As the days passed and my classes became a place where I was dissected down to the bone by my instructors and peers, I realized that I was more of an outcast than before. My longing for isolation and solitude from people grew more profound with every passing day. I longed for the days where Naxan and I could fly freely over the dragon island without a worry in the world besides taking down traps left by the hunters. On that island is where our memories were, my fondest memories. Where I first met Naxan and developed our bond by learning we were one another's missing piece. We hunted together, protected one another, and spent every waking moment by each other's side. I was homesick, and I could tell Naxan was too, but he knew more than I did; this was the place we needed to be.

If only it weren't such a struggle, I would enjoy my time here more. But I'm sure this was intended, to break me until I cried like the girl I was. Well, they wouldn't get tears from this girl. I thought bitterly. If I was being segregated into tougher treatment than the rest, so be it. I've gone face to face with wild cats ready to rip me apart, dragons who could swallow me whole, and dangerous men who saw me and Nax as profit. I imagined I could handle a couple of offended men and their egos.

To top things off, the ball that I had to take place in was only a week away. Meaning I would be paraded around in front of all to see in an uncomfortable dress surrounded by unfamiliar faces who would judge my every movement. I knew they would be watching me because I was the first female dragon rider they had ever seen. I was breaking the system. And I knew for a fact people would indeed dislike that idea.

I thanked the people who didn't see me as a disturbance. They made me feel welcomed and that I had people to turn toward. So, I suppose I wasn't completely alone at the Academy. I had Baylen, who, although he liked to tease and joke around far more than I would like him to, I know he meant well. Then there were the first-year dragon riders, Aelric, Ton, Roland and Sige. They first met me on the dragon island, not expecting to find more than what they came there to look for. Now we train together every day and all day. I couldn't ask for a better team. Then came Tomi and Fin. Our first encounter was not the greatest of situations for I was covered from head to toe in demon guts. They never let me forget that day, but they also constantly praise me for my weaponry abilities. And then there was Kayne. He drove me crazy for reasons I was unsure of. I was drawn to him in ways I could not control, whether it be from my own feelings or the shadows wanting to feel his power. My feeling for him was unknown at this point. These past couple of days he's been acting strange. He still had his flirtatious personality, but somedays he seemed so distant and withdrawn from his friends, especially me.

I wasn't the only one who noticed this either. Baylen and I have shared our findings of Kayne and we haven't been able to come to a conclusion of why he's been so different.

By the time I was done thinking about my angering thoughts, I was in front of Colin's office door. He requested that I meet him in his office for some important reason that I was not yet told of what it was. Knocking on the door, I waited until I heard his voice sound before entering.

Upon entering the office, I wished I had known what this meeting entailed. Once I saw who was in the office, I wanted to turn right back around and leave.

"Good morning Miss Navi." Colin smiled warmly.

I refrained from glowering as I shut the office door behind me. The other council members stared at me with a harsh intensity that caused the hair on my neck to bristle in anger. I felt like a cornered snowcat who rabid wolves surrounded.

"Miss Withers," One of the men said. His red eyes looked like liquid fire causing mass destruction over a civilization. "Councilor Anton Deverrel. Lovely to see you again." I exchanged no words, even though I would have loved to comment on the sickly sweetness of his sarcastic tone.

He stuck his hand out. I grasped it firmly and shook his hand. Through the handshake, I felt his infinity of fire deep within his being. It was enormous. Every corner of his mind and body was occupied with raging flames that scorched and seared my wandering mind. Taking my hand back, I subconsciously rubbed my hands together. As if I was trying to rid myself of the feeling of being burned alive. The feeling faded as we no longer were in contact with each other.

The next one to shake my hand was the man with charcoal pieces planted into his eyes. They didn't shine nor sparkle with life. "Councilor Baryn Rasso." Upon contact with his skin, I felt the weight of the earth fall over my body. I wanted to heave in a breath as if it would help feeling trapped, but I refrained as I released his hand.

"Councilor Neville Eliphas." A hand jutted out in front of me. I grasped it firmly as I had done with the others and looked into the man's eyes. Blue whirlpools of glowing liquid met mine. Through our handshake, I felt a sense of an endless ocean envelop me in tight, freezing cold waves. Goosebumps raised over my skin as I explored the darkest parts of the sea in only milliseconds.

I took a step back, facing the four council members, and waited for them to speak. I now knew what I was here for. I just wished I had been prepared. Maybe I would have been able to come up with a few snarky remarks before the conversation commenced.

Naxan was settled in the back of my mind, watching what was in this room through my eyes. He understood my feelings towards these men from the experience I had shared with them. My dragon hated these men just as much as I did, if not more.

Being acutely aware of how small the room felt, I made myself take up the air in the room. The man with blue eyes tightened his lips at the feeling I was putting into the room, my powers. I was not going to let these men think they were superior to me, so I let them have a taste of what I truly was, as they intentionally did with me. The Ceocil bonded was more disturbed being in my presence than the others by the looks of things.

"Miss Withers," Colin gave me a warning look. "The council has gathered here to discuss your situation."

I wanted to bite out a few words, but I held my tongue as the Headmaster stared at me disapprovingly. Like last time? If they thought that this meeting of there's was going to be the same as when I first arrived here, they were sadly mistaken.

I couldn't help but notice the secrecy of this meeting, of both meetings. The two times I was part of a council meeting, we were in a small office that was too full for my liking. How formal. I wondered what they had up their sleeves. What tricks would they try on me this time?

"I still stand where I previously stated that Miss Withers should not attend this Academy." The man with red eyes said. His eyes seemed to burn brighter when he turned his head to address the other council members.

My eyes narrowed in discontent at his words. He thought that he could keep me away from my dragon? Foolish.

"Not happening," Naxan growled. I agreed with him through our link.

The Headmaster shook his head. "That's not possible anymore, Anton. We cannot deny them of their bond."

Anton's eyes closed as he talked. "I know you have a soft spot for her, Colin, but I, on the other hand, do not wish for a female to be put into battle."

"Then they train here. How to properly function in society, but Miss Withers wouldn't go into battle." Neville said as his blue eyes wandered to each of the fellow council members.

The man with stone-cold eyes seemed to think a moment before nodding his head in agreeance. "A good idea, but what if they do not cooperate? What then?"

"Simple," Anton spoke as he moved a hand over his sleeved arm. "We deal with them how the other one was dealt with."

How was the other one dealt with? What did he mean by this? My mind was racking through the multiple possibilities that he could tell by this. All were bad.

"It's a good plan," Declared Baryn, his dark eyes whisking away from mine. "The dragon could prove to be useful in the future as well."

I snorted as he said that.

"Miss Withers." Colin stepped around his desk. "It is best you keep your opinions to yourself at this time."

Glaring at Colin, I was fed up with staying quiet as they talked about me as if I were not in the room. "What I'm getting out of this conversation is that I'm useless without my dragon. You see me as nothing until I have a dragon who could prove to be useful in the future." I quoted Baryn's words with sarcasm dripping through my teeth.

"You're definitely not useless, Miss Withers," Anton said with a sly grin.

I nearly shuddered at his look. He was repulsive. I refrained from giving him any satisfaction knowing he affected me. That would give him a sense of empowerment, and I wanted to rip that away from him. I wanted to take that away from all of them.

"If I'm not useless, then what of me?" I was angry, to say the least. Not wanting to hear what the council members would say, I decided to say what I wanted to them for the past year. "I was judged by you and deemed unworthy to fight in a battle that you are clearly losing." I stuck out my hand and used my fingers to count off the many things I was put through. "I had to leave my home because of your own arrogance and misogynistic views and live on an island full of carnivores who wanted to eat me." My memories flashed back to the countless times I had to watch my back to make sure nothing was stalking me. "You tried keeping me away from my bonded, which you would never do to a male. And for all I know, I was going to end up dead because I had shown characteristics of a dragon rider."

Baryn scoffed. I glared towards him, but his eyes never met mine. Instead, Anton stepped forward and spoke. "You speak quite confidently for someone who knows nothing of this world."

I narrowed my eyes. "Excuse me?"

Anton circled me in a predator-like way. I kept my gaze straight forward. I would not allow him to think I was intimidated by his actions. "Female dragon riders are not killed."

"Then where are they?" Anton continued to circle around me. I heard the crack of his smile as he made his way behind me. When he stood in front of me, his smile was unnaturally wide. It seemed as though his face would split in half if he stretched it even further.

I cocked an eyebrow, waiting in expectation. I would love to hear where all the past female dragon riders were right now. No one has ever spoken of a female possessing the ability to be bound to a dragon. I've never heard of any stories involving a female involved in this kind of world, not even a whisper.

"I think that's enough, Anton." Headmaster Colin spoke from beside his desk. He took a slow step towards the Skaoz bonded and me, watching him with a calculated gaze.

The dragon rider twisted his head to the side but kept his fiery gaze on me. "She wants to know where the female dragon riders go, Colin. Why not tell her what her fate could have been?" Anton's eyes became a darker red as he stared at me with a smug look. "Or what could still be if she is not willing to comply with our demands."

I felt like I should never have asked the question. I'm not sure I wanted to know anymore. By the supercilious look written on Anton's face as well as the look of alarm the Headmaster was presenting, I felt my gut clench as to what the answer would be. But I would not back down nor show uncertainty in front of these people. They would feed off of it—especially the one with the pools of blood in his eyes.

I was very aware of Naxan in the back of my mind as he was paying attention to my fluctuating emotions through the bond. I was thankful he was there. Feeling him resting in the back of my mind felt the same as if he were in the room with me. I felt comforted to know I had someone on my side.

"It doesn't concern her because she is going to remain a dragon rider," Colin said with confidence. My blurry gaze turned towards Colin. I hadn't realized I zoned out into my own thoughts.

Sticking a finger into the air, Anton turned to Colin. "Only if she can follow our demands."

The Headmaster's lips went into a tight line. He did not protest Anton's way of thinking. Someone who said that I could trust them was doing a poor job of showing me that I could. It was pitiful to watch. He had the same authority as the rest, but it seemed as though Anton was calling the shots in every decision.

I wanted to swallow the dryness that was plaguing my mouth, but I felt frozen in place as I waited in anticipation.

"Are you able to follow in line and respect the rules that we place for you?" Neville asked softly. It was as though he was speaking to an illiterate child.

His tone spurred an angered tone in my question. "What if I don't?"

"Then you'll end up in the same situation the other female dragon riders are in," Anton said, venom dripping through his smug smirk.

"And what would that be?"

Colin moved to protest against Anton answering the question, but he was venomous, and I was curious. "You'll be used for breeding."