Chapter 2 Don't Provoke That Dragon

Mia's POV

I rolled up my sleeves and was ready to throw a punch.

This wasn't me looking for trouble on my first day. Liam was just that insufferable.

Then a cold voice came from behind me. "Move."

I turned around. It was a tall boy in a black hoodie, his sharp features half-hidden under the hood.

But his nose was straight, his jawline clean, and he looked every bit as handsome as a movie star.

His looks were striking, but those golden eyes swept over us carrying nothing but cold detachment.

Before I could react, he spoke again. "You're in the way. Move."

That's when I got it. He was annoyed at us. But the path was wide open. Why did he have to walk right through the middle?

I stepped forward, ready to argue, but Lyra pulled me aside and whispered, "Don't. That's Draven Ignis. He's a dragon shifter."

"A dragon?"

I was genuinely confused. I didn't understand why Lyra looked so scared when she said it, and a little disgusted too.

"They're powerful, arrogant, and dangerous," she said.

But looking at him, that face, that build, I just couldn't connect any of that to the word dangerous.

Arrogant, though? Yeah, I could see that. He walked straight up to Liam and told him to move too.

At first, Liam laughed it off. "Well, look who it is. The last dragon in the entire magical world. You think I'm scared of you?"

Draven met his eyes, voice flat. "What, are you going to throw those sad little ice blades at me too?"

His gaze was razor-sharp, and the energy rolling off him was intense enough that just standing there, staring at Liam, had the guy visibly trembling.

The students behind Liam noticed the shift. They backed away, one by one, until Liam was standing alone in front of Draven.

The smile dropped off Liam's face. He forced a steady voice. "Fighting on school grounds is against the rules! Try and touch me, I dare you!"

Draven gave him one long, cutting look. Then a single word, "Leave."

Liam scrambled out of the way fast. To save face, he pointed at me and Lyra. "You two got lucky today. Next time won't be so easy!"

Classic bully. All bark when the target can't fight back, total coward when someone pushes back.

I was furious, but I had no magic to work with yet. Dealing with Liam would have to wait.

I watched Draven walk away, and it hit me a beat too late. He'd just gotten us out of that situation. In his own way, he'd made Liam back off for us.

That gave me an idea. Was he really as dangerous as everyone made him out to be? Or did people just not know who he actually was?

I followed Lyra into the castle and found it was much bigger than I'd expected.

The entrance opened into a circular foyer with a domed ceiling painted with a moving star map. The Big Dipper flickered and shifted above us, like someone had lifted the whole night sky inside.

On both sides, the columns were carved from solid obsidian, wrapped in glowing vines of some magical plant.

When we walked past, the vines stretched out and bloomed a little purple flower right in front of me, like a welcome.

Banners hung between the columns, wolves, lions, phoenixes, but no dragon.

That struck me as odd. Weren't dragons just as ancient and powerful as phoenixes? Why did the school have a dragon shifter but no dragon symbol anywhere?

Before I could think too hard about it, a woman stepped forward in a pale blue robe, her hair pulled back neatly.

"Welcome, everyone. The ceremony is about to begin. I'm your Potions teacher, Sarah Wilson."

She had a warm smile. She led us into the great hall.

I stopped in the doorway.

Massive clouds of magical mist floated near the ceiling, drifting slowly and scattering tiny sparks of light that drifted down onto people's hair and shoulders like fragments of stars.

Long tables lined both sides of the hall, covered in gold cloth. Crystal glasses refilled themselves automatically, and trays of warm pastries sat alongside silver candelabras that burned with flames in every color, blue, violet, pink, steady and smokeless, giving off a faint, sweet smell.

A podium stood at the far end of the hall, the school's crest mounted above it.

I assumed the headmaster would speak from there.

I stood there taking it all in, too stunned to say anything.

The hall could fit at least two hundred people. I hadn't realized there were this many shifters.

Ms. Wilson had mentioned the new class was only around twenty students, and the older years would be joining us for the opening ceremony.

"Alright, find a seat quickly. We're about to start."

I scanned the rows of mostly filled seats, and then I spotted it. an empty space beside Draven. Actually, it wasn't just one seat. There was a whole invisible ring around him, like people had drawn a line without saying anything out loud. Every seat near him was empty.

I tried to pull Lyra over, but she shook her head. "Don't be stupid. Nobody sits next to the dragon."

I felt something tug at me. He looked almost lonely. I knew that feeling. I was an outsider here too.

So I ignored Lyra, walked over, and sat down next to him.

He glanced at me, clearly surprised.

"I'm guessing nobody was planning to sit here anyway," I said, and gave him my best friendly smile. "Hi. I'm Mia Davis."

I had to admit. His eyes were something else. I knew he was sizing me up, but those golden irises were so deep, like looking into a sunlit lake.

"Draven Ignis," he said, even and quiet.

"I know. You're a dragon, right?" I couldn't hide my excitement. This was my first time ever talking to one up close.

He looked at me for a long moment before answering. "You're not afraid of me?"

"Why would I be?"

Before he could respond, a familiar voice cut through from behind me.

"Hey, country girl. I'd seriously think twice about sitting there. Someone like you. can't even shift yet. You get too close to him, you'll end up as a roasted pig."

I turned around. Liam, of course.

I didn't know how to explain it, but I just didn't believe Draven would hurt me.

So I rolled my eyes at Liam and said, "Clown," then turned back around.

That clearly stung. His voice went up a notch. "Ignorant little nobody. A hick like you belongs next to a lizard like him."

"Liam. Watch your mouth."

Draven's voice dropped low and dangerous. I felt the temperature around us actually climb.

"You're the lizard!" Liam snapped. "An ugly, evil lizard! Crawl back to whatever cave you came from. Nobody wants you here!"

Then Draven's eyes lit up. Literally. And in an instant, fire roared to life across his entire body.

The students nearby screamed and stumbled back, faces full of panic. I was the only one still close. close enough that the flames wrapped right around me.

The heat hit me like opening an oven door.

My first thought was: 'I'm done. There won't even be ashes left.'