The Betrayed Dragon (Cycle of Dragons Book 2) by Dan Michaelson (best free ereader TXT) 📕

now that I looked around me, I briefly panicked that I didn’t end up in my own quarters.

The knock came again, a sharp rap against the door.

I got to my feet, staggering. My room was sparsely decorated. I had a bed, a chest of drawers (though very little clothing to put inside), and a small table where I was able to study—that is, when I had an opportunity to spend time here. These days, that wasn’t all that often.

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, pressing my fingers up against my temples as I tried to suppress the pain, but it did nothing to ease it. The throbbing persisted, making it difficult for me to concentrate.

When the knock came again, I grunted. “I’m on my way.”

I had no idea who was waiting on the other side of the door, only that they seemed impatient. I didn’t think I’d missed any classes this morning, though I had no idea what time it was, so as far as I knew, it may not have even been morning anymore.

When I pulled the door open, I found Thomas standing on the other side. He crossed his arms over his chest, watching. “You are here,” he said.

He was dressed in a heavy black cloak, and the dragon scales worked into the fabric caused it to shimmer. The emblem on his left chest marked him as serving the king. A hint of heat radiated from him, enough that I suspected he held it intentionally, wanting to test whether I was aware of his connection to the dragons.

“Was I supposed to meet you?”

Thomas growled. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just . . .” I cut myself off before telling him too much. He didn’t need to know I’d spent the night out in the city. According to Natalie, it was a celebration of music, one that wasn’t altogether uncommon within the city. We didn’t have festivals like that in Berestal—not as impressive as what I’d seen.

“I’m sorry if I was supposed to find you before,” I said.

“Come along,” Thomas said.

I glanced down at myself. “Do I have time to get dressed?”

He grunted. “Get dressed. Meet me outside.”

I wasn’t in any condition to work with Thomas right now. I wanted to rest. I still felt the effects of sleep, and if it was still early, I wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep, to get the last bits of rest that I could.

The look on Thomas’s face suggested to me he would brook no argument, so I closed the door on him for a moment and staggered over to my chest of drawers, pulling it open until I found fresh, clean clothing. I dressed as quickly as I could, though staggered a little bit, still affected by the ale.

When I was finally dressed, I stepped into my boots, threw my cloak around my shoulders, and entered the hallway.

The air was cool and almost damp, the way that it always was within the Academy. I breathed it in, trying to clear my head. I didn’t want to go down to train with Thomas and have a foggy mind, but it was a chore to try to get my mind freed.

The only thing I could think of was that he hadn’t told me we were meeting today.

At least, not first thing in the morning.

Unless he’d expected me to join him every day.

I weaved through the hall, trying to keep from stumbling. Eventually, I rested my hand on the wall, trailing it along the cool stone, pulling it off only long enough to move past some of the dragon lanterns.

When I reached the stairs, I heard a familiar voice below me.

I was in no mood to deal with Brandel this morning.

The alternative was turning around and going the opposite direction, but that meant I would have to wander through the Academy even more.

I had to decide soon. Brandel and whomever he was with were making their way up the stairs. I could hear the loud sound of their boots on the stones, almost as if they were thundering toward me. It was too much.

I braced myself and started down.

With each step, I tried to steady my breathing and clear my head, forcing myself to be ready for Brandel. When I rounded the landing, he was there with Cara.

“What are you doing . . . ? You smell terrible,” Brandel sneered. “What did you do, bathe in a bucket of ale?”

“Out of my way,” I said to Brandel.

He blocked me from going down the stairs.

“He was probably out at the festival last night,” Cara said. “Didn’t he know we were told not to go?”

“He probably thinks he’s too good to listen to the rules,” Brandel said. “I mean, he’s only been here for a few months, and he thinks he’s far more advanced than the rest of us.”

“I’m supposed to meet Thomas Elaron,” I mumbled.

If nothing else, maybe throwing around Thomas’s name with Brandel would get him out of my way.

He and Cara shared a look before Brandel turned his attention to me, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’re mistaken if you think he’s going to protect you. He’s not even going to be chief dragon mage for long,” he said.

“Right,” I said, starting forward.

“You need to be careful,” Brandel snapped, grabbing for my arm.

I pushed him back.

I think it was more the suddenness of the movement that startled him, and he staggered, slamming up against the wall.

I probably needed to be a bit more careful, especially with him. I had no interest in getting into a battle with him, not that it would be one that I would even be able to win.

He stormed toward me.

I reacted the only way that I could. I called upon the power, the energy that was still stored deep within me, more than I had realized, and I sent it sweeping out, surging from one side to the other. I held on to it, letting it explode outward. Without meaning to, it slammed