Page 32 of Black Wing and Shadows
“We’ve met,” he said with a smile.
I felt an overwhelming sense of anger rush through me. It startled me for a moment, then I realized it was not my anger, but his. Why washeangry?
“Oh?” Lili said, raising an eyebrow at me, then turned to him. “Well, Auri is our childhood best friend.”
“Alex has been one of my closest friends for the past two years,” Zane said, keeping his gaze fixed on me.
Anxiety spiked, drying out my throat and locking my tongue. My mate—destined, bound—was best friends with the man I’d dated on and off for five years. The same man who had taken my virginity. Fantastic. My stomach twisted, and I forced down a hardswallow.
“Let’s all get some food and sit down,” Lili said with an empathetic look, as if she realized Zane was more than just a casual acquaintance. She was well aware of Alex and my relationship and had witnessed all its ups and downs firsthand.
“Yes, let’s,” Zane said, his face very neutral, but also looking like he was about to throw daggers out of them.
I let the three of them lead, and I followed behind. My mind raced, and honestly, I was on the edge of a full-blown anxiety attack. Zane slowed his pace to walk beside me.
“We should talk.” His voice cut low between us, the words heavy enough to press against my skin.
“Not here,” I said, looking at the ground.
“First floor, room two. Come in through Watch Tower Two. I will leave here in an hour or so,” he told me before he picked back up the pace and stood next to Alex.
Shit. He was somehow in a leadership role, positioned on the first floor. I refused to let it bother me. It wouldn’t kill me, and I told myself it would be okay. I hadn’t seen my best friend in over a year. I increased my pace and moved to stand beside Lili. We all grabbed some food and headed to the expansive arena, where large, glowing bistro tables had been set up for cadets to enjoy a meal under the bright light orbs. I sat down between Lili and Zane, with Alex sitting across from me.
"So, how do you all know each other?” Alex asked, glancing at me and back to Zane.
“Ah, simply around. We sparred once, and she’s a hell of a sparrer,” Zane said, looking at me.
“Yes, she is. We used to spar a lot when we were growing up. Of course, it always ended in something more.” He shot me a big smile, and I rolled my eyes.
The anger I felt earlier came over me again. I looked at Zane, who didn’t look angry. I placed my hand in my lap, then slid it onto his knee and squeezed it. I was hoping he’d understand that I was silently letting him know I could feel him. I didn’t keep my hand there long. I didn’t wanteither of them to notice. He shot me a side glance and a slight smile, as if he understood.
“How did a dragon Rider become best friends with a Drusearon?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
Alex let out a light laugh and looked over at Zane. “We were in the same platoon in basic, we simply clicked. We have had each other’s asses over the last two years. We both fly, only in different ways.”
Zane looked unimpressed with this conversation, or perhaps that was his regular expression, because neither Alex nor Lili seemed to act otherwise. Every time we spoke, he was giving me subtle, devious smiles, or he displayed worry because I was on death’s door.
“How has the ice wielding been going?” I asked Lili.
When she came home for summer break after her first year, she beamed with happiness that she got the ability to throw ice. Alex could wield fire making them a deadly combo. It was also ironic as they could balance each other out, as they had their whole lives.
“It is going really well. I always have to have some sort of water in order to manipulate it.”
“I love to hear that, that first summer home was a little rough.”
“My fire wielding is going great too. Thanks for asking—” Alex added.
“I mean I didn’t, but that’sgreatfor you.” I said to him. Lili let out a laugh.
“Hey man, are you good?” Alex asked Zane. Well, maybe this wasn’t his usual expression.
“This is the face you usually give your wing, the unimpressed, unfazed Zane,” Lili added.
“Your wing?” I looked over at him.
“I am fine, merely have a lot of things going on in here.” He looked between them and tapped his head. He turned and looked at me. “I am the Executive Officer of the Black Wing.”
“Oh, that’s cool,” I said, smiling.
