Legacy's Prince

Chapter Thirty-One: Tarron

The safe room does not look as big as it did when I was here alone. In fact, it's starting to feel very small and cramped. Every student the Academy has is packed wall to wall and, despite several warning, many are not being quiet.

Axellia, Seana, Dezden, and I are sitting on one bed towards a back corner of the room, while Mariona, Tarron, Feiya, and Vivianna sit on the other. We just gaze across at each other, anxiously waiting for whatever comes next.

I don't suppose you've noticed any assassins running about, have you? I ask Zahairas.

Haven't been looking to be honest. He replies.

So much for grand protector of the world!

Watch yourself!

The edge of my boredom soothed at teasing my dragon, I look about the room once more. Everyone whispers and shudders in fear, some groups of girls huddled together crying as of today is their last. Oriana and her perfume brigade are the loudest of the bunch, earning a scolding from both Rune and Morcant. Despite my distaste for Oriana, I do slightly understand her at this moment. Who wouldn't be nervous, at the very least, with a mercenary group on the loose?

The one who seems to be far more upset than all the rest, though, is Feiya. Even after the door have been locked and guarded, her mood has not improved. Her wings are trembling as she kneads her hands in her lap, sniffling as she squirms. Tarron, of course, sits right next to her, a very concerned scowl on his face.

For a while we just sit in silence, wondering if it's just nerves and she'll calm herself givens enough time and space. When she only seems to worsen, though, Tarron finally speaks.

"You know they won't get to us here, right?" he asks softly, setting his hand on top of hers, stilling their fidgeting. "We're perfectly safe down here."

"Oh, it's not that," Feiya whispers as she wipes at her face with her shoulder.

"Then what?" Tarron asks, his ears lowering against his head as we all lean closer, deeply worried for our friend.

"It's not a big deal," Feiya sniffles, forcing a smile as she shakes her head. "Really. I'm fine."

"You don't look fine," Vivianna murmurs, crawling over the mattress to get a better look. "Have you come down with a bug?" She asks as she pokes at Feiya's face.

Feiya shakes her head, swatting at Vivianna's hand with her wing.

Tarron shifts his weight on the bed, turning so that his entire body is facing towards Feiya. I too move closer, kneeling down in front of her in the space between the two beds. Dezden squats down next to me, uncharacteristically quiet. Feiya ducks her head, trying to avoid all of our gazes. Tarron takes her face between his hands. Turning her towards him, he wipes her tears away with his thumbs, staring into her eyes.

"What's wrong, Pretty?" he asks.

"Nothing," she whispers.

"We both know that's not true," Tarron says as he pushes a strand of hair behind her ear.

Feiya hangs her head once more, a small whimper escaping from her as she wraps herself in her wings.

"It's really not a big deal," she mutters.

"So tell me," Tarron gently requests, tucking his hand under her chin and tilting her face towards him again.

Feiya looks up at him, then averts her eyes, biting her lip.

"Feiya?" Tarron asks again.

She breathes in a deep but shaky sigh, burying herself in her wings before answering.