“It won’t happen. We are here now.”
We climbed out and walked through the door that led to the house. “So you got a good look at Jako?”
“Yeah, he changed a lot. Looked too human to be honest, but there is a dragon underneath the human. I just don’t understand why she does not know about Paegeia or the Rubicon.”
“She won’t tell him, Dad.”
My father’s gaze shot up as he opened the fridge. “Meaning?”
“He doesn’t want her to date. He told her yesterday that she would meet someone that will make her forget all about me. I guess he was referring to me.”
“Blake?”
“I know it’s the key to us getting closer. I’ll think of something. If push comes to shove, I’ll use my persuasion.”
“Don’t. You don’t know what it would do to her or you before she claimed you.”
I sighed. This could be the reason I trembled. She hadn’t claimed me yet and whatever formed the dent had to do with what I was trying to accomplish by winning over her trust and falling crazy in love with me at the same time.
My phone buzzed as we pulled into the driveway, and I hoped it was a text from Elena.
I climbed out of the SUV and shut my door, put my bag over my shoulder and grabbed my phone.
We walked inside the house and I put my bag by the door. I sat on the chair by the dining room and unlocked the screen. An unknown number had sent a text and I opened it.
My digits.
“You need to be careful with her. She might be your rider, but she is fragile if she doesn’t know about any of this.”
“Yeah.”
Dad put a mother of a sandwich that he prepared in a few beats in front of me and then walked into his office.
I did not know what he was doing in that room, but something told me he was planning the greatest escape back to Paegeia, with Herbert and Elena in tow.
12
ELENA
Istruggled to get Blake out of my thoughts when I tried to do my history homework. I couldn’t believe that I skipped half of school today.
Coldplay’s“Fix You”played through my earphones, and I wondered what Blake would sound like singing this song.
The bracelet popped into my mind. I got up from behind my desk and reached under the bed, taking out the tin box.
Inside was the black, dusty leather bracelet, identical to the one around his wrist.
How is this possible? Is it a sign? A sign of what?
I didn’t want to foresee what would happen down the line. Afraid that he was making promises he wouldn’t be able to keep.
I’d sent him my number, but he hadn’t texted me anything yet.
Stop thinking about him! Do your homework.
I carried on with the history assignment, and around six, Dad called me down for dinner.
I didn’t know how to act. Afraid if I showed him I was okay, he might put two and two together. Afraid that I might not pull off anger because of this buzzing feeling I had in the pit of my stomach.
