“I don’t know. I guess it has something to do with why genuine bonds are so vague about what sets the bond.”
“The Dent?” I asked.
“It has to be. Think about it. Chromatics hate their riders with a passion, and after the dent, they love them like they were their everything. Their soul mates. Like they know everything?” Herbert said. “What if they do?”
“Meaning?” Dad asked.
“The bonds these dragons share with their riders are not normal, but it’s special and magical. What if they witness everything?”
“It’s a witness, Herbert, not real?” Dad replied.
Herbert’s gaze flickered to mine. “He’s the Rubicon. The strongest of us all. He can make it real.”
I got what he said. Goosebumps crawled up my arms, raising the hair on my neck.
“She was around two. It was so weird. It terrified me that Elena saw things she shouldn’t be seeing. She always babbled when there was no one in the room and when we entered, she would fall silent.
“It was like she was guarding a secret. One day, I found her with that bracelet. No matter how much I begged to tell me where she had gotten it, she didn’t tell me. She just giggled, like it was some sort of game.
“I ordered Tanya to sort it out. To know if it was a threat. And she came back, had a knowing smile on her face but refused to tell me. She just said that Elena is not alone. Someone we couldn’t see is protecting her.”
He lifted his gaze. “It’s you. Whatever the dent process is, it’s real. We need to take it to our grave. Nobody can know about this, Bob.”
My dad nodded as he stared in awe at the bracelet.
“How do I get hold of Matt?”
“You need to fly to get to him,” Dad answered.
“Fox will find him,” Herbert answered.
“Good, we’ll see how far he is going to get,” I replied.
“Blake?”
“I’m the fucking Rubicon. They won’t last.”
“His alpha call is strong. Believe me, he can make them rip themselves apart with it, if he wants.”
Herbert’s gaze flickered at me, and I could swear I saw a flicker of fear dancing inside his irises.
“Which is why I have to leave. I don’t want Elena to hate me more.”
Herbert’s eyes flickered to the bracelet again just before I snatched it and put it on my wrist again. “I’m sorry, Blake. Really, I am.”
“Just tell me how to find Matt. I’ll tell Helmut everything.”
Dad nodded.
The next hour, he explained to me where the organization that kept a register of all dragons was situated. It was going to be a long flight. When I get there, Matt would get in contact with Helmut. I had to tell him everything. Helmut was waiting on why this mission was so important.
“I promise you, Son. I’ll do whatever is in my ability to keep her safe.”
I nodded. I trusted him. He would die for Elena. She was his rider’s daughter.
I said goodbye and begged my dad to make the blow of the truth gentle.
“You know I will. I’m sorry about today.”
