Arkadia (Halfway House Series Book 1)

by Dzintra Sullivan

  Eloise looked up, peeled her fingers off the edge of the table, turned the laptop toward Arkadia, and said, “You might want to read this.” As Arkadia read it, the glass slipped from her hand and shattered all over the kitchen floor, juice and shards of glass flying everywhere. Suddenly, her breath was missing, and her heart was no longer beating. The e-mail was an official letter from the Paranormal Council.

  Staggering to take a seat, the juice and glass could wait, Arkadia continued reading. The e-mail said that they had been notified a breach of paranormal rules had taken place. It mentioned the notification implicated that one Arkadia Castner was the offender. This was now case #67003, and had been assigned to Ms. Rumor Winslow. This meant that within a few days, maybe a week, Arkadia would be getting a visit. Ms Winslow would be sticking around, watching, assessing, and then casting a judgment on the situation according to council law. Council Law didn’t require her to report back or for there to be any kind of trial. With so many paranormals under the one single council, they appointed highly-trained and ancient members to be Judge, Jury, and Executioner, if need be.

  “Eloise,” Arkadia stuttered as her eyes misted up, tears beginning to roll down her cheeks, “they’re going to kill me.” Eloise was up and had her arms wrapped around Arkadia’s shoulders so fast Arkadia didn’t have time to blink.

  Eloise said calmly, “NO, my child, they are not. We will explain everything, clearly and calmly, and I am almost positive that Ms. Winslow will understand and let you go forth and sit your PSEs.”

  Arkadia sniffled, wiping away more tears that were freely falling now. “I am ALMOST positive you’re wrong.”

  Eloise rubbed Arkadia’s arm supportively, as she said, “Let me suggest something.” Arkadia looked, eyes wet and defeated, up at her. “Go have a shower, get into your happy pants, and I’ll clean up this mess. We can order takeout and sit calmly in the living room and work out what is going to happen.”

  Arkadia nodded as she got up and made her way to the bottom of the stairs. “I know what’s going to happen. I have read enough stories to know if a case manager gets involved, nine times out of ten, it doesn’t work out in the offender’s favor,” Arkadia said as she plodded up the stairs devoid of all energy. She stripped and headed for the shower. She didn’t even have the energy to shut the door, and didn’t bother trying as only Eloise was home, and she was busy downstairs...

  As she came out of the shower, Bohdan was sitting on the end of the bed, and greeted her with a gentle smile. “Eloise called, and said you might need a hug.”

  Arkadia dropped to her knees, a white bathrobe wrapped around her, as she shook her head. “I don’t want to see you, Bohdan.” Her voice was flat and dull; she couldn’t even look at him, preferring to study a speck of fluff on the carpet.

  “Arkadia, don’t pu …” He was stopped by her hand.

  “I am already dead, Bohdan, go, I can’t see you anymore.” Getting up, she turned and walked back into the bathroom before he could say another word, still unable to look at him. Arkadia knew if her eyes met his, she would weaken, but she couldn’t live with herself knowing she was just dragging him down with her; she loved him too much for that. He had a booming hockey career, which she had already put in jeopardy with her shenanigans. If she was to allow him to continue being with her, then he might be considered guilty by association, and if something were to happen to him, she would regret it for the rest of her life. Although with Ms. Winslow on the way, Arkadia might not be living for much longer.

  Shutting the bathroom door behind her, she slid down onto the floor, wrapped her arms around her legs, and sobbed silently into her knees as she listened to Bohdan trying desperately to get her to open the door. Arkadia could almost hear dragon whimpering in pain.

  Arkadia knew if Bohdan wanted in, he would get in, he was a dragon for goodness’ sake, but she also knew that Bohdan wouldn’t rip doors of hinges; it wasn’t his style. The last thing she heard him say was, “I am leaving this room, but I am NOT leaving YOU. I will kill anyone, or anything, that tries to take you away from me. There is no one else for us; you are not freaking alone in this world anymore. Have your little cry, throw a plate, do whatever you need to, to get your shit together. You have until tomorrow morning for your pity party. For tomorrow is when we start fighting back.”

  Silence then engulfed the room, and Arkadia knew he had gone. She was so angry he wouldn’t save himself by letting her go, and in the same breath, her heart soared triumphantly. Bohdan truly loved her, and she felt it in every fiber of her being. He would fight for her, he would kill for her, and he would, if need be, die for her. That last realization took her breath away. She couldn’t live without him. She wouldn’t live without him. Things had definitely gone from “crap on a cracker” to “holy shit.”

  Unable to eat or drink, Arkadia couldn’t even tolerate going downstairs at all. The last thing she needed right now was the several times she would hear. “It’s going to be okay,” from everyone. It was most completely NOT okay, never was going to BE okay, and having a hash-it-out session with Eloise was the very last thing she needed. Arkadia decided to just jump into bed and hope like hell it was better in the morning.

  Chapter Thirty

  No one knew when Ms. Winslow was going to arrive on their doorstep; the e-mail didn’t have a date, just a “notification” of impending visit. With Arkadia’s birthday in less than three months, the visit would be sooner rather than later. As Arkadia rolled over in bed, her brain begged for a few more minutes of denial before having to face reality. Opening her eyes slightly, she jumped with a breathy gasp, beside her bed was a plethora of flowers; there were easily over one hundred flowers. Bunches and bunches of flowers sat in different colored vases, all over the floor, up on the dresser, and on the window sill. Arkadia could even see some reflecting in the mirror of her bathroom. She rubbed her eyes softly as she squinted to look again. The flowers looked like something, not that she was an expert in the floral world, but she loved flowers and that was because they were pretty, not because she knew anything about them.

  The delicate blooms fanned out with a deep red at the base and then what looked like a bright yellow muzzle protruding from the center. All of a sudden, Arkadia knew what they looked like. “Dragons,” she sighed. They looked like tiny red and yellow dragons all dancing around her room, completely surrounding her and loving her from all angles. “Bohdan,” Arkadia murmured huskily as she threw back the covers and ran downstairs. She could feel him in the house, waiting for her; how she could have ever told him to go away, she would never understand. She was terrified, and hoped he would understand. That single moment of doubt washed away instantly as she laid eyes on him. He stood up from where he was waiting on the sofa, and he just seemed to get bigger and bigger as his massive chest expanded. He was wearing dark blue jeans and a blood red T-shirt that looked like it was stretched to capacity, straining to cover his wide chest and bulging arm muscles. If there was ever a thing as shirt abuse, this poor little red shirt was in pain, and Arkadia had the sudden need to rip it off him and end its misery.

  All Bohdan had to do was open his arms, and Arkadia launched herself into them from the bottom of the stairs. He caught her mid-flight and held her tight. His arms wrapped around her as she clung onto him like a koala to its favorite tree.

  “Thank you for the flowers, Bohdan, and thank you for not listening to me yesterday,” Arkadia whispered into his ear, her hot breath making him shudder with energy.

  “I listened, my queen. I will always listen—I just may not always do as I am told.” He winked and kissed her softly, aware Eloise was still sitting in the same chair she had been in when they were talking before Arkadia came down. Lowering Arkadia’s feet to the floor, he wiggled his eyebrows and cheekily said, “Nice jammies.” Arkadia looked down and realized she was wearing her Hello Kitty footed pajamas, complete with butt flap. OMG! Arkadia’s head as she felt the heat of a blush burn up her cheeks.

  Clear
ly enjoying the reaction from her, he leaned in and whispered very quietly, “Dragon loves cats … for dinner.” Then he swatted her ass playfully.

  Eloise coughed as she got up, clearly uncomfortable with hearing the last comment, and said, “My wish would be people remembering I am a telepathic empath; I hear ALL, and having heard that, I need a strong coffee. Anyone else?” Eloise walked off to the kitchen, nodding as she heard two voices say, “Yes, please.”

  Sitting back in the chair, Bohdan pulled Arkadia down to sit on his lap, wrapped his arm around her back, and held her hip with his other hand. He said, “So I take it the pity train has left the station, and you are ready to fight this and clear your name.”

  Arkadia cupped his cheek in her hand, her thumb rubbed gently up and down, and she smiled. “Train left, and I didn’t buy a ticket, conductor kicked me off. It appears I am stuck with the one dragon in town, and you, my sexy beast, are stuck with me forever.” He closed his eyes as she rubbed his cheek, loving the tingles it sent through his body, and dragon was purring again.

  “Just the way we want it. Forever is a long, long time, and we don’t want to miss a single second of it with you.”

  There was a chime at the door, announcing someone wanted their attention. Arkadia got up off Bohdan’s lap and opened the front door to no one. She leaned out slightly to look left and right, but not a soul was there. She shrugged and as she was about to shut the door, she saw a small, pale blue box on the doorstep. Arkadia was naturally a suspicious person; however, with what had been happening lately, she was even more suspicious. She leaned back slightly, extended her long leg out the door, and ever so slightly nudged it with her toe. Nothing. Raising her eyebrow, still not convinced of the safety aspect, Arkadia decided to nudge it again a bit harder.

  “Arkadia? Who is it?” she could hear Eloise ask in the background.

  “It’s not so much of a who, but more of a what,” Arkadia replied.

  In what appeared to be no more than a heartbeat, Bohdan pushed her behind him and looked to see what was spiking Arkadia’s adrenalin. His dragon was very awake and in eager need of exercise. His eyes fell to the little box as Arkadia ducked under his arm. She was satisfied it wasn’t going to go boom, and now she was just curious. She picked it up and turned it over. It honestly just appeared to be a, pale blue box, about three-inches square. Bohdan growled as she pushed past him and walked back into the living room, setting the box down on the coffee table.

  “It was at the door,” Arkadia said.

  “Just the box?” Eloise had a concerned frown appearing on her forehead.

  “Just the box, as is, but I did hear the bell, so someone was there. Should I open it?”

  Eloise said, “Yes.” And at the exact same time, Bohdan said, “No.” They looked at each other, both of them surprised as they had opposite answers.

  Arkadia chuckled softly. “Then I am the deciding vote, and I say yes.” She sat down next to the table and carefully lifted off the lid. Arkadia could feel both Eloise’s magic and Bohdan’s dragon ready to pounce at any given time and protect her. From inside the box, she pulled out a black leather cord, and dangling from that cord was a silver charm. Arkadia rested the charm in her hand and turned it over to look carefully at it. Her heartbeat rapidly accelerated as she realized the charm was a tombstone, and engraved on the tombstone was:

  “R.I.P Arkadia,

  tragically died before

  her 18thbirthday.”

  “Well,” Arkadia said unusually calm, “That’s going to put a dampener on the party.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Sitting in an interview room at the police station was one of the last places Arkadia wanted to spend her weekend. Yet here she was again, explaining her innocence again, to some officer who would rather be at the local doughnut shop than listening to her story. Arkadia would do anything to find a way to get off this never-ending carousel ride. Bohdan and Eloise had been left in the waiting room. Arkadia assumed they would have to, or perhaps, were already doing the same as she was, but in another room.

  Arkadia had showed the officers the pendant with the engraving on it. In her eyes, this was a death threat. It wasn’t the first she had received in the last couple weeks, and with the council sending Ms. Winslow to assess her, it would not be the last she received either. Arkadia was beginning to laugh at her own mortality, which was causing distress to Bohdan and especially his dragon, who didn’t think the idea of her death was the slightest bit amusing.

  Standing outside after nearly three hours, she waited for Bohdan and Eloise to join her. The officer said they would only be a few more minutes. Arkadia felt rather deflated; her brain said it was Violet because of what happened at her house. Her heart said it couldn’t possibly be Violet because she had been so helpful and supportive at school this week. The thoughts of her brain were incongruent with the feelings in her heart.

  Arkadia heard the door open and spun around, immediately feeling better as she saw the smile creep across Bohdan’s face. Dang, that man is sexy, even his smile makes my toes curl. Arkadia entwined her fingers with his, a little supportive squeeze from him and for a fleeting moment she thought it would be okay. Funny thing about fleeting moments though, they go as fast as they come.

  Arkadia didn’t want to leave Bohdan’s side, and as Bohdan had hockey practice to be at all afternoon, her choice was easy. They stopped home briefly to drop off Eloise, and let Arkadia run inside to grab a heavy jacket. Eloise took the moment without Arkadia to have a word to Bohdan.

  “I can see how much you love her,” Eloise spoke softly, her eyes empathetic and caring as she continued, “Do you understand how much trouble Arkadia is in? How her life is truly on the line?” She looked into his eyes wanting an acknowledgement that he understood. “This is a battle for her life; I want to know you understand.”

  Bohdan’s face was suddenly serious. Discussing the mortality of his mate was something no one should ever take lightly, and he rumbled from deep within his soul, “I understand, Eloise, they will have to kill me to get to her. She has my heart in her hands, and together we are one.” Eloise nodded, satisfied he understood.

  “Good, then I trust you with her. Stay safe,” she said as she patted the door, turned, and walked up to the house.

  Bohdan smiled as Arkadia jumped in the truck. She was holding her thickest jacket. “What’s so funny, Smokey?” she asked.

  Bohdan broke out into a laugh, his belly rumbling with laughter. “Try another one, my queen. I am not a smoker, fire or otherwise.” She giggled and shrugged as Bohdan continued, “And on a positive note, I think Eloise likes me now.”

  Arkadia leaned over and brushed her lips against his, feathering a kiss so sensuous that she heard dragon rumble. “That’s good, ‘cause I am not letting you go … ever.” With a cheeky wink, Bohdan started the truck and they were off to hockey practice.

  Arkadia waited for Bohdan to finish with his shower, and couldn’t help but to let her mind wander. She imagined the beads of water as they rolled down his hard, rippled chest, and how his broad back would expand as he lifted his arms to rinse the shampoo from his hair. In her imagination, her eyes followed the small waterfall cascading down the curvature of his tight round buttocks. Arkadia had a vivid imagination, but nothing beat the real thing. She grabbed the half-full water cup next to her, and decided to try some subtle viewing magic. Running her finger around the rim of the cup, she closed her eyes and spoke very softly to herself.

  “Water. Water. Water,

  Let your molecules run free,

  Form a little mirror,

  So that I can see.”

  Slowly opening her eyes, Arkadia took a look into the cup, and sure enough there was an image forming. She didn’t know what she was more excited about, the fact that her spell had worked the first time and was one of the harder ones, or the fact that in the middle of her cup she could see Bohdan’s naked ass in the shower. Oh My Gawwwd! Arkadia squirmed a little on the seat.
Bohdan’s thighs were so large and bulging with taut muscles, the definition so clear your eyes had no choice but to follow the grooves. She put her hand over her mouth to hide the soft chuckle wanting to escape as she noticed the tan lines. His rich, dark, honey tan spanned the entirety of his body, except the part that was obviously kept covered by boxer briefs.

  His back suddenly stiffened, and his head turned quickly. Arkadia sat back slightly in the chair as it appeared that Bohdan was looking directly at her. Arkadia’s eye went wide as Bohdan blew a kiss and wiggled his cute ass. Holy Shit! He knows I am watching. Arkadia was flabbergasted at being caught spying on him; she lifted the cup and drank the evidence, crumpling up the cup and throwing it in the trash can. Her heart raced with excitement, knowing he knew kind of made it even naughtier.

  About fifteen minutes later, Bohdan strode out of the dressing room, his eyes latching onto Arkadia who was sitting on the bench waiting with her hands in her lap and a super sweet smile shining from her face. “Your halo appears to have slipped, my queen, it may have been while you were in my shower.” Bohdan accompanied his cheeky jibe with a dramatic bow.

  Arkadia got up from the bench, straightened her shirt, grabbed her jacket, and fluttered her eyelashes a little as she replied, “I know not of what you mean, kind sir.”

  “Want me to drop you home? Or are you coming with me to zone out?” Arkadia knew when Bohdan asked her to “zone out,” he meant he was going to the cave for some relaxing time after training. “Give me two minutes to text Eloise so she knows where I am, and I am all yours, Flint,” Arkadia replied as she dug her phone out of her pocket. Bohdan chuckled at yet another pet name she was trying out for him, and a shake of his head told her to keep trying.

  “Eloise is all good, and I am all yours.” Arkadia entwined her fingers in Bohdan’s and snuggled against his arm. He smelt like earthy wood and musk, and it made her want to rub herself all over him, marking her body as his and only his. With a tight squeeze of her hands, Bohdan led her out to the truck, opened the door for her to jump in, and said, “I’ll drive part of the way, and when it’s safe, we will fly the rest.” Bohdan shut her door, threw his gear in the truck bed, and got in the driver’s side. Bohdan looked over at Arkadia. “You ready to fly dragon airways?”