“He’s on the roof,” I muttered.
She blinked and looked at me. “So that was him I heard?” I nodded and she tilted her head. “Why was he in here?”
“He was making sure I was okay.”
She smiled. “That was sweet of him.”
I nodded and then smiled at her. “If you’re still insistent on seeing his dragon form close up, ask him to shift as a favor to me.”
She eyed me. “He’d do that?”
“I’m pretty sure he would. But probably only once.”
She grinned. “See, he likes you.”
I pointed to the door. “Just get out.”
She laughed and opened the door. “Be that way, but I’m not giving up on you two.”
I sighed and fell onto my bed once she closed the door. I sighed again, but with content this time as I enjoyed the softness of my bed and pillows. The smell of the solution was faint so I figured Shva’sika had also changed the sheets and blankets. Maybe I’d get a good night sleep tonight. It’d be a first but I could dream.
Chapter 28
The sun was beginning to set and I had done nothing all day except worry. Raikidan told me not to and he told me I wouldn’t have to leave, but as time passed I knew he was wrong. I screwed up and I wasn’t going to get the others in trouble because of it.
I clenched my fists tighter. Tonight I’d leave. The longer I stayed, the easier it’d be for them to find me, and the higher the chance of the others getting dragged into the mess. I’d make a scene like last time and then escape. Raikidan would be free to live his life normally and the others would be safe.
“You don’t have to leave,” Seda voiced.
“Don’t argue with me, Seda. This is how it has to be. I have to deal with my mistake and I’m not putting everyone in danger because of it.”
“We’ll figure something out. Be patient.”
“I’m leaving tonight, so unless you can think of something by then I’ll be gone by the morning.”
I figured she had something to say but the sound of heavy boots clomping up the entryway stairs pulled our attention to that area. I almost panicked thinking they were soldiers, but I pushed the idea away. The boots weren’t rushed enough to belong to them. I was getting paranoid now and that wasn’t good.
Ryoko burst through the doorway and rushed to her room. Rylan was next to appear, with Argus and Blaze close behind. Raikidan, curious about the commotion, came out of my room. I watched Ryoko rush out of her room and into the bathroom and then back again. Rylan then entered the bathroom, rummaged around in the closet, and was out again with a matter of seconds. What was going on?
Shva’sika looked up from her book and watched the commotion for a moment and then looked at me. I shrugged. I had never seen them act like this before. Zane finally made his way up the stairs and looked around. He was much calmer than everyone else, as if the others were overreacting about something.
I went to ask him about the situation, but Ryoko bolted out of her room and ran over to Raikidan. She grabbed him by the wrist and yanked him toward his room. “Let’s go. We need to get you ready, and I’m not sure if I’ve bought anything for you that will work.”
“What are you talking about?” Raikidan asked. “What the hell is going on?
“Yeah, Zane, why is everyone acting like headless chickens?” I asked.
Zane scratched his head. “We had an unexpected visit from the military today.” I swallowed. I didn’t like the sound of this. “The military is throwing a party, and as supposedly active military supporters, we are obligated to go.”
I blinked. That was it? That’s why everyone was freaking out?
“Okay, that doesn’t sound bad,” I said. “So why is everyone in a freaking frenzy?”
“The party is tonight,” he told me.
“Not very kind of them to tell you so late,” Shva’sika commented.
He shrugged. “We’re used to it. It happens every time there’s a party.”
“So this party thing isn’t new?” I inquired.
Zane chuckled. “Not in the least. They started doing it about two years after you left us. Now it’s common for the military to have two or three a year. Sometimes more.”
“All right, so why is Ryoko dragging Raikidan to his room?” I asked.
He smiled. “Because the two of you are going with us.”
“What?” I couldn’t believe he said that. “No!”
“You two work for me from time to time,” he reminded me. “That means you’re obligated to go.”
I folded my arms. “I don’t do parties.”
Ryoko stuck her head around the corner of the hall. “You’re going. Now get your ass in your room and start looking at dresses to wear.”
“I’m not going!”
“But it sounds like a lot of fun,” Shva’sika objected. “I’d like to go if that’s okay.”
Zane smiled kindly. “I wouldn’t say no.”
Ryoko laughed. “Well since Danika is going, that means you have to go, Laz.”
I snorted. “No.”
“Raikidan is going to need a date,” she explained.
I snorted. “Shva’sika can be his date. I’m not going.”
Shva’sika laughed. “I think I look a little too old to be his date.”
“There, so you’re going.” Ryoko stated firmly.
“No!” I shouted.
“Yes!” I flinched when everyone yelled. Even Seda had joined in on it. I was completely outnumbered.
“Someone is going to have to watch Genesis,” I reminded.
“I’ll be watching her,” Seda informed me.
“Can I have a say in this as well?” Raikidan asked as he came around the corner.
“No,” Ryoko said. “Both of you are going and that’s final. We don’t have time to argue this.”
I sighed in defeat. Looked like I was going whether I liked it or not.
Shva’sika looked at Ryoko. “I don’t think I have anything to wear to this party.”
Ryoko nodded. “We didn’t buy you anything fancy, but that’s okay. I went through Raikidan’s closet and I never bought him anything either so the three of us are going to have to go out and get something real quick.”
“Make that four,” Rylan voiced as he entered the room. “I ripped the sleeves off of my suit.”
Ryoko giggled. “That’s what you get for working out so much.”
Rylan’s face tinted with slight embarrassment.
“I’ll go get some money,” Ryoko offered as she headed down the hall. “You and Raikidan can go to the tux store while Danika and I go to a dress shop for her.”
Rylan nodded. “All right.”
Shva’sika looked at me. “You might want to get working on picking out a dress or we’ll do it for you when we get back.”
I sighed and stood up. I wasn’t going to weasel my way out of this, so I might as well have a choice in my clothes. If I didn’t, I knew I’d be even more miserable.
I sat in the car trying not to bite my lower lip and go into a panic, while Shva’sika and Ryoko chatted happily about everything and nothing as Zane drove us to our destination. The boys left earlier than us, since both Shva’sika and Ryoko felt the need to fuss over every little detail on me.
I hated the dress they made me wear. It was a shimmery ruby red, floor length, one-sleeved dress with a small slit on the right side starting at the hip, exposing too much skin in my opinion. The one I picked out wasn’t good enough for them, which didn’t surprise me in the least.
I hated the black stilettos they expected me to walk in. I hated all the makeup they put on me, the fake freckles they added to my face since the cover-up did too good of a job in their eyes, and I hated how tightly wrapped my
hair was. I didn’t like the earrings they forced me to wear, and all in all, I was really uncomfortable and thought I looked awful.
Ryoko and Shva’sika, on the other hand, looked amazing. Ryoko wore a nice yellow, floor length wide V-neck dress that cut down to her navel and had large cutouts on the sides from her shoulder to her hips. Shva’sika had insisted on Ryoko getting it while they were shopping for a dress and I was glad she had been able to convince Ryoko. This dress looked better than any of the other dresses Ryoko owned, and it actually worked with her large chest.
To accompany Ryoko’s dress, she wore black stilettos and changed out the two small hoop earrings in her ear for hanging crystal ones that matched the pair they had forced me to wear.
Shva’sika’s dress was a shimmery dark blue, floor length one-shoulder dress with a draped shoulder scarf. The top part of the dress appeared form-fitting due to the ruching, as the girl called it. The dress then flowed freely from the hips down, splitting in the center and draping longer in the back, showing off her legs and giving her a light, airy feel when she walked.
On her feet she wore black stilettos that matched mine and Ryoko’s, and she wore some gemmed rings on a few fingers. Around her neck was her favorite torc, and on her ears hung a pair of crystal earrings, also matching Ryoko’s and mine. Her hair still had her typical cloth wraps and beads, but she somehow was able to pull it off. I figured it had to be because she was an elf. I couldn’t see a human pulling that off successfully.
The limousine slowed when we neared our destination. Once we were parked, Zane cut the engine and stepped out of the car. Around the same time the door nearest me opened and a tall man extended his hand to help me out. Based on Shva’sika and Ryoko’s quiet giggling, I knew they had put me here on purpose.
Sighing mentally, I accepted the man’s offer and stepped out of the car. I looked around as I waited for Ryoko and Shva’sika to get out of the car. The mansion this party was being hosted at was enormous and elegantly designed, with large white pillars, giant front steps, large windows, and a mahogany and gold front door. Vines grew on the walls and pillars, giving the mansion an older look.
The large yard was well landscaped and maintained. Along the outside of the circular driveway was a line of trimmed shrubbery, and in the middle of the driveway was a large fountain depicting the six peacekeepers, surrounded by more tended shrubbery and flowers.
The building hid the back yard, but I figured it looked as nice as the front. A tall black, fence with a single entry gate surrounded the entire property. It was obvious we were in Quadrant Four.
My fingers entwined with each other in front of me as I waited and fought the urge to jump back into the car and leave. My anxiety lessened once Ryoko and Shva’sika were both next to me, but it was short lived when Zane strolled over to us after handing the keys off to someone and extended his hand to Shva’sika. “Danika.”
Shva’sika smiled back and accepted his gesture. “Not Elarinya?”
He chuckled and spoke low as he tucked her arm into his. “I didn’t want to offend you by butchering your name.”
She giggled. “It’s light on the tongue like the wind. That’s where most mess it up. Now try saying it.”
He swallowed. “Are you sure? It’s not going to sound pretty in the least.”
She laughed. “I can assure you I’ve probably heard worse.”
Zane sighed and tried. “El–r–i–ya–na.”
I cringed. He really did do a terrible job, but I hadn’t been any better the first time I attempted her name.
Shva’sika smiled at him. “That’s one of the best first tries I’ve heard. With a little practice you’ll be great at saying it.”
Zane chuckled. “I’m not sure I want to risk butchering it again.”
Shva’sika tilted her head. “I think you should practice. I’d prefer hearing you calling me by my real name.”
I blinked. Is she… flirting with him? It did appear that way, which was out of character for her. I had only seen her flirt with one other man, and that was to swindle money out of him since we ran out on a three-month journey. I was sure, at the time, it wasn’t the proper shaman thing to do, but since we hadn’t been traveling as shamans I hadn’t minded, and it was a better, more legal, choice of action than my idea.
Zane smiled at her. “All right, if you insist.”
Ryoko giggled when they were out of earshot. “They’re cute together. You think something will happen between those two?”
I snorted. “Doubt it. Zane is picky. That’s why he hasn’t even attempted to date a woman as long as we’ve known him. And Shva’sika… well… let’s just say in six hundred years she hasn’t made a single attempt to settle down.”
“So basically you’re saying she’s just as picky,” Ryoko clarified.
I nodded. “It’s the only thing I can think of. She never cared to talk about it, not that I cared to ever ask either.”
Ryoko went to say something when Rylan showed up and offered his hand with a smile. “Ryoko.”
She smiled back and accepted his gesture. “I suppose you’re my date tonight.”
Rylan’s smile turned into a grin as he folded her arms into his. “I suppose you’d be right. You look nice by the way. Your dress really suits you.”
She blushed and murmured her thanks as they walked away. My new lone status, in a place I’d rather not be at, with several pair of male soldier’s eyes on me everywhere now and then, sent me into a near self-conscious panic. Raikidan was supposed to be my date for this stupid thing, but it didn’t look like he was going to escort me in like the other two boys were kind enough to do for their dates. I sighed. I guess I should go in myself before a bold soldier tries—
Raikidan stretched out his hand to me. “Eira.”
I looked him over before taking his hand. He looked good in his suit. A little uncomfortable, but good. He had gelled up his hair, offsetting the high-class look he was supposed to be achieving, but I didn’t mind. I preferred it this way.
“About time you came over here,” I shot.
He raised his eyebrow as he folded my arms into his. “You act like I was late. I wasn’t going to leave you standing here alone.”
“I was about to escort myself in.”
His expression lowered. “Sorry. I didn’t want to interrupt the conversation you and Ryoko were having.”
“Rylan did.”
“He left to take Ryoko before the two of you started speaking,” he defended.
“And you didn’t go with him why?”
“I…” He sighed. “I didn’t exactly know what to do. I didn’t want to make myself look like an idiot in front of you and then embarrass you.”
“Raikidan, you overthink things sometimes. I wouldn’t have been embarrassed. I would have preferred it over standing alone. And for the record, you could have asked the guys. They know you’re pretty much clueless when it comes to stuff like this.”
Raikidan grunted. “You make me sound stupid.”
I laughed. “Well only someone stupid would leave a woman waiting.”
“I won’t do it next time,” he promised.
“I hope to the gods there won’t be a next time,” I muttered.
“Why do you hate these things so much?” he asked.
I sighed. “I’m forced to dress and act like someone I’m not, even though it’s not an assignment. I hate being around so many people and no one seems to care. I didn’t even have a say in a single thing I’m wearing. The least they could do is to give me that.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t fight more to say no,” he said quietly. “I didn’t realize you had been so opposed to this.”
I shook my head. “Don’t be sorry. Nothing was going to change anyone’s mind. We’re stuck doing it whether we like it or not.”
/> Raikidan was quiet for a moment while we climbed the long steps. “How come Argus kept refusing a date for this party every time Blaze offered to find him one? He even refused when Blaze’s date offered to call one her friends, not that I blame him. His date looks like he picked her out at a bar.”
“It’s because Argus has this weird code he goes by,” I explained. “He won’t take a woman to a social event unless he’s interested in her, and since the person he’s interested in is babysitting a seven-hundred-plus-year-old child, he’s here alone.”
Raikidan blinked. “Seda? You can’t be serious.”
I laughed. “Quite serious actually.”
“Even when she acted all detached and inhuman?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yep. I can only guess he had inklings from the start that it was a façade.”
“Then why doesn’t he do something about it?” Raikidan asked.”
“Because of what his last girlfriend did,” I said. “He was with her for ten years and then she tore him apart. He’s not ready to take the new risk yet.”
“Do you think Seda knows?” he asked. “With her being what she is and all.”
I smiled. He knew not to say what she was with all these soldiers around. At least I knew I could trust him not to blow our cover any time soon. “I don’t doubt she knows. Or she at least has some speculations.”
“You know something,” he observed as he led me through the large front doors.
I laughed. “I know many things.”
“Spill it,” he demanded. “What are you hiding?”
“Some things are meant to be a secret,” I replied coyly.
He sighed. “Eira.”
I laughed. “All right, all right. Let’s just say his feelings aren’t one-sided.”
Raikidan blinked. “Seriously?”
I laughed again. “I have no reason to lie.”
“About time you two came inside!” Ryoko yelled at us as we approached, shutting down our conversation.
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