Page 45 of Burning Heir

I cocked a brow, reaching for the blade clutched in his grasp, but he yanked away with a false smile. “You didn’t think it would be that easy?”

I huffed. “Don’t go easy on me.”

We fought until the sunset marred the clouds, until sweat simmered against my brows. And he countered my every stride and lunge with a subtle heave, and never once did my blood spill. My feet tumbled together, and my spine slammed into the grass. I seethed as cold metal pressed on my throat, and his hand tightened around my waist. I pushed him off, but he squared his hips atop mine, trapping me while he brushed a fleck of dirt off my bobbled chin with his thumb.

His cool breath hit my face. “Unfortunately, you did not win.”

I laughed to myself as I leaned up and bit his jaw. It was not hard, just a gentle bite, but it was enough for his shoulders to tense and the blade to slide against my collarbone and hit the ground.

“I believe I just did,” I hummed.

He rolled off me, eyes on the dusted sky. “We both know that move doesn’t count. I am a man, Severyn. Of course, I will crumble if a beautiful woman bites me.” I watched his eyes whirl once as a defeated breath exhaled from him. “I was in a boarding school for six years because I told the truth. Now, the reason I shall let your mind sort that out.”

“That’s notfair.”

“Hey, you never answered my question about wanting to be your father’s heir.”

“My brother Charles would have been better suited.”

“It seems we’re both living a world within our siblings. Mine happens to be the biggest asshole on the Continent. Now, you’ll understand Archer was why I was sent away.”

I scoffed. “All the more reasons to hate him.”

He nodded, changing the topic. “I’ll walk you home. Dragon riders don’t like it when bird flyers step onto their fields.”

I laughed. “My brother warned me that I should avoid dragon riders.”

He rolled his eyes. “Your brother seems like a smart man,” he said.

I was unbonded, powerless, and without any weapons. Whoever wanted to attack me would have an easy kill.

Chapter Ten

Warding was brutal that next day, leaving me with a splitting migraine as I forced my shield to cover my trembling fingers.

I was the only one without a quell in the entire academy. Six students were forced onto a boat as per their Serpent’s request while I was recovering in the infirmary, and I dreaded the next time I saw Archer, knowing I’d seen his dragon’s midnight wings fly in earlier.

I overheard Antonia whisper to Jace from a row behind us, “Ciaran is back. I thought for sure she was dead.”

Jace responded, “He’s still weak. You can blame the Blanche freak for that one.”

I whipped around. “What the hell do I have to do with Archer being weak?”

“Not you,” Antonia sneered. “But it’s nice to know you wereeavesdropping.”

Myla gripped my shoulder. “You’re in no position to start a feud with people who know where you sleep.”

I shrugged her off. “Antonia, it must be hard.”

She grinned back. “What?”

“To be broken up with because a title is greater than love. But seeing as you called my dead brother a freak, I’d say Alaric dodged a bullet.”

Barred teeth hissed at me. “Let’s hope I don’t have your key today. Drowning seems to run in your family.”

My key?

Myla asked as we left warding, “Did your brother die here?”

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