Page 41 of Burning Heir

Winter, my home, seemed to hold its breath as I gazed through the cracked veins of its wing. They stretched like rivers frozen mid-flow, yet within them, I swore I felt warmth—a heartbeat.

For a moment, I wondered if I had died.

Archer’s dragon stayed with me the entire night. When the sun rose, it felt abrupt, as if the moon itself had turned away, unable to bear witness to my suffering.

I couldn’t help but wonder: did Archer send hisdragon?

Chapter Nine

Muffled voices spoke, and it took me a moment to realize it was Bridger’s. “I told you she is not a Winter. It nearly killed her for you to understand that,” he whispered. “She can’t bond with a single enigma and is literally repelled by snow.”

I blinked, staring up at the dim lanterns on the bedside table. Ringing and humming mingled with scattered voices.

Bridger stood at the foot of the bed with the headmaster beside him. “I chose Winter for her. It’s what her father wanted. Of all Fallon’s children, she’s the only one who has pushed back.”

“Her mother had one of the most powerful quells in the academy’s history, and her brother bonded with the Gemini dragon. What did you expect? The Serpent has me by the neck,” Bridger said, exasperated, flinging his arms in the air.

The headmaster was silent, his thumb strumming over his beard. “Speak to Jenessa and find out why a beast escapedthrough the wards and onto the trails. The girl was—was brutally attacked.”

My tongue felt frozen, like my body had been a night’s breadth ago. I didn’t make a sound. The wards were fine. It was Callum who’d—who’d attacked me.

Bridger was there. He watched. I swore he got off on my pain.

“I refuse to be her mentor, not if that Serpent is making demands. I didn’t want to leave her there alone. Perhaps the academy can make mistakes, such as heiring a mad leader.” Bridger’s combat boots clicked as he stormed out.

I melted into the mattress, sinking my neck into the curve of the wrinkled pillow as the headmaster followed. Flashes of last night lashed through my mind like a whip cutting through a shield. The sound of my clothes tearing under his dagger, the grin as he watched me shiver until I begged. My throat was hoarse, raw from screaming. My eyes darted wall to wall, searching for Estella, but the infirmary was empty.

I shoved the white linens off my legs and pulled at the loose dressings covering my wounds. Welts and bruises laced my aching skin. My fingers traced the tender, purplish areas where Bridger’s ice daggers had punctured me. Lacerations lined my ribs and thighs where Callum had cut my clothes, jagged and deliberate, to make it look like a snow beast had attacked.

But I’d survived. I’d lasted long enough to breathe.

I closed my eyes and fell asleep for what felt like an hour until the door creaked open. I blinked and saw a flushed Damien. He was the last person I wanted to see like this, and I didn’t have it in me to be scorned or accused of wandering into the forests alone.

He clenched his jaw, taking in the sight of my bruised skin. “Malachi couldn’t find you this morning. I thought you were—”

“Dead. I nearly froze to death,” I said, pulling the cotton shirt down. “Still no quell, and I think my enigma is nonexistent.”

His eyes flashed. “You look… terrible. What happened?”

“I’d rather not—not talk about it. I’m sure your brother has already called the boat to Malvoria.”

“Lucky for you, he and the other Serpents are gone.” He took a step closer, his hand brushing against the wooden bedframe.

“Gone?” I leaned forward.

“As in taking care of their Serpent duties. They are still leaders of realms. They have people to care for, politics to sort out.”

I knew being an arrogant, attractive ass wasn’t all a Serpent was. “Right,” I said.

“You’re covered in blood, Severyn. There’s a bath on the second floor.” He went to help me up, but I pushed back.

“Why are you helping me? I told you I’m being sent to Malvoria,” I hissed. “You have no reason to be nice to me.”

His jaw tightened. “Because we are friends.”

Your friends should be your enemies, but I’d be dumb not to lean on Damien. Damien might be the only person who could take me back to the lake in the Summer forests. “I didn’t think you’d want to be after I ran into the woods.”

He grinned. “I don’t blame you for running off.”

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