Page 19 of The Last Dragon
I clear my throat, the sound too loud in the silence. “If that was all,” I say evenly, turning toward the door. One step. Two. Three. Measured and quiet. Then, the chair subtly creaks. My fourth step falters, foot dragging against the floorboards as if my body remembered something my mind was trying to forget. He’s not done.
“Nidala Ward. She’s from Pirlem. Do you know her?”
I freeze, hand suspended just above the door’s handle, at the sound of her name in his voice. A twitch betrays me—small, but sharp.
We were best friends.
“No,” I lie, my tone cold as steel, spine snapping straight like a drawn crossbow. A near salute.
“No?” he echoes, brows lifting with faint surprise. “She’s your age. Would’ve thought you knew her.”
I’m caught in a lie.
“I knew her,” I admit, guilt blooming in my chest like a bruise. “But the last time I saw her was eight years ago. A lot has changed since then.” Words. Words I try to convince myself are true, even though a part of me knows they’re not.
No. Theyaretrue. Eight years is a long time.
“Hmm.” He tilts his head. Silence is the one thing that tells me he’s going to get his way. When he looks back, it’s no longer the soft, fatherly eyes that are willing to compromise. They’re entirely stoic. Authoritative. The General.
“For the system to work, you must have a tracker, Zel.” There it is. The cold voice I’ve grown to know so well. The tonehe raised me with. “She will track for you. That is my final decision.”
His attention shifts away from me, and I’m told his mind won’t be convinced otherwise.
“Yes, sir.” I straighten up, boots clicking as I salute before turning the handle to leave.
When I open the door, I’m met with amber eyes staring at me. Nida is only a few steps away with one of the lieutenants guiding her to the general’s quarters. Sweat trickles down her forehead, her breath shallow.
I pause in my stride, and something jolts in my chest. I can’t tell if it’s irritation… or something else I don’t have a name for.Berim stands on the opposite side of the door, guarding it.
“He will see you now,” he says—words aimed toward Nida.
My legs take me across the hall quicker than I anticipated. Before I know it, I’m halfway from the general’s quarters. I don’t even need to analyze what’s going to happen behind those doors. I already know. Why her? It would be easier if it were anyone else but her.
At the end of the hall, I catch a glimpse of Eryca, deep in conversation with a blond-haired female cadet—likely a new recruit. I don’t feel like seeing anyone right now. I turn the corner, slipping out of her line of sight. But instead of a damn break, I’m met with another pair of eyes I’d rather not deal with. Alex—arms crossed, leaning against the wall like he owns it. Can’t I just get a moment’s peace?
“Well, well,” he drawls, pushing himself up from the pillar. “Looks like someone doesn’t want to be followed.”
“Move,” I say flatly, not even blinking.
He acts surprised, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Whoa, didn’t know anyone owned these halls.”
“You’re in my way.” I bare my teeth, but he doesn’t move. Doesn’t even blink. “What do you want?”
He shrugs. “You know you’re a real legend, as they say. The strongest soldier. Wanted to get acloserlook at that for myself.”
A smug smile grows on his face, and I’m itching to wipe it off with a punch. Get some teeth out, too. Should have done that during Division Day. I glance at his shoulder but there’s no Division patch yet. Only a blank patch of cloth.
“Well, you got a look. Now keep walking before you don’t have legs to walk.”
His eyes widen, and then he releases a loud laugh. “Damn,Legend, I didn’t expect you to be so aggressive. What happened tofor humanity? I’m sure you’re smart enough to see I have limbs like a human and blood that bleeds the same.”
At this point, I’m already blacking out, fingers twitching as I eye every possible area on his body I can do damage. But I have to contain myself. At least for a moment.
I’m more irritated than usual.
“You’ve got a mouth, you know that, kid?” I say, gritting my teeth.
“So I’ve heard.” He smirks, crossing his arms. “Just no audience. Yet.” He takes a step closer, and my fingers twitch into a fist.
