Advanced Dragon Studies (Ember Academy for Magical Beings Book 1) Read online

  I frowned. What the hell was up with him?

  But the clock on the wall told me that it was nearly eleven, and I had Auntie Nyssa’s class next.

  The last thing I wanted was to be late to my first lesson on Dragon magic.

  UNLIKE THE LARGE LECTURE hall of my last class, I arrived to see that my timetable had brought me to a small classroom, though there were no tables, just a few comfortable chairs in one corner.

  The rest of the room was bare, and I felt the crackle of magic when I entered.

  Some kind of wards? The runes around the doors told me that was likely, but I had no idea what they meant.

  I also struggled to see them, thick curtains over the windows, and the room lit entirely by a few, dim candles.

  I focused on the runes until my gaze finally adjusted to the low light.

  “Skye,” I spun around to see Auntie Nyssa there, at the other end of the room to the door.

  I assumed she had used her magic to appear – shifting, they called it – and I hoped that she would soon teach me how.

  “I see you have changed to Dragon’s eyes. Good. That was going to be your first lesson.”

  I frowned. “Dragon’s eyes?”

  Nyssa waved to her own amber, lizard-like eyes before gesturing to a large mirror in the corner of the room.

  I made my way over, seeing that my brown eyes – which had been gently flickering amber on and off over the past few weeks – now looked just as lizard-like as Nyssa’s.

  My first attempt to change into my Dragon form.

  I turned to her with a grin. “So, if that was going to be the first lesson, what’s the second?”

  “One that will wait until your classmate arrives. I had hoped that we would have more students, but it seems that it will just be the two of you.”

  I frowned. “So, who’s the other student?”

  “A young Wyvern by the name of James.”

  As if summoned by her words, the door opened, and a young man stepped through.

  He was tall and broad, and I would have had no issue believing he was a Wyvern if not for his lack of scales.

  Unlike Priestesses and Drakes, Wyverns couldn’t shape-shift and always had a form that appeared more Dragon-like, with snouts, scales and tails.

  But this young man had lightly tanned skin, rather than scales, and golden blonde hair. All I could see to indicate that he was any kind of Dragon were eyes like mine and Nyssa’s.

  I peered down but saw no tail through his jeans.

  I rapidly glanced back up as I realised just where exactly I was staring.

  Not that James seemed to notice. I’d expect another man to either smirk at me or raise an eyebrow, but James kept his gaze on Nyssa, his strong jaw tensed slightly.

  “My apologies for my lateness,” James said, his words clipped and formal, as if talking to someone important.

  But then, Nyssa was a High Priestess.

  Nyssa nodded. “Your apology is accepted. This is your first day, so I understand that you may have had difficulty finding your way here. But I will not accept lateness tomorrow.”

  James nodded gravely and I instinctively straightened my spine.

  I’d known Nyssa for too many years to treat her with as much respect as James seemed to – to not argue with her occasionally strict rules – but could I do that here? Or was she no longer my “auntie” but my tutor?

  Not that that should make any difference. She’d simply been an instructor to my dad as well, but then they’d become family.

  Still, I didn’t want to show too much familiarity when James seemed far from inclined to it.

  He didn’t seem like he would take it as an invitation to relax, but instead might resent me for being already close to our tutor.

  Especially when Nyssa had started off being so strict.

  Nyssa indicated the chairs in the corner of the room before I could consider the issue further, and I took James’ lead in silently sitting down to face her.

  Nyssa didn’t sit. She remained standing, her hands clasped behind her back as she regarded us both with an expression like stone.

  “Well, now that you’re both here, I suppose it’s time for introductions. I am High Priestess Nyssa and you shall address me as such. You are both hatchlings – a Priestess and a Wyvern respectively – and I shall refer to you as such.

  “James, this is Skye. Skye, this is James. You two are my only students this year, and therefore, my only focus. Consider yourselves lucky that your education will be so attentive.

  “This term will be focused on getting to know your powers in time for the winter solstice celebrations. Each magical faction has their own form of ceremony to mark the occasion, and while you will both be participating – our ceremonies ideally require a Priestess, Drake and Wyvern, but a Priestess and Wyvern will have to do – only one of you will lead the ceremony. Typically, it is the strongest, so I will be marking you throughout this first term and deciding who shall lead the celebrations.”

  I perked up in my seat, while James leaned forward.

  I knew that the Dragons wouldn’t have much reason to accept me in their city, an outsider with mostly Human blood, but if I proved myself here...

  Well, maybe it wouldn’t be so out of the question.

  And maybe I wouldn’t have to give up my taste of the magical world when I graduated.

  “For today,” Nyssa continued, “we should focus on the basics. Stand up, both of you, and outstretch your palms.”

  I did as Nyssa asked, my magic crackling beneath my skin in anticipation of what she would ask next.

  “Now, allow your magic to flow forth and create fire over your hands.”

  Before my initiation, I would have expected that to be difficult. That drawing on my magic would take effort.

  But the fire was just beneath my skin, waiting for me to pull it forth.

  Small flames gently flickered over my palms and I grinned at the sight.

  “Good work, both of you. Now, let’s see how long you can hold them for.”

  I frowned. How long? It was so easy, I could probably hold them forever.

  But after several moments, my vision blurred, and I realised that my hand was shaking.

  I swayed on my feet, stumbling as I fought to keep my balance.

  The fire across my hands dimmed to barely a flicker.

  I glanced over to James as my breath came in short, sharp bursts, sweat dripping from my brow. Were we both exhausted?

  No, his flames were still arching up from his palm, just as bright as when we had started.

  I glared at my own flames, frustration and determination rushing through me in equal measure.

  The flames blasted up, bouncing off the ceiling and sending me tumbling back.

  “Ow,” I groaned, pain radiating from where my arse had hit the hardwood floor.

  Thankfully, the flames hadn’t caught on to anything, but my relief was short-lived as I realised that both James and Nyssa were now staring at me.

  And Nyssa wasn’t impressed.

  “You lost control,” she said simply as I forced myself back to my feet, ignoring the ache in every muscle as I felt my fire flare under my skin once more, contained only by my exhaustion. I tried to take a deep breath and calm down, but the fire was harder to quell than anything I’d felt before.

  “The exercise was to see how long you could control the flames,” Nyssa continued, “not how hot you can make them. You should note James’ technique. He managed to keep perfect control.”

  I turned to James with my own less-than-impressed expression, giving the fire some small outlet in the hopes that it would calm.

  I expected him to look smug at the praise, but I swiftly frowned as I realised that he didn’t. He didn’t even look happy.

  Creator, did he just have a permanent scowl?

  “What else can I do to improve?” he asked, not even taking a moment to appreciate the praise.

  I nodded quickly, not wanting to seem
less invested in improving than James. If I wanted to be chosen to lead the winter solstice celebrations, I had to improve, and fast. “Yeah, what do I need to do to get better?”

  Auntie Nyssa focused on me. “You need to practice using your magic in small ways. It’s like a muscle you haven’t exercised. Pushing yourself too far, too soon will only hurt you.”

  She then turned to James. “It seems that you already have a practice routine that is serving you well. You should stick with it for now and you will continue to improve.”

  Despite getting more praise, he clenched his hands into fists and looked away. “But not fast enough. The Elite Guard trials are the year we graduate. I want to be ready.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “The Elite Guard?”

  Auntie Nyssa turned back to me. “The strongest of the Wyverns. They serve alongside the High Priestesses. And yes, both organisations have trials for new recruits every five years and they will coincide with your graduation, but they are not to be taken lightly. Many do not survive the trials.”

  James straightened his spine. “I still intend to try.”

  I nodded in agreement. If I could become a High Priestess, there was no way that the Dragons could deny that I belonged with them.

  Auntie Nyssa looked me over and I frowned, getting the sense that she intended to talk me out of it. Probably because of how dangerous they were. But as long as I put my head down and focused on my studies, I should be fine. I had an entire year to train, after all.

  But she said nothing. She just sighed.

  “Fine. If you want my advice? Listen to me, train hard, and trust each other. Priestesses and Wyverns are not in competition, they work together. If you can master that, it will put you in good stead going forward.

  “Now, with you so exhausted, Skye, it’s probably a good idea to call it here for the day. We can reconvene tomorrow.”

  I nodded before heading out of the room. Nyssa was right, I was finding it a little difficult to stay upright.

  If I wanted to continue training later, I would have to recover.

  As I headed down the corridor, however, I heard hurried steps behind me.

  I turned to see James striding towards me. “Skye,” he said as he approached, his voice cold and formal, as if he’d rather be doing anything other than talking to me. So, why was he? “If you want some help with your technique, I could show you some training routines to help you gain control.”

  I glared at him. What the hell? Not a single word to me, and nothing but glares, and now, what? He wanted to help?

  Every instinct I had told me that he was having me on. That this offer was some kind of trick.

  Why else would he help someone he was in competition with? Why help me beat him to lead the winter solstice celebrations?

  Unless he thought that I was so far behind that there was no possible way that I could catch up.

  So, what did that make this? A pity offer?

  My stomach churned at the thought and despite my exhaustion, I felt fire crackle just beneath my skin.

  “I don’t need your help,” I said before storming off, refusing to give him the chance to elaborate.

  I didn’t want to hear him say how little he thought of me.

  The Dragons had already made it clear that they didn’t think that I was strong enough to be one of them, I didn’t need to hear it from my fellow student. Especially a Wyvern who didn’t even have scales. He’d be as much of an outsider as me in the city, and yet, he clearly thought I was beneath him, rather than an equal.

  Well, fuck him.

  I didn’t need his pity. I wasn’t some pathetic child who can’t figure out her powers on her own.

  I had no idea where I was going when I stormed through the campus, fire still pumping through my veins.

  I felt as if I was going to explode.

  Creator, I’d never felt like this before. I’d never struggled so much to keep my emotions under control. What was happening to me?

  Eventually, I slowed as I found myself practically crashing through the doors of the library.

  Shelves went up higher than I could see, higher than could be reached without magic, and the wooden floor echoed with my footsteps.

  Why had I come here?

  I frowned, taking a moment and finding that my magic was reaching out.

  Sensing the room around me.

  Searching for something. But what?

  Then I felt it. The familiar feel like a warm blanket on a cold day.

  Naveen. I could sense him.

  I looked around the room, seeing Naveen hunched over a collection of books.

  I sighed with relief. If anyone could make me feel better, it was him.

  “Hey,” I said softly as I approached.

  He didn’t look up.

  “Naveen?”

  He still didn’t look up.

  I put my hand on his shoulder, and he yanked it away before blinking, finally realising that I was there.

  “Sorry,” I said. “But you weren’t responding.”

  “Oh, Skye, sorry. Did you need something? I’m in the middle of some really important work.”

  “Well, I...”

  Suddenly I was hyper aware of the fact that he had been working, and I had just tried to pull him away to vent to him. To find some outlet for the flames that wasn’t exploding into fire.

  But that wasn’t Naveen’s problem, it was mine. I shouldn’t be bothering him with it.

  “I just... Had a stressful class and wondered if you wanted to get some food with me,” I managed, hoping that I was wrong. That this wasn’t an inconvenience. That he could be the safe outlet I needed.

  He shook his head. “It’s okay, I’m good here. I’ll see you later though.”

  I nodded, trying not to get too worked up about him ignoring my confession that the class had been stressful.

  If he didn’t want to hear about it, then he didn’t want to hear about it. He was busy, after all...

  I took a deep breath as I headed out of the library, cursing the hot tears that I could feel welling behind my eyes.

  I thought coming to Ember would be different. That he would stop leaving me behind.

  But maybe coming back here hadn’t been despite leaving me behind. Maybe that had been why he’d gone.

  Just one more person who didn’t want me around.

  I headed back to that café from before and grabbed a prosciutto and parmesan sandwich, along with a mocha with whipped cream and a bag of doughnuts.

  If Naveen couldn’t serve as an outlet for the fire still simmering away beneath my skin, maybe comfort food would do the trick.

  I turned to leave, only to see Elizabeth walk in.

  “Skye?” she asked. “Are you having lunch already?” She glanced down to the bag. “I guess Dragon training really tired you out.”

  “Kind of... It was more just stressful.” I then realised that she was holding a stack of books on curses. Right. Her new special interest. She was probably just looking for a coffee. “But it’s fine. I’ll let you get back to studying.”

  “No, that’s okay, I could do with an early lunch. So, tell me about the class. What happened?”

  I sighed as I followed her back to the counter, where she ordered her own lunch. “Are you sure? I went to see Naveen after my class and he... He was too wrapped up in his studies to talk.”

  Elizabeth frowned. “He agreed to meet you and then ignored you?”

  “Well, no, I just kind of... I think I followed his magical signature, but I’m not sure. I’ve never done anything like that before.”

  Elizabeth grinned. “Of course, you would first tap into those powers just to track him down. Though even if he wasn’t expecting you, it was rude of him to ignore you when you’re so obviously upset. But I’m sure it wasn’t personal. You know how he gets when he’s wrapped up in something.”

  “I know,” I said as Elizabeth picked up her food, and we headed to a free table in the corner of the room. “It�
��s just... He usually pulls himself away when I need him. He’s never ignored me like this. Not when I’ve been upset.”

  “Yeah, that is unusual. But you should give him time. Coming to and from uni can take a lot out of him – it can take a lot out of both of us – and on top of that, you being here changes things. Not in a bad way, but neither of us are good at adjusting to change, even if it’s good.”

  I sighed as I picked at my sandwich. “I know. I just...”

  “You were really upset about what happened in your class?”

  I nodded.

  “So, what did happen? I thought Nyssa was your teacher, it can’t have been too bad.”

  “If you don’t think Nyssa can be strict, then you don’t know Nyssa that well. But it wasn’t her... I got annoyed that the other student – there’s only one – was better than me, and so I fuelled everything I had into my fire and I lost control of it.”

  “Well, that’s to be expected. You did only get your powers a few weeks ago. Was it another Priestess?”

  “No,” I mumbled into my sandwich, my body finally demanding that I eat, given how much energy I’d poured into that blast. “A Wyvern.”

  “Well, Wyverns come into their magic with the rest of us at puberty. He’ll have been training for over five years.”

  “I know! I just... I was frustrated. I don’t like the idea of being behind. And then, to make things worse, the asshole starts pitying me and offers to help me with training.”

  Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. “Was that pity, or him trying to be nice? I mean, hell, maybe he was even trying to flirt with you?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m pretty sure he wasn’t flirting, Liz. He was so dour, I’m not even sure that he knows what flirting is.”

  “Well, maybe. But either way, are you sure he was pitying you? Or was this you getting frustrated again?”

  I sighed once more, picking up my mocha now that it was finally cool enough to drink and gulping it down. “In my defence, my blood sugar must have been through the floor.”

  “If you created a massive blast, I don’t doubt it.”

  “And you didn’t see him in the class, Elizabeth. If he ever looked at me, it was with a scowl. I’m not sure he knows what friendly means. I maybe shouldn’t have snapped at him, but I still don’t think he wanted to be friends.”