Dragons and Destiny (Animage Academy Book 1)

by Michelle Wilson

  “That sounds like your problem, not mine.” I was done being nice.

  “Sophie! You will not speak to Chief Winston that way. Apologize to him and tell him you will do what he is asking.”

  “No.”

  Dad’s face was getting red. I knew that look in his eyes. Simon typically buckled under my father’s anger. Not me. I had been going toe to toe with my father since the day I was born. That wasn’t going to change now.

  “You will not let your stubbornness derail over a century’s worth of peace in the supernatural community. This is bigger than you Sophie, and it is your responsibility as a member of the supernatural community and as a dragon to help the Upholders in whatever they ask.”

  “I will not betray my friend.” Dad scoffed.

  “You’ve only known her for a couple of months. She hadn’t even told you about her mom. How good of a friend is she, really?”

  “She doesn’t pay attention to me just because I’m a dragon.” As I said the words sparks flew from my mouth. Dad flinched but didn’t drop eye contact. His face turned a deeper shade of red. I forgot we weren’t the only two people in the room. The sound of a bell outside the building broke the silence stretching between us.

  “I have to get to class.” Without waiting for anyone to respond, I pushed past my father and raced out the door. Once outside, I didn’t go to class. I couldn’t. My adrenaline was pumping again, and I was so mad I couldn’t think straight. I began running. I didn’t stop until I had made it all the way to the pond and the grove of trees where the Immortal’s Club met every night. Making sure there was no one around the see me, I put my hand on the tree and let myself in.

  Chapter Nine

  I grabbed a vase of flowers sitting on the counter and threw it. It shattered against the floor spraying glass and water on the wall. What did Dad think he was doing? Why would he ever think I would betray my friend? My breath was coming in short gasps. Who in the supernatural community decided the best thing to do was lock everyone they didn’t like away? How was that fair? How was that justice? I screamed in anger and kicked one of the shards of the destroyed vase. I watched as it slid across the floor until it collided with someone’s boot. Drew standing in the doorway to the den. He leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed. The rest of my anger dissolved into embarrassment.

  “I didn’t realize anyone was here.”

  “I can tell. Feel better?”

  “Not really,” I admitted. I waved my hand at the shattered vase and recited the spell for repairing things. The vase picked itself up off the floor and put itself together again. The flowers and water swept up like a mini tornado until they were back in order in the vase. I picked it up off the floor and set it back on the counter where I’d found it.

  “Witch magic is so handy. I’m always so jealous when I see you all use it. Oh, your hand is bleeding.” He was right. My race across the grounds had split the wound back open again. The dark liquid stained the bandage my dad had put on. “Come sit down and let me bandage it for you.”

  I nodded and followed him, too exhausted to protest. Using magic after the whirlwind of a morning had taken the last of my energy. I followed Drew and sat down on the couch. He pulled up an ottoman and sat down in front of me.

  “So, what has you so testy this morning, little dragon?” Tingles ran up and down my hand as he touched it and started unwrapping the bandage.

  “My dad. He’s being a butt.” Drew chuckled. His hands were gentle as he cleaned my wound.

  “Your dad was here on campus?” Crap. I’d forgotten I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone about our lessons. Oh well, Drew was a fellow immortal. Besides, I was tired of all these secrets.

  “He comes once a week to give me lessons.”

  “That’s understandable, since he’s the only other dragon animage. How old is he anyway? Like 800—1000 years old?”

  “No—wha—”

  “Quit twitching, you’re going to make your hand bleed again.” He wrapped a clean bandage around my hand. “Sophie, come on. I’m an immortal, too. Plus, I’m a gryphon. I can smell lies. The story about there being so many dragons is just a story, right? No other animage magic passes from generation to generation like that. He’s been the only dragon all these years.”

  “Yeah, you’re right.” What was the point in lying if he would know?

  “From what I know about dragons, and from what I’ve seen from you, it can’t be easy when you both have hot tempers.” He tweaked my nose and I blushed. “I’m sure it will be okay.”

  “Shouldn’t you be in class?” I asked, the thought just occurring to me. Drew shrugged.

  “Occasionally I like to get away and come hang out here. Most of us do it from time to time.”

  “Don’t the professors get mad?” He laughed. His laugh was deep and sweet and folded me in like a hug.

  “Oh, Sophie. You’re such a princess. So sweet and innocent.” I grimaced at the nickname. All the immortals had taken to calling me that lately. Thanks, Kylee. “We’re immortals. I guess this is the first time you’ve skipped class?” I nodded. “Watch, tomorrow, none of them will act like it ever happened. We get to do what we want. You look exhausted. How about you lie down and rest here for a couple of hours? I’ll wake you up in time for dinner.” He was right. I couldn’t hold my eyes open. I managed to nod and fall over on the couch. Drew picked up a blanket and draped it over me. The last thing I remembered before drifting off was him gently brushing the hair out of my face.

  Drew was true to his word. He woke me up, and we walked across the grounds together. Sleep had helped, but I was still tired and didn’t say much. As we neared the cafeteria and I could hear all the voices, I stopped.

  “Are you coming?” he asked.

  “You know what? Go ahead. I think I’m just going to head to bed.”

  “Aren’t you hungry?” I was ravenous. But I just couldn’t bring myself to walk in there with all those students. Hudson was injured, and I couldn’t even bring myself to go check on him. I felt distant and separated from all my classmates. I just wanted to be alone.

  “No, I’m just tired, really.” Drew shrugged.

  “Okay, do you need anything?”

  “No. Thank you, though. And thank you for today.” He smiled and ran a hand through his shaggy blonde hair.

  “It was my pleasure.” Once he was headed toward the cafeteria again, I made a beeline for my dorm. After a shower and a change of clothes I felt like a new person. Even with wet hair hanging down my back, I threw open the patio doors to let the October evening in.

  There was a knock at the door. I considered not opening it, but the person knocked again, more insistent this time. My solitude interrupted, I pulled the door open. My annoyance faded when it was Hudson standing in the hall. I threw my arms around his neck.

  “Are you okay?” He winced, and I backed up. “Sorry.”

  “Yeah, I’m fine, just a little sore. I didn’t see you at dinner, so I brought you some food.” I could smell the burger and fries in the bag he held. It was heavenly. He handed it to me and followed me inside.

  “You’re the injured one, and you’re still taking care of me,” I said when I was finished eating. “Thank you.” He waved off the compliment. “How are you feeling?”

  “Sore. Nurse Sunny healed up Gary and Terra no problem. I just let her stop the bleeding on mine.”

  “Why?”

  “A werewolf needs to learn to live with pain. What if I’m somewhere I can’t find a healer?”

  “Again, the talking like we’re at war or something. When are you ever going to get in a fight when there’s not a healer around?” Hudson shrugged.

  “You never know. How’s your hand?” I hadn’t even thought about my hand. I closed my hand into a fist and opened it again. It wasn’t stiff at all. I unwrapped the bandage. The cut was completely gone. I studied my hand for a moment, trying to figure out how it had healed so fast. But did that mean? I’d connected with my dr
agon magic once today. Could I do it again? I looked over at Hudson.

  “No,” he said flatly. “I know that gleam in your eye. You want to try new magic. Not on me. I just told you, a werewolf lives with the pain.”

  “Oh, come on,” I prodded him. “You’d be helping me. I’ll even try to leave a scar for your manly pride. I promise.” He regarded me for a moment and then relented.

  “Fine.” He sat forward on the couch and took his shirt off. I had to stop myself from smiling. I had never realized Hudson was so—fit, before. It made sense. We all trained every day. Werewolves were stronger and fitter than the rest of us naturally. I hadn’t been that strong when I started at the Academy, but just the other day I had noticed in the mirror I was getting definition in my legs and in my abs.

  Get ahold of yourself, Sophie. I took off the bandage over his abs. Stomach, I told myself, just his stomach. His skin was darker than mine and it made my hand look like it was almost glowing as I placed it over the first cut. I wasn’t exactly sure what to do. Witch magic always involved spells or herbs or potions. My animage magic was much more instinctual than that. I reached inside to find my dragon. She was curled up inside of me. Was she purring? I blushed and pulled my hand away, afraid the noise was going to be audible soon.

  “What?” Hudson asked.

  “Nothing, just getting the nerve up.”

  “That fills me with confidence.”

  I placed my hand back over his cut and called on my dragon again. The power filled my body and rushed out through my limbs. Heal, I thought, trying to push the magic out through me and into Hudson. Heal. My fingertips filled with bright blue magic. It rushed into Hudson. The scratch flared blue for a moment and then healed up before our eyes, leaving nothing but a thin white scar.

  “Wow, that was cool,” Hudson said. I smiled and did the same thing for the cut on his back. He put his shirt back on once I was finished, and we sat in silence, enjoying the evening.

  “So, where did you run off today?”

  “I just needed to get away, I took a walk in the woods.”

  “All day?” I shrugged.

  “I needed a long walk.” If I couldn’t tell my friends about being immortal, I certainly couldn’t tell them about the Immortal’s Club. Besides, I wasn’t sure I wanted to.

  “I saw you coming back with Drew.” I blushed again.

  “Yeah, we ran into each other and walked back together.” It wasn’t a complete lie.

  “Is there something going on between you and him?” Hudson’s words sounded forced. I glanced over, but he looked as affable as always.

  “No.”

  “Do you want there to be?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe. Is there anyone you like?” He was quiet for a moment.

  “Nah. I’m not interested in romance right now. I just wondered because you’ve been hanging out with Drew and his crew a lot lately. A couple of the girls were being pretty mean to Willa and Gracie the other day. Making fun of them.”

  I bristled. “When? Do you know who?”

  “No, I just know what they told me.”

  “Why didn’t they tell me?”

  “I'm not sure. Maybe they were worried you wouldn’t take their side.” I scoffed. “Of course, I would.”

  “I know. They’re just a little intimidated by ‘Princess’ Sophie.” I really hated that nickname.

  “Tell them not to worry, you guys are still my best friends.”

  “Okay.” The silence fell again. The sound of students coming back from dinner drifted in through the open patio doors. It would be lights out soon.

  “Hudson, can I ask you something?”

  “Shoot.”

  “The other werewolves in class today, they started to back you up but then stopped. I thought werewolves were all about pack. And you hang out with us all the time, never with the others from your pack.” Hudson shifted in the seat and looked out the window. I waited, afraid I’d said something to upset him.

  “Most of the time you’re right. I’m a bit of an outcast, though.”

  “Can I ask why?” He didn’t seem like an outcast. He was strong, fast, and talented. And he was a white wolf which Professor Atkins had said was rare. He was everything werewolves usually valued.

  “I’m the oldest son of the alpha in the Dwayyo pack.”

  “But, wait, doesn’t that mean you’re going to be the alpha one day? Shouldn’t they listen to you?”

  “It’s a little complicated. You see, I’m half human.” The words fell on my ears like drums.

  “That’s not possible.”

  “Well it is possible, just—um—severely frowned upon. Before my dad found his mate, he was a bit—cavalier in his relationships. He got a human pregnant. She… well… my mom… died giving birth to me. For years I was raised by him as an orphan in the pack. Well, someone found out and exposed him. My dad lost his spot on the Council. If he wasn’t the alpha of the strongest pack, he may have been imprisoned too, but the Upholders knew the pack would never let that happen.

  “So, everyone knows who I am now, but I’m still treated like an outcast. Even my dad, he’s always been more my alpha than my father. That’s not changed. The pack will eventually go to my younger brother.”

  “But that’s not fair.” Hudson shrugged.

  “Maybe not, but it is what it is. Unless I want to challenge my father or my brother, that’s the way it will stay.”

  “I’m sorry I pried,” I told him. He patted my leg.

  “No, don’t be. You didn’t pry. It’s hard to talk about, but I’m glad you know now.”

  I laid my head on his shoulder. “I’m glad we’re friends, Hudson.”

  He smiled. “I’m glad we are too.”

  Chapter Ten

  “Sophie. Sophie. Earth to Sophie!” Hudson’s voice cut through fog.

  “Huh—what?”

  “You drifted off again.” It was the day before Thanksgiving, and we were sitting in the library trying to plan what we were going to do the next day. We didn’t get a long break for Thanksgiving, but we did get two days out of class and a trip into New York City.

  “I said, ‘Did you talk to Simon, is he joining us tomorrow?’”

  “Oh yeah, he is. Dad recommended this restaurant we can go to. He and Mom are traveling so he said he wanted us to have a good Thanksgiving with our friends. He’s sending a car. The restaurant is supernatural friendly.” I looked around to see all my friends were staring at me like I’d grown a third eye.

  “What?”

  “Why are you just telling us now?” Willa asked.

  “Have I not mentioned this before? I could’ve sworn I told you all about this.”

  “Did you invite your other friends?” Gracie asked. “Maybe you invited them and not us.”

  I bit my tongue. “No, of course not. I’m sorry. I really thought I said something. If you don’t have other plans, I’d love for you to come and meet Simon.”

  “That’d be great, right guys?” Hudson asked. Willa and Gracie glanced at each other and then nodded.

  “I’m sorry,” I repeated.

  “Why are you so tired all the time, Sophie? Are you not sleeping well? You know my Mom has a great recipe for a sleeping potion. I could write her and ask for it if you want me to whip it up for you. You might grow a horn, though.”

  “As tempting as that is, no thank you. I’ve just been up late reading is all.” The truth was keeping the different threads of my life separated was difficult. I was excelling in my classes, but the lessons in school and with my father were getting harder. Plus, I wasn’t getting any sleep trying to hang out with Hudson, Gracie, and Willa during the day and sneak out to the Immortal’s Club every night. So many times, I’d been tempted to tell them everything. I trusted them. As Gracie moved on to a different topic of conversation, I decided against it. Again. I didn’t want to pull them into something they didn’t have to worry about. It didn’t seem fair, somehow.

  The next morning Hud
son and I stood huddled outside the front of the Animage Academy building. Gracie and Willa were waiting inside. It was the first time I’d been off school property since I arrived. The street looked just like I remembered it. Full of dilapidated buildings and warehouses. The block looked extra dreary today with heavy gray snow clouds in the sky. Magic never ceased to amaze me. A whole world was concealed right under the humans’ noses. Dad helped create these spells. With a thrill, I realized that one day I could be the one that helped protect the Academy.

  A black limo pulled up in front of the school. My dad’s driver got out and took his cap off when he saw me.

  “Greetings, Miss Sophie. Your father sent me to transport you and your friends to Clarity. It’s nice to see you. I hope you’ve been well?”

  “It’s nice to see you too, Arnold. I’ve been well.” I realized Hudson was staring at me.

  “This is what your father means when he says he will ‘send a car?’” I shrugged.

  “I’ve been mad at him lately. This is his way to make it up to me.”

  “Yeah, well, it would work on me.”

  We ran back inside to grab Willa and Sophie and headed off to pick up Simon. The windows were dark enough that Gracie didn’t have to worry about anyone spotting her wings. The limo was decked out with candy, sparkling grape juice, and snacks galore.

  “Your dad is amazing. I’m taking all of this back with me to school. You can’t stop me.” Gracie already had both hands full of food. I laughed.

  “Sure, take it all. Hey! It’s my phone.” I grabbed the shiny smartphone out of the cup holder and immediately texted Simon to let him know we were on the way. Since I hadn’t talked to any of my friends from primary school all semester, I spent the next half an hour catching up with them on social media.

  When we arrived at Simon’s school, I hopped out to greet him. I tapped my foot as Arnold and I waited outside The School of Prophecy and Revelation. Simon and I wrote weekly letters to each other, but that was different from getting to see and talk to your twin.