Chapter 20 STORMS AND STUBBORNNESS
LYRA
We ate and talked comfortably after that Yvaine sharing funny Ember mishaps, Kai recounting light Academy anecdotes that avoided anything too serious. The conversation flowed naturally, laughter slipping in between bites. Every so often Kai’s gaze would linger on my violet curls or the way I absently touched my braid, and I’d feel that small, traitorous flutter I kept shoving down.
As plates emptied, Yvaine stretched and stood. “This was nice, but I promised myself I’d hit the library before afternoon theory. Those aerial charts aren’t going to memorize themselves. You two catch up, I’ll see you back at the dorm later, Lyra.”
She gave me a quick, knowing wink before disappearing into the crowd.
Kai watched her go, then turned to me with a soft smile. “Walk with me? I thought you might want to meet Zephyr properly. He’s been curious about Tempest’s new rider ever since yesterday.”
My heart gave a little skip. “I’d like that.”
We left the cafeteria together, stepping into the cool afternoon air. The path to the dragon roosts wound past training fields where older riders practiced formations, their dragons cutting graceful arcs across the sky.
Kai walked close enough that our arms occasionally brushed, the faint ozone-and-leather scent of him familiar and comforting.
Zephyr’s roost was larger than most, set slightly apart for senior riders. The wind dragon lifted his sleek silver-gray head as we approached, scales shimmering like polished storm clouds with faint turquoise undertones.
He was beautiful, elegant and powerful, with wings that looked built for speed rather than raw force.
“Zephyr,” Kai said warmly, reaching up to rub the dragon’s snout. “This is Lyra. My oldest friend. Be nice.”
Zephyr rumbled softly, lowering his head to study me with intelligent eyes. I held still, letting him scent the air around me. A gentle breeze stirred my violet curls, playful rather than testing.
“He likes you,” Kai murmured. “Says you smell like storms and stubbornness.”
I laughed, stepping closer but still keeping a respectful distance. “High praise. He’s incredible, Kai. So graceful. I can see why you two work so well together.”
We stood in comfortable silence for a moment, watching Zephyr preen under the attention. The roost felt intimate, stone walls curving around us, soft hay underfoot, the distant calls of other dragons creating a peaceful backdrop. But the quiet also made the air feel thicker, charged with everything we weren’t saying.
I traced a finger along the edge of a carved pillar, gathering courage. “Kai… about the rules Madame Cerys and Ser Thorian mentioned yesterday. The no romantic entanglements between riders. Is it really as strict as they made it sound?”
Kai paused, his hand still resting on Zephyr’s scales. He turned to look at me fully, those green eyes searching mine like he was trying to say something without words.
The late afternoon light caught the sharp line of his jaw, the faint scar near his temple from some old childhood tumble we’d shared. For a second, the space between us felt smaller than it should.
“It’s true,” he said finally, voice low and honest. “The rule exists for a reason. Strong emotions, especially romantic ones, can bleed into the dragon bond. Make your dragon reckless, or distracted, or too protective. We’ve lost riders because of it. But…”
He hesitated, glancing at Zephyr before continuing. “Very few riders actually have relationships with people outside the Academy. The walls are high, assignments keep us busy, and most of us don’t get much chance to meet anyone beyond these grounds. So the rule mostly protects us from ourselves.”
I swallowed, heart racing. The question slipped out before I could stop it. “Have you… never thought about it? Breaking it, I mean. Or even just… wondering?”
Kai looked caught off guard, green eyes widening slightly. A faint flush crept up his neck. He ran a hand through his black hair, suddenly awkward in a way that made my own pulse stutter.
“I never really let myself think about it,” he admitted quietly, the words raw and sincere. “Not seriously. There’s too much pressure—my father’s legacy, the expectations, keeping Zephyr safe. But lately…”
He trailed off, eyes locking onto mine again. The air between us felt charged, too small, too close. I could see the flecks of gold in his green irises, smell the faint wind-and-ozone scent clinging to his uniform.
He paused, studying me for a long moment. “What about you? Have you had anyone in mind?”
I blinked at him, heat crawling slowly up my neck and into my cheeks. The question landed like a spark on dry tinder. For a second, my mind went completely blank. “No,” I said quickly, shaking my head a little too hard.
My violet curls bounced with the motion. “No one. I mean… I’ve been a bit busy sneaking into the Choosing and all that.”
The words felt clumsy, too fast. I turned away before he could read anything else on my face and my breath caught. I took a deliberate step back, turning toward Zephyr to put some distance between us.
“He really is beautiful up close,” I said, voice a little too bright as I admired the dragon’s shimmering scales from a safer few feet away.
“The way the light moves across them, like captured wind.”
Kai didn’t push. He stayed where he was for a moment, then joined me, the tension easing into something gentler, more familiar. “Yeah. He’s been with me through everything. Steady when I’m not.”
We talked a while longer about safer things, Zephyr’s favorite flight routes, funny stories from Kai’s early training days, my hopes for future flights with Tempest. The conversation flowed easily again, but that small, electric moment lingered like distant thunder.
As the sun dipped lower, we finally said goodbye to Zephyr and headed back toward the dorms. Kai walked me most of the way, our shoulders brushing now and then in comfortable silence.
“See you at evening study?” he asked when we reached the residential wing.
I nodded, offering a small smile. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
He lingered a second longer, green eyes warm, before turning away with a casual wave.
I watched him go, heart still racing from the roost conversation.
The no-romance rule suddenly felt heavier than it had this morning. Tempest’s presence brushed my mind gently, curious, but patient. 'Careful, little storm. Hearts are wilder than skies'
I touched the end of my braid, violet curls framing my face, and let out a slow breath.