by G. Bailey
The shrieking of my alarm makes me wake up, feeling a little hazy as I rub my eyes and grab my phone. The memory of the dream flashes through my mind. I'm going to be shot in the future, which I bet really hurts. Why didn't I defend myself, fight them? It doesn’t make any sense. I don’t even want to think about that knowing look my sister gave me, like I could love Thorne. That’s impossible, so fucking impossible. I turn the alarm off, scrolling blankly through my Facebook messages from Hallie. I guess she went on a date last night with some guy, and apparently, he's really good in bed. At least someone is getting laid. I think I’m starting to forget what sex is like. I send her a quick text about how lucky she is, and then start to get out of bed, when someone knocks my door. I run over, open it up, and keep myself behind the door as my banana covered pyjamas aren’t cute. Neither are the Dorito stains all over them.
“I can’t run this morning, I have to go and look at a car that’s for sale across town. Elias is coming with me, and Jules as well, because she just wants to get out the house,” he says. I nod as I run my eyes over his styled brown hair, green eyes, and the tight shirt and jeans he has on. They cling to his body, showing off how damn impressive it is.
“It’s Saturday anyway, I don’t run on weekends,” I make myself look away as I reply.
“Cool, that works out then. Be ready at seven tonight,” he instructs, stepping back.
“Seven?” I ask.
“I’m a little insulted you forgot about our date doll, but you can make it up to me tonight,” he says with a wink. I mentally sigh as he turns around and walks away. We can’t date, it's too risky for them, for me. Yet somehow, the thought of going out on a date with Korbin turns me on, much more than it frightens me. I shut the door, mentally cursing myself, and try to decide whether or not letting my hormones control me is the best idea. I pull the bandage off my hand, and despite the cut being healed, get a plaster out to replace it. I should have something something covering where the cut should be, just in case Dagan sees it. I get changed, and grab my kindle, intent on spending the day reading a romantic wolf shifter book. Running down the stairs, I freeze when I see Dagan in the kitchen, cooking something that smells amazing. He even has an apron on, no shirt underneath, and I just stare at all the muscles on his back. There are a few scars littered around, but mainly it is all muscles, and damn fine-looking ones at that.
“I didn’t have you down as the cooking type,” I grin, and he turns to look at me.
“Oh, and what did you have me down as?” he teases.
“A guy that lifts weights all day, and likes to fight,” I shrug, as really, he does seem like that type, and back in Dragca, there was no need for him to cook at the academy.
"I do fight, so you're right there. In fact, I have a self-defence class today that I'm going to for the first time," he chuckles, and then looks over at me as he pours batter into the frying pan.
“Want some pancakes?” he asks.
“I’d love some,” I reply, walking over to the table. Dagan serves the pancakes up before sitting opposite me. After pouring some maple syrup on the pancakes, we begin eating in earnest, not really speaking. Every so often, I feel his eyes on me, but whenever I glance up, he is looking away and pretending like he wasn’t. I need to do something to get some alone time with him, where we have a chance to talk, and he isn't so awkward with me.
“How’s your hand?” he asks, reminding me that I need to get the daggers out the car before Jules sees them.
“Fine,” I respond, and he nods.
“Can I come to self-defence? I used to go to the local one a few years back,” I blurt out.
“Really? You did self-defence?” he asks, leaning back in his chair, and looking me up and down. Why do guys think females can’t fight, simply because we don’t look strong? Usually the strongest people in the world are hidden behind a pretty face.
“Yes, I did, and I bet I can kick your ass,” I say, totally bluffing. Dagan is like, twice the size of me, and most likely could break me like a twig.
“I’d like to see that, but you hurt your hand. It’s not a good idea.”
“It’s all healed, I swear I’m fine,” I say, and he narrows his eyes at me.
“Alright then. We have Elias’ bike we can ride there, as he took the taxi with Korbin and Jules earlier,” he tells me.
“I will clean up, you cooked,” I say when we have finished eating, but Dagan picks his plate up, and moves to get mine.
“Nah, I don’t mind, and you need to get dressed. Class starts in an hour, and we’ll need to leave in ten minutes to get there,” he explains.
“Okay,” I say, getting up and keeping my eyes on him. “A hot man that cooks and cleans, most girls would do anything to find a guy like you.” Instantly regretting it when I realise I said it out loud.
“You think I’m hot?” Dagan teases, as my cheeks light up.
“That was meant to be a comment in my head, not spoken out loud,” I explain, which only makes his grin grow. He rolls the lip ring in-between his lips and puts the plates down, walking over to me. He stops when we are mere inches apart, and I have to arch my neck to look up at him.
“Go and get dressed before I show you just how hot I think you are, kitty cat,” he warns me, and yet, I don’t move as I stare up at him. His blue eyes are brighter now, the black specks from his dragon are gone, and I kind of miss them.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks me, his voice deep and husky as he strokes his fingers down my arm. His touch snaps me out of my thoughts and brings me back to my senses. I step back, clearing my throat.
“About how a girl is going to beat your ass in class,” I say with grin, and turn away before I do something crazy, like jump on him and kiss him until we both forget everything else.
Chapter 12
Isola
Ouch,” I groan as Dagan flips me onto my back, and I wheeze out in pain. He looks down at me, his hands on his hips, and his dark eyebrows raised. I huff mentally, knowing I’m not using all my strength, because to do that would be to call my dragon for help. I have to put a large barrier between us, just so she doesn’t take offence at Dagan’s smirk every damn time he wins. Cocky asshole.
“How long has it been since you trained?” he asks, offering me a hand which I push away and get myself up. There are a few other people training, and they look our way, but they don't stare for long. Most of the humans are scared of Dagan, and have been since we walked in, which works well to get them to leave us alone. The training hall is right in the middle of town, at the back of a warehouse. The place is used for all sorts of sports I believe; the stench of sweat, dirt, and blood is overwhelming of sweat, dirt and blood is overwhelming me.
“Months, years, I don’t know,” I manage to pant out. Dagan rolls his lip ring as he watches me. All I can think about is how I want to kiss him, want to feel that cold silver of the ring against my own lips. I shouldn't be thinking these things.
“You need a lot of work before you would stand a chance of beating anyone,” he says, and the teacher chooses that point to walk over.
“Isola had a lot of skill from what I remember, with some personal training she could be a worthy opponent in a fight,” Miss Dale says, smiling. Miss Dale is thirty something, with bright pink hair cut very short, and a muscular, toned body that most people would die for. She also has a serious expression that makes you want to run away from her. She is tiny, like five foot three, but she could kick all our asses without even getting breathless. Well, maybe not Dagan, but then he has trained all his life, even if he doesn’t remember it.
“I don’t see any skill now,” Dagan comments drily, like I’m not right in front of him.
“Maybe you should give her some lessons. The skills on your paperwork indicate you don’t really need this class anyway, so why not train someone in need instead?” Miss Dale suggests.
“I’m not in need,” I protest.
“You are, and being the good person I am, I wi
ll help you,” Dagan cockily replies, and I just glare at him as Miss Dale claps.
“Excellent,” she says with a sweet smile towards me. “Why don’t you get the bo staff, and fight with those? I remember you being amazing with one,” she suggests, nodding her head towards the large fighting ring in the middle of the hall. The bo staffs are lined up next to it. It’s a common way to fight here, and I used to be able to beat everyone other than Jace. He was something else as a fighter, but everyone has forgotten him here. This is a place he came to every week, and they can’t remember him. I close my eyes, looking away for just a second to I calm down from the rush of anger that makes me feel.
“Ok,” Dagan says, walking over to the ring, and I follow reluctantly. This is going to hurt both my ego and my butt when he beats me. I grab a bo staff from the rack, and climb into the ring after Dagan. He stands, swirling the bo staff around with one hand as he watches me from the other side of the ring.
“This might hurt a little, but I promise to be gentle,” he comments, and runs at me before I’m ready to even reply. I lift my staff, whacking it against his and spinning around straight after, meeting his next hit. Dagan jumps to left, swinging the staff for my legs, which I manage to avoid with a backflip. I land with my staff up, ready to protect myself, as he attacks again. He pushes all his strength down onto me, and I have to take several steps back, keeping my eyes locked onto his blue ones.
“Is that what you tell all the girls? That you will be gentle?” I tease him, trying to distract him enough to escape the corner I'm backed in.
“Wouldn’t you like to know what I tell them,” he answers, just as my back hits the ring's barrier.
“Not if that’s what you tell them. I don’t like gentle,” I say, biting my lip, and he pauses. That moment of hesitation is all I need to push him back. I sweep my staff under his legs, and he lands hard on the floor/on his back. I place the end of my staff against his neck before he can even blink.
“Kitty cat, I’m impressed,” he coughs out.
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” I laugh, moving the staff and straightening up. “Again,” I grin at his shocked smile.
“I think I’m going to like you, kitty cat,” he says. He jumps up, slamming his staff into mine with the slight distraction his words cause, and all I can do is laugh.
Will I be seeing you here next week?” Miss Dale asks me as I come out the changing rooms.
“Yes, I think I will be coming every week for a while,” I reply and she smiles, placing her hand on my arm.
“Does that have anything to do with a certain dark-haired hottie?” she asks, and I chuckle.
“Dagan? No, it’s not like that with us,” I deny.
“No one looks at each other the way you two do without there being something between them,” she squeezes my arm once and walks away. Standing still, I roll her words around my mind as I watch her walk out the hall. I want to deny it all, say she is wrong and there’s nothing between us…but I hate lying, especially to myself. I just have to keep my distance from him and the others. I can’t risk it all, not just for my feelings. Not when there’s a curse that could take everything from me, from them. I watch Dagan walk out the male changing room, chatting to some guy who pats his shoulder. Dagan looks around for me, a small smile playing on his lips when he spots me. He says something to the guy, who looks over at me, and then smirks at Dagan before walking off. Dagan walks over to me, his eyes staying locked on mine like there isn’t anyone else in the room. The moment is so intense and breathtaking, that it's hard to control my own desires and continue to try to convince myself there's nothing between us.
“Kitty cat, let’s go and get some lunch. Where is best to eat around here?” Dagan asks me.
“There’s a deli two doors away, they do amazing sandwiches,” I say, “they have these peanut butter bacon sandwiches, which are my favourite.”
“Peanut butter and bacon in a sandwich, that sounds gross,” he shakes his head at me.
“Don’t knock it until you try it,” I say, making him laugh as he opens the gym doors for me. I walk out, and he immediately follows.
“It looks like it might rain, we should hurry up,” he says and I look up, seeing the dark grey clouds and feeling the chill in the air. He is right. We rush around the corner, but we’re too late as the skies open up, and rain pounds down on us. I see the deli not far from us, it’s purple door is easy to spot.
“Shit, run, its not far,” I say, grabbing Dagan’s hand and running down the street to the deli. I pull the door open and rush inside, trying to catch my breath.
“We are both soaked,” Dagan comments. Something in his tone has me looking down at my white shirt and yoga pants. A blush rises up my cheeks when I notice my shirt is see through, and you can see my pink bra underneath. I look up, seeing Dagan eyes drift over my body, and then back up to my eyes. There’s a moment, where we stare at each other, and I’m sure we are thinking and feeling the same things, but neither of us move. We just stare, until he decides to step forward, leaving us only a breath apart. Just as he reaches forward to touch me, a voice interrupts.
“I got you some towels, the weather is awful this time of year,” a sweet, older sounding voice says. I turn to look at the lady speaking to us. She is about fifty, with hair dyed purple and cut short, and a big smile on her lips as she looks between us, holding out some white towels.
“Thank you, it just came down so quick,” I say, accepting one of the towels and stepping back from Dagan.
“Why don’t you sit over here, the heater is under the table, so it will dry you off,” she points a small table for two by the wall.
“Thanks, can we have two peanut butter bacon sandwiches and some teas please?” I ask, seeing Dagan glare at me from the corner of my eye.
“Perfect, I will get right on that,” she says, writing the order down on a notepad and walking off.
“I’m not eating that,” Dagan says as we walk over to the table.
“Come on, you have to try it. Fair enough if you don’t like it, but trying new things is fun,” I say, and he shakes his head at me as he slides into his seat opposite mine. I glance around seeing the empty deli, and out the window where it is still pounding down with rain. Thank god Dagan parked the bike in the car park opposite the gym, so it won’t be wet when we get to it.
“I’m not leaving here until that stops,” I say, and Dagan looks at the rain outside briefly before turning back at me.
“It’s likely just a shower, and will be over soon,” he says. The lady brings our drinks and food over a few minutes later, placing them onto the table. I practically drool at the sight of my favourite sandwich. It’s been so long since I’ve had one of these. I pick it up, taking one big bite, trying not to moan out loud at the amazing taste.
“I know what to buy you if I piss you off,” he comments, making me chuckle.
“When, when you piss me off. Now man up and try yours,” I nod my head at his plate. He narrows his eyes at me as he picks the sandwich up. He sniffs it before taking a bite, and I watch like it’s almost in slow motion.
“So…” I ask as he puts the sandwich down.
“It’s okay…” he says, and I laugh.
“You like it! You just won’t admit that I’m right,” I say, raising an eyebrow.
“I have no idea what you are talking about,” he says with a grin and picks up his sandwich. He takes a big bite, and I try not to laugh. Stubborn dragon.
Chapter 13
Isola
This is a bad idea, such a bad idea, Issy,” I say to myself, smoothing down the tight red dress. Pushing my curly hair over my shoulder, I stare at myself in the mirror. I glance the clock on the wall, seeing it’s nearly seven, and time for my date with Korbin. I’m kind of hoping the red dress I bought will jog his memory of the mating ceremony. I’m running out of ideas on how to make the guys remember me, and that’s not good. The more time I spend away from Dragca,, the more I have no idea what’s
going on. I keep thinking about the seers, wondering how I’m going to convince them that fighting for me and protecting me is a good idea. How I’m going to convince anyone to help me get the throne back. I still jump a little when a knock sounds at my door, even though I’m expecting it. I walk over, picking up my leather jacket hanging on the back of the door before opening it.
“Wow,” Korbin mutters as I just stare at him, speechless at how amazing he looks. Korbin’s hair is styled a little, making his eyes pop, and wearing a blue shirt, black trousers, with a long black coat.
“Oh snap,” I say, and then shake my head as my cheeks burn. “That was really lame. You look good, is what I meant to say,” I blurt out. He laughs, stepping closer.
“You’re cute when you’re nervous, Issy,” he tells me, and I chuckle.
“Cute and weird, you sure you want to take me out?” I ask.
“Certain,” he grins seductively.
“So…where are we going?” I ask, as he hasn’t told me a thing about this date. Korbin clears his throat, holding his hand out for me. I slide my hand into his, feeling the roughness of it, from his training I expect.
“It’s a ten-minute drive, and no I’m not telling you where we are going as it’s a surprise,” he says, leading me down the corridor, and still holding my hand. We’re walking to the door, when someone clears their throat, and I turn around to see Dagan leaning against the wall. His eyes drift down my dress, and feel like they are burning my skin with every part they touch until he looks up.
“Have a good night,” he says gruffly, his hands tensely held in fists at his sides. We trained all day, and something seems to have changed between us. Like it has been changing with Elias, like it’s changing with Korbin. I don’t see them as just friends, and when I’m with them, I forget the curse. I forget who I am and wish we were just normal people who could be together without any danger.