Moonlit Rebellion

Chapter Three

“It is said the island rose only when dragons first bowed to mortals. And it will fall the day they regret it.”

— High Oracle Velean

Scaleborn hovered above the mist like a dream pinned to the sky.

Skye had seen paintings of the floating island since she was a child. She had studied maps detailing every cliff, tower, bridge, and training ground. She had spent countless nights imagining what it would feel like to finally stand beneath it.

None of those things had prepared her for the sight of it.

Jagged cliffs stretched from either side of the island like enormous stone wings, their undersides disappearing into clouds. Waterfalls poured from its edges, vanishing into the mist long before they could reach the mountains below. At its highest point, the towers of Scaleborn Academy pierced the clouds, their dark spires barely visible against the brightening sky.

Dragons circled between them.

Some were no more than distant silhouettes. Others caught the first light of dawn on their wings, flashing gold, silver, blue, and crimson before disappearing behind the clouds again.

Skye stopped walking.

For eighteen years, Scaleborn had existed as an idea.

Now it was real.

And she had nearly died before reaching it.

Pain throbbed beneath the torn fabric at her side, a persistent reminder of the Terraclaw's claws. She pressed a hand against the wound and exhaled carefully. The bleeding had slowed, but every deep breath sent a sharp ache through her ribs.

Her other hand drifted toward the satchel at her hip.

Inside rested two vials.

Earth from the Whispering Woods.

Water from the River of Tears.

Two pieces of Nightshade she intended to carry with her into whatever trial awaited her dragon egg.

Beside her, Ashen stood unnervingly still.

Skye could feel his gaze.

She ignored it at first.

The wind swept through the mountain pass, tugging strands of fiery hair across her face and sending Ashen's black cloak snapping behind him. Somewhere below, the River of Tears continued its endless descent through the mountains.

Still, he stared.

Finally, Skye turned.

“Are you going to keep doing that?”

Ashen's brow lifted.

“Doing what?”

“Staring at me.”

“I wasn't staring.”

“You were burning a hole through the side of my head.”

“Perhaps your head is unusually flammable.”

Skye gave him a flat look.

His mouth twitched.

She should have expected that answer.

For a moment, neither spoke.

The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, exactly. It was simply heavy with questions Skye wasn't sure she wanted answered.

She thought again of the Terraclaw.

The darkness that had swallowed her vision.

The way the beast had frozen the instant Ashen appeared.

And then fled.

Ashen hadn't attacked it.

Hadn't drawn a weapon.

Hadn't even raised his voice.

He had simply stepped from the shadows, and one of the most dangerous creatures in the Stonewake Mountains had run from him.

Skye studied him.

“Why did you help me?”

Something changed in his expression.

It happened so quickly she might have missed it if she hadn't been watching him so closely.

His usual amusement vanished.

His jaw tightened.

For the first time since she'd met him, Ashen looked uncertain.

Not frightened.

Conflicted.

As though two different answers were fighting to escape and he couldn't decide which one she was allowed to hear.

“Ashen?”

His obsidian eyes met hers.

“Something worse is coming for you.”

Skye stared.

The humming returned to her ears.

Faint at first.

Then louder.

Her elemental light always seemed to react before the rest of her did, awakening beneath her skin whenever fear or anger threatened to overwhelm her.

She curled her fingers into her palms.

“That isn't ominous at all.”

“I don't deal in comfort.”

“I've noticed.”

Ashen looked away.

Skye wanted to ask what he meant.

Something worse than what?

The Terraclaw?

Scaleborn?

Rhylar Thornshield?

Her father's warning echoed through her mind.

Our spies believe he is already marching toward our borders.

She opened her mouth.

Before she could speak, the clouds above them shifted.

Skye fell silent.

Mist curled away from the mountainside, separating slowly as though invisible hands were pulling it apart. Stone emerged from within the clouds.

One step.

Then another.

And another.

A staircase appeared in the open sky.

Skye's breath caught.

It stretched from the mountainside toward the floating island, each enormous slab of stone suspended without ropes, supports, or visible magic. The stairs rose at an impossible angle, disappearing into the mist before reappearing hundreds of feet above them.

There were no railings.

No barriers.

Nothing between the narrow staircase and the endless drop beneath it.

Skye stared upward.

“That place is supposed to be the beginning.”

Ashen moved beside her.

“For some.”

She glanced at him.

His gaze remained fixed on the academy.

“For others, it's where everything ends.”

Skye closed her eyes briefly.

“Can you not be negative for five minutes?”

“I'm not being negative.”

“You just looked at the place we've both traveled across the kingdom to attend and basically called it a graveyard.”

“I'm being rational.”

“There's a difference?”

“Yes.”

“I don't think you've found it.”

Ashen walked past her.

Skye watched him approach the staircase with irritating confidence.

“Are you coming, Red?”

She glared at his back.

“I have a name.”

“Then tell me what it is.”

Skye smiled despite herself.

“No.”

“Red it is.”

She followed him.

The first stone shifted beneath her boot.

Skye froze.

A small fragment broke from the edge and disappeared into the clouds.

Neither of them heard it land.

She slowly looked down.

Mist churned beneath the staircase, concealing the mountains hundreds—perhaps thousands—of feet below.

Skye swallowed.

“One wrong move and we could die.”

Ashen stepped onto the next stair.

“Then don't make one.”

Skye narrowed her eyes.

“I was warning you.”

He glanced over his shoulder.

“Why, Red? Do you care for me?”

The mocking edge in his voice made her instantly regret saying anything.

“I'd rather not watch someone fall to their death before breakfast.”

“How thoughtful.”

“Keep talking and I might reconsider.”

His quiet laugh drifted back toward her.

Skye rolled her eyes and continued climbing.

The higher they went, the colder the air became.

The Stonewake Mountains slowly disappeared beneath them until nothing remained but an endless sea of clouds.

Each step carried Skye farther from Nightshade.

Farther from her father.

Farther from Luna.

She wondered if her sister had told him yet.

Knowing Luna, she had probably waited exactly long enough for Skye to leave the castle before running straight to King Thalion's chambers in a panic.

Skye almost smiled at the thought.

Then another stone crumbled beneath her boot.

Her smile vanished.

She stepped quickly onto the next slab.

“How old are these stairs?” she asked.

Ashen glanced at the cracked stone beneath his feet.

“Do you actually want to know?”

“No.”

“Then why ask?”

“Nervous habit.”

“I thought princesses weren't supposed to get nervous.”

Skye stopped.

Ashen continued for another two steps before realizing she was no longer following.

He turned.

“What?”

Skye studied him.

Princesses.

He had called her Princess at the river earlier, too.

At the time, she'd been too embarrassed by his comment about her nightclothes to think much of it.

Now she did.

No one was supposed to know what she looked like.

Her father had kept both daughters largely hidden from the public after their mother's murder. Skye had been little more than a child the last time her face had been shown openly throughout the kingdom.

Yet Ashen seemed to know exactly who she was.

Before she could question him, a violent gust tore across the staircase.

Skye staggered.

The floating stones shuddered beneath them.

“Ashen—”

Another gust struck.

Harder.

The wind screamed between the suspended steps, ripping at Skye's cloak and whipping her hair across her eyes.

Stone groaned beneath her feet.

Cracks raced through several steps ahead of them.

“Get down!” Skye shouted.

She dropped to one knee and grabbed the edge of the nearest slab.

Ashen braced himself behind her.

The entire staircase shifted.

Chunks of stone tore loose and vanished into the clouds below.

Then Skye heard it.

Crack.

Her blood went cold.

The sound had come from behind her.

She turned.

A fracture split the stair beneath Ashen's right boot.

His eyes dropped.

The stone gave way.

“Ashen!”

His balance disappeared in an instant.

One moment he was standing.

The next, there was nothing beneath him.

Ashen fell backward.

For one breathless second, Skye saw something she would never forget.

Surprise.

Not fear.

Not panic.

Pure surprise flashed across his face as gravity pulled him into the open sky.

Skye lunged.

Her ribs screamed in protest.

She ignored them.

Her hand closed around his wrist just as he dropped below the edge.

His weight nearly dragged her after him.

Skye slammed onto her stomach, her injured side striking the stone.

White-hot pain exploded through her body.

She screamed through clenched teeth but refused to let go.

Ashen dangled beneath her.

Clouds churned below his boots.

“Skye—”

It was the first time he'd said her name.

She barely noticed.

“Give me your other hand!”

The wind howled.

His dark hair whipped wildly across his face as he looked up at her.

Something strange passed through his expression.

“You shouldn't have—”

“Shut up.”

His eyebrows lifted.

“Excuse me?”

“Shut. Up.”

Skye tightened her grip.

Amber light flickered beneath her skin, tracing glowing veins across her wrist.

“I am not letting you fall after you just saved my life.”

“Red—”

“I swear to the gods, Ashen, if you argue with me while I'm holding you over a thousand-foot drop, I'll let go just to prove a point.”

That finally silenced him.

“Grab the ledge.”

He reached upward.

His free hand caught the stone.

Skye pulled.

Pain tore through her ribs.

Her muscles burned.

Her fingers began slipping against his wrist.

“Come on,” she growled.

Ashen braced his forearm against the edge and pushed himself upward.

Together, inch by agonizing inch, they dragged him back onto the staircase.

The moment his body cleared the edge, both collapsed against the stone.

For several seconds, neither moved.

Skye stared at the sky.

Ashen stared into the clouds.

Their breathing came hard and uneven while the wind slowly weakened around them.

Skye became aware of how violently her heart was pounding.

She turned her head.

Ashen was already looking at her.

Something about his expression had changed.

The arrogance was gone.

So was the teasing smile.

For once, there was nothing guarded in his eyes.

Only confusion.

Almost disbelief.

“You saved me,” he said.

Skye frowned.

“You sound surprised.”

He looked away.

“I am.”

Before she could ask what that meant, Ashen stood.

He brushed dust from his black clothing and extended a hand toward her.

Skye stared at it.

Then at him.

His expression had settled back into something unreadable.

She took his hand.

His fingers closed around hers.

Warm.

Stronger than she expected.

Ashen pulled her to her feet.

“Thanks, Red.”

Skye brushed the dust from her uniform.

“Now we're even.”

“Are we?”

“I saved you. You saved me.”

“Seems rather transactional.”

“Fine. Next time, I'll let you fall.”

His smirk returned.

“There she is.”

Skye pulled her hand away.

Only after she turned did she realize the humming in her ears had disappeared.

They climbed more carefully after that.

Neither teased the other about it.

Eventually, the clouds began to thin.

Shapes emerged through the mist.

Towers.

Bridges.

Stone walls.

And dragons.

Skye stopped on the final stretch of stairs.

Scaleborn Academy rose before her.

The castle was enormous.

Vast towers climbed toward the clouds, connected by narrow bridges suspended over impossible drops. Some spires were wrapped in vines, while others bore runes large enough to be seen from hundreds of feet away. Water flowed through channels carved directly into the stone, disappearing over the island's edges in shimmering waterfalls.

And everywhere Skye looked, there were dragons.

A crimson dragon shot overhead, its wings sending a burst of hot air across the courtyard.

A smaller silver creature clung to the side of a tower.

Farther above, something enormous disappeared into the clouds with a thunderous beat of its wings.

Skye forgot her injuries.

Forgot Rhylar.

Forgot Ashen.

For one glorious moment, she simply stared.

She had made it.

Scaleborn.

The place she had dreamed about since childhood.

Students crowded the courtyard ahead, their uniforms creating rivers of color among the ancient gray stone.

Blue.

Red.

Green.

Gold.

Black.

Each represented an elemental path.

Skye stepped from the final stair onto solid ground.

Relief flooded through her.

“I never want to do that again.”

“Afraid of heights?” Ashen asked.

“No. Afraid of poorly maintained architecture.”

“Reasonable.”

Before Skye could respond, someone appeared in front of them.

The girl had white hair tipped in brilliant blue, the strands swaying around her shoulders in the mountain wind. Her uniform was the deep blue associated with the Water Element, and she wore it with the ease of someone who had long since grown accustomed to Scaleborn.

Her smile was immediate and warm.

“Hi!”

Skye blinked.

The girl looked between her and Ashen.

“You two look lost.”

“We just got here,” Skye said.

“That explains it.” She held out a hand. “I'm Keala Surn. Second-year. Water.”

Skye accepted it.

“Hi.”

Ashen offered only a nod.

Keala looked at him.

“Talkative one, isn't he?”

“Unfortunately, only when he's annoying me.”

Ashen's eyebrow lifted.

Keala laughed.

“I like you already.” She looked down at Skye's empty hands. “Do you have your schedule?”

“My what?”

“Schedule.”

Skye glanced at Ashen.

He shrugged.

Keala gasped dramatically.

“You don't have your schedules?”

“No?”

“Oh, Lia is going to love this.”

Before Skye could ask who Lia was, Keala hooked her arm through hers.

Skye stiffened.

“Lia!” Keala shouted across the courtyard. “Get over here!”

Several students turned.

Skye wanted to disappear.

“Do you always yell like that?” she whispered.

“Yes.”

“Wonderful.”

Keala began dragging her through the crowd.

Skye looked desperately toward Ashen.

Help me.

He understood immediately.

And shrugged.

Traitor.

Skye glared at him as he followed.

Keala pulled them toward a girl standing behind a stone table covered in parchment scrolls. She had charcoal-black hair cut into a sharp pixie style, streaked with ember-red strands that caught the light whenever she moved.

Her uniform was crimson.

Fire.

The girl looked up as they approached.

“These two didn't get their schedules,” Keala announced.

The Fire student stared at them.

“Names.”

Skye opened her mouth.

For the first time since leaving Nightshade, she hesitated.

She could lie.

For a few days, perhaps.

Maybe longer.

She could become simply Skye.

No title.

No royal blood.

No whispers about her father.

No questions about her mother.

Just another initiate trying to earn a dragon.

But eventually, someone would discover the truth.

Skye lifted her chin.

“Skye Vealwyn.”

The name fell into the courtyard like thunder.

The girl behind the table froze.

The parchment in her hand trembled.

Keala's arm slowly slipped from Skye's.

Her blue eyes widened.

“Wait.”

Skye's stomach tightened.

Keala stared at her.

“Princess Skye?”

Nearby conversations began to quiet.

Skye could feel heads turning.

Keala lowered her voice.

“The girl whose mother was murdered by Rhylar Thornshield?”

The words struck harder than Skye expected.

Not because they were cruel.

Because they were true.

For a moment, she saw her mother's face.

Heard her voice.

Remembered blood.

Skye swallowed.

Beside her, Ashen went completely still.

She glanced toward him.

His jaw had tightened.

Barely.

If she hadn't spent the morning studying every irritating expression he made, she might not have noticed.

But she did.

His obsidian eyes revealed nothing.

Skye looked back at Keala.

“Yes.”

Whispers moved through the courtyard.

Skye straightened.

“But I came here to earn my dragon like everyone else.”

The Fire student crossed her arms.

“Radelia Earlynn,” she said. “Third-year. Fire.”

Skye nodded.

Radelia looked her over.

“Royals don't usually sneak into Scaleborn.”

“I didn't sneak.”

Radelia glanced toward the staircase.

Skye followed her gaze.

“I survived your stairs of death. I think that counts as a proper entrance.”

One corner of Radelia's mouth lifted.

“I suppose it does.”

Ashen spoke behind her.

“I thought I recognized you.”

Skye turned sharply.

“What?”

His face was infuriatingly calm.

She narrowed her eyes.

No one was supposed to recognize her.

King Thalion had kept his daughters away from the public eye since Queen Vealwyn's murder. Skye had been a child the last time the kingdom had seen her face openly.

So how had Ashen recognized her?

At the river.

Before she'd ever told him her name.

Questions crowded her mind.

She would deal with him later.

“I don't want to be treated differently,” Skye said, looking between Keala and Radelia. “I came here for the same reason everyone else did.”

She glanced at the students around them.

“I want to earn my dragon.”

Her voice softened.

“And I want friends. Not subjects.”

For a moment, Radelia studied her.

Then she looked at Keala.

Something silent passed between them.

Radelia reached beneath the table and withdrew two parchment scrolls.

“Well, Your Highness,” she said with a smirk, deliberately emphasizing the title, “welcome to Scaleborn.”

Skye sighed.

Radelia handed her a scroll.

Then another to Ashen.

“You two have been assigned to Cinderfall.”

Ashen glanced at the parchment.

Skye broke the seal on hers.

Before she could read more than two lines, Keala grabbed her arm again.

“Oh, Skye. You're going to love it here.”

“I haven't even read—”

“Later.”

“Keala—”

“Come on!”

Radelia laughed.

Ashen looked almost amused.

Skye pointed at him as Keala dragged her away.

“Not one word.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“Your face did.”

“My face is innocent.”

“Your face has never been innocent.”

His laugh followed her across the courtyard.

By evening, Scaleborn had transformed.

The sun sank behind the horizon, spilling amber light across the floating island. Long shadows stretched between the towers, and hundreds of lanterns awakened along the bridges and walkways.

Dragons crossed the darkening sky.

Their silhouettes threaded through the mist, some carrying riders while others flew alone. Their calls echoed between the towers, deep and ancient enough that Skye felt them in her chest.

She wanted to stop and watch every single one.

Keala gave her no opportunity.

“This way!”

Skye hurried after her.

Ashen walked several paces behind them, apparently content to let Keala exhaust herself.

The Water student moved through Scaleborn with effortless confidence, her blue-tipped hair swaying behind her.

“We're heading to the Initiates' Tower,” she explained. “It's not as impressive as the elemental dormitories, but the view is better.”

“Why aren't we staying with our elements?” Skye asked.

“Because you don't technically have one yet.”

Skye frowned.

“I wield Light.”

“You do. But your dragon hasn't claimed you.”

Keala glanced over her shoulder.

“Your element is what you can wield. Your bond decides where you belong.”

Skye looked toward Ashen.

“What about him?”

Keala followed her gaze.

“What element are you?”

Ashen's expression didn't change.

“I'll find out with everyone else.”

Skye slowed.

That wasn't an answer.

Keala seemed to notice too, but she didn't press him.

Interesting.

They crossed a narrow skybridge suspended between two towers.

Wind rushed beneath them, carrying the smell of rain, smoke, and something distinctly reptilian.

Skye peered over the edge.

Mist concealed the world below.

After the staircase, she decided she had seen enough clouds for one day.

They reached a circular stone tower nestled against Scaleborn's eastern rim.

Compared to the elemental spires, it was almost plain.

There were no colorful banners hanging from its walls. No enormous elemental symbols carved into the stone. No dragon statues guarding its entrance.

The tower was built from soft gray rock threaded with thin veins of moss.

Yet Skye felt something the moment she approached.

Magic.

It hummed beneath her feet.

Neutral.

Patient.

Waiting.

Keala placed a hand against the wooden door.

“This is where the unclaimed stay.”

The door opened with a long creak.

Silver light spilled into the evening.

Skye stepped inside.

A clean, circular corridor stretched ahead. Glass lanterns lined the walls, each glowing with a soft silver flame that cast no heat. Their footsteps echoed against the stone as they walked.

Keala gestured toward the walls.

“Everyone here is waiting for the same thing you are. Some will hatch their eggs quickly. Some will take weeks.”

She paused.

“And some won't hatch one at all.”

Skye looked at her.

The warmth had disappeared from Keala's expression.

“What happens to them?”

Keala didn't answer immediately.

“You'll learn about that soon enough.”

Ashen's words returned to Skye.

For others, it's where everything ends.

She didn't like how closely the two statements fit together.

They continued down the hallway.

Simple arched doors lined either side, each marked with a letter and number.

Finally, Keala stopped.

She pointed to the door on Skye's left.

“B17.”

Then to the one directly beside it.

“B18.”

Skye looked between them.

Keala smiled.

“Yours until your eggs hatch and you're claimed.”

Skye glanced at Ashen.

He glanced at her.

“No,” they said simultaneously.

Keala burst out laughing.

“Oh, this is going to be fun.”

Skye groaned.

“Can I switch rooms?”

“No.”

“A different floor?”

“No.”

“A different tower?”

“Definitely no.”

Skye looked at Ashen.

He leaned casually against the wall.

“Don't worry, Red. I'll try to keep the noise down.”

Skye's eyes narrowed.

“What noise?”

His smile was slow.

“Wouldn't you like to know?”

She pointed toward his door.

“Go inside.”

Ashen chuckled and reached for the handle.

Before entering, he paused.

His expression shifted.

“Skye.”

She froze.

Not Red.

Her name.

There was something different in the way he said it.

She turned.

Ashen's gaze held hers.

“Get that wound looked at.”

Skye glanced down at her side.

Blood had seeped through the wine-red fabric again.

“I will.”

His eyes lingered on her for another second.

Then he disappeared into B18.

The door closed.

Skye stared after him.

“You two are strange.”

She jumped.

Keala was still beside her.

“I forgot you were there.”

“I noticed.”

Skye rubbed a hand over her face.

“I met him this morning.”

Keala blinked.

“This morning?”

“Yes.”

“And you've already nearly killed each other?”

Skye considered it.

“I attacked him.”

Keala's eyes widened.

“He saved me from a Terraclaw.”

Wider.

“Then I saved him from falling off the staircase.”

Keala stared.

Skye shrugged.

“So, yes. It's been a long morning.”

For several seconds, Keala said nothing.

Then a grin slowly spread across her face.

“Oh, this year is going to be very interesting.”

“Don't start.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“You were about to.”

Keala laughed and began walking backward down the corridor.

“Get some rest, Princess. Tomorrow is worse.”

Skye frowned.

“Worse than nearly being eaten?”

Keala's smile only widened.

“Welcome to Scaleborn.”

Then she turned the corner and disappeared.

Skye stood alone in the silver-lit corridor.

For the first time since leaving Nightshade, there was no one beside her.

No Luna.

No Aria.

No father.

No Aurezion.

Not even Ashen.

Just her.

Skye rested her hand against the door marked B17.

This was it.

The beginning she had spent four years preparing for.

Somewhere on this island was the dragon egg that would determine the rest of her life.

Somewhere beyond these walls, Rhylar Thornshield was marching toward Nightshade.

And in the room beside hers slept a man who had recognized a princess whose face he should never have known.

A man who frightened Terraclaws without lifting a weapon.

A man whose shadows seemed to move when they shouldn't.

Skye looked toward B18.

Something worse is coming for you.

A chill ran across her skin.

She pushed open her door.

Tomorrow, she would begin Scaleborn.

Tomorrow, she would begin the search for her dragon.

And tomorrow, she intended to find out exactly who Ashen Thorn really was.

The door closed behind her.

Outside, high above the Initiates' Tower, dragons circled beneath the stars.

Far below the floating island, the clouds shifted.

And somewhere beneath them, hidden from Scaleborn's watchful towers, something in the darkness looked up.