Starlight

  “Paul told me that Goran knows we are coming.”

  “No,” King Helmut spoke. “He would’ve been here if he knew. It’s just a tactic, Blake.”

  He sounded so sure of himself.

  “If he knows…”

  “He doesn’t, son. Helmut is right,” Sir Robert spoke.

  Blake nodded and threw a key at King Helmut. He caught it and just stared at it.

  “The hippogriff is in the basement.”

  King Helmut stared at the keys in his hands for a few seconds more before he looked at Blake. His face had no expression and then it became hard. His gaze fell on Emanual who nodded once. King Helmut stormed out of the room with Emanual behind him.

  I did not want to know the horror he was going to bestow on her for killing Lucian.

  He’d been looking forward to this day for a long time.

  “I’m taking Elena back to the Academy,” Blake said. “She’s not safe here.”

  I just stared at Blake. Stupid Paul.

  “Blake,” his father spoke.

  “Dad, she almost died. She’s not staying,” He spoke over his shoulder and we left.

  Outside I started to breathe faster as I followed Blake with huge strides. If Goran was here…

  “Blake.” I stopped and he did too and turned to face me. “Nora said it’s the easiest thing this side to take someone else’s form. What if Goran…”

  “Shhhh,” he spoke softly and put his finger gently on my lips. “Goran isn’t the pretend type, Elena. He wouldn’t hide as someone else, trying to trick us. My father was right. He isn’t here. All of us would’ve known if he was. He doesn’t fear anyone.”

  “Are you sure?”

  He nodded and smile. “Now let’s get you to the Academy.”

  “I’m fine. I don’t need to go to the Academy.”

  “Elena, you almost died tonight.”

  “I know, and believe me, not knowing if I was going to see you again was ten times worse. I’m safer here.”

  He grunted, didn’t agree with me and pulled his hand through his hair.

  Our eyes met and he pulled me close to him. He felt so warm and I did feel safe with him.

  “I really hate my birthday.”

  Blake chuckled. “Technically, it isn’t your birthday anymore. It stopped an hour ago.”

  I looked at my watch, it was ten past one.

  He lifted up my chin and I looked into his face. “Then the manor?”

  I wanted to say, the manor wasn’t my choice either. He just smiled as if he could read my mind again. Why didn’t he get that I just wanted to stay here, where I was safe with him? We’d both almost died.

  “So what is the plan?” George asked and my entire face fell. I could still feel Blake’s eyes on me.

  “We are going to stay over at the manor tonight. You are more than welcome to come with if you want.”

  “Well we have that interview tomorrow with Just Kev,” Becky said, “I want to stay close to Elena.” She was adamant. She had all the right to want to stay close, none of them wanted to relive the four months I was missing. We all stayed quiet.

  “What?” Blake asked Becky, like she wasn’t finished with her sentence.

  “Why do I get the feeling you are not coming with?”

  He chuckled. “I have to stay here, but I will make sure that she is safe. My parents’ house is the safest, after the Academy.” He looked down at me again and I smiled. It was filled with disappointment. This was so not how I wanted this reunion to end.

  He grabbed my wrist softly and turned around so that his back faced me. He bent his knees slightly and held my hand around his neck as if he was going to give me a piggyback ride. Then he jumped high and transformed. I found the horn on his back while his talons were in my hand.

  Excitement followed and laughter escaped my lips. This was so frawsome.

  George and Becky were behind us. Far behind us.

  “Just fly slower, they can’t keep up!” I yelled at him and he decreased his speed, waiting for them to catch up.

  The manor was an hour away from the Dragon League campsite. Sir Robert’s dragons went in via the other farms that weren’t being farmed anymore. There were plenty of hiding places where the scouts had set up camp.

  The ones in Alkadeen were mostly of King Helmut’s squad. They had a good plan

  We all went through my room’s landing and Blake changed inside my room. I threw one of my towels at him and he wrapped it around his lower waist and walked to his room.

  “Mom!” he yelled.

  “Down here!” Isabel yelled back and Becky, Dean and I walked down the stairs as Blake and George disappeared into his room and Sammy went into hers to change.

  “Elena,” Isabel smiled and grabbed both my hands gently in hers. “Robert told me what happened. Is Paul…?”

  We all nodded.

  “Becky,” she kissed Becky on both cheeks and gave Dean a hug.

  “The manor has been so quiet lately. I can’t wait for Constance and Annie to visit.”

  “She can have my room,” I said and Isabel smiled.

  “That is so kind of you, Elena, but we do have guest rooms. Come sit. You must be so tired.” She looked at all of us and we sat down on the couches.

  A couple of minutes later, Sammy, George and Blake entered. She looked horrified when she saw Blake, got up and went over to him. “Are you okay?”

  “Mom, I’m fine.” He sounded annoyed.

  “It’s different now, Blake. Killing…” she didn’t finish. I stared at them as I knew about Blake killing people. Had he told Isabel too?

  “I know. I’m okay.”

  She nodded with a slightly worried smile and stroked the side of his face. “You want something to eat, drink? I can put on the kettle.”

  “I’m not staying,” Blake said and my entire body deflated.

  “You think that is wise?” Isabel asked.

  “Mom, I have to get back. Elena is safe here. Besides I have to be with Dad tomorrow.”

  All of them looked at Blake through furrowed eyebrows.

  “Why? He’s not going in, is he?”

  “No, Mom. He’s not going in.” He pulled Isabel in for a hug. “Just watch Elena’s interview tomorrow.” He spoke softly but all of us heard it.

  “What is happening tomorrow at Just Kev, Elena?” Becky asked.

  “Wait and see, Becky,” Blake snapped back and she backed off.

  “What are you not telling me, Blake? What is this about?”

  “Mom, just watch tomorrow.” He kissed her on her head and came over to me.

  He crouched down in front of my seat and I wrapped my arms around his neck. I really didn’t want him to go.

  “I’m sorry you had a crappy birthday. But at least you are safe.”

  I nodded and forced a smile. “See you later today.” He smiled and I smiled back. He got up and walked out of the lounge. “George!” Blake yelled and George got up too.

  Blake must’ve wielded a shield since I couldn’t hear a word they said, and after a while I heard the door close and George was the only one that came back.

  He looked worried. I didn’t know if Blake had told him about my father or not. Whatever it was, he didn’t say.

  I didn’t like this at all.

  WE EACH HAD a cup of Isabel’s famous cocoa before we went to bed. “We’re just in the guest room if you need anything, Elena.” George said.

  “I’ll be fine, George.” I smiled and said goodnight to Becky. Thank heavens she’d left the Just Kev interview alone.

  I took a shower and crawled into bed. I hadn’t slept in this bed for a long time.

  I kept looking at the spot where Blake had fallen to the floor that night. That had been the last time I’d been in this room.

  They must’ve changed the carpet. There wasn’t a stain of blood, and that night there’d been a lot of it.

  The hours ticked by and I had no idea how I was going to tell everyone that my father
was alive on national TV. What would Sir Robert do?

  My Cammy rang, and I saw Blake’s name.

  I wielded my shield and picked it up.

  His holograph appeared and I couldn’t tell where the hell he was.

  “Can you just open your bedroom door? I do not want my mom to find me outside her room, Elena.”

  My heart fluttered, as I know he was standing right outside my room. I dropped the Cammy and got out of bed. He did want to be with me, and had just thrown everyone off, thinking that he wasn’t going to come. Sneaky bastard.

  I opened the door and his shield vibrated off him.

  I sucked in my lips and stepped out of his way.

  He took a leap to miss the creaking floorboards that his father had put in front of my door and I closed the door after he was inside my room.

  He pulled me into his shield and our lips touched. The kiss was soft and I had to stand on my toes in order to reach him.

  His hands were blazing warm, cupping my face softly.

  He walked backward and fell with me on top of my bed.

  I laughed as I found myself on him and couldn’t believe how strong his shield was as it sparkled around us.

  “Sneaky bastard,” I said and he smiled.

  “You really thought I would not be here tonight?”

  I nodded with a smile.

  “Elena, I told you my father is watching me like a hawk. I had to go back to ease his mind.”

  “So I take it that his mind has been eased.”

  “He was sleeping like a baby when I left.”

  “You not scared that he is going to check up on you?”

  “Nope.” He smiled and kissed me again.

  His hands were gentle and stroked the side of my torso softly. It gave me a million goosebumps. They disappeared underneath my pajama shirt but I didn’t even flinch—not a single bit.

  He wasn’t Billy. He was far from being anything like Billy, and tonight there was no Billy. It was only him and me. I felt safe.

  He stopped again and I could feel him taking a huge breath.

  “So why the urgency in wanting to see me?”

  I stared at him and smiled. “Let’s just say that I’m no longer going to mistreat you.”

  We kissed for a long time. Blake’s shirt was missing and his body was blazing hot, temperature wise and physically.

  He was like my own personal furnace.

  My one foot trailed up his leg and he stopped kissing me. I opened my eyes and found him staring at me.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Elena, we need to stop.” He spoke softly placing a few strands of hair back behind my ear.

  “Why?” I said and he didn’t answer, he just looked at me. I wanted to kiss him again but he pulled away.

  “I don’t want you to not speak to me tomorrow because you weren’t ready for this, Elena.”

  I just looked at him. This was Blake for crying out loud! I sighed. “You might beg me to shut up.”

  He chuckled. “So not going to happen.” He brushed my cheek softly and kissed me once on the lips. “I’m just scared.”

  “Scared?” I asked. “Blake Leaf, the mighty Rubicon, scared?” I teased and he smiled.

  “You know what I mean.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “There is going to be plenty of time to do this. It’s not the right time, not yet. Just trust me, okay.”

  He rested on his one arm and looked at the foot of my bed. He wasn’t even looking at me.

  I hated this. Tabitha had no problem getting him riled up. Me, I seriously sucked at this. “Look I know I’m not Tabitha…”

  “Elena,” he scolded at me. “It’s not that.”

  “Then what is it Blake? I actually remember the two of you at the old place.”

  He closed his eyes at that memory and looked disgusted. “I’m not that Blake anymore.”

  He made me furious when he said that, really he did, but if he didn’t want to, I wasn’t going to beg him.

  “Fine.” I said and closed my eyes. This was so stupid. I should’ve never asked him to come tonight.

  He kissed the top of my nose and I opened my eyes. I just stared at him, not really wanting too. I felt so embarrassed now.

  “Don’t look at me like that.”

  “Like what?” I said.

  “Like I just disappointed you again. I hate that look.”

  “Sorry, I don’t mean it.”

  “Elena, I just want what is best for you. Believe me when you are ready, it will be special. I promise.” He cupped my face and kissed me softly on the lips.

  How could I be angry with him? I felt like an idiot but I wasn’t going to push if he wasn’t ready. I knew I was. I just had to be patient now.

  I closed my eyes again and moved closer to him. Just being this close should be enough. It would be enough for now.

  I forgot about that night I actually went to his room to tell him about the plant.

  It wasn’t a surprised that he knew the berries well.

  “Tia actually gave it to you.”

  “Yes, and then Raymond told me about the berries, it was a huge discussion. She named him Louie, so know we just have to wait for Louie’s berries.”

  “You think it’s the missing ingredient?”

  “It has to be, it’s powerful enough, or so Raymond said.”

  “Okay,” he sighed. “That was the plant you had that night in your arms, wasn’t it?”

  “The same one.”

  An awkward silence hung in the air. The berries just had to be the missing plant’s ingredients. It just had to be.

  The subject changed and we spoke about the past month, about his training with the Dragon League. I couldn’t stop listening to him. It sounded like something that belonged in a King Arthur story, but with dragons. I kept wondering what his father was going to do tomorrow and when the clock read five, we finally called it a night and went to sleep.

  WHEN I OPENED my eyes, light streamed into my room. I looked next to me where Blake had fallen asleep and the spot was empty.

  I grabbed his pillow and pulled it against my face, breathing in the scent that lingered on his pillow. I loved everything about him, even if I hadn’t said it out loud.

  I remembered he had hummed me a song right before I fell asleep. He was driving me insane, and I could finally understand why Tabitha didn’t want to let him go. I found my Cammy on my bed stand and I picked it up.

  “Blake Leaf,” I spoke and wielded my shield.

  It rang a couple of times and his face appeared. He was in bed and still sleeping.

  “What do you want woman? I’m tired.”

  I smiled. “Good morning to you too, sunshine. I thought dragons could go without sleep for a long time.”

  He chuckled.

  “Why did you leave?” I sounded upset.

  He wielded his shield too. I could see the faint sparkles in the back ground. “I told you my dad …”

  “Keeps an eye on you, yes I got that part.” And forgot all about it.

  It was silent for a while and he opened his eyes. “What is it Elena?”

  “I’m scared of today.” I looked at him. “What if I can’t do it?”

  “Elena, you have to. It’s time.”

  “I know. Are you sure you will contain your father?”

  “Elena,” he spoke softly in a tone mixed with authority and dislike.

  “That’s not what I meant. He was your father’s rider, Blake.”

  “Is, he still is. I will speak to Emanual before the interview, just in case. Does that put your mind at ease?”

  “I don’t care how many of you there are, I’ll still be worried about him.”

  “He knows what the plan is. I just need five minutes to remind him.”

  “Okay,” I said as Becky and Sammy barged into my room. It was so weird not hearing any sound. “I’ve got to go, see you later.”

  “Counting off the hours.”

  I laughed softly, and hi
s holograph disappeared. I lowered my shield and Becky just gave me the eye as she kept looking at the pillow next to me.

  “It’s not what you think,” I said quickly as I got up from my bed and went to the bathroom.

  I could hear her laughter as I opened the tap of my shower.

  “Am I missing something here?” Sammy sounded left out as she struggled to put two and two together. I tuned out their conversation as the warm water fell over my head.

  I hated waking up and finding his spot empty. It was as if he really didn’t….stop that Elena, you read his poems. Then why didn’t he want me like that? Could he be thinking like Paul?

  I got out with the towel wrapped around my body and both girls were sitting on my bed.

  “So when did…”

  “Shhhh, my walls aren’t soundproof, okay,” I warned Becky.

  “How on earth did he manage last night then?” Becky asked as she wielded her shield around all three of us.

  “My brother came back?” Sammy finally got it and blushed.

  “Nothing happened,” I spoke fast and Becky squinted slightly. She must have seen the disappointment on my face.

  “What do you mean nothing happened?”

  “He doesn’t want me like that.”

  “Elena,” she spoke.

  “Then why, Becky? I don’t get it. Tabitha never had this problem.”

  “Tabitha is nothing, Elena,” Samantha said. “My brother didn’t even care about her. Now you, I know he cares about you.”

  I smiled. “I love you so much, Samantha,” I said.

  “I have to admit, he really had to be extremely good if my mother didn’t hear him.”

  I started to laugh and Becky did too.

  It fell silent.

  “I’m glad you are finally trusting him,” Sammy said.

  “Well, he showed me what I needed to see. It wasn’t that hard after all,” I lied as she didn’t know that I’d read his journal. I’d only shared it with Becky.

  Becky looked at me. “Now you know how I felt.”

  A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. I closed my eyes as doubt crawled back into my gut, and recited his words. As entity I lived your years. I’ve seen your hope and your fears. It wasn’t a spell. The Dent was real. It just had to be.

  WE SAT AROUND the table eating our breakfast. Afterwards we would leave for Just Kev Studio, which was also in Tith. We needed Areeth to fight. I was done begging them and Just Kev was the last interview where I could get through to Areeth.