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How Not To Fall For A Dragon
Chapter 123 123- Do Not Borrow A Ruby For Girls‘ Night
LEXI
The route the Academy sends me on to get to Ellorie’s room is… confusing. Not just a little confusing. Completely, utterly nonsensical. I go down one hallway, then another, then turn left. Once, twice, three times… Then again, and again, until I’m pretty sure I’ve turned left at least six times in a row, which should not be physically possible without ending up back where I started. Then I go down a flight of stairs… even though I was already on the ground floor to begin with! I pause halfway down, frowning slightly. Okay. Sure. That makes sense. Except it really, really doesn’t. Then again… nothing about this place really does. There’s an upper–level view from my bedroom window, but my room has already moved once. Entire sections of the Academy shift around like it’s nothing. Doors appear and disappear. Hallways stretch and twist depending on… what? Mood? Intent? Magic? I glance back up the stairs behind me. DO the rooms actually move? Or are the doors like… portals? Do they just… connect to different places depending on what the Academy decides? The thought is equal parts fascinating and mildly unsettling. I shake my head and keep walking. One mystery at a time… It also feels very weird walking around like this in my pyjamas. It’s not even dark yet, which somehow makes it worse. I’m the kind of person who gets dressed just to leave the house, even if it’s something casual. Being out in the halls like this makes me feel like I’ve accidentally stepped outside without realising it. Like I’m underdressed in public. Even if technically… this is my home right now. Still. It’s weird. But, Like I asked, I don’t see a single person along the way. Not one. No students. No teachers. No one lurking around corners or walking past or even making noise in nearby rooms. The Academy really did find me a clear path. I don’t know whether to be grateful or slightly concerned about how easily it can do that. Eventually, I reach a door labelled Ellorie–Rae I lift my hand and knock and the door flies open almost immediately.
“You’re here! I’m so glad you’re okay!” Ellorie blurts out, before I can even say anything. Then she throws her arms around my neck. The suddenness of it catches me off guard for half a second, and then I relax into it. I hug her back, sinking into the contact more than I expected to.
“Yeah,” I say softly.
“Thanks for this.” I add.
“Of course,” she replies easily, stepping back but still smiling.
“It’ll be nice to hang out. Just us girls for a little bit.” She tells me as she steps aside, gesturing for me to come in. I walk into her room and immediately
stop.
“Woah…” I trail off. The layout is the same as mine. And Blake’s. But that’s where the similarities end. For starters… There’s a fireplace. Not decorative. Not subtle. A real, roaring fireplace with actual flames dancing inside it, casting warm light across the room. The walls are a deep greyish–purple, rich and soft at the same time, and there are dozens of candles scattered around, on shelves, on surfaces, along the floor, each one lit, flickering gently. The air smells nice too. Spiced and comforting. Like cinnamon and something deeper I can’t quite place. I guess some of the candles must be scented? And somehow, despite the fire, the candles, all the heat this should be generating, the temperature is perfect. Of course it is. Because this place refuses to follow normal rules.
“I really like fire?” Ellorie says with a small shrug, like that explains everything. I laugh softly.
“I can see that.” I answer. It’s… kind of perfect, actually. It suits her. There’s something warm and a little intense about it. It’s liker her own little haven. She moves over to a plush rug in front of the fireplace and drops down onto it comfortably. There are two mugs of hot chocolate already sitting there, steam curling gently into the air, marshmallows floating lazily on top. She pats the spot beside her. I sit down, tucking my legs under me, letting the warmth seep into my skin. This feels safe. Normal..
“So… Ellorie st, picking up her mug and glancing at me over the rim with a small, knowing smile. She takes a sip, then lowers the cup slightly.
“You and Blake… “Tell me everything.” She orders.
I spend the next half hour explaining everything. Not just the big things. Not just the dramatic, obvious moments. Everything What happened in class; The Academy forcing us out. The way Blake reacted. The flight. The vault. His mum. The argument. What he said. What I said. The way he looked. The way I felt The way it all spiralled so quickly I barely had time to keep up with it. Even Professor Cage. His explanation. His logit. The way it all almost roade sense. but didn’t quite sit right. By the time I’m done, my voice is a little hoarse and my thoughts feel like they’ve been dragged out of my head and scattered.
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Chapter 123 123–Do Not Borrow A Ruby For Girls Night
The room. The entire time, Elorie past. Fisters. Really listens. The doesn’t interrupt. Doesn’t jump in with opinions too early. Fast rods at the right ments, maked goes little
when it makes sense, and stays completely focused on me. When I finally finish, the room goes quiet. The fire trackles softly behind us, canules flickering gently, and for a second I just sit there, staring at my hands like I’ve just dropped something fragile and I’m not are how badly it’s broken. Eliorie doesn’t speak straight away. The sets her empty mag down carefully to the side, then leans in and wraps her arms around ree, I don’t hesitate. I lean into it immediately, resting my head against her shoulder.
“So you had a tough day then, huh,” she says softly. I let out a quiet, breathy laugh against her.
“Yeah, you could say that.” I mumble. We stay like that for a moment. Then I sigh and pull back, dragging a hand through my hair
“I just don’t know what to do now. About Blake, I mean.” I admit. The words feel heavier now that they’re out in the open.
“He TERRIFIED me today.” I continue, my voice tightening slightly.
“I hated feeling so out of control of my own life. That’s exactly what I’ve been scared of from the moment I found out I’d be hunted. That I’d have to lock myself away. Stop living. Just… exist, for the sake of not dying.” I explain. I swallow.
“And Flake was the one who convinced me that wouldn’t happen.” I add. That it didn’t have to happen.
“That I could still live my life.” I clarify. My hands tighten slightly in my lap.
“And then today…” 1 shake my head as I try to gather my thoughts.
“For a little while, I thought it had. That my worst fear had actually come true. That the one person who promised me everything would be okay had just….
given up on that. On me.” My voice drops.
rse than that… he didn’t even talk to me about it. He didn’t ask. He didn’t explain. He just… Did it.” I gesture vaguely. He locked me in. Decided for ck away my choice, my freedom. I trail off, staring down again. Silence stretches for a second. And then the doubt creeps in. Slow and unwelcome.
maybe he’s right.” I add, quieter now, my voice starting to shrink in on itself. Ellorie doesn’t interrupt. She just watches me.
“Maybe I can’t look after myself,” I continue.
Maybe I can’t make reasonable decisions about my own safety. I mean… I didn’t even notice anything was wrong with the food until I had already eaten it!
dn’t realise we were being targeted again. I didn’t I stop and shake my head slightly.,
merd help. I DO need protection. I’m basically useless on my own.” I admit. The words feel horrible even as I say them. But they also feel…
tably possible.
Fcompletely shot him down earlier,” I add, my voice barely above a whisper now.
“Even after he apologised. Maybe I’m just… being unreasonable.” The moment the words leave my mouth, Ellorie’s pasture changes. Subtly. But completely. She leans back slightly, crossing her arms over her chest, her expression sharpening as she studies me. Not unkind. But very, very focused.
Oll bos she says. And something in her tone makes me straighten instinctively.
“Okay, Lex. You are spiralling She continues, her voice firm now. I blink.
What I start.
“Stop” she ryte, kolding up a band.
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Chapter 123 123- Do Not Borrow A Ruby For Girls‘ Night
“You’ve had your turn. Now you sit back and listen.” She insists, I freeze slightly.
“Because it is time for a reality check, and apparently, I’m the one who’s going to give it.”
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- Visitor
omg! this is such a captivating story!
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
