House of Shadows (Royal Houses 2)

“I don’t know,” Kerrigan lied.

“I’m going to meet with Raysor. He said that he’d help me with my healing.” She grimaced. “I’m not looking forward to it.”

Audria wasn’t the best healer. But since that was what Bryonica was known for, it would be an insult to her heritage for her to not at least try. Kerrigan was glad that no one thought it was an insult to her heritage, considering water was her worst element.

“It’s a good idea.”

“I asked Zina if she’d work with me,” Noda confessed next to Audria.

“What did she say?” Audria asked.

Noda shook her head. “She said her favor to Helly was to train on Mondays, and I could figure it out myself on Fridays.”

Kerrigan snorted. “Sounds like her.”

“Yeah, so I guess I’m going to try to get ahead on my ancient Fae. My elective is in languages.”

“Boring,” Roake said. “I’m going to be working with Lorian. He said I really had something.”

Fordham arched an eyebrow in disbelief. “Interesting.”

“Why?”

“Nothing.”

Roake crossed his arms. “Well, what are you doing?”

“I received dispensation from the council for magic lessons with Gelryn.”

Audria gasped. Roake even looked impressed. “Gelryn the Destroyer? He’s offering lessons?”

“He’s offering me lessons.”

“No offense, but didn’t he fight a war to kill your people?” Noda asked.

Fordham shrugged. “A thousand years ago.”

His eyes met Kerrigan’s in the space, and she understood then. He was going to work on his magic lessons with the dragon to try to get information about the war. It was smart. A way to include research in his training time.

“Well, Ker, it’s just you,” Noda said. “Should we brainstorm what you should do?”

“Nah, I’m good. I have a few ideas. Might try a few different things.”

Fordham shot her a questioning look, but she shook her head. She wasn’t ready to tell anyone her plans. Not even Fordham. Because not even Fordham knew the secret she was hiding.

They ate together in the dining hall. Audria regaled them with Season gossip. The official opening wouldn’t be for three more weeks, but small parties were already cropping up. Kerrigan was thankful she didn’t have to participate. That none of them did. She thought Audria felt the same, though she’d never admit it.

As the others branched off to their extra training sessions, she turned to head in the opposite direction.

Fordham jogged to catch up with her. “Hey.”

“Hey. Aren’t you going to meet with Gelryn?”

“Coincidentally, in the same direction as where you’re going. What are you planning?” he asked. “I know you well enough to know you have a plan.”

She glanced up into those smoky-gray eyes. Her heart lurched. She gulped and hastily looked away.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Come on. It’s me.”

“Fine,” she said with a huff. “I’m meeting with Tieran.”

“Flying?” he asked, surprised. “You have to already be the best rider here. You’ve been riding since you were a kid.”

“Tieran and I don’t get along,” she said, giving him a piece of the truth. “We never did. Netta and I were always better matched. I still don’t know why he picked me, but we have to find a way to work together the next year. We need to figure that out before we’re in front of Alura.”

“Fair. I didn’t realize that you didn’t get along. He was worried when you were hurt.”

“Selfish reasons, I assure you.”

He shrugged. “If you say so.”

“And Gelryn? You’re going to ask him about the Great War?”

“Am I that transparent?”

She brushed her hand against his pale skin. “Pretty much.”

His throat bobbed, his eyes drifting to her lips before his expression returned to his careful neutral. “I figured it wouldn’t hurt. I got a letter from Arbor this morning. It arrived by hawk.”

“Really?” Kerrigan asked.

“Yeah. She was worried about us after we vanished.” He grimaced. “There wasn’t exactly a way to let them know.”

“No, there wasn’t.”

“She and Pres heard about what happened with Wynter and said they’d look into it for us there. So, we’ll get some intel into what Wynter is doing while we’re away.”

She relaxed. “That’s good news.”

“This is my turn,” Fordham said, gesturing off to the right.

“Good luck.”

He grinned at her, melting her heart. “You too.”

She watched him jog away for a minute through the stone hall of the mountain and then buried all of her feelings for him in a place she couldn’t reach. The last week of training had been fine between them. They were partners, as they’d been during the tournament. There was nothing romantic at all when they were sweaty and exhausted and fighting to survive this place. But one smile, and it all resurfaced.

She turned away with a sigh and headed up into a private aerie. Tieran had agreed to meet her for Friday afternoon training. The dragons also had that time off for private lessons, which was useful for their purposes.

Tieran waited for her as she trekked up the last staircase. Her legs barely allowed her the option. She thought she’d collapse at the top. They’d run stairs all morning with Alura and then been forced to do more stairs for footwork training with Lorian. It had been brutal.