecturing me on the topic of stupid things, Rhianna ‘chosen one’ Blackwaters?!”

“Just promise me, Winnie. I’ve already lost one friend today.”

“I’ll be careful as long as you promise to be as well.”

That’s a very hard promise to make, but I cross my fingers behind her back and make the promise anyway, and then I really am sprinting away.

I meet three of my mates out on the path charging my way.

“Rhi, thank fuck,” Spencer says, reaching me first. He pulls me into a hug as Renzo and Tristan catch up to us.

“Where are Stone and Azlan?” I ask, my words muffled by a very muscular chest.

“Gone to see who has sounded the alarm and where the attack is coming from. We’re meeting them out in the meadows where I’m hoping,” his eyes lift to the sky, “those dragons are going to be waiting for us.”

“They will be,” I tell him.

“Where’s the little man?” Renzo asks when I step away from Spencer. “I thought he was with you.”

“I … I let him go.”