Chapter 17 CHAPTER 17
My heart rate increased rapidly as Master Torrin headed in my direction, and that permanent frown settled on his face like a second skin.
When he got to my form still curled on the ground, he reached for my leg wordlessly.
I gave it to him without question, not ready to feel more pain than I already felt.
"I'll have to speak to Draco about this," he mumbled to himself as he gently, – shocking, I know – dropped my leg back,; "If I wanted to train toddlers, I would have gone to Hermish territories and work with the nobles for better pay."
I wanted to tell him to go fuck himself but I wasn't about to have myself thrown out when I'm not ready to leave.
He walked away after expressing his displeasure with babysitting me and I breathed better.
I watched everyone disperse gradually as well, my heart beating faster, scared someone might decide to finish what they'd started.
But no one did, until everyone went on their way.
I was about to force myself to get moving in the direction we came and not where the rest of the first year had all gone toward, when I noticed a figure running in my direction.
Erin.
I'd lost sight of her when we'd been herded onto the track earlier, and I had no idea when she left.
"I'm so sorry, I forgot we came together," she apologized before stopping next to me.
"It's fine. I'm sorry for being such a burden."
"Nonsense," she said, waving me off. "The assholes are just bored out of their own minds. There's been no reason to leave the Academy for a while."
"Oh."
I didn't ask for details. I didn't want to know about their wars. I had enough trauma of my own.
"I should take you to the infirmary," she said uneasily, looking in the direction she was coming from with an odd look in her eyes.
"Just point me in the direction of it," I told her. "I'll manage. You've already done too much for me. I don't want to take more time off your schedule."
"Are you sure?" she asked, biting her lower lip anxiously.
"Absolutely. Which way is it?"
"You remember how to get back to the center of the Academy, right?"
No.
"Yes, is that where it is?"
"No, you have to take the stairs leading to the fourth building on the left of Principal Draco's office. That's where the infirmary is. People rarely need it, so you'll be attended to quickly."
"Thank you. I'll be off now."
I walked, wobbled, or whatever this system of movement was, pushing myself forward, ignoring the pain as I kept moving.
"I'll come see you after lunch break, okay?"
I turned to Erin, who still had that pitiful look on her face.
"Don't worry about me, Erin," I winced. "I'll be fine."
She took my word for it and began running again.
I wobbled past the field, eyes focused ahead of me.
I wasn't going to any infirmary. I would probably collapse before I got there.
My plan, however, was to find somewhere to hide until tomorrow.
My stomach suddenly growled, reminding me I'd not had any food for two days now.
I shook my head, reminding myself it wasn't the first time I'd had to starve, probably wouldn't be the last considering my situation back home.
I bore the pain until I got out of the sprinting area and began walking toward the center, or in the general direction of it, but my eyes darted around, looking for hiding spots where I could just get lost in for as long as possible.
But for something carved out of a mountain, this place lacked hiding spots. Everywhere was a building marked for something—a gym, a bathhouse, an admin block, teaching quarters…
All the names blurred in my head as I walked through the Academy. Thankfully, it was more empty now as the suns fired angry rays on my face.
I got to a building marked Records and leaned against its wall, trying to catch my breath.
The pain was so intense I didn't even notice someone had come close to me.
This was happening way too much.
"Why aren't you in the cafeteria with everyone else?"
I jumped, then relaxed, my body recognizing the voice before my eyes registered the face.
Principal Draco.
He looked less tense and stressed now, and once again, I was struck by how masculine and attractive he was.
"Are you speech impaired?"
"Of course not," I frowned. "I'm hurt so I have to find the infirmary."
I lifted my leg so he could see it as he cocked his eyebrows in a questioning glance.
A flicker of something… painful passed through his eyes, too fast for me to catch it, to make sense of it.
"Where's your guide? Didn't I tell her to watch you?"
"I told her to go back to her normal life. She shouldn't have to miss out on anything because—"
My voice cut off as a loud roar rang out in the bright sky, sending spasms of shock through my body.
I knew the place was called Drakkonia and there were dragon emblems and totems everywhere. I should have expected to see one at some point, but goodness, nothing prepared me for the sight of the beast ahead of me in the open sky.
A red beast, with wings that covered one whole sun as it beat back and forth, carrying someone on its back.
I felt nauseous at the thought of being up there, so high away from solid ground.
"For fuck's sake, Florian!" The Principal's grunt pulled me out of my stare.
"What happened?" I blurted, then winced. The Principal didn't owe me explanations.
"He knows he's not supposed to fly his dragon around the training ground. He's going to get these little rascals in a sugar rush and give me extra work for the next few days."
Oh. Well, I guess I should push my luck.
"Is there anywhere else to get food besides the cafeteria?"
He turned sharply to me, a crease appearing on his forehead.
I felt a sudden urge to smooth it out, to replace it with…
Chill out, Alira, damn.
"You do look really pale," he noted. "When's the last time you ate?"
"Two days ago, sir."
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he was going to yell at me.
"Wait here," he sighed, and walked off, giving me a full view of him in the sunlight.
"Holy shit," I whispered, my aching ankle completely forgotten as somewhere else ached.
I wanted to do unspeakable things to this stranger who oozed confidence and authority.
In my head, of course. The magic that brought me here wasn't so generous as to allow me more than a glance at the perfection that the Principal was.
His broad back balanced against his long legs, and the way he walked—like he knew he owned the place—the title of Principal was an understatement for him.
Until he was out of my sight, I found it difficult to breathe.
And I found my hand wandering to the spot the magic had marked my neck, forgetting to bless me with the strength to survive this place.
The dragon and his rider had long flown by, and I didn't even get a good view because I was busy ogling the Principal.
When he finally returned, he was on top of a small horse—well, small in comparison to the giants I'd seen here.
He should have looked out of place, his large form in the breeches and pants atop the horse, riding through the black-themed training academy.
But he looked like he belonged, like this place was his kingdom and he, the king riding through and commanding his people.
And then he got to me and stretched forth his hand.
"Sir?" I gasped, hoping I wasn't imagining what he seemed to be asking for.
"Unless you want to keep walking on that foot and damage it completely, Alira, give me your hand. Now!"
I pushed my right hand off the wall and thrust it in his outstretched hand, and suddenly, as he pulled me forward, something began pushing me off the ground.
I nearly fell off trying to figure out what exactly it was, but he grabbed me, his hands cold against the bright sun.
He situated me in front of him, like in the cowboy movies Momma loved to watch.
And I felt my pussy clench—want, desire and excitement battling the disbelief I felt already in me.
Something I'd not felt in a long, long time.
And with a grunt that sent shivers down my spine, we began heading toward… well, I had no idea where he was taking me, and I didn't ask.
Something in me was scared of him, but I also trusted him.