THRONE OF CLAWS AND FANGS

ened, but they

g monstrous in a reflection. His chest rose slowly under

," Aeryn fina

was rough.

etween them. Aeryn

mean to

idn't waver.

ed. "I wasn'

away. "Then

er than the assassin's blade.

gered there. The silver chain around his neck still pulsed, now permanently fused to his collarbone like some ancient scar.

ring from classmates, but true fear. Some stared in silence. Othe

to igno

't forget-and it cer

ed by glowing banners of the Four Great Houses. Magic shimmered in the ai

ass was m

hadows. Every nerve in his body thrummed with unease. Kael hadn't spok

dn't

cloak, black hair coiled like serpents around her shoul

e with House Shadow." Cross, you're with-She paused, lips

erature

nze hair bound in a braid, her red dragon-etched armor glowing fa

sharp as a s

to cry,

n eyebrow. "I'

egan with n

st meant to stagger, not kill. Fire shot from her palm

prang to his feet. His boot

ttle. Every gesture is elegant, practi

avoiding a flame-whip that

" she called, amused. "

em for peo

nd launched a

ime, i

should

ryn's chest, spiraled acros

bli

did

oice sliced through t

er hands. The heat intensifie

gon

aunch

n't move.

e engul

choed.

es faded, Aeryn w

from his skin, but no

the chest, exposing the chain fus

dra s

ould be

t his hands. T

xploded in

ossi

walked throug

stepped forward. "

gue. She just turn

one in the mid

id could

. Rain pelted the high windows like claws aga

alls and the East Tower, rain soaking through h

as wa

umn, arms crossed, steam rising fro

oping yo

don't strike me as

uldn't have survived that duel. E

was the mos

ered. "You abs

id no

r. Braver. Arrogant as hell. He died last y

llowed. "

alone when

uck close. Th

he sanctum. The flame remembered it. Dragonfire remembers

uth went d

es

still, nose to nose

n know the supernatural wor

s eyes se

t belie

on't h

le

"You didn't flinch. Whe

It just... d

ng fire doesn't burn is something alrea

urned

he did. And if you h

her voice colde

e you burn whe

idn't r

ared into t

ard the tower, the su

ross his skin, rising from be

ilver

once, th

, it didn't f

t like

down-just enough to s

vi

iv

his collarbone, a new gl

never se

inside him knew exa

ce before another bolt of lightni

ething-was usi

unlocked was a

ing whispered in h

the heir. You

the chain