Dragon Fire Academy 1 First Term an RH academy romance - Rachel Jonas Page 0,21

I only saw him as a friend, but I couldn’t stand the thought of hurting his feelings.

“Perfect,” I sighed. “Guess I’ll catch you guys in a few.”

With that, I turned to head toward the thick line of greenery beyond the high brick wall that formed the academy’s border, accepting the fact that I’d have to venture in pretty deep.

Hopefully, Marcella was right. If there was only a volcano this tribe was weary of, I could handle that. Not that I had a choice other than to venture out into the wild. If I didn’t make this journey, I couldn’t guarantee things wouldn’t get bad.

For me. For others.

Still, if something was lurking out there, something this tribe hadn’t spoken of, I could only hope not to cross its path.

***

There had to be at least three miles between me and the academy. Making a trek of this magnitude, in the sweltering heat, hadn’t been a small achievement.

Sweat poured down my neck and chest, dampening the collar of the tank top I wore. One thing I hadn’t accounted for, however, was the bugs. I’d been bitten so many times I lost track. But I suppose I could have counted the red splotches on my arms and legs if I really needed to know. My only solace was knowing I could whip up a concoction to heal them before anyone would notice.

At a glance, the pathway I created was clear, but not to the naked eye. A quick spell—taught by Aunt Hilda, of course—ensured that I’d be able to find my way back to this very spot. She was the only one who knew my plan, that I intended to make camp out here alone until I knew I could be trusted around others. All it took was a whispered incantation as I let my fingertips graze the trunks of the palm trees I passed. What remained was a network of glowing, turquoise markers wherever I laid my hand. Not even another witch could detect it. Only me.

The soil was warm and damp in my fingers when I scooped handfuls aside, making a decent sized hole at the base of a tree. I’d brought the small pouch that had been stashed in my drawer. After removing it from my pocket, I dropped it into the space I cleared and covered it carefully, placing a rock the size of my fist on top to mark the spot.

Standing to my feet, I glanced around and took in the location I’d chosen. It was near a narrow stream—an endless source of water for my indefinite stay. But most importantly, I was far enough from the academy that no one would hear me scream.

From what I’d been told, shifting was brutal—as a wolf or a dragon—and lucky me would get to experience both at the same time. Aunt Hilda taught me a pain removing spell, but she couldn’t guarantee it would work at the height of the transition, due to the likelihood of me not being able to focus.

I guessed I’d find out when the time came.

Tired from the hike, I brushed the dirt off my hands and onto my shorts. It didn’t take long to decide I’d chill before returning to the dorm, choosing instead to rest in this beautiful spot I’d found for a little while. Even with the heat, it was amazing there. At every turn, there was vibrant color, lovely sounds. Hard to believe I’d get to call this place home for the next year, assuming things went according to plan.

Think positive, Noelle. Think positive.

I leaned against a strange, oblong rock with names etched into the north-facing side. It sort of jutted up from the soil out of nowhere. Running my fingers over the letters, I noted that they hadn’t been carved in the same handwriting. So much time and care had gone into each one, which made me wonder what purpose the stone served.

During this short break, I admitted to myself how overwhelmed I’d been lately. The past month had been busy, and full of distractions, but I still had plenty of time to think of home. Plenty of time to wonder what trouble the twins had gotten into, or how long Mom cried after letting me go. To put it plainly, I missed them all like crazy.

Glancing up, I tried to push thoughts of home aside. The overtones of coral and lavender taken on by the clouds meant the sun was beginning to set. Which also meant I needed to head back