by G. Bailey
“Yeah, I get that princess,” he squeezes my hand and stands up, dropping the notebook he was holding.
“What’s that?” I ask, remembering his notebook at Dragca Academy. I wonder if he draws the same type things. It would make sense for him to have the same hobbies, enjoy the same things he always had. He is the same dragon I met, just with a few little changes.
“Here,” he offers me the notebook. To my surprise, he walks around the bed, pulling off his leather jacket and boots. He slides into bed next to me, tucking himself in like he sleeps in my bed all the time or something. He rolls on his side, raising an eyebrow at me as he rests his head on his arm.
“Comfy?” I ask sarcastically, and he smirks.
“Very,” he replies, somehow making one word seem seductive and panty dropping. Damn him. I shake my head, looking back at the notebook to get my eyes off him. I open the first page to see a drawing of me, not what I was expecting at all. It’s a beautifully drawn image of me sitting on the school bus, and looking over my shoulder. It’s the first time he saw me here on Earth. He makes my eyes look bigger than they are, like I’m a doll or something. My hair is layered down my back in perfect curls, and my face looks perfect, not one imperfection. Which I know isn’t true, I know I have a slight dent on the right side of my nose where I broke it falling out a tree in Dragca when I was seven. I know I have freckles littered across my nose too, and they spread to my cheeks when it’s summer. I’m not perfect, not in any way.
“You make me look pretty, way too pretty,” I say, and he chuckles low.
“I don’t make you anything other than what you are,” he argues. I look back, flipping through the notebook, seeing more and more sketches of myself. All little moments in class, all times when I never saw him even looking at me. I turn over a page and stop, seeing a different drawing. It’s a tattoo design, with four red dragons flying around an ice dragon in the center of them. They almost look like they're protecting her. The main dragon looks like mine, and the little ones are all slightly different. There are swirls coming off the ice dragon, connecting them all together, and it’s remarkable. I can’t look away, I just end up staring at it. I feel Elias slowly look over, to see what I’m so fascinated by.
“I love this,” I say, tracing my finger over the design.
“It’s yours, I designed it for you. I don’t remember when I exactly started drawing it, but it was way before I met you, yet somehow I know it’s yours,” he says, making my heart pound.
“Thank you, Eli,” I whisper, tracing the design with my finger.
“I love when you call me that,” he says gruffly, his voice almost a whisper like mine. Neither one of us say a word, and without communicating I know we both don’t want to ruin the moment. I can see it when I look over at him, I know him well enough to read it in his eyes. I put the notebook on my side, and then lie down in bed, facing him. I reach up, placing my hand on his cheek, and he closes his eyes at my touch.
“What if I told you that kissing you could trigger a curse, that it could destroy everything you don’t even know you have?” I ask him, my words coming out more breathless than I intend them to be.
“A curse?” he asks, frowning at me. As he opens those blue eyes, I find myself instantly lost in them.
“Yes, a curse that was meant to do good for my family, but right now it feels like it’s destroying the very family it was meant to protect,” I say, meaning every word. Why does it have to be like this? It’s not fair.
“You’re not making much sense, princess,” he says, and I shake my head, lowering my head to his chest after he rolls onto his back. I reach over, switching the lamp off, and then placing my hand on his chest.
“Stay the night?” I ask him, not really giving him a choice as I’m already comfy, and don’t want to move.
“You don’t have to ask, princess,” he whispers, kissing my forehead. Only seconds later darkness makes me fall asleep as I lay listening to his beating heart.
Chapter 20
Isola
Someone is knocking on your door. It’s too fucking early for me to be a gentleman and answer it for you,” a voice grumbles. The feeling of a face pushing into my neck has me blinking my eyes open. I pull myself awake, to find Elias practically lying on top of me and he looks up, his messy hair makes him look cute in an early morning way.
“How much would you hate me if I said how cute you are in the morning?” I ask, and he glares at me, rolling over and pulling a pillow over his head. Someone doesn’t like mornings.
“Get the door,” he groans, his voice muffled by his pillow. I laugh, getting out of bed and walking to the door, opening it a little to see Korbin stood outside.
“Hey?” I ask, sounding like a dork.
“Running? I know we haven’t been speaking recently, but I–” he says, and then Eli’s loud shout interrupts him. “–Keep it down.” I look back at Korbin as his whole face tightens, and then he turns, walking away.
“Korbin, wait!” I shout, running out the door, and down the stairs after him. I catch him just before he gets to the front door, grabbing his arm.
“Let me explain,” I plead.
“Explain what? Am I nothing to you? Or was it only me that felt something, Isola?” he fires all the questions quickly at me, and never giving me a second to reply.
“Kor, it wasn’t nothing. It meant everything to me. You have no fucking idea how hard this is for me. What I’m doing, it is killing me as I don’t want to hurt anyone,” I tell him and he turns, pushing me lightly into the wall, and stepping close. He presses me against the wall as he slides his hand to the back of my neck, and he makes me look up at him. His green eyes blaze as he stares at me. It’s almost unnerving to see the emotion in his eyes, but I don’t look away. I know he needs to see the same passion in mine, he needs to know that I don’t feel nothing. I feel everything, and it frightens me.
“I don’t know how to cope with how you look at Dagan and Elias,” he admits, his thumb stroking the back of my neck.
“I don’t know what I’m doing, only that I can’t stay away from any of you,” I reply truthfully.
“Then for now, this is how it is, because fuck Isola, I can’t lose you,” he says and slams his mouth onto mine. I moan against his lips, returning the kiss the best I can when he is taking total control, leaving me no break in-between each punishing kiss. He brushes his lips down my jaw, angling my head with his hand on my neck, and then breaking away.
“Now, get your cute butt back to your room, and get your running gear on,” he says, an actual smile on his lips for the first time I’ve seen this week. He lets me free from against the wall, and I jump when he slaps my ass playfully as I pass him.
“Cheeky,” I say, but I can’t keep the grin of my face.
“Oh, and Isola?” he stops me when I get to the bottom step.
“Yeah?” I turn to ask.
“Make a lot of noise as you get changed, I don’t think Eli was awake enough yet,” he says and I laugh as I walk away, intending to do just that.
How was your run?” Dagan asks when Korbin and I come back into the house, both of us worn out. I look out the window to see it just start to pour down and I’m damn thankful we got inside before that started.
“Good, but the more important question is whether or not those are waffles?” I ask, smelling them before I even get to his side and see the waffle maker he has out. I look over to the table, seeing cut fruit on a plate and all the sauces lined up. There are even plates and cutlery set out.
“Sit down, I’ve made you all some,” he says, winking at me. The back door opens and Eli walks in, the cigarette smoke clinging to his clothes letting me know what he was doing outside. He shakes his wet hair, before using his hand to push it out his face. He takes his jacket off, resting it on a hook by the door.
“Morning,” he says as I sit down, and Korbin hands me a bottle of orange juice before sitting next to me.
“Morning, cutie,” I repl
y, seeing Eli narrow his eyes at me as Korbin laughs.
“Cutie?” he asks, with a laugh, looking between us.
“Don’t ask,” I reply, and he chuckles. Eli sits down opposite me, still glaring and gently kicks my leg under the table, and I laugh. I pile some fruit on my plate, popping a strawberry in my mouth as Elias still looks annoyed.
“So…any plans after school today?” Korbin asks, cutting an apple up with a knife.
“I’m going to see Jules,” I tell them.
“Want a ride?” Elias asks.
“Nope, Hallie is taking me as she wants to see her too. They got along since Hallie was over here often. She wants to take her some grapes,” I explain. Although she was only over here in memories Melody made up, they are real enough for Hallie. I doubt Hallie even remembers Melody now, it seems like no one really does. I haven’t had to explain to any teachers where she is, it’s just odd magic that messes with us all. Dagan slides the waffles onto my plate, and I grin up at him.
“Thank you,” I say, and he puts another plate full of waffles in the middle of the table.
“Are you not serving mine up? I feel left out,” Elias says, with a wounded, jokey expression as he pours maple syrup on my waffles. Dagan whacks him on the back of his head on the way back to his chair.
“When you’re as pretty as Isola, then sure,” he says, and Elias smirks, but doesn’t reply as he starts pulling waffles onto his plate. I smile, looking at them all and enjoying how well we all just fit together like this. Having breakfast together, just relaxing together. It’s so normal, and perfect. I cut my waffles up, sticking a piece into my mouth, and try not to moan at how amazing it tastes. They must have cinnamon in them or something, because seriously, these waffles are better than any I’ve ever had.
“I’m kinda jealous of the waffles right now,” Dagan comments, and I look up to see all the guys watching me, a mixture of amused and turned on looks in their eyes.
“Why?” I say, my voice muffled around my waffles. I’m not stopping eating to talk, this is too good.
“They make you smile more than anyone else,” he says, and the guys all laugh.
“I was thinking they make you moan as much–” Elias starts to say and Dagan leans over, whacking his head again.
“That hurts,” Elias glares at his brother.
“Not as much as the stupid shit that comes out your mouth does,” he says and I decide to intervene before the brothers start fighting, and get in the way of me and my waffles.
“Yes, yes they do. My relationship with your cooking is becoming addictive, I may never let you out my sight now,” I joke, though he doesn’t reply. We eat up, and when Dagan leans down to take my plate from me, slanting his lips close to my ear.
“Sounds good to me, kitty cat,” he whispers and then walks off, leaving me with bright red cheeks that I try to hide from the others, but they know and surprisingly, they don’t say a word.
Chapter 21
Isola
Don’t be silly, you look good,” Hallie grins and Jules laughs, waving a pale hand in the air. I spent the last hour brushing her hair, putting some dry shampoo in it for her, and then plaiting it. I couldn’t stand to see her hair so messy, when she usually has it in a tight bun and styled, unless she has just gotten out of bed. Jules happily let me help her, and in some ways, it helped me feel better, too. I've been carrying so much guilt about not being able to look after her when I go back to Dragca, despite all the time she took care of me.
“I look awful. I have seen a mirror, little one,” she replies to Hallie. Jules sits up a little in her bed, and pats the side next to her. Hallie goes to sit next to her with a worried expression. I lean back in my seat, letting them have their moment alone together as I look out the window. Outside, rain is pouring down, hitting against the roof of the small side building of the hospital. It makes a soothing sound in the otherwise quiet room. I hate hospitals, it smells of death and loss in here. I can hear all the beeping machines trying to save people, and the cries of the families who lost someone close. It reminds me I haven’t had time to truly grieve my father or Jace. I don’t have somewhere to go to remember either of them. I try not to get lost in my own thoughts any more than I have too. I can’t live in the past, with the people I had to leave behind there, there is only the future now.
“Come here, Isola,” she asks me. I get out of my chair and walk over, sitting on the edge of the bed, and holding her hand as Hallie gets up.
“I’m going to get us some drinks,” Hallie says, patting my arm as she walks out the room.
“You really don’t look bad,” I tell her, and she chuckles.
“And you have always been a terrible liar,” she responds, making me smile because she has no idea that I lie to her all the time. That so much of my life is a lie, that there is little truth left here on Earth and in my life with Jules.
“You will be back home soon, I’m having to put up with Dagan cooking and takeaways. I miss you,” I mumble out. Not that Dagan is bad at cooking, because he really, really isn’t. But I’m not going to tell her that.
“I’m glad the boys are looking after you. They tell me you are well every time they come to visit me,” she says, and I frown at her. What boys?
“They come to visit you? Elias, Dagan, and Korbin?” I inquire.
“Every day one of the boys comes to see me,” she explains, making me smile. They didn’t have to do that, and I didn’t even know they were. I love that Jules hasn’t been as alone as I’ve worried she was. I wonder why they didn’t tell me they were going to see her. They must have made a plan between them all or something.
“I haven’t been able to email your father about being in here, have you spoken to him?” she asks. I close my eyes, looking away from her blue ones as I answer.
“No, I haven’t. But I will,” I say, hating that I’m lying again.
“Okay,” she answers, “Isola, you can tell me anything. You know that? I see you as the grandchild I never had,” she says and I look back, squeezing her hand tighter.
“I see you the same, but that’s why I can’t tell you everything. You are safe here, and at the nursing home I chose for you until you are better,” I say. She smiles, but there is an unspoken sadness clouding over her eyes. I want to tell her everything, but I doubt she would believe she has been raising a dragon her whole life. Nor that she has four living in her house right now.
“You will visit me?” she asks, her brown eyes watching me like it means everything to her for me to say yes.
“One day, when everything is settled, I will. I promise,” I say and I mean it. I will come back when I have the throne, and there is no war. When I can make her safe and maybe even bring her back to Dragca, show her my world. She could live out her days in the castle, with people to help her. I wonder if Bee could heal her a little, take away some of her pain.
“I know you lie to me all the time, and that you have your reasons. I know you’re protecting me from something I don’t need to know about. I’m just glad that sentence wasn’t a lie, because I do want to see you at least one more time before I pass away,” she says and I frown.
“What–” I go to say when the door opens, and Hallie walks in. I pull my eyes away from Jules, intending to ask Hallie to give us some more time. I don’t get the chance as Hallie starts talking quickly.
“I’m so sorry to cut this visit short. My father called, and I have to get back home. It’s urgent,” she says, putting the drinks on the side.
“Okay,” I respond, seeing the worried look on my friend’s face. I stand up, leaning over, and kissing Jule’s forehead.
“I will see you soon, and we can discuss what you just said,” I say, and she laughs.
“A lie, but I will always forgive you. It’s what people do when they love someone,” she replies, making me wonder if that’s true. Hallie comes over before I can tell her she means alot to me too.
“I will come back at the weekend, and you can tell me
that chocolate chip cookie recipe. I can’t live without those in my life,” Hallie says, making Jules laugh.
“I will write it down for when you come next, Hallie,” Jule’s replies. Hallie gives her a hug before we both leave. I look back once more at Jules as I open the door, and she gives me a small nod. There is a look of love in her eyes that I know I won’t forget. Yet it’s still hard to shut the door and walk out. I have a feeling I won’t see her for a long time, and I hate it. It shouldn’t be like this.
“What’s so urgent with your dad?” I ask Hallie as we walk down the empty corridors of the hospital, and both of us haven’t said a word.
“I can’t really say, but something big has happened. He thinks I need to see it,” she rolls her eyes.
“You confuse me,” I bump her shoulder, “but I love you anyway.”
“You best do, biatch,” she grins, making me laugh.
Chapter 22
Isola
Hey, you’re back, how was Jules?” Korbin asks as I close the door behind me, and start pulling my coat off, shaking the rain out of my hair. Does it ever stop raining around here?
“She is doing good. She is just wanting to get out of bed and start doing stuff,” I say, pulling my boots off after hanging my coat up.
“We are watching a movie, and pizza is on the way. I’ve ordered your favourite, pepperoni and chicken,” he says with a grin. He should know my favourite by now as we have all been talking turns ordering food for each other. I walk over, sliding my arms around his waist, and resting my head on his chest.
“Sounds perfect, and just what I need right now,” I admit, and he kisses my forehead. Dagan walks down the stairs, stopping as he gets to us, and I let go of Korbin. It still feels a little awkward to hug, or be close to any of them when there another one of them around. Something to get used to, or not. Who knows, they might suddenly change their minds, and try to kill each other.