The robes on some guys were long, and didn’t have buttons, just like a long dress made from thick, black shiny material with different colors sewn into the black. I knew they were beasts. Easy to chuck away the robes and morph. I still struggled with the idea that they would be buck naked for a few seconds. Dad, Robert, and the grizzly bear were the only ones in normal clothes. Mostly jeans, a long sleeve shirt and jacket with sneakers or boots.
Dad actually trimmed his beard and gelled his copper hair. He looked as if he was going on a date.
My heart pounded as I knew now what chased us all those years. I always looked behind us, and saw nothing. I should’ve looked up. If I knew it was a colony of beasts, the same kind that I found in the barn today, I wouldn’t have made it so difficult on him all these years. I would’ve listened not to fall for a heart throb.
I got a feeling that Blake was like me and Dad. A Dragonian, a rider. Did he have a dragon too?
What was his ability? Could he harness it this far from his dragon? I had a zillion questions again, but there wasn’t time to answer them.
The briefing was in Latin, which I hated. It was like they did this deliberately so that I wouldn’t know what the plan of action was.
Then the first group left and Dad nodded. He hugged me tight. “We’ll be okay, I promise.”
I nodded and took a deep breath. His sweet musky mixed with a strong spice filled my nostrils. This was my father’s scent and I would never forget it. I prayed we would both reach home. I wondered what Paegeia looked like.
Would I finally feel that I belonged, that I was home? Or would my home feel like a prison sentence too? Trapped like we’d been on this side.
Dad broke the hug and led me outside to where two black shiny SUV’s parked.
A whistle left Dad’s lips. “I forgot the luxury side of this life.”
Luxury side? I kept staring at the black SUVs with tinted windows.
Emanual opened the door for Dad and me and I climbed in first. My pillow and a blanket were on the leather seat and I grabbed the pillow as I scooted to the window.
Dad sat next to me as Emanual spoke to Robert and a couple of guys that also wore ops uniforms in Latin.
They nodded and the driver’s side door opened and Emanual climbed in.
“You are planning to drive to Virginia. We will never make it in 48 hours, Emanual.”
“Drive to a state that isn’t freezing your balls off cold.”
I froze, and Dad chuckled. “Language, the princess isn’t used to that sort of words.”
“That is a first. Spending time with Blake, I would’ve thought she would be used to that sort of language now.”
Blake didn’t speak like that? Then again, I didn’t know him that well. He could easily have had a dirty mouth.
Emanual put on the radio and I smiled as my music flared from the speakers.
Dad opened his arm for me and I snuggled up against him. He kissed my head softly as the car pulled out of the yard and down the street.
I didn’t want to say goodbye to Falmouth. I actually had a couple of friends here, and it wasn’t so bad. It was one of the best places we lived, thanks to Blake.
I drifted off and slept for a long time and woken up when everything was dark. Dad was in the front seat with Emanual.
“Good evening, sleepyhead.”
“Where are we?”
“An hour away from Maryland.”
I nodded. The alarm on the clock flashed 1 am.
I felt so tired. I guessed the truth had that effect on a person or it could be a broken heart.
Dad handed me a Macdonald’s cheeseburger with fries, and I devoured the thing. I slurped up the Coke as I kept looking through the tinted window. Everything was so dark.
