The Firedragon Read Online Free Page B

that
doesn’t mean I’ll stop thinking about it.”
    He shook his head. “You can’t change the
world overnight.” Angling his mouth into something of a grin, he
let his expression grow brighter. “But if you win, if you show
everyone that Norms can protect people from the supernatural as
well as Enchanters do … hey, it’s a start.” He glanced out the
door. “I’d better lift the silencer spell before someone sees it
and gets suspicious.” He waved his wand with a whispered word, and
the silver mist disappeared.
    Now everyone could hear
what she said, and she really had to watch her words. That
expressing her hopes could get her killed scared her like no monster
ever had. She hated the feeling.
    But just because I can’t
talk about changing the world doesn’t mean it won’t happen. She leaned against the table’s edge with a huff.
“I just want the Challenge to begin already.”
    “ I wish I felt the same,”
Connor muttered. A distressed look descended on his face, and he
stared at the floor. “But I never had a choice.”
    “ What do you
mean?”
    “ My father needed to prove
that the Challenge wasn’t just a meaningless blood sport,” he said
softly. “So he decided to send one of his kids to compete. But he
didn’t want to risk anything he couldn’t afford to lose, and I’m a
nobody in his eyes. He ordered the officials to put my name down
and told me if I refused, he’d disown me.”
    A rush of anger rose from the pit of
Aurelia’s stomach. “Your father’s evil! He talks like he’s this
great hero, but –”
    “ Aurie, stop !” he looked around
wildly. “You can’t speak that way about the Gold
Triumvir!”
    Her chest clenched with
anxiety when she realized what she’d almost said, and how her words
might have sounded to anyone who didn’t know the conversation. Yes,
that would have
sounded bad. But stronger still was her rage at the idea that the
Gold Triumvir was sending her best friend into danger just to prove
a point. “I don’t take it back,” she said defiantly.
    “ Well, your anger can’t
help me.” He sank into his chair, leaned forward on his elbows, and
buried his face in his hands.
    She bit her lip, trying to
think of something else to say. She could think of ten mean ways to respond
right away, but when it came to nice ones, the ones she wanted, she
drew a blank. Not because she didn’t care – she wanted so badly to say
something reassuring, and her heart cried out to bring him comfort.
But she couldn’t think of the right words. Her combative upbringing
hadn’t exactly taught her to be kind, and Connor was the only
person she wanted to be nice to. It made it … difficult. I suck at all this emotional
stuff , she thought, dismayed at
herself.
    Then an idea popped into
her head. Maybe I can distract him
…
    She backed up against the wall and held up
her hands like claws. This was her favorite partner training
exercise – having one person attack like a monster and the other
defend. Maybe it was a little childish, when watered down so no one
would actually get hurt, but she didn’t see anything wrong with
having fun.
    “ Hey!” she
called.
    Connor looked up, and his eyes widened. “No.
Not this again.”
    “ I’m a bloodwolf!” She
charged at him, baring her teeth as if she were a bloodwolf – a
red-furred beast that looked a lot like a stumpy but super-powered
version of a wolf. She leaped, preparing to tackle him to the
ground if he didn’t do something to defend himself.
    In answer, he raised his
wand and shouted, “ Scutum
invisibili! ”
    A bright green spell shot
from the tip of his wand with a loud whoosh . Swirling green mist filled
the air, and she knew he’d created a force field. She let herself
crash into it, keeping her body at an angle so her shoulder took
the impact, then deliberately collapsed onto the floor and shut her
eyes. All part of the master
plan , she thought, ignoring the aches from
the fall.
    “ Aurie!” he