Chapter 37
The morning after the assassination attempt, I woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows and the dull ache of exhaustion in my bones.
For a moment, I forgot where I was—then memory crashed back.
The training arena. Phoenix fire. Aurelius's claws grabbing us just in time.
Kairen's face when I'd told him about the soulbond.
His anger, sharp and justified, still echoed through the bond connection.
I dressed in the Academy uniform someone had left folded outside my door—not my usual clothes, but clean and properly sized. The guest quarters were nicer than my dormitory room, all polished wood and soft furnishings that spoke of wealth I'd never known growing up.
Through the closed door to Kairen's room, I felt his presence.
Awake. Already up, probably pacing or working through sword forms to process everything.
The anger hadn't faded overnight, but it had settled into something more manageable.
Less raw fury, more cold determination to maintain distance until he'd worked through it.
I couldn't blame him.
A knock on the outer door made me tense until Headmistress Thorne's voice called through. "Miss Vale, if you're awake, I'd like to speak with you privately."
I opened the door to find her standing in the corridor, already dressed for the day despite the early hour. Her expression was impossible to read.
"Walk with me," she said, not waiting for my response.
I followed her down the corridor, away from the guest quarters and toward her office. The Academy felt different this morning—quieter, more subdued. Word of the assassination attempt must have spread.
Once we were in her office with the door sealed and wards activated, she finally spoke.
"How are you handling last night's events?"
"I'm alive. That seems like a good start."
"That's avoidance, not an answer." She gestured to a chair. "Sit. And be honest with me."
I sat, suddenly feeling very much like a student called in for poor behavior rather than someone who'd survived attempted murder. "I'm scared. Angry. Exhausted. And dealing with personal complications on top of everything else."
"The personal complications being Mr. Draxen's reaction to something?" Her voice was careful, not prying but acknowledging the tension she'd clearly noticed.
"Something like that." I didn't elaborate. the soulbond wasn't her business, even if the aftermath affected everything.
"I see." She didn't press, which I appreciated.
"Well, whatever is happening between you two will have to wait.
The Council members have been informed that all formal interviews indefinitely while they deal with the traitors.
You're cleared of any suspicion, and the political situation has shifted dramatically in your favor. "
"So we can return to normal schedules?"
"With heightened security, yes. The three individuals who attacked you are being held in magical custody pending trial.
The Council has made it abundantly clear they had no knowledge of the planned assassination.
" She pulled a small ledger from her desk.
"Which brings me to a more practical matter.
The Solstice Festival is tomorrow evening. "
I blinked at the reminder. "Tomorrow. Right. I'd almost forgotten."
"Understandable, given the circumstances. But it's still happening, and all bonded students are still expected to attend." She opened the ledger. "You'll need appropriate attire. A formal dress, specifically."
"I don't have—" I stopped, realizing how obvious that was. "I can't afford—"
"I'm aware. Which is why I'm offering to cover the cost." She held up a hand before I could protest. "Before you refuse out of pride, consider this: You're the first light dragon bond in three hundred years.
You survived an assassination attempt by Council members.
When you walk into that Festival tomorrow night, you're representing not just yourself but the possibility of what dragon bonds can achieve. You deserve to look the part."
"Headmistress—"
"Additionally, Miss Barnard has been asking permission to take you into the city for dress shopping.
Something about needing to 'get out of this place before she goes crazy from boredom.
'" A hint of amusement touched her voice.
"I'm inclined to approve the request. You've been confined to Academy grounds since the attack.
A few hours in the city, properly guarded, might be beneficial. "
The thought of leaving the Academy, of doing something normal like shopping for a dress, was unexpectedly appealing. "You'd let us go? After what happened?"
"The three mages who attacked you are being held in magical custody.
The Council is horrified and falling over themselves to prove they weren't involved.
You're actually safer now than you were before—no one wants to be associated with yesterday's disaster.
" She made a note in her ledger. "With conditions, of course.
I'll assign guards—discreet, but present.
You'll take Aurelius and Miss Barnard's griffin.
You'll stay within the city proper, no wandering into questionable areas.
And whatever dress you select, put it on my account. I'll handle the cost."
"I can't ask you to—"
"You're not asking. I'm offering. Consider it compensation for nearly dying on Academy grounds." Her voice turned dry. "The least I can do after almost being incinerated is buy you a dress."
When she put it that way, it was hard to argue.
"Thank you," I said quietly. "Really. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now, I'll send word to Miss Barnard that the outing is approved. Plan to leave after lunch—that should give the guards time to prepare." She stood, signaling the conversation was over. "And Miss Vale? Enjoy yourself. You've earned a few hours of normalcy."
I left her office feeling lighter than I had since the attack. A trip to the city. Dress shopping with Brooke. A few hours of pretending to be a normal student doing normal things.
Brooke nearly tackled me when I found her in the dining hall.
"You're going! Headmistress Thorne sent word!" She was practically bouncing. "We get to leave this place! Actual city, actual shops, actual dresses that aren't Academy uniforms!"
"Breathe," I said, laughing despite everything. "Yes, we're going. But there will be guards."
"I don't care if they assign an entire squadron.
We're getting out of here." She grabbed my hands.
"This is going to be amazing. I've been researching dress shops—there's this place called Madame Elise's that supposedly caters to bonded students.
They'll have things that work with our marks, that complement our bonds. "
Through the soulbond, I felt Kairen's awareness sharpen. He'd heard the excitement in my voice through whatever thin walls separated us in the guest quarters. Felt my anticipation about leaving the Academy.
A flicker of something that might have been longing touched the bond before he suppressed it. He couldn't leave. Not with the investigation ongoing, not with his need to maintain strict Academy oversight after the attack.
"What time do we leave?" Brooke asked, pulling me back to the moment.
"After lunch. We'll fly—Aurelius and Zephyr overhead."
"Flying to the city on dragon and griffin-back. This day just keeps getting better." She pulled me toward an empty table. "Okay, we need to eat quickly so we have maximum shopping time. The Festival is tomorrow—we can't waste a minute."
We left just after lunch, accompanied by two Academy guards who looked uncomfortable being assigned to follow teenage girls on a shopping trip.
Master Wren had hand-picked them—both third-years with combat-focused bonds, both serious enough that they weren't going to be distracted by city attractions.
"Stay where we can see you," one said as we prepared to leave.
His name was Derek, and he had a phoenix bond that made him look perpetually alert, small flames occasionally flickering around his shoulders.
"Don't wander off. Don't talk to strangers who seem overly interested in your dragon marks.
And if anything feels wrong, get back to us immediately. "
"We'll be fine," Brooke said with more confidence than I felt. "It's just dress shopping."
"It's never 'just' anything with dragon bonds," the other guard—Sarah, griffin-bonded—muttered. "But we'll keep watch. You two focus on dresses."
Aurelius waited in the main courtyard, his scales gleaming in the afternoon sun. Beside him, Zephyr looked small despite being a full-grown griffin. The contrast between dragon and griffin was striking—Aurelius's presence filled the space, demanded attention, while Zephyr was sleek and purposeful.
"Ready?" Aurelius asked through our bond.
"Ready."
I climbed onto his back, settling into the familiar grooves between his scales. Brooke mounted Zephyr with practiced ease, grinning with barely contained excitement.
"We're not just flying to the city," Aurelius said as he launched skyward. "We're making a statement. Light dragon and griffin, carrying their bonded humans in broad daylight. Everyone will see."
"Is that wise? Drawing attention?"
"After last night, attention is inevitable. Better to control the narrative." His wings beat steadily, carrying us higher. "Besides, I've been cooped up in the Academy for days. I need to fly properly."
Below us, Zephyr matched our pace, Brooke's delighted laughter carrying on the wind. The guards followed at a discreet distance—Derek's phoenix flying beside Sarah who rode her griffin—close enough to intervene but far enough to maintain the illusion of freedom.
The city sprawled beneath us—Thornhaven, built around the Academy like a satellite orbiting a star. Red-tiled roofs, cobblestone streets, the glitter of the river cutting through the center. From this height, it looked like something from a storybook.
"It's beautiful," I said.
"It is. And it's yours to explore." Aurelius's warmth surrounded me through the bond. "Enjoy this, Serenya. After everything you've survived, you deserve a few hours of normalcy."
He descended toward the city center, landing in a large plaza clearly designed for bonded creatures.
Several griffins and phoenixes perched around the edges, their bonded humans coming and going from shops.
A few people had unbonded creatures as well—regular hawks and hunting dogs that paled in comparison to the magical bonds.
People stopped and stared as Aurelius landed—a light dragon was impossible to miss, especially in a world where only two dragon bonds existed. Whispers rippled through the crowd, fingers pointing. I caught the words "extinct" and "assassination attempt" and "Council traitors."
"Ignore them," Brooke said, appearing at my side as Zephyr landed beside Aurelius. "Let them stare. You've earned the right to be here."
"She's right," Aurelius said. "Hold your head high. You're not hiding."
We made our way into the shopping district, the guards following at a distance.
The streets were busy with afternoon traffic—merchants calling their wares, bonded creatures perched on buildings or walking alongside their humans, the constant hum of activity that came from so many people in close proximity.
"There!" Brooke pointed to a shop with an elegant sign: Madame Elise's Fine Attire for Distinguished Bonds. "That's the place I read about."
The shop was exactly what I'd expected from the name—expensive, refined, catering to students from noble families who could afford custom work. My instinct was to turn around, to find somewhere cheaper, somewhere I actually belonged.
But Headmistress Thorne had said to put it on her account. And I was tired of making myself small.
"Let's go," I said, pushing open the door.
Inside, the shop smelled of silk and lavender. Dresses lined the walls in every color imaginable, each one clearly designed with bonded humans in mind—cut to accommodate creature marks, enhanced with subtle magic to complement various bond types.
A woman approached us immediately—tall, elegant, with silver hair and the kind of assessing gaze that catalogued everything in seconds.
"Welcome to Madame Elise's. I am Elise Thornwell, proprietress.
" Her eyes widened slightly as she noticed the silver-white mark on my forearm.
"A dragon bond. Light dragon, if I'm not mistaken.
My dear, you honor my shop with your presence. "
"I need a dress for the Solstice Festival. Tomorrow evening."
"Tomorrow!" Her hand flew to her chest dramatically. "My dear child, custom work requires at least a week—"
"I don't need custom. I just need something that fits and works with my bond." I straightened my shoulders. "Headmistress Thorne of Arclight Academy is covering the cost. Whatever I choose."
Madame Elise's expression shifted from dismay to sharp interest. "The Headmistress herself.
Well. That changes things considerably." She circled me slowly, her assessing gaze taking in my frame, my coloring, the way the dragon mark glowed softly on my forearm.
"You're slender, pale complexion, white-blonde hair.
The light bond will influence how colors appear on you—anything too bright will wash you out against your natural radiance. "
"I was thinking something dark," I said. "Black, maybe."
"Black." Madame Elise's eyes lit up. "Yes. Black to contrast the light. Elegant. Unexpected. And..." She moved to one of the racks, pulling out a dress that made my breath catch. "This. This is what you need."
The dress was pure black silk, fitted and sleek, with a neckline that would showcase the dragon mark while remaining formal enough for an Academy event. No excessive ornamentation, no frills—just clean lines and elegant simplicity that would let the wearer, not the dress, be the statement.
"Try it on," Madame Elise commanded, gesturing toward the changing rooms. "Let's see if I'm right."
I took the dress into one of the curtained alcoves, my hands slightly shaking as I changed. The silk was cool against my skin, sliding into place with the kind of perfect fit that came from expert tailoring.
When I stepped out, Brooke gasped.
"Serenya. Oh my gods. That's perfect."
Madame Elise circled me again, making small adjustments to the drape of the fabric. "The fit is excellent. The color—yes, the contrast works beautifully. Against your natural coloring and the light bond's radiance, this reads as elegant mystery rather than harsh darkness."
I turned to look in the full-length mirror and barely recognized myself.
The girl looking back wasn't the sick scholarship student from the lower quarter.
She was someone who'd survived assassinations and bonded with legends.
Someone who'd crawled through fire and merged magic with a shadow dragon.
Someone who belonged at a formal Festival, wearing expensive silk and carrying herself with confidence.
The black dress hugged my frame—showing the curves the dragon bond had helped fill out as my body healed, the strength that had replaced fragility. The neckline perfectly framed the silver-white mark on my forearm, making the bond visible without being ostentatious.
I looked powerful. Elegant. Like someone who couldn't be dismissed or overlooked.
"This is the one," I said quietly.
"Excellent choice." Madame Elise smiled. "Would you like shoes as well? I have several pairs that would complement—"
"Everything," Brooke interrupted. "Shoes, accessories, whatever she needs. The Headmistress said whatever she chooses."
"Brooke—"
"No. You're doing this properly. You're getting the whole outfit, not just a dress." She turned to Madame Elise. "I need a dress too. Something that works with a griffin bond. Red and gold tones, probably?"
"Of course, my dear. Let me show you our griffin collection."
An hour later, we emerged from Madame Elise's loaded with packages.
I had the black dress, elegant heels that added just enough height without being impractical, and simple silver jewelry that echoed my dragon mark.
Brooke had found a stunning crimson gown that brought out the fire in Zephyr's feathers, complete with gold accessories that made her look like living flame.
"This was the best day," Brooke said as we made our way back to the plaza where Aurelius and Zephyr waited. "Actual shopping, actual dresses, actual fun. I'd almost forgotten what normal felt like."
"Me too," I admitted.
Through the soulbond, I felt Kairen's awareness of my return to the Academy. His curiosity about what we'd been doing, mixed with that persistent anger that hadn't fully faded. He was still processing, still hurt by my keeping the soulbond secret.
Tomorrow night at the Festival, I'd see him. We'd have to exist in the same space, probably dance together if the bond balance required it.
But tonight, looking at the black dress carefully wrapped in silk paper, I felt something close to anticipation.
I'd faced assassination attempts and survived. I'd told the truth about the soulbond, even though it had broken trust.
Tomorrow night, I'd walk into that Festival wearing black silk and silver light, and I'd show everyone—Kairen included—that I wasn't hiding anymore.
That the girl who'd crawled through fire had emerged as someone who couldn't be ignored.