Page 9 of Wild Bond

He cleared said throat and my eyes shot to his. He had caught me staring; the man missed nothing. I flushed, but he didn’t comment on it as he stated, “Your bond is already uncommonly strong.”

“Really?”

He nodded, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Your dragon is very protective of you. Naasir had to intervene to get her to step away long enough so that we could see to your injuries. And getting you to The Tower was an ordeal since she refused to leave your side.”

I was stunned. I looked once more at the dragon in my lap, thinking of how she had stood over me in the square; how, in a fury, she had flown in just after Holt had hit me. No one other than my mother had ever cared about me or defended me like that before. I had once thought Master Safan did and had looked up to him as a father figure of sorts in the beginning. But he had only ever used me for his own gain. And while Lessa and I loved each other like sisters, she was still so young. It had always been I who had to intercede on her behalf.

I ran a finger down the hard gray-green ridges along Skye’s spine and felt a slight sting in my eyes as a swell of emotion filled my chest for this amazing creature. Almost instantly, I felt it returned to me tenfold. Her neck curved and she stared at me with a warm fondness shining in her emerald eyes.

I smiled down at her, but then felt the weight of Rakim’s stare and quickly tried to get a handle on my emotions. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I had gotten so used to hiding my emotions. I never cried. Blinking away the wetness in my eyes, I asked, “So, what happens now?”

Again, he did not comment on my show of emotion. “Tomorrow evening, once you are recovered, you and your dragon will be presented to the queen at the Exodus Ball with the other riders who found their dragons during our city’s celebrations.”

The Exodus Ball was always held on the last night of the Bonding Celebrations, and all the dragon riders and nobles in the city would be in attendance. The idea of being presented to the queen was slightly terrifying.

My stomach growled loudly, and I thought I glimpsed a hint of humor in Rakim’s eyes as he moved to the door. “I will let a maid know you are awake and ready for a meal.”

All I could do was nod, trying to process everything he had told me. Not to mention all that had happened in the last day and a half. I didn’t realize I had been lost in my thoughts until I heard the door click shut. Rakim had left without a word.

I suppose I should have thanked him, but it was too late now. And I was more distracted by the question of why he of all people had come to talk to me in the first place. To warn me against leaving, obviously, but considering his position and the many events and celebrations he would be expected to attend due to the holiday, surely, he had more important things to be doing than talking to me.

And yet . . . he had.

I didn’t have long to consider this, however. Shortly after he left, a rather plump girl entered carrying a tray. She had red hair, freckles, and looked to be a few years younger than me.

Her face was kind, and she smiled broadly as she entered. “Hello, miss.” She curtsied slightly without moving the tray at all. “I’m Millie, the maid assigned to this floor.”

I nodded and tried to give a smile in return. “I’m Rin. Rin—”

“Corrine Darrow,” she finished for me. “Of course, I know your name. You’re all anyone can talk about, miss. The whole city is buzzin’ with it. You’re the thief who bonded the Jade Dragon.” She said the last with awe in her voice as her eyes drifted surreptitiously to where Skye lay curled on the bed beside me. She appeared to shake it off and set the tray of food across my lap.

I took in a deep breath of the delicious smells as I cataloged my breakfast. Fresh bread with butter, colorful fruit, and thick fried ham slices with boiled eggs. There was even a cold glass of milk. My mouth watered, and I gaped at all the food. Even when I was working for Master Safan and had a few coins to my name, I had rarely had a meal like this.

“What’s the special occasion?” I asked in amazement.

Millie’s brow puckered in confusion. “Occasion, miss?”

I gestured to the food. “Is this to celebrate the Bonding Celebrations?”

Understanding dawned, and her expression softened. “No, miss. This is just breakfast.”

“Oh, right,” I laughed stiffly, suddenly feeling foolish. “Of course.” For a moment, I had forgotten where I was. Apparently, meals like this were nothing special here in The Tower. But to me, it was more food than I had seen in several weeks.

“Eventually you’ll eat down in the dining hall with the other trainees,” she explained, “but I’m to bring your meals until you heal up.”

“Thank you,” I finally managed to say.

“Of course, miss. Will you be needin’ anything else?” She smiled sweetly at me, and for some reason, her kindness had me feeling the burn of tears in my eyes once again.

I quickly bit down hard on the inside of my cheek and willed the tears back, along with the unexpected rush of emotion. I shook my head.

She bobbed another swift curtsy and left.

I forced myself to eat the wealth of food at a sedate pace, knowing eating it too quickly would make me sick with my stomach as empty as it was. Even still, it was a battle not to shove everything in my mouth, and I had to resist the urge to hide part of the bread under my pillow for later. I had to keep reminding myself that food was readily available here. It would take some time for me to overcome the instinct.

Sometime later, I set the tray on the bedside table, my stomach full to bursting. I found myself rubbing it unconsciously through the nightgown.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had been truly full. Was it when I lived with my mother? That was so long ago now, nearly ten years.

---