In all my research, I could find only five other living female Primes in the US. Headmistress Dolores Angeven, my grandmother, Biyu, Biyu's mother, Biyu's grandmother, and me.
I also learned that the houses without a female were at risk of losing prestige. Female Primes had become rarer and rarer, most of which struggled to have children—if at all.
Also, there was bad blood between the Lamberts and Carricks that I hadn't been able to piece together.
As far as the Elibera and Orthodox, not everyone in those families toed the party line. This is why my grandparents were worried about me being bonded to someone who was a known Elibera.
Opening up the text from Ashe, I groaned.
* * *
Your grandmother has invited me to the school to have dinner with your family this Sunday.
* * *
Oh, to see Ashe though, spend time with him, and talk like real people again! The thought of spending any time with him sent slivers of joy through me.
But…
I chewed my bottom lip. My plans were getting fucked up. I needed to pack and leave Sunday night because Monday morning, my plane took off out of Spokane. I'd already booked myself a hotel Sunday night near the airport.
I'd tried talking to my grandmother about seeing my dad, but every time she flat out refused.
Her dragon was tight-lipped, and Aaraeth was too inexperienced in reading the much wiser Daende.
There was never talk about when I could visit my father, it was always never or not now.
"Sydney? Sydney?" Called a shrill male voice that seemed to reverberate around the two-story library. It pulled me from my thoughts and back to where I stood waiting near the printer.
I glanced up as my term paper was shoved at my chest by a red-haired boy.
Sighing, I took it from him, applied a staple at the edge before smoothing out the wrinkles from the guy's grip.
Shouldering my bag, I started toward Drake House lost in my thoughts again.
Would my plan work this time? What happened if it didn't? Should I tell anyone I was going?
The courtyard had become a wet dripping mess thanks to our recent warm spring weather. Although that didn't stop my fellow sun-starved classmates from flocking to the now exposed picnic tables and concrete benches in the sun-drenched Quad. Small buds had begun to sprout on the skeletal trees giving me a glimpse at what this square would look like come summer. Meanwhile, the large conifer trees added a steady background rhythm of drips to bird song and student laughter. My footsteps slapping against the wet stone walkway added to the soundtrack of the day.
Stepping over muddy footprints coming off the lesser-used gravel path to the north made me thankful the route to Drake was paved with those small uneven cobbles.
I laughed at myself, when had I begun to appreciate those slippery cobblestones?
By the time I got back to my room, my term paper was wrinkled and spotted with moisture. It was a reminder that not all was good at Balaur Academy. First, my grandmother was visiting and second, Ashe was as well—and I was the last person to know about all this apparently. Not that my feelings, plans, or input was important at all. I'd been waiting months to learn more about my mother, but all I'd been given were scraps—just enough to keep me here.
In my room, Taya faded into the background as usual. I found it strange and a little rude that she'd kept to herself over the past months, but it wasn't like we were friends. I was just another job.
Smoothing out my paper on Anna Karenina, I frowned.
"Taya?"
"Yes?" She answered, looking up from her latest water-rippled, spine-cracked paperback. This one had a pirate on the wavy cover, his loose white shirt showing off defined abs.
"Never mind," I murmured. Why should it bother me if she didn't like me? After all, this was just her job. I'd be irritated to have to follow a high schooler around too.
Who knew? But whatever the case may be, she kept our relationship entirely professional—which meant no friendship.
I texted Olivia: Done with your morning exam? Just printed my paper out and am back at Drake.
Seconds later, Liv popped inside my door and threw a wax-wrapped object at me. I missed but picked it up from the comforter next to me before unwrapping the triangle cut sandwich.
"Oh, my God! I am so ready to be done with Ms. Bryant!" She opened a bag of chips and continued to talk with her mouth full. "She's such a bitch! Like, get over it and move on! Why didn't she take a leave of absence?"
My eyebrows shot up. "You have Miss Bryant? I didn't know you had Miss Bryant! You talk non-stop, and this is the first I've heard of you having her as a teacher. How is that even possible?"
Liv flared her nostrils. "I figured you wouldn't want to hear about her. But now I'm pissed! This is it, and I'm done! I'm putting in a formal complaint to the Headmistress!" She popped another chip into her mouth. "Is that a thing? A formal complaint by a student?"
I shrugged. "Finish eating before you choke, then tell me what happened," I warned her.
She chewed before washing it down with a sip of juice. "Oh-kay! Now. This bitch... has had it out for Drake students ever since…" she tilted her head from side to side, "you know what happened."
I nodded to show her that I knew what she meant.
"O-kay. So, I been working on my midterm paper. Mmm... I'm almost too mad to talk." She ate another chip and chewed before swallowing. "Anyhow, she claims, I never turned it in last week."
She blinked her eyes furiously, and I cringed.
"Did you tell her that?"
"Mmmmm, girl. I sure did."
"Well?"
"She claims that because it's," she used finger quotes, "late', that I'll get a whole letter grade taken off."
"I saw your paper last week…" I trailed off.
"Yeah. I handed that motha…"
I cut her off. "I know you did. I saw it."
She gave me a tight-lipped, sarcastic grin. "Na-uhn. I have a perfect GPA, and I will not let some jealous little... mmm hmm, mmm, hmm, mmm."
"This is crazy. I'm sure the Headmistress will be on your side. Want me to go with you to talk to her?"
She nodded, fiery anger in her gaze.
"You can't lose your temper," I warned her, reminding myself of my dad... or the man I knew as my dad.
So much for studying for my last midterm, I thought. But Olivia really cared about her grades, whereas I was just biding my time.
I grabbed my coat and motioned to her, "No time is better than the present."
Sitting in the Headmistress's office, I blew out a nervous breath before glancing over at Olivia.
"Maybe I shouldn't be here. Everyone knows Lacy and I have...issues."
Liv raised one pissed off eyebrow at me and shook her head. "No. Lacy has issues with you, not the other way around. If I were you, I would've reported her little intimidation talk months ago—super unprofessional as a teacher. God! And to think I used to love her class before this."
I looked down at my hands. "I hate this. I feel like I ruined her life. This whole thing must be awful for her."
Olivia blew a raspberry and looked at me drolly. "Are you kidding me? No. You've bent over backward to avoid her—don't think I don't notice you slip into classrooms that aren't yours or hide your face with your hair in the cafeteria. She's a goddamn adult. It should be her feeling bad, not you. I mean, what are you supposed to do? Give up your bond—a bond that is probably like prophesied and shit about."
I elbowed her, and we both cracked a smile. "No, seriously. I do feel bad, and I don't want to make it worse."
"Sydney, if we pretend like nothing is going on, we aren't doing anyone any favors—least of all Miss Bryant. I know this whole thing was shitty for her, but she needs to grow up and move on. Stewing and getting petty revenge on students isn't healthy. Look, if she's doing this to me, who else is she doing it to? Besides, you shouldn't have to live your life looking over your shoulder, afraid she'll pull you i
nto a classroom again."
I nodded. But honestly, I wasn't afraid of her. I was afraid that I'd use my abilities as a Prime and do something I'd regret. I still wasn't entirely sure about all I could do.
Thankfully, Angeven walked in, took a seat at her desk, and folded her hands on the surface before her. "Miss Miller, Miss Adams, what can I do for you?"
Olivia launched in on her tirade, minus swear words, or smack talk. Watching the Headmistress's face, I quickly realized that this was not a one-off situation. The old woman wasn't surprised at all.
When Liv finished, she turned to me. "And Sydney's had to avoid Miss Bryant ever since she threatened her…"
I cut my friend off. "It's not exactly like that."
She pursed her lips and tilted her face down, giving herself a double chin. "Really? Then what is it like?"
Angeven straightened, "Girls, girls, let's take one problem at a time. Olivia, I'll speak to Miss Bryant and see if we can sort this thing out. I'm sorry to say, but you aren't the first Drake student this teacher has struggled with this semester."
Olivia gave me an 'I told you so' expression.
The Headmistress continued. "Miss Adams, I will speak to Miss Bryant and get everything sorted. Given your exemplary record here at Balaur, I'll ask her to not mark you down for handing your paper in late…"
"My…"
Angeven stopped her interruption with a wave of the hand and possibly some Prime powers. "As for you, Sydney, if Miss Bryant approaches you again, please see me immediately."
Then like that, we were dismissed.
23
The next few days I waited to be ambushed by Lacy. I imagined her perfectly glossy lips accusing me of running to Headmistress Angeven about our chat we had months ago. But thankfully, when I spotted her in the Main Hall for Friday's assembly, she never even looked my way.
By Sunday afternoon, the campus had become a quiet, abandoned place, and I began to relax. Most of the students had already left for spring break to visit their families or go on vacation. The halls were oddly quiet, with no laughter or the white noise of conversation. It was just the tapping of my shoes on the wood floor of Drake House.
Then it happened. I felt him.
Ashe was here, close by…
I'd walled myself off to him just to survive being separated, and to have him so close again felt like slapping a bug bite—relief, yet stinging and sharp.
Leaving Drake House, my feet led me toward my would-be mate. Speed walking across the quad, through the buildings, and into the forest, I followed a line that tugged me toward him—pulled me like an invisible leash.
As I neared, my heart began to race, and Aaraeth tugged to fly. I freed her, watching as she rose up to circle above me, almost blending into the deep blue sky.
As I neared the narrow path that led between Harrow and Eton, I found myself on a cold, muddy trail and hesitated before pushing on.
A slight smile crept along my lips as I realized the direction I walked. This gravel walk led to the Victorian guest house I'd stayed at that first night at Balaur. The house where I'd met Ashe for the first time.
There were still some icy patches on the gravel path in places where the trees blocked the sun, but I began running anyway when I saw him.
Ashe's eyes lit up, but he didn't make a move toward me. He stayed fixed, his gaze darting toward the guest house.
I didn't slow my pace; instead, I ran faster, throwing my arms around his neck and jumping up to wrap my legs around his waist.
A calm ran through me at his presence, and I rested my cheek against his.
When he didn't respond to me or kiss me, I immediately knew something was wrong.
Ashe's eyes met mine in warning as he lowered me to the ground.
Then I felt it.
We weren't alone.
Glancing toward the house, a stern-looking older couple watched me with thinly veiled discomfort. I smoothed down my uniform skirt while glancing between them and Ashe.
"Ashe?" I finally asked, barely above a whisper.
"Sydney, these are my parents. Conner and Mary Carrick," he told me, eyes wary, jaw clenching.
I should have known something was up. I felt a twinge of unease from Ashe, but I thought it had to do with us being apart.
I forced a smile and stepped toward the strangers, holding my hand out, "Nice to meet you."
Conner's frown remained in place as he shook my hand. Mary nodded and took my cold hand into her warm ones, giving them a single pump before releasing me.
"It's nice to finally meet you," she told me, a concerned crease forming between her eyes as she assessed me.
I bit my lip, my own smile fading at their luke-warm greeting.
I swallowed and shivered, having not worn a coat. A screech from above caused me to back away and look up at Eondian and Aaraeth as they dove and played.
"I... uh…" I stammered, not sure what to say.
The Carrick's icy demeanor was almost unbearable, and embarrassment washed over me. Why had I jumped up on Ashe? What was I, a little girl?
The answer was clear. I was sixteen.
I didn't feel sixteen, but I was sixteen.
In everyone's eyes, I was too young.
Too inexperienced.
Too much of an outsider.
Of course, Mr. and Mrs. Carrick loved Lacy. Everyone loved Lacy!
I had been so naïve to think they would automatically accept me, that anything would be easy for Ashe and me.
Did I honestly think that Ashe and I could work?
Could I bear to wait? Could he? Did we need to wait?
Just as my thoughts began to collapse in on themselves, Ashe wrapped his warm down coat around me with a squeeze.
"It'll be all right," he whispered into my hair as he did so. His gesture warmed me inside and out, and I smiled up at him. He was my rock.
The four of us walked silently toward the main campus. I wanted to pull Ashe aside and yell at him for not giving me a heads up. His parents were here! HERE at Balaur Academy!
In my mind, I berated my unbonded mate a thousand times and then myself.
Just before we reached the small alley walkway that diverted into the quad, Ashe's hand on my arm led me down another gravel path. I gave him a startled look before we stopped at an entrance set inside tall, neatly trimmed evergreen bushes.
Ashe pushed the lever and swung the gate open for me.
Once inside the hedged yard, I gaped at the beautiful building. I hadn't realized that Harrow sat on a slope. The modern steel and concrete structure's basement sat at ground level on this side. A large cantilevered arm of the building hovered over the red-stained concrete patio. And framing the space were concrete benches and tables abandoned for spring break.
As I began to look around, my hesitation put me behind the group. I only continued on when Ashe gazed at me impatiently in the open door with his hand out to me.
"What about our dragons?" I asked, turning to look up at the sky and over into the valley below.
He shook his head and held his hand out to me. "They're fine. Come on."
This wasn't just Sunday Dinner with my grandmother; this was much, much more.
Ashe seemed to resonate with tension, and my nerves already felt frayed.
As I followed Ashe into Harrow, I whispered, "What's going on?"
Pausing, his jaw ticked. "No one told you?"
I shook my head.
"The inquiry into our bond has been concluded. The council is here to vote on whether or not I'll be charged with a crime, and if our bond will be allowed to move forward." Expression grim, he turned away from me and into Harrow House.
I trailed after him, fear threading through me, anger at once more being left out of the loop.
Irked, I lagged behind Ashe.
The inside of the Harrow House was much like the outside, sculpted for efficiency, simplicity, and elegance. Luscious green plants grew in built-in planters, draping over the concrete to
give an almost jungle-like feel.
Voices echoed from another room, and as I entered, my eyes went to the wall of windows that overlooked the valley beside the house.
Voices pulled me back to the moment, and I glanced over at the large round slab to see that Ashe's parents were there along with two other couples that I didn't know. I started toward the two empty seats when Ashe grabbed my hand and led me toward the window seat where my uncle Durand and Headmistress Angeven sat. The Headmistress situated herself and Durand between Ashe and me.
Just as I had smoothed my skirt over my bum to sit, the entire group stood. All eyes were on the doorway. First, two men who were obviously bodyguards entered, and then a distinguished older man held my grandmother's hand. This was the PL—Prime Leader, Arthur Lambert. Power ebbed and flowed around him like a river with his own eddies. But what exactly this power was, I had yet to know.
Questions swirled in my mind—How could I feel his power, and what could he do?
This was my grandfather.
He walked with a smooth stride—the stride of a man who knew he owned the room. I'd never met him, yet he greeted me with a quick appraisal, a handshake, and said, "Sydney, I'm so happy to see you."
As if I were a stranger.
The PL smiled at the group, making bows and nods before sitting at the table.
The chatter was superficial and easy at first, leaving me to wonder why I'd been so worried.
Then, my grandfather stood, and unsmiling, he addressed the group. "Council members, thank you for convening at such short notice. The investigation into the illegal bonding between Sydney Lambert and Ashe Carrick has been concluded. You all have been briefed on the details."
The details? Sydney Lambert?
My head snapped up at his mistake on my name, but I kept quiet. Ashe caught my gaze and raised his eyebrows.
My grandfather continued, "This is a significant incident requiring a lot of thorough investigation, thought, and consideration…"
I kind of zoned out as he spoke. My grandfather, Arthur, sure knew how to make an interesting topic into a lot of annoying jargon.
Cracked Open: The Dragon Born Academy Page 20