Chapter 49 49- Never Forget Dragon Gifts Come With Hidden Clauses
LEXI
We probably only spend about fifteen minutes at lunch. I’m too eager to get back to my room and find out what I’m going to be wearing tonight to sit still for any longer than that. I suspect a lot of other people have had the same idea, especially the women, because the cafeteria is noticeably emptier than usual. Everyone must be buzzing with the same mix of excitement and nerves. I barely taste my food. I shove a sandwich into my mouth as fast as I can, then bounce lightly on my heels for a solid two minutes while I watch Blake shovel food into his mouth with impressive efficiency. He doesn’t rush, exactly, but he does speed up under my increasingly obvious stare. The moment he’s done, I spring to my feet, grab his arm, and start dragging him toward the door.
“Lexi…” He says mildly, letting himself be hauled along without resistance.
“We have places to be.” I inform him seriously. He just shrugs and follows me, long strides matching my frantic pace easily. By the time we reach the dorms, my excitement is practically buzzing under my skin. I finally let go of his arm and turn toward my door, already mentally preparing myself for whatever outfit the Academy has decided represents me, When Blake clears his throat.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” He asks, eyebrow raised. I frown for half a second. Then it clicks.
“Oh… That.” I grumble. His mouth curves into a slow, smug smirk.
“Wait here one moment.” He says firmly, already turning away. Before I can respond, he disappears into his room. I cross my arms and huff quietly, staring at his door. I knew this was coming. I agreed to this. That doesn’t mean I have to like how inevitable it suddenly feels. A few seconds later, Blake returns, the jewellery box cradled in his hands like it belongs there.
“Here you go.” He says, clearly pleased. I sigh and take the box. I did agree, after all. And, annoyingly, I really do want to wear it. Still, my reluctance lingers. Not because of the jewellery itself, but because accepting it feels like agreeing to something else. Something heavier. Something neither of us has put into words yet. That uncertainty sits in my chest, frustrating and fluttering all at once. Blake, meanwhile, looks entirely too satisfied with himself. But… I suppose it’s nice that he’s happy. And I do get to wear something beautiful tonight. So maybe it’s worth it.
I head to my room and immediately place the jewellery box carefully on my desk. VERY carefully. Like it might explode if I breathe wrong. I take a step back and stare at it, hands hovering uselessly at my sides. The box looks innocuous enough, elegant, even, but knowing what’s inside it makes my pulse tick a little faster.
“I feel like I need an armed escort just to carry that thing around.” I mutter. I glance toward the door, then the window.
“Hey, Academy.” I add aloud, lowering my voice like this is a private conversation.
“Exactly how burglar-proof is this place?” I ask. I don’t actually expect an answer. I get one anyway. There’s a soft click as the lock on my door slides into place, followed by the quiet, unmistakable sound of the window latch sealing itself shut. I blink.
“…Okay. So at least somewhat secure.” I say slowly. I nod approvingly at the room. That’s good. Comforting, even.
“Thanks.” I say sincerely. Then I hesitate, fingers curling together.
“So… Do you have something interesting for me to wear tonight?” I ask as I wander toward the middle of the room, suddenly aware of how exposed I’ve felt lately.
“I know it isn’t a contest…” I continue, more quietly.
“But I think I could really use a confidence boost. People have been awful. And they stare a lot when I’m with Blake. Which is basically all the time.” I add. The door to my closet creaks open… Slowly. That’s interesting, because it never creaks when I open it myself.
“Did you do that on purpose?” I ask, already grinning.
“Because that’s dramatic.” I joke. The door opens a little more. I approach, amused now, curiosity bubbling up.
“Okay, let’s see what you’ve got for me. You’d better not make me look silly.” I tease as I reach for the handle. The door slams shut.
“Hey!” I object, jumping back. I narrow my eyes at it, then yank the door open again. There is absolutely nothing inside. Not a hanger. Not fabric. Not even a suspicious puff of magical smoke.
“Uh… Am I going to get clothes to wear? Because I’m pretty sure thin air is not going to cut it.” I say flatly. Before I can say anything else, the bathroom door creaks open on its own. The shower turns on. I stare at it. Slowly, I look back at the ceiling.
“Wow. Okay. Rude.” I complain. The closet door closes again with a decisive little thump. I burst out laughing.
“Fine!” I say, holding my hands up in surrender.
“Keep me in suspense. A quick shower won’t hurt.” I shake my head as I head toward the bathroom, still smiling.
“Honestly.” I mutter fondly.
“You’re kind of bossy.” I point out. The bathroom door closes. Alrighty, time for a shower then.
I have a quick shower. As soon as I step out, the water shuts itself off with a soft click, like it’s been waiting for the exact moment I’m done. Before I can even reach for a towel, the hair dryer turns on by itself, humming to life beside me. I snort softly.
“You’re talkative today.” I say, raising my voice just enough to be heard over the dryer.
“You don’t usually… Make yourself known so much. Then again, I don’t always talk to you so much.” I comment. Wrapped up in my bathrobe, I dry my hair while watching my reflection fog and clear in the mirror. Once my hair is dry and warm, I glance back toward my closet, hopeful.
“NOW can I have clothes?” I ask. The closet stays stubbornly shut. Instead, a little drawer in the bathroom vanity flicks open. I stare at it for a second, then walk over and peer inside. Hair pins. Neatly arranged. And a tiny bottle of hairspray. I sigh dramatically.
“Fine. Fine. I can take a hint, you tease.” I grumble, though I’m smiling despite myself. I carefully braid two small sections of hair by my ears, fingers working slowly, deliberately. Once they’re done, I fan the braids out and pin them across my head like a delicate headband, adjusting until it sits just right. I leave the rest of my hair loose down my back, soft and wavy from the shower. Then I close my eyes and mist my head with hairspray, holding my breath as it settles. When I open my eyes again, I blink.
“Glitter hairspray?” I say, tilting my head slightly as the bathroom lights catch faint sparks in my hair. I can’t help but laugh, amused. Of course.
“So… What’s next?” I ask, glancing around.
“Let me guess. Makeup?” I ask. Right on cue, the little cupboard where I keep my makeup flicks open. I shake my head fondly.
“Right. On it. But you know, it would be a lot easier to do appropriate makeup if I knew what I was wearing.” I add, reaching for my brushes. It’s true, but I’m also enjoying this far more than I should. The back-and-forth, the suspense. It feels less like being managed and more like getting ready with someone who knows exactly what they’re doing and is enjoying drawing it out. Doing my makeup turns out to be… Interesting. Apparently, the Academy has very strong opinions about that too. When I pick up a colour or product it doesn’t approve of, the lights in the room snap off without warning. When I swap it for something else, they flick back on again. No explanation. No mercy.
“Oh, come on!” I mutter at one point, laughing under my breath.
“That wasn’t even that bad.” I argue. The lights stay off.
“Okay, okay,” I concede, putting it back. Eventually, I get the hang of it. By the time I’m done, I’ve lined my eyes with deep black eyeliner, added brownish-gold eyeshadow that softens everything and somehow makes the blue of my eyes stand out more than usual. The lipstick is nude, subtle, flattering, not trying too hard. I lean closer to the mirror, turning my head slightly. My hair looks good. Really good. The glitter catches the light in a way that’s understated here, but I have a feeling that in other lighting I might look like a sparkly disco ball. But, you know. In the best possible way.
“Okay, my hair and makeup are BOTH done. NOW can I have clothes? Please?” I say, stepping back. There’s a pause. Then the closet door cracks open.
“Yay!” I bounce on my toes and rush over, excitement bubbling up in my chest. I grab the handle and fling the closet door open.
“Woah.”