Chapter 13 #2
The sobering reality of his words settles over the group.
I stand there trying to process my own feelings.
Carla is crying. Jordyn is trying to console her.
“That’s all for now,” Drake concludes. “Get a good night’s sleep.
Tomorrow will be a significant day for all of you.
” He starts to walk away, but then adds, “We set up drinks and food in the canteen. A few alcoholic beverages, as well. It is a celebration, but I urge you not to overindulge. You need to have a clear head for tomorrow.”
“More like a last supper,” Carla whispers, her eyes damp.
The Tributes begin to disperse, some engaged in animated conversation while others walk away in stunned silence. I watch Drake as he steps down from the elevated area, his movements fluid and controlled. He doesn’t so much as glance in my direction.
“I can’t believe this is really happening,” Jordyn says, her voice a mixture of excitement and terror. “Tomorrow we will have to face actual dragons.”
“Don’t remind me.” Carla sniffs, her eyes red.
“Yeah,” I manage, still feeling oddly disconnected from the whole situation.
“I’m going back to my room,” Carla announces.
“Do you want me to come with you?” Dani asks.
Carla shakes her head. “I could do with some time alone to process this. I mean, I knew this was coming.” She bites down on her lip, a tear tracking down her cheek. “I didn’t think I’d be this terrified. We could die.” She wipes the tear away with the back of her hand.
“We can’t think like that,” I tell her. “I was afraid of facing the dragon yesterday. I didn’t know it was Drake.
Not that it matters, since they…” I shake my head, not finishing the sentence.
I was going to say, “Since they turn into bloodthirsty beasts,” but that won’t help calm Carla down.
“I made it through and so can you,” I add instead.
“There will be a whole line of them. Not just the one,” Carla says.
“You heard Drake,” I tell her. “Follow the rules and you should do just fine.”
Carla nods. “I hope you’re right. I’ll see you guys later.” Then she walks away.
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I don’t want to be alone right now,” Dani says, her eyes huge and fearful. “I think we should go to that party and try to forget about tomorrow. Thinking about it will drive us nuts.”
“You’re right,” Jordyn says, looking at me. “What do you say, Harlow?”
“I agree. I need to use the bathroom,” I tell my friends as they start heading toward the canteen. “I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”
Jordyn nods.
I make my way across the courtyard, but before I can reach the building entrance, someone intercepts me.
“Excuse me? Harlow?”
I turn to find a woman I don’t recognize approaching me. She’s of medium height and athletic, with auburn hair and pretty green eyes. She’s attractive, wearing a pencil skirt and blouse. Even after months of work, my body isn’t toned like hers.
“Yes,” I say. “I’m Harlow.” I frown, unsure of what this is about.
She glances around, as if checking to make sure no one is watching us.
“I’m Amelia. Could I have a quick word with you?” Her tone is curt. It looks serious.
Her name doesn’t ring any bells, but something about her demeanor puts me on edge. She looks twitchy, almost paranoid, and keeps looking over her shoulder.
“I guess,” I say slowly. “What is this about?”
Without answering, she grabs my arm and steers me toward a small building off to the side of the courtyard. Before I can protest, she pulls me inside what appears to be some kind of storage room and closes the door behind us.
“Who are you?” I ask, taking a step back toward the door. “Why do you need to speak with me?”
Amelia folds her arms across her chest and gives me the once-over. From the distasteful look on her face, I can tell that she doesn’t like what she sees. Her entire posture radiates hostility, and I find myself unconsciously mimicking her defensive stance.
“Do I know you?” I ask.
“I’m Drake’s rider,” she says, her voice cold and clipped. “I have been for three years.”
Shit!
“Oh, okay. Nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand, but she ignores it, so I drop my arm.
Her eyes narrow as she studies my face.
“I know what happened between you two out there in the jungle.” She gestures with her thumb.
My heart stops. Actually stops. For several terrifying seconds, I can’t breathe, can’t think, can’t do anything but stare at her in shock.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I manage to stammer, but even I can hear how unconvincing I sound.
Amelia’s laugh is harsh and bitter. “Cut the crap, Harlow. I know you and Drake mind-bonded. He told me. He tells me everything.”
Everything.
Right.
“He told you?” I can’t keep the anger out of my voice. “We agreed that no one was supposed to know.”
“News flash!” Amelia snaps, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I’m not just anyone. I’m his primary rider. I have been for three years. He had to tell me because chances are good I would have found out anyway. As soon as he shifts, we connect mentally. I would have picked up on a secondary bond.”
Primary rider. My stomach tightens into a knot. I’m not sure why.
“Why are you so angry with me?” I demand, finding my voice again. “This isn’t my fault. I didn’t ask for any of this to happen.”
Amelia’s expression grows even more hostile, if that’s possible.
“You need to listen very carefully to what I’m about to tell you about tomorrow’s bonding attempt.
” She steps closer; even though she is shorter than I am, she manages to look down on me somehow.
“Drake doesn’t want anyone to know about this secondary bond, and with good reason.
As the primary rider with the primary bond, it’s going to be up to me to prevent anyone from finding out. ”
There’s that word again. Primary. She keeps saying it like it’s some kind of title, some badge of honor that puts her above me in some hierarchy I don’t understand.
Let her think whatever she wants.
“Drake will need to be in attendance tomorrow in his dragon form, with me on his back as protocol requires,” she continues.
“We’ll stay as far away from the action as possible, but you need to keep your distance from us.
If you get too close to him, your bond might kick in, and Drake, in his dragon form, might react, giving you both away. ”
I nod, trying to follow what she’s saying despite the emotional turmoil churning in my chest.
“As the primary rider,” she says again, and I have to grit my teeth to keep from rolling my eyes, “I’ll be able to exert control over Drake in his dragon form as long as you keep your distance.
You walk in front of the dragons with everyone else, then you get the hell away from there.
Do you understand me? There’s a lot at stake here. ”
“I know that.”
“Do you?” she practically snarls. “If it becomes known that Drake has bonded with a Tribute and didn’t declare it immediately, he’ll be in huge trouble. He might be forced to step down from his role as a Council member.”
“Council member?” I frown. “What are you talking about?”
The smug satisfaction that crosses Amelia’s face irks me more than it should.
“Oh, he didn’t tell you? Drake is a Council member.
The youngest ever appointed. He’s been doing good work implementing changes, including his latest endeavor to make life easier for Tributes.
His aim is to prevent all the unnecessary deaths that happen year after year.
It would be a pity if he were forced out.
He worked hard for that chair and for his place at the table. ”
Drake is on the Council that governs this island? And I had no idea? Why would I? I hardly know him.
“It would be a crying shame if he were forced to step down,” Amelia continues. “And it would be entirely your fault if that happened.”
“That’s not fair,” I protest, anger flaring in my chest. “I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t ask him to save me, and I certainly didn’t ask to bond with his dragon.”
Amelia shrugs dismissively. “Fair or not, that’s the situation.
Know that a dragon with two riders is rare and prized,” she explains, her tone suggesting I should already know this.
“The Council might decide to use him for more dangerous work, such as containing the Red Dragons on Mistveil Island. It’s deadly work, Harlow.
Dragons die doing it. So do their riders. ”
The blood drains from my face as the implications sink in. Not only could Drake lose his position, but he could end up dead because of what happened between us. I could too. Plus, I’d have to stay on this island.
“I already pointed out that Drake’s talents would be better utilized on the Council and not as a dragon on the front line.
You need to stay far away from us tomorrow,” Amelia warns, stepping even closer until we’re almost nose to nose.
“Ignore Drake completely. Pretend he doesn’t exist. Don’t mess this up.
” She looks at me like I’ve already failed some test I didn’t know I was taking.
She gives a soft snort, her eyes tracking the length of me.
“Drake should never have saved you,” she says, her voice filled with disdain. “I don’t know what he was thinking. He should have let you die.”
With that, she gives me one last disgusted look and stalks out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts and brimming with white-hot anger.
I stand there for several minutes, trying to process what just happened. The entire interaction was unnecessary and cruel. I’ve done nothing but agree to their plan. I’ve been nothing but cooperative in keeping the bond secret.
Where did all that hostility come from?
And more importantly, did Drake tell Amelia that I might mess this up? Did he express doubts about my ability to stick to the plan? What happened to keeping this between us?
The betrayal cuts deeper than I want to admit. Just when I thought Drake and I had reached some kind of understanding, it turns out he’s been discussing me with his “primary rider” behind my back. He clearly had nothing nice to say.
Asshole!
I take a shaky breath and head for the door. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough. The sooner I get through this bonding charade and get off this island, the better.