Twenty-two
Nieve
Nieve gripped her harness, crouching close to Ariadnne’s scales as her powerful hindquarters launched them into the air, immense wings snapping either side of her head.
Nieve’s cheeks burned. She’d tried not to watch, but the image of Ariadnne as she had slipped out of her tunic to stand fearlessly on the arena floor before her transformation had burned onto the underside of her eyelids and made her feel a deep ache of want. It was… distracting.
Dangerously so.
She cleared her mind, concentrating on the way the dragon’s lithe body undulated as she climbed, a burst of exhilaration ripping through her seams as she matched her balance to the movement, Ariadnne gaining speed.
She should be trying to locate the first target, but her foolhardy thoughts kept drifting in other directions, like how the idea of keeping her growing interest in Ariadnne a secret went against everything she wanted.
She didn’t fully understand why anyone would care; attraction was attraction, regardless of who it fell between, and in their case it should be celebrated. Screamed from the rooftops.
Yet here they were; observed by the Council. Regulated. Ariadnne’s fear cracking a hole in her heart.
Gods, her laugh, though. It made Nieve feel alive.
She sighed, trying to focus. She needed to perform, to prove to Melixanthe she was invaluable.
She readied her bow, bracing as Ariadnne banked, diving towards the first set of targets. Nieve took aim, releasing in quick succession until, with a sharp backstroke, Ariadnne changed direction, throwing her last shot wide.
Nieve smiled broadly; it was game on.
The course passed in a blur as Ariadnne threw herself into it at assault speed. Filled with unexpected turns and sudden drops, it was a very different experience to flying Lucius—who barrelled through courses like a tank.
To her left, Josef stood tall despite the wild turns and twists. The others were the same, used to the varanya’s agility. Experts at keeping their footing while Nieve fought to remain upright.
Then they were shooting over the waves, the next run of targets floating ahead. Nieve readied herself, ensuring her aim before letting her arrow fly.
She felt for the poor sods who had to row out to fetch those ones.
Gliding back to the dusty arena, her teammates buzzed with adrenaline, pounding each other on the back as they dismounted, exclaiming over the course. Ariadnne watched, silent, her violet eyes resting on Nieve more than once.
Then the great dragon was changing, shrinking, and re-forming. Nieve fought not to watch, to join in with the team, but the devious breeze gifted her a hint of honey and spice and she caught a forbidden glimpse of caramel-kissed skin before the varanya threw a tunic over her head.
Melixanthe’s eyes landed on her and Nieve shifted her focus to Kayla, who was talking away, impressed she had spotted the target hidden in the disused cliff-side doorway.
‘Not an easy one, that one,’ she said with the hint of a smile, surveying Nieve with shrewd eyes. ‘Ariadnne is so bloody fast when she drops past those cliffs. You might be one for our reigning champ, Lucile, to watch.’
‘I was lucky,’ Nieve said with a small chuckle.
‘Right team. That’s us for today,’ Josef called over their heads. ‘Let’s get some food. Find out which one of you rotten lot won!’
The knights cheered their approval, trailing across the dirt after him towards the exit. Nieve couldn’t help glancing back at Ariadnne. Melixanthe stepped up and took the varanya’s arm, leading her the other way back towards the councillors.
*
It turned out Nieve had come third in the rankings, despite being new to the course.
Everyone agreed that was impressive, and more than one pair of eyes appraised her as the results were announced.
They were gathered by the board at the end of the dining hall to see the tallies after a hearty lunch of pheasant and freshly baked bread.
After the announcement, knights made their way from the hall, but Nieve lingered, hoping to catch some of her old company who were evidently avoiding her.
When Sabine brushed past her without even looking at her, Kayla took her arm.
‘So, you’re new, and I’m still pretty new and could do with some female company.
We deserve an afternoon of shopping and a drink at the Crooked Oak, so I can get to know the infamous White Knight and learn all your secrets.
’ Kayla raised her slender eyebrows, something in the slant of her smile telling Nieve she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Nieve nodded—she would welcome the distraction.
‘Of course. I’d love to.’
Kayla’s face lifted. ‘Lucile!’ She waved to the knight behind Nieve. The tall, white-haired Gale turned to them.
‘Still at the top.’ Kayla nodded to the rankings board. ‘Five months unbeaten! I tell you what, the day this one beats your score I’ll buy drinks for the whole team.’ She flicked her grin towards Nieve, before clapping Lucile on the back. ‘Honestly, though. You were brilliant.’
A flush of pride infused Lucile’s cheeks. ‘Thanks, Kayla,’ she said, and turned to join Rook who was heading toward the common rooms.
Kayla turned to Nieve. ‘Let me know the next time you’re free?’ she said, her lips twitching with a smile.
‘Of course, let’s make it happen,’ Nieve said, and Kayla’s eyes flashed as she spotted Josef by the doors to the courtyard. With a last sideways smile at Nieve, she ran to catch up with him. Nieve shook her head. She would have her hands full with that one.
Her smile dropped. Something about the idea of forming new friendships didn’t feel right when she remembered the way Ariadnne had been left alone after training.
Isolated, punished, and for what? For how she’d been born?
Curiosity gnawed at Nieve’s gut. She had so many questions—like whether Ariadnne had friends, or what she did in her free time.
The persistent tug at her breast was hard to ignore, and Nieve thought back to her parents, of the intense love they had shared. The type of love bards wrote ballads about.
The same bond the legendary varanya Beatrix had shared with Helias.
Of all the people in all the world, fate had drawn her to the most untouchable, and she was damned if she knew what to do about it.