I straightened my spine, met my own gaze in the mirror, and chose control.
As I finished the pink blush, my thoughts went back to my failed third practice. Again.
I hadn’t achieved the ruby. No one had but knowing that didn’t soften the blow. It didn’t mean I would fail the Dragontail trials, yet the missed challenge still bruised my pride. Even so, beneath the frustration, I felt ready for my three trials. Or as ready as anyone could be for what waited ahead.
“You look so hot to find yourself a Sunheart male,” Shakari said from behind me. I had almost forgotten she was there.
She wore her golden hair loose and a tight, deep-green dress, just like mine. Everyone would wear their legion colors for the Solstice Celebration.
"I told you, I’m not looking for anyone," I snapped. "There’s too much going on: war, trials. My mind’s full."
“And yet that tight dress, the pins in your hair today clearly show how you don’t want to find yourself a male,” she teased with enough sarcasm to make me blush. “You are too logical, too structured, as any Emberkeep still. Dragontails are visceral, don’t plan as much, and live intensely since they don’t know what happens tomorrow.”
“I guess that Emberkeep soul will never leave me,” I said, trying not to roll my eyes. “Besides, I just like to take care of myself once in a while.”
And that was the truth. I was even proud of my looks today. At least it helped distract me from all my worries.
“Stop carrying the island’s burdens on your shoulders,” Shakari begged. “Just try to unwind tonight.”
I turned around and met her gaze.
“Are you and your twins making bets again? What is it now?” I asked. Shakari grinned.
“Well, yes, you know them. Tran and Rowan are convinced you were too focused on your studies and that you wouldn't accept anyone’s rose, but I thought there was a spark in you. I think you want to put yourself out there.”
“Grabbing a rose doesn’t mean I would hook up with someone,” I said, rolling my eyes slowly and deliberately so she would notice.
“Yes, it does if you are a Dragontail in its first-year that will fight for its life the next day,” Shakari spat.
“It's just a dumb tradition. At the Solstice, we are supposed to honor the Gods for their magic. I just don’t understand why we need to wear masks and wait for Sunhearts males to give us a flower.” I chastised. Shakari clearly was notdeserving of my hate, but she knew me too well to understand I wasn’t mad at her.
“You used to love this celebration and patiently waited each year for Thalen to bring you his rose,” she said, grabbing me by the arm, attempting a hug. “Now you are in Dragontail, and that might just be awesome sex instead of future king Thalen. Unless, of course, you want him again.”
She laughed at her own joke, but I didn’t.
“No one dares to approach me,” I said. “All the Sunhearts in this academy will just come near me to bow for me, but then just run away. After that newspaper article, everyone believes I belong to Thalen’s. Perhaps they are terrified of Thalen or his father, General Barret. And I am definitely not hooking up with Thalen after how he manipulated everything for our parents' political agenda.”
But now that I thought about it, maybe sex with someone would erase Lorik Draventh from my soul, maybe even with treacherous Thalen Barret.
Shakari stopped laughing and looked at me with sadness. She knew this topic was not up for jokes.
"Don’t worry. I’m fine. I plan to have fun with you guys," I said, forcing a grin. “Well then, let’s go,” she said. “What are we waiting for?”
“We promised to wait for Soehl. She is bringing the masks,” I said while she let a low growl of annoyance. Wearing masks for the Solstice celebration was customary, regardless of where you celebrated it on the island. Sunhearts wear golden masks covering their eyes to praise the God of Solvir, while Moonveils wear silver masks to honor the God of Lunareth. Shakari’s hands then slid to the pillow behind her as she wasgetting herself comfortable to wait for me. My heart stopped for a second in remembrance of what was hidden beneath the pillow.
The first hiding place of the dragon guide was on my desk, but that was too obvious, so I thought of the bed. Now that I thought about it, it was a terrible location as Shakari would always sit on my bed.
My eyes widened as I saw her hand go beneath the pillow. Her head tilted at what must have been the touch of the hardcover book.
“Which color blush should I use? Pink or brown?” I said, trying to distract her.
“Pink, obviously, looks good with your beige skin,” she said, taking the book out from below the pillow.
“Very heavy night reading,” Shakari said, curiosity already piqued, as she opened the book. The problem was not her reading the book's contents; it was the handwritten note within. I should have burned that note, but I didn’t. I kept it, as I was keeping all the memories of Lorik Draventh impregnated in my head every day for the past week.
“Maybe we can meet Soehl in the common areas, let’s go,” I said, standing up, hoping she would too.
Then, my heart froze. The handwritten note fell to the floor. I watched Shakari carefully pick it up and read it out loud.