Page 28 of The Scars Within (Twisted Thorn #1)

The gust of air that saved Scarlet from being scorched in the simulation may have been oblivious to most.

But not to the Grim.

Scarlet should have dove head-first into flames, but suddenly, the flames moved out of her way.

I know it wasn’t my doing, but now the Grim is breathing down my neck. After we returned from Arcane Battle Simulations, I had a note under my pillow urging me to check Scar’s plant.

I’ll do it quickly before everybody heads out for the weekend.

“Are you sure you’re fine to stay here?” Laney asked, hauling her duffle bag over her shoulder. “You can come with me. My family loves to feed the people.”

“I’m fine,” I drawled out, placing my hands on her shoulders. “Have fun. I will see you in a couple of days.”

“I really think you should take her up on that offer,” Shayde’s voice rang from behind me, casual yet worried.

He was lounging on my bed with his back against the wall, snacking on a handful of trail mix that he had swiped from Cleo.

She was now in the corner of her bed, wrapping her arm around the bowl and guarding her snacks with her life.

I shot him a glance before reaching for one of his pretzels, which he handed over without a fight.

Then I threw it at his face, but he was too quick. He opened his mouth and caught it with ease. Laughing as he crunched.

“Fine. But I’m not gonna be happy about it!” Laney grumbled, hands on her hips, before sticking her tongue out at me.

I mirrored her playfulness, flashing a grin and earning a mock glare in return.

Everybody grabbed their weekend bags and hugged me. One by one, my friends exited the dorm, but Shayde lingered, waiting until the last one left.

As the door clicked shut, I turned to him, giving his shoulders a firm but affectionate pat. “Have fun this weekend. And be safe.”

His eyes sparkled with that familiar warmth. He closed the distance between us, trapping me between himself and the wooden door. He cupped my face with his hands and brought his lips down on mine for a quick kiss. “Don’t go having too much fun here without me, alright?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “I’ll try not to. No promises.”

Once Shayde reluctantly let me go from a tight hug, I grabbed the book I finished last night and headed to the library.

The quiet of the nearly empty halls was soothing, with half of the cadets gone for the weekend.

There weren’t many rules for earned visitation leave—just that you had to return by dusk on Sunday.

The library was even more blissful than usual.

Without the usual crowd, I could truly appreciate its beauty.

Besides the rooftop, this is my favorite place in the entire college.

My go-to spot is the fiction section on the second floor, where hundreds of shelves hold a world’s worth of stories, offering endless possibilities to live vicariously through the characters .

I returned another book from the Throne of Steel series.

I am falling head over heels for the story and all its characters.

When I read late at night, I can’t help but imagine myself as the main heroine.

She is utterly fearless, even when fear threatens to consume her.

She cares so deeply for the people in her life that she would put herself in harm’s way to protect them without a second thought.

And they would do the same for her.

I was browsing the shelves when I spotted the next book in the series.

As I reached up to pull it down, a few others tumbled off the shelf and crashed to the floor.

Thankfully, the library was nearly empty, so the loud thud wouldn’t disturb anyone.

I knelt down to gather the fallen books, but someone else did the same as I did, and our foreheads collided.

I sat back on my heels, pressing a hand to my face, stunned by the unexpected impact.

“You know, I was just trying to help. No need to give me a dragon egg on my forehead,” the person in front of me teased.

I started to laugh as I opened my eyes and locked eyes with the genre I’ve been failing to comprehend.

Rhodes knelt before me, propping his elbow on one knee while holding his opposite hand out for mine.

His dragon mark snaked up his veiny arm, and his black hair was tousled casually across his face but didn’t cover his eyes.

The dim lighting of the library cast shadows across his features, but his gray-blue eyes shined bright, making him look like an actual storm about to touch the ground and deliver chaos.

But a part of me is curious to see what the calm before his storm is like.

Our touch sent an electrifying surge through my chest as I laid my hand in his.

He pulled me up effortlessly but didn’t loosen his hold.

His skin was warm but rough; I could feel the calluses on his palm.

Proof that he must spend hours honing a craft or training with a weapon.

Even though weaponized combat isn’t taught here at Mageia.

Finally finding my voice, I said, “Thanks. ”

Rhodes responded with a brief nod and released my hand. He gathered the fallen books in one arm, sorting them back onto the shelves. I stood there, watching him like a weirdo. Once finished, he tilted his head at me again and walked away.

“What are you reading?” The question slipped from my mouth before I could stop it.

He slowly turned back toward me, a fleeting expression crossing his face before I could decipher it, as if he hadn’t expected me to stop him. He glanced down at the novel resting casually in his arm.

“Oh, um. It’s fantasy.”

Ignoring the vague description, I reached for the book I’d been searching for, careful not to pull down the others again. “This is too. I’m halfway through the series.” I raised the book to show him the title.

“That’s a good one. I just finished it recently.”

“Oh really? Should I read what you’re working on next?”

He looked back at the book he was holding and hesitated as if pondering how to describe it. “This one’s a bit more… fantasy. But maybe if you’re up for a challenge.”

“And how is it more fantasy than what I’m reading?”

“You’ll understand when you get closer to the end. This one has faeries, more magical properties, and bat wings.”

“Faeries?”

“Yes, fae,” he replied dryly.

“And bat wings?”

“Yes, most of the guys do. They’re badass.”

I stood there, too stunned to respond. Rhodes, who is the complete opposite of his brother, spends his free time reading—particularly fantasy novels about men with wings. It shouldn’t surprise me, but it does. It contrasts sharply with the burly, brick-wall image of Rhodes I have in my mind.

“And it’s a lot dirtier than that,” Rhodes said, tilting his head toward the book I was holding .

“What do you mean by ‘dirtier’?”

He didn’t answer immediately but let a mischievous smirk curl at one side of his lips. Stepping closer, the faint scent of cashmere sandalwood and vanilla brushed against me. He began tossing his book casually from hand to hand.

In an instant, his demeanor shifted. He tilted his head slightly, as if concentrating on something only he could hear, then started walking backward. Catching my gaze again, he said, “Be careful out on leave.”

“I’ll be here,” I replied, puzzled by the abrupt change in the conversation.

His brows knitted as if my response was peculiar, but then turned to descend the main staircase.

I absentmindedly walked to the rail, watching him race around the weeping willow.

Once he landed on the bottom floor, he looked up and caught me staring. I jumped away from the rail as my breath was knocked out of me with nerves.

“Stop being a weirdo, Scarlet!” I whisper-yelled to myself, speed walking to a corner staircase with exaggerated emphasis.

I finished my afternoon coffee hours ago, and the sun was beginning to set behind the mountains of Dragon Valley.

I had been up on the rooftop reading for so long that dusk was my only clue to the passing time.

With no class, no work, and no one to entertain, feeling invisible had its advantages.

I have already finished half of my book, with the peaceful outdoor sounds being the perfect ambiance.

It is still as hot as the fire element outside, but I had found a shaded spot on the roof to sprawl out.

I removed my leather jacket and used it as a pillow.

The heat will only intensify as the days go by, leading up to the Burn Trials.

After that, autumn—my favorite time of year—will finally arrive .

I was startled by the sound of the iron door creaking open and sat up, curious to see who was intruding on my ‘me’ time.

The door slammed shut, and Rhodes stepped onto the rooftop.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows, highlighting the sharp angles of his face and the determined set of his jaw.

He scanned the rooftop with a practiced gaze as if he already knew which spots would be shaded at this time of day.

His eyes landed on me, and a wry smile tugged at his lips.

“I should’ve known you’d take the best spot,” he murmured teasingly.

I responded to his playful manner as if it were second nature and waved a hand across the space. “I didn’t see your name on it.”

“I never thought I’d need to put my name on it since nobody comes up here. But now, thanks to you, I’ll have to bring paint next time.”

“You wouldn’t,” I laughed softly.

“Try me,” he replied, his closed-lip smile widened enough to reveal that he also has dimples, just like Shayde. I’ve never seen him smile strongly enough for them to show before.

It was... cute.

He’s cute.

Catching myself mid-daydream—his stupid dimples pulling me in—I shook my head to clear those thoughts. Just earlier today, I was kissing his brother.

These Wylder brothers are truly going to be the death of me.

Rhodes walked closer to me and dropped his bag at my feet. I raised my head in question, but then he removed his jacket, tossing it on the bag.

“What in the elements are you doing?” I asked.

He cocked his head. “This is my spot."

I raised up on my elbows. “What? So you’re just going to lay on top of me then?"

His brows raised. “Do you have a problem with that?”

“I-” I opened my mouth to respond but found no words .

“Didn’t think so.”

Rhodes kneeled next to me and pressed a hand against my shoulder, guiding me back to a laying position. I narrowed my eyes in protest but still couldn’t find any actual words.

My heart was racing, and my breath quickened while my curiosity grew. Rhodes leaned over me, blocking the setting sun. Once I was lying completely flat again, he turned onto his back and rested his head on my stomach.

“Why is your heart beating so fast?” He looked up at me.

I rolled my eyes and refocused on my book. Rhodes settled in and opened his novel, too. We read in comfortable silence, the sun slowly sinking behind the mountains, leaving us in twilight.

My hands were itching to run through his beautiful hair.

But I resisted the urge. He was fully entranced in his book, holding it with one hand while his other was sprawled across his chest. I kept stealing glances at him over my book.

His dark lashes were covering his eyes from this angle.

But he looked... at peace. The most content I’ve seen him yet.

I can’t explain the disappointment I felt when he raised up. So, I masked that feeling by getting up to pack my bag while he did the same.

I wandered over to the parapet, letting my feet dangle off the edge.

“Are you staying up here?” he asked.

I glanced back at him. “Yeah, I’ll soak in the quiet a bit before heading down.”

He gave me that same peculiar look he had in the library when I said I wasn’t leaving for the weekend. What was I supposed to do? Sit alone in my room? Both options had their appeal, but I have a view up here—albeit a barely visible one.

Rhodes took a few hesitant steps toward me, his eyes flitting between the ground and my gaze.

His eyes paused when he came across something to my left.

I looked down and realized he might be looking at my scar.

I covered it casually with my hand. He bit his bottom lip softly and slightly leaned his head to one side.

It looked like it pained him to ask, but then…

“Would you like to accompany me to the tavern?”

His voice wavered slightly, almost as if he was… nervous.

Rhodes Wylder is asking me to accompany him.

Before I could even process it, he blurted out, “Never mind, it’s fine. Have a good night, Thorne,” and swiftly turned toward the iron door.

Words tumbled out of my mouth before I could even think, “Yes. I would.”

Rhodes froze mid-step, his shoulders rising and falling with deep, measured breaths. He stood with his back to me, as still as the dragon statue guarding the War Chief’s office. Then he turned to face me... and I realized what his eyes reminded me of.

My beacon.

Before I had given up on myself, I saw my beacon as a sign of hope. My light within the darkness around me. It was the only thing I had left to hold on to. The only thing reminding me that there was safety outside the walls that trapped me in.

Until that rusty nail proved itself to be nothing but a beacon of despair. It lured me into its trap, making me believe that I would survive that shed. It took the very last thread of hope left in my soul.

But I don’t know if his eyes are a signal of safety... or a lure of a trap.

I had thought I could see myself being lost with Rhodes. But what if I need to lose a part of myself in order to find another missing piece? A crucial piece to putting myself back together.

Or what if he is just an addicting romance novel with a sick and twisted ending?

“I’ll see you at the stables in twenty,” he said softly before he left me to sit with my thoughts on the rooftop.