Evander cocks his head at me. “Raine?”
Now I’m the one shaking my head. “I love you, Evander. I love all of you. It’s why I have to let you go.”
“Let us go to the realm today. We’ll come back in two days. Just give us that. You’ll have changed your mind.”
“I’ve booked my ticket for tomorrow.”
“Tickets can be changed.”
“Yes, but I’m not going to change it.”
“You know, you can be very stubborn,” Evander says.
“I know.”
“This isn’t goodbye.” Evander kisses me. “I refuse to believe it.”
I’m alone in the dining room. I’m not going to cry. I walk so slowly from the dining room to the collection room, where I spend all day finishing up my records and saying goodbye to the paintings.
I turn off the computer and hand the binder with the collection catalog to Leo. “Here. Will you make sure whoever takes care of the art after me has this?”
“I will.”
“I’m going to go to bed early. I’ll see you in the morning?”
“Of course, Miss Fischer. I will see you in the morning.”
Istand beside my breakfast chair. My eyes are puffy from crying all night, but I laugh. It’s been six months, and I’ve forgotten how to pull out my own chair. I’m trying really hard not to be sad.
It wasn’t me. I know they love me. But it wasn’t me. I’m not their one. The lightning didn’t happen. You can’t force fate.
I pull out my own chair and eat my breakfast. Most of the staff has left the castle for Crest Wing. It’s a big deal, the gathering. That’s what I overheard in the hall. They talk infront of me now. With sad expressions. But they don’t rush away or use the hidden passageways.
My chest aches. I don’t care about being a dragon’s mate. I don’t care about wealth or the art collection. I wish I could have been theirs, forever. But they have responsibilities, responsibilities I can’t take them away from. Percy’s agreed to take me to Zurich later today.
Tonight’s the ball. Tonight’s the night they will find someone. One of their own. Someone from Crest Wing. Someone who will help them protect Kieren’s sister. I twist off the ruby ring and leave it next to my plate.
A bell chimes.
“What’s that?” I put my coffee cup on the dining room table.
“It’s the front door, Miss Fischer,” says Leo.
“It’s my last day here. Can you call me Raine?”
“As you wish, Raine. I’m going to miss you.”
The chime goes off again.
“One last first for me here at Cloud Rift. I’m going to answer the door.” I race by him and through the foyer. I can’t look at the portal. My heart squeezes. Actually, my heart’s pounding as I race toward the door.
The chime sounds again. I slide around the corner. I need less cloudberry sponge cake and more cardio. I right myself and keep jogging. It’s a weird feeling, but I want to be the one to answer the door. I slide by a staff member, almost bowling him over.
“Miss Fischer,” he says with shock in his voice. My steps pound the stones, and I slide into the large oak door that faces the gravel “car park.”
I throw open the door and I’m staring at a man. No, male. He’s definitely a dragon shifter, and fuck, I think I have a new type. Dark hair, well over six feet tall, but unlikethe guys, he has bright green eyes and there’s no business suit. He’s wearing a leather jacket and a wool stocking cap over his midnight hair. Firested for sure.
“Where the hell are they?”
