The Last Dragon Princess

CHAPTER TWO

Avena

I let out a muffled grunt when I collided with something solid.

"s**t," a deep, velvety voice muttered as strong hands quickly grabbed my shoulders to steady me.

That voice. It had a smoky feel that wrapped around me with warmth and comfort, making me want to dive right in, just like a dog happily rolling in a muddy puddle.

"You alright? I didn’t hurt you, did I?" the smooth voice asked again.

I blinked a few times, my vision still a bit blurry. When the figure in front of me finally came into focus, I continued blinking, as if it would somehow make him less stunning.

I had to tilt my head back to take him in completely. At barely five-foot-three, I wasn’t exactly tall, but this guy loomed over me by at least a foot. His sandy brown hair shimmered with natural gold highlights, as if he spent a lot of time outdoors. His green eyes had flecks of gold that drew me in, making me want to get closer just to admire the pattern, and his sharp, angular jaw looked like it could cut through stone.

He was, without a doubt, one of the most handsome men I’d ever laid eyes on. The kind of guy who was probably the captain of the football team or president of some elite fraternity—definitely not someone I’d expect to cross paths with.

"Sorry," I squeaked.

Concern creased his brow as he let go of me, his tone softening. "Are you sure you're okay?"

His warm hands disappeared and I was left with a strange feeling of emptiness.

My face flushed. "I'm fine. Really. Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention."

"Don’t worry about it," he replied with a smile. "Freshman?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I was just trying to find the student center."

"Well, I'm heading that way. I can show you, save us from another collision," he said with a casual shrug, the movement stretching his T-shirt over his muscular chest.

I blushed harder. "You really don’t have to."

"I don’t mind. I'm Kael, by the way."

A breeze picked up, blowing my blonde hair into my face, and I quickly pushed it aside.

Kael's nostrils flared, and his green eyes widened slightly. "Where's your protection?"

I stared at him, confused. "My protection?"

Was this guy a weirdo who thought I owed him something just because he was being helpful?

He glanced around, then lowered his voice. "Your guards."

I couldn’t help but laugh. "Do most students walk around with a security detail or something?"

Now it was his turn to blink, looking a little thrown. He shifted uncomfortably before forcing a smile. "Figured you'd need a whole team to keep you from running into people."

I smirked. "Jerk."

He smiled, though there was a hint of worry in his eyes. "Let's go; I'll be your bodyguard until we reach the student center.”

"You don’t have to," I said, though I found myself walking beside him.

"I'm heading to the bookstore anyway. Looks like you’re stuck with me," he teased, as if that was a burden.

As we walked deeper into campus, more students appeared, and all of their eyes seemed to gravitate toward Kael. Guys gave him nods or fist bumps, and girls shot him shy smiles or bold looks. Everyone seemed to know who he was, and then they’d glance at me, looking confused.

I didn’t hold it against them; I just didn’t belong. My worn-out favorite T-shirt that said, “If life gives you mold, make Penicillin,” along with my beat-up Vans, didn’t quite fit in. I winced, realizing I should’ve given more thought to what I wore on my first day. Kael looked down at me.

"You never told me your name."

“Avena. Avena Sinclair.”

“Nice to meet you, Avena Sinclair. Where are you from?”

“A suburb of Seattle,” I replied. The specific town wasn’t important.

“Welcome to Embercrest. It’s pretty chill here, and there’s a nice mix of people.”

I nodded, tugging at a loose thread on my shirt. “It’s beautiful. How long have you been here?”

“Since freshman year. I’m a junior now.” No wonder he seemed to know everyone.

“What dorm are you in?” he asked.

“Ridge Hall.” I was used to sharing a room, but that didn’t stop me from being nervous about who my roommate would be.

A smile tugged at his lips. “That’s a good one. It was renovated about five years ago.”

I nodded again, unsure what else to say.

Kael didn’t seem bothered. “What’s your major? Have you decided yet?”

“Pre-med.”

He whistled softly. “A smart one, huh?”

I felt my cheeks warm. “I just like science,” I said, though it wasn’t the whole truth. I did enjoy science, but it went deeper than that. Part of me believed that if I learned enough about medicine, maybe I could’ve saved my mom and dad. I knew it was irrational, but I felt compelled to study it—to understand how to heal. If I couldn’t save them, at least I could help others.

Kael paused mid-step. “Is something wrong?”

“What?” I snapped out of my thoughts.

“You zoned out for a second. You didn’t look too happy.”

So, he wasn’t just a pretty face. He noticed things. “I’m fine. Just trying to take it all in.”

He frowned slightly, about to ask another question, but I cut him off.

“I see the check-in tables. Thanks for guiding me and keeping me from tripping on my first day. Catch you later, Kael.”

Before he could say anything else, or worse—ask another question—I hurried toward the check-in line. Kael had a way of looking at me and asking things that made me feel like I might spill all my secrets.