Page 69 of ColdIron
Every cadet and officer in the library turned to face the walls. But they’d all seen my naked body before the Fae heir’s uniform settled around my shoulders, its length reaching my thighs.
Possessive, isn’t he?The demon snickered.For someone who claims to hate us.
At the reminder, the last flames covering my nipples and sex extinguished. But not before each one licked my skin a final time, as if the fire were savoring a goodbye.
“Dismissed!” Drakken barked.
Just like that, the ceremony ended abruptly. No closing address. No final formation. But what else could he or the other heirs say after I’d derailed the Sorting with such an unexpected, unorthodox performance?
The aftermath blurred into noise. My head buzzed with thousands of bees trapped behind my skull, drowning out everything. I wasn’t sure if I was too shocked to function, too ashamed to think, or too terrified that Drakken would do worse than expel me.
Fragments. That’s all I retained.
Drakken didn’t look at me again after seeing what I was.
I didn’t dare lift my gaze to the other heirs. I’d been publicly stripped in front of their entire command. Associating with me now would taint them. I wouldn’t do that to them.
Harrow—Drakken’s aide—or Frost—the Fae who’d brought me boots on the track—or both escorted me back to the barracks. They carried the trunk that held my uniform and meager belongings and led me to the women’s barracks on the third floor. I trailed after them like a sheep, but I had no strength or courage to let out ameehhnow.
In my new setup, I got an upgrade: a top bunk bed. A step up from the conspicuous cot Drakken had assigned me on the men’s floor.
Frost wanted Aelindor’s coat back. I went to the women’s bathroom to change into casual wear and handed back the coat without a word. I was still numb. As soon as the aides left, I climbed to my bunk.
I lay there with my eyes closed, trying to shut down instead of process.
What’s a little shame to us?The demon snorted.It can’t kill you. It can’t break your ribs. A thousand stares are just an itch from a bug bite. Duh.
What did theduhmean? I didn’t respond. I wouldn’t engage, even at my lowest low.
Besides,it continued, warming up to its own argument,you don’t have to hide that you don’t have a dick anymore. No more binding your chest until you can’t breathe. No more dodging showers like a criminal. No more stuffing socks in your boxers like a lunatic. Wear your sex proudly, girl.
It paused, obviously preening over its own savvy. When it spoke again, the smugness returned.
And let’s not forget we wore the dragon’s fire like lingerie in front of the four powerful, eye-candy heirs and their entire army. The fire didn’t burn us, Max. It dressed us. Let that sink in before you feel sorry for yourself.
I almost forgot my rule of not engaging with the demon and begged it for silence.
But the creature was right. The fire hadn’t burned me. My loyalty wasn’t in question. So maybe it would be enough to stop Drakken from wanting me dead.
“Hey, Max.” Bryn’s voice floated up from below my bunk.
I sat up, legs crossed, and looked down at her. “Yeah?”
“You rock.”
“What?”
I expected her to berate me for my deception. But herface was alight with the manic energy of someone who’d witnessed the most spectacular thing of her life.
“You went out with a bang!” She laughed. “You gave the Sorting a climax nobody saw coming.”
I thought I’d sabotaged it. Turned the glorious dragon’s fire into a bikini in front of the entire assembly. Drakken must have taken it as a personal insult, since he could barely stand to look at me afterward.
And Thane—he’d been left on the wrong side of the door when the fire abandoned its post to follow me. The Sorting was a one-time event. He’d never get another chance to demonstrate his loyalty in front of the heirs and the crowd. I’d stolen his moment. That explained the high-voltage glare he’d given me when I passed him in the corridor.
There was nothing I could do for him. But Drakken himself had vouched for the newly promoted sergeant. No one would question Thane’s loyalty. Unlike mine.
I dropped my head back to my pillow. The demon said shame wouldn’t kill me, but I felt it just might.
