Cracked Open: The Dragon Born Academy

by T L Christianson

  "…most prestigious houses coming together in a show of solidarity. It is up to us to decide how to move forward after reading the final evaluation of the events that took place January twenty-seventh. Durand, if you will?"

  I thought about Lacy. Did she have to write a statement?

  Durand stood and addressed the group. "We've concluded that Ashe Carrick is innocent regarding the charges of creating a bond with a juvenile. He did everything in his power to control Eondian—his soul bonded dragon. We believe that this was a one-time event and do not expect any further disobedience or trouble from Prime Ashe Eondian Carrick."

  "What, if any, legal action should be taken to prevent any further distasteful acts like this?" Asked Long Wei, from the Long family—his name coming to me instantly through his dragon.

  Long Wei was a Prime, and so was the woman, Biyu, next to him. Gazing around the table, I realized this must be the council, the real council. All these people were Primes except for two women—Ashe's mother, Mary, and another woman beside her.

  Next to them sat a flaxen-haired man a little younger than my dad, and the spitting image of an older Logan.

  Looking up at Ms. Angeven, I whispered, "Are those Logan and Becca's parents?"

  The Headmistress nodded and, in hushed tones, answered, "That is Zane Brooks—father to Rebecca and Logan. His wife is an Angeven. She is my late husband's sister."

  Thinking I should be relieved that they found Ashe innocent of all wrongdoing, I tried to relax, but the room's tension just grew.

  Then my grandmother's words sliced through the room, "…need to decide if we are willing to allow this bond or not. Do we need to discuss this or go straight to a vote?"

  Ashe straightened and crossed his arms across his chest as he watched, trying to meet his father's eye. His dad gave him a slight shake of the head.

  "The bond needs to be sealed!" Thundered Ashe's father in a booming tone that brokered no alternative. "It doesn't matter the girl's age. She looks mature enough. We will not be denied another Prime union."

  All heads gazed at the man, most of them nodding.

  Another Prime union? Denied?

  Another. Prime. Union.

  Between who? My mother?

  "Absolutely not! The union should not be forced!" Spoke a man. My eyes flew across to see it was Zane Brooks from the Angeven family, who spoke. "Our family has waited longer than the Carricks to have a female Prime. The girl should be able to choose—bond or no bond."

  Ashe's jaw clenched, but his expression remained neutral as he watched and listened to the group argue.

  His eyes widened in irritation, but he held his body strangely still.

  When a woman said my name twice, I finally zoned back in, the mortification and exasperation flooding me again.

  "Sydney, what is your choice?" Asked Prime Long Biyu, her black hair swaying as she turned to me.

  "I... of course... I think… I want…" All those eyes looking at me intensely, waiting for me to tell them a definite yes or no, made me freeze. I should've just stood up and said to them that yes, I wanted the bond, but I just sat there like an idiot.

  "You don't have to complete the bond. Just say the word." Biyu blinked and pursed her lips, waiting for my response.

  "This is a legitimate question, please answer us," Mr. Brooks shot out.

  At this, Ashe reached his breaking point. Standing, he stared down the entire group as if he were the Prime Leader himself. "Don't you see how uncomfortable Sydney is? Can't you understand that she needs more time to get used to everything? I'm telling you now, I won't force the bond on her. She isn't ready to make this decision—not because of her age but because this is all new. Anyone would need time to wrap their mind around the situation. I've never heard of either the council getting involved in a bond match. So you all need to take a good look at yourselves and your motives for intervening in something that should only involve Sydney and me."

  My unbonded mate sat back down onto the window seat, chin cocked upward and arms crossed in defiance.

  My grandfather gave him a concerned look, contemplating the situation before he spoke, "I admire how protective you are, Mr. Carrick, and how much you seem to care for my granddaughter after only such a short amount of time. But this matter affects all of us—not just the council of the four families but all Dragonborn—It's not just you and Sydney."

  We waited as my grandfather considered the room.

  Then Arthur gazed around the room. "What say you all? Who is in favor of Ashe Carrick and Sydney Lambert finalizing the bond once she has reached the age of majority?"

  The group gradually began to raise their hands, elbows down.

  I held my breath and reached out to feel at the dragons... but stopped when Angeven put her hand on my knee.

  "Don't interfere," she whispered.

  "I wasn't going to," I snapped back.

  I counted the hands—the vote was so close, nearly splitting the group in half. I reached out and felt their disagreement, knowing my grandfather could feel it as well. He knew it would be close, the group was almost evenly split but gave me insight into the Dragonborn. Both my grandparents and Ashe's parents were for the bond. Everyone else was against it; however, it was Biyu's vote that swung it in favor.

  Bonds were formidable, even those without one knew of the incredible power a bond created.

  "Fine. It is done." Arthur's voice boomed out as he glanced between Ashe and I. "You'll be allowed to complete the bond if you so choose to do so."

  I let out an incredulous laugh, "What?" A stupid smile remained on my lips at the ridiculousness of this situation. I knew I was an inappropriate laugher, but this whole situation was the craziest, most life-changing thing... and I didn't even really get a say. It was as if my brain couldn't process it.

  PL Lambert was dangerous, anger flashed in his eyes as he turned toward me. "Sydney, stop this."

  But I couldn't stop. The laughter just tumbled out of my mouth even more.

  Then my grandfather's power pushed on me. I felt the full force of it weighing me down, forcing me to submit, and the smile quickly left my face.

  I fell from my seat, onto my knees, my grandfather's mind directing my limbs to submit.

  Head bowed, I breathed out, "Forgive me, Prime Leader."

  But not because I wanted to—because I was forced to.

  Because his will and his power made me do that and say it.

  His dragon, Parmoarth, leaned on me, compelled me.

  And that was one thing I never, ever wanted to feel ever again.

  I was entirely under his control.

  Embarrassment and shame flooded me, and I sank into myself on the floor.

  Angry and shocked, I barely noticed when everyone filtered from the room. Yet, I sat there, unable to move, afraid to move. Tears ran from my eyes, burning trails down my cheeks.

  When someone neared, I gazed up to see Ashe standing before me. His expression was something I'd never seen before.

  "Are you okay? You've never been reprimanded by a Prime, have you?" He asked me softly, fire edging his tone.

  I shook my head and sniffed before taking his proffered hand to help me from the ground.

  Trembling, my legs shook beneath me. I felt defeated and more than ever determined to leave this academy. Swatting the tears from my face, I sucked in a shaky breath.

  "Here, sit back down... if you want to. You're shaking," he whispered.

  Frustration flooded me. "I'm not sad… I'm angry. I'm crying because I'm angry. I mean—what was that?"

  Wiping my face with my sleeve, I looked up at my would-be mate out of my spiky lashes. "They don't get me. If they did, they'd know that doing something like that will only make me hate them, not gain my loyalty."

  He clenched his jaw, "I know. But, you can't laugh at the elders like that. You're lucky that that's all he did."

  I cleared my throat and shook my head. "Seriously?"

  Maybe I didn't want to know wha
t my grandfather could do.

  Ashe eyed me. "Do you understand the ruling?"

  I raised my shoulders, "That we're supposed to seal the bond?"

  Tilting his head to the side, he took my hands in his, rubbing small circles into them with his thumbs. "It means that we are allowed to seal the bond once you're eighteen."

  "Oh? I didn't get that part—the age part." I lowered my chin studying his face before blowing out a frustrated breath. "I don't see what the big deal is. Age is just a number, isn't it?" In my mind, Ashe and I were on similar footing… but maybe we weren't. Instead of agreeing with me, Ashe spoke, "I have something for you." Pulling a small turquoise box from his pocket, he handed it to me. "I was going to give this to you no matter what the council decided. I'm glad that I can give it to you after a win."

  But this didn't feel like a win.

  Turning the box over, I opened it carefully. Nestled inside the Tiffany & Co box on black velvet sat a ring with a deep V-shape in the band.

  "What is this for?" I asked hesitantly. Although I didn't want an engagement ring or even a promise ring, I wanted Ashe. I wanted him to love me and me alone.

  He plucked the band from the box and slid it onto my right pointer finger.

  His voice was steady and solemn as he spoke, "I promise you that I'll always be here for you. I promise that I will never allow anyone to hurt you, and I promise to protect you." He tapped the band with his thumb. "This ring is platinum to remind you that our bond is durable and resilient. Remember that, and lean on me if you need to. Together we can get through this."

  My jaw dropped open, and my eyes flicked between the ring and his eyes that sparkled with emotion.

  I bit my lip and tried to speak with my gaze because I could only feel. The affection and union we had couldn't, and shouldn't, be controlled by other people.

  Ashe was confident of his place in the world, but I was still trying to find mine. During that meeting, he'd let them talk but knew our bond was up to him and me.

  Gazing up into his loving face, my voice finally able to work, I whispered, "I'll always wear it."

  His lip trembled, and I smiled up at him, before making a face to lighten the mood.

  Ashe took me into his arms and held me. My questions about the placement of this ring on my index finger would have to remain a mystery for now. Because coming through our bond was a deep warm, honey-like sensation I knew to be some kind of love. Ashe's restraint thrummed like a taut rubber band even though we weren't joined by Eondian and Aaraeth.

  However, I didn't have the control he did, so I reached up on my tippy toes and kissed his mouth, biting his bottom lip just a little.

  Our bond was undeniable, and I knew at that moment that I'd never have this again with another human being. At that moment, I made the decision—I definitely wanted the bond. There were no ifs, ands, or buts in my mind.

  Ashe felt it as well. It was as if we'd both just known. No words, no looks, just complete certainty that we would seal our connection.

  "I don't care what the council said. We don't need to wait."

  "You do understand that we have to wait, right?" He asked carefully.

  "I'm ready. I don't see how they can dictate what we do." I hesitated and sank down to the window seat. "But you're worried. Why?"

  He pulled a chair out from the table and sat down across from me. "It isn't just the council's ruling—well it is, and it isn't. It's also about your age, about you being ready."

  "I am ready," I snapped in a shrill voice.

  Looking up at me from below his lashes, he hesitated. "Are you... you haven't done this before, have you?"

  "Sex?" I shook my head. "But, I would… I would," I admitted, touching his knee. This usual gesture from me somehow now felt awkward.

  When his eyes met mine, he shook his head. "No, you're not ready."

  "Why should we wait? Because a bunch of old people tell us to? I mean, I'm not experienced, but I'd do it. I'd do it right now to stop all this and get this weight off our backs."

  Ashe ran his hands over his face while groaning and then laughing.

  I continued, "I don't want other choices. That night in the cave, when I saw your life flash before my eyes—you as a baby to you now, my mind was made up... I know yours is too."

  He pressed his lips together, his voice husky, "Hmmm... I want you. I do but in the right way. And not because they're telling us that we can but on our terms when we're both ready."

  "What they say doesn't matter. It's how we look at it," I suggested.

  Ashe stood and began pacing back and forth in front of the massive wall of windows.

  Stopping, he finally said, "We can't."

  His words drove a spike of ice into my heart.

  "You can't? Why? Is it because of Lacy?"

  He shook his head. "No. Trust me, you're all I can think about. And it kills me to leave the bond incomplete. Do you know how much control I have to have to keep myself from you?"

  I nodded. My connection to him always felt... tight.

  "It's because, as much as I want you and I want to seal the bond, the fact is that you are sixteen. And it's not just your age—you aren't ready because of other things as well. And yes, I did look into ways of getting around your age, because I've had moments of weakness... of when the bond is so overwhelming that nothing else mattered. But despite that, we should wait until the time is right."

  "Wait until the council says it's okay?" I asked, barely above a whisper.

  His blue eyes bore into my own. "No, we need to wait until we're both ready. I don't want to tarnish what we have."

  The expression on his face, vulnerable and naked with honesty, nearly drew me to tears… again.

  "Nothing can tarnish what we have, it doesn't matter when we complete the bond," I breathed, still trying to convince him.

  Shaking his head, he cut me off, "It matters to me. And even if I thought we could cross the council and get away with it—which we can't—I still feel uncomfortable about our age difference. Do you get that?"

  We stared at each other, another understanding passing between us.

  Ashe didn't want to say the words, but he felt ashamed because I was so young. Not shame of me, but the way our relationship was perceived.

  After several moments just staring at each other, I wrapped my arms around his body, and he embraced me.

  "Yes, I get it," I mumbled into his military sweater. "But, I still disagree."

  He pulled back. "Can you agree to wait? We can't tempt each other, is that clear?"

  Nodding, I traced a finger down his chest, earning a raised eyebrow expression from him.

  Ashe understood me... maybe better than I understood myself. And he was right.

  I wasn't ready.

  And after the punishment from the PL, I was in no mood to test the council either.

  24

  After a long moment in Ashe's arms, I gazed up at him.

  He tilted his chin down, and his mouth curved into a frown. "What are you keeping from me? Spill."

  I bit my lip and sniffed. "All right. Here's the deal; I'm leaving—tonight... to go see my dad."

  He raised an eyebrow and held me away from him, "I wondered when you were going to tell me."

  The corner of my mouth lifted, and I slapped his shoulder. "It's not that I wasn't going to tell you, it's that I was waiting for the right moment."

  He pressed his lips together. "Like after you'd already gone?"

  I shook my head and tried to laugh, but it came out strained.

  A long, tense silence stretched out between us.

  Eondian and Aaraeth had still not joined us, and I wondered where they were.

  "Are you planning on coming back?" Ashe finally asked.

  I bit my cheek and looked out into the now dark sky. The moon had just risen, and it reflected off the trees in the valley below.

  "I don't know," I whispered.

  His face hardened, and he clenched his jaw.

/>   "Hey," I said, touching his cheek. "I need to see if my dad's okay. He was injured really badly—you know that. Besides, I need answers. I need to see if he can give me an explanation for what he's done. Do you understand?"

  Nodding, his expression stone-like, he sucked in a shaky breath and blew it out.

  "I'm not leaving you…" I crooned just above a whisper, but he cut me off.

  "You might as well be. George Miller is considered an enemy of the Dragonborn." Ashe sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. "There's so much that you still don't know... about him and about us—this community. The Dragonborn have enemies. There’s so much that you don't know, so much that you could lose."

  My eyes widened. "What?"

  His eyes narrowed. "Why do you think we have our own Militia? What exactly do you think we need protection from?"

  "Other… Dragonborn?" I asked incredulously.

  "That and other things." We stared at each other until finally Ashe stood and began to pace the room, pulling on his neck as he did when stressed. "This is just one tiny thing that you didn't know—but it's a huge thing. Don't you understand? Do you see why I worry about you leaving?"

  "What can I do? I have to go," My voice sounded loud in this room that had grown dark and quiet.

  He shook his head, "Does Taya know about this?"

  "No."

  He threw his hands into the air. "Did you even think about her? About the trouble she'll get into if she loses you?"

  "You aren't my parent. And yeah, I'm sorry if there are casualties, but I've tried to go about this through the right channels. I've asked my grandmother over and over again to see my dad. I've talked to Angeven." I bit my upper lip and let it slide out between my teeth. "I know my dad. He won't hurt me. I'm not some stupid child, I've thought this through."

  A sarcastic smirk crossed his lips, "Really? You have? Because this looks like running away. This is exactly why I think you're not ready to seal the bond—why the council wants us to wait."

  "Is it that I'm not ready or that you're embarrassed?" I spat.

  "That's not fair. Seven years is a big gap for us. When I was your age, you were nine years old. Think about that." He blew out a long sigh, his pale blue eyes on the now completely dark window.