I could do nothing but stare at Adrian as he unfolded the truth. The only thoughts in my head were his last words; you’re Ethan’s Rider.

Adrian raised his brow at me and cocked his head. “So, any thoughts on that?”

I felt my mouth move a bit but couldn’t get anything out. It was then that the stoic figure beside me moved with a sigh.

“Adrian, maybe this is a bit much for her. She seems lost for words.” He stood next to the Headmaster and crossed his arms. A small smirk gracing his handsome features.

That penetrated the ice that had formed around my mind. “You.” My mouth froze as the stared back at me. Steeling myself, I kept going, “Listen here; I’ve been through a lot in a very short time. So excuse me if I am having trouble grasping this new revelation, alright?”

Ethan just waved his hand in my direction and looked at Adrian as if to say ‘see?’ He’d done that to provoke me to get me out of my head. What a manipulative bas-

Adrian interrupted my thoughts. “Ellie, you need to understand. Ethan is the most powerful Dragon we have. He’s been alive for centuries and has seen countless battles. His abilities and powers far surpass any that have come before or after. So this paring…if true.”

Ethan growled low in his throat, surprising Adrian and me as the Headmaster tilted his head to look at the Dragon, his words stopping for a moment. “Ethan, you’re that sure.”

“You know I am.”

Adrian sighed and nodded, looking back at me. “Alright then. This pairing has me and him worried.”

I sit back and glare. “Why? Because I’m not one of you?”

Ethan shook his head and kneeled before me. “No, because we think that there is more to this than a Dragon and Rider bond.” 

His eyes looked tender, lost was the stone-cold stare he held earlier. This was a man that I had not yet seen. His hands took mine, a shock of electricity running through them, making us both jump a bit.

“What more could there be?” I heard myself whisper, but I knew both of them heard it.

“We don’t know yet. We’re in the process of pouring over the old texts. There’s something else that is happening here, I can feel it deep down within me. It’s like a fire wanting to get out. Like a rope that has wrapped around us both and is pulling us towards each other.” He looked up at me. “Do you not feel it?”

I shook my head, “I don’t know. I felt drawn to you before, but nothing like that.”

Ethan looked back at Adrian. “This is something that hasn’t presented in our kind for thousands of years, Ethan. We don’t know the extent that it could affect the Rider.” He ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. “Let alone an orphan that has never learned our ways.” Ethan stared at Adrian a bit longer before taking his hands from mine and standing.

“We need to make sure. This could be both dangerous and wonderful at the same time.”

I looked between then as they began to talk, anger at being ignored building. “Hey! I’m still here! What is going on?”

Ethan looked back at me. “As we said, we’re not sure yet. The only that is for certain is that you are mine. That being said,” his eyes narrowed, “that Dragon I saw you were earlier would do well to know this.”

“Michael is my friend!”

Ethan bent down into my face. “And he wants so much more.” I was left gaping at the man as he straightened and turned to Adrian. “I’m going to the library in the capital; perhaps they’ll have something.”

The Headmaster nodded and waved him off, “She’s in good hands here. Get going.”

With that, Ethan looked at me once more, a flash of emotion passing across his face before disappearing, and he was gone.

I could only sit there and stare once more. 

Just what had happened?