The room wasway over the top. It was half the size of the houses I grew up in.
A lush creamy carpet stood in contrast with the dark charcoal curtains and blinds. There was even a lounge in this room with a coffee table and a big slim screen TV, or I think it was a TV. Walls opened into a room closet. We never had an entire room for a closet.
A colorful abstract painting took up half the one wall, and they made the bed for a king. It was colossal, with satin bedding and pillows. My eyes skidded to the corner by the window, where they stacked the rest of the pillows against each other. Dad slept on the bed. He had a drip on his arm and his face adorned purple and green. The only sign of an explosion was on the tip of his ears and the tip of his nose that looked painful. His upper lips carried a split, where dried blood caked around it. Dad’s nose looked broken with dark purple swollen eyes. His one arm was bound to his chest. They wrapped his torso with bandages. He looked weak and drained. I concentrated on his chest, raising and deflating. It was the most important part for me. He would heal, he would be okay as long as he was breathing.
I felt horrible knowing now that this was all my fault. Him not having a life, that he did everything because of me. That crap weighed like a ton on top of everything else.
“Why don’t we let your father rest?” the queen said.
“Can I please stay?”
She smiled and nodded. “I’ll let the staff make you a bed on the couch. Let me know if you need anything. You want something to eat?”
I shook my head. “I’m fine.”
“Okay.”
She closed the door.
I dragged the throne-like chair that was next to his bed closer. It was heavy. I took off the flimsy jacket and pants and folded it neatly and placed it on to the table with the vase that carried tulips. Whenever I thought about Blake I kept seeing that girl jumping in his arms, kissing him.
Tears pooled in my eyes. I was so stupid. To think a guy like that would fall for someone like me. She was a Chloë Bishop, even prettier. She had white hair, which tells me she could be a dragon, his dragon.
It wasn’t fair. Why did he do this to me? Why did I fall in love with him? He could’ve toned down on the promises, too.
I plopped in the chair and wiped my tears and sniffed, leaning my head against the backrest.
“That chair can’t be comfortable, Bear.” Dad croaked.
Relief escaped my lips as my lower lip wobbled. I got up and leaned over him.
“Shh, you are home. Safe. How was it?”
“Horrible. And then they came.”
Dad closed his eyes, squeezed them shut, and a tear rolled down his temple. He opened them and looked at me with glistening eyes. “Did he hurt you?”
“A little, but the guy with the healing took it away. There’s not a scratch.”
Dad’s lips curved. “Swallow Annex. Learn this and make peace with this world. It’s your home.”
“Dad.” I sighed.
“No, you have responsibilities and I wish I wasn’t such a big coward and told you the truth earlier. You could’ve died. Robert was right. I should’ve tried harder to get word to Paegeia, phoned Matt. I toyed with both our lives. The love I have for you made me lose perception. I’ve never been as terrified as I had when I woke up here and they told me you weren’t here with me.” Tears pooled in his eyes.
I touched his chin. He was so warm. “Don’t cry, please.”
He pulled me down to his chest. “You need to try, Bear. It will not be easy, but you have to give it your best. Train hard, and learn as much as you can. It’s not just for the world and Paegeia, it’s for both of you.”
“Dad?”
“What don’t you understand? If the Rubicon turns dark, he will take you with him. You need to tame him before it happens.”
I still struggled with that part. It wasn’t fair.
“I know it’s a lot, but you will be a rider and dragon. It doesn’t matter if he is dark or not. He will still be your dragon. You are the one that controls your fate.”
“How long do I have?”
