Chapter 22
Harlow
I’m halfway to my bungalow when I spot Jordyn sitting on the small wooden steps leading up to my door, her legs stretched out in front of her. She’s wearing a sundress instead of her usual training gear, and her blonde hair is loose around her shoulders.
The moment she sees me, she jumps to her feet.
“Where have you been?” she asks, concern written all over her face. “I’ve been waiting forever. I have news!”
“Sorry,” I tell her, pulling my key from my pocket. I drop it, fumbling to pick it up. “I had to deal with some things. I’ll tell you all about it. Come inside.” I finally get the door open.
The bungalow is small but comfortable; a single room with a bed, a desk, a tiny bathroom, and a window that looks out over the jungle.
It’s humid inside, despite the ceiling fan spinning lazily overhead, so I prop the window open to let in some air, pulling the netted grate that keeps the insects out back in place.
“Well? What happened? You’ve been gone for hours.” Jordyn’s eyes are wide with curiosity. “Are they making you stay? What did Drake say?”
I sink down onto the edge of my bed, suddenly exhausted.
“I had to take a test. With Drake and Amelia and Councilor Reed.” I pull in a deep breath, not quite believing the words I’m about to say. “Turns out Drake’s dragon chose me as his primary rider instead of Amelia.”
Jordyn’s mouth falls open. She stares at me for several long seconds before finding her voice.
“What? His primary rider? But Amelia was his primary rider. How did that happen? I didn’t know they could swap like that.”
“I’m not sure how it happened,” I say. “It’s rare for a dragon to take a second rider at all, apparently, and even rarer for that dragon to choose the secondary bond as the primary.
But that’s what happened.” I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant even though inside I’m a mess.
“So, I’m staying. I’m not going home.” I huff out a breath.
“I’m so sorry.” Jordyn crosses the small space and sits beside me on the bed. “Harlow, that’s…” She trails off, seeming to struggle with what to say. “That’s terrible. You must be so upset.”
I nod once, not sure how I feel.
“Enough about me. You said you had news. What kind of news?” I lift my brows.
Excitement flashes across her face before she reins it in, her expression shifting to concern.
“No! We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you. How are you feeling about all this?”
I let out a bitter laugh. “How do you think I’m feeling? I’m not happy about it, but what can I do? Drake needs a primary rider to keep his position on the Council, and apparently, his dragon has decided that’s me.” I pick at a loose thread on my shorts. “I’m stuck here for the foreseeable future.”
“Council?” Jordyn frowns. “He’s one of the Councilors. As in, he’s one of the group of people who run this whole island?”
“Yep,” I nod. “Apparently so. He isn’t just an Academy leader; he’s a Councilor and doing good things, particularly for us Tributes.
If I don’t help him and pull my weight, he will be asked to step down.
Doesn’t look like I have much of a choice.
Thankfully, Amelia is leaving. She hates my guts.
It would have been impossible if she had decided to stay.
I think she might be in love with Drake. ”
“Really?”
“Don’t say anything to anyone, but yes, I think she’s completely smitten. Her unreasonable hate for me – since she doesn’t know me at all – is because she’s jealous…I think. I’m not sure why she feels the need to be jealous of me.”
“Ummmm…firstly, because you’re seriously gorgeous, and secondly, because you’re his primary rider now. I’d hate you, too.”
“It doesn’t matter; she’s leaving. I actually feel bad for her, even though she’s been a total bitch to me.”
“And then for the third reason, you’re a good person. You have nothing to feel guilty about. None of this is your fault.”
“You’re right.” I reach out and squeeze her arm. “Now, what is your news? Tell me.”
Something shifts in her expression – a barely contained excitement that makes her practically vibrate.
“It’s big…really big…huge.”
I look at her, noting the way she’s biting her lip to keep from smiling.
“Tell me already.” I smile too. I can’t help it; her happiness is infectious.
“I can’t just tell you. You have to guess!” She bounces on the bed.
“Jordyn, I really can’t guess right now. My brain is fried.” I rub my temples. “Just tell me what’s going on…please.”
She takes a deep breath, and the words come out in a rush. “I’m staying on Draig Island. I’m not leaving later with the rest of the Tributes who didn’t bond.”
I blink at her, certain I’ve misheard. “Say that again.”
“I’m staying!” Jordyn practically shouts, grabbing both my hands. Her whole face lights up with excitement. “I’m not going home. I’m staying here at flight school!”
“How can that be?” I shake my head, trying to process this information. “I thought you didn’t mind-bond with any of the dragons.”
“Remember when I told you I felt that tugging on my mind during the bonding attempt?” Jordyn asks, speaking quickly. “How I was sure I was about to bond with a dragon, but then felt nothing after that?”
“Yes,” I say slowly.
“Well, it turns out I formed a partial bond with one of the dragons.” She squeezes my hands. “He called me in a little while ago and gave me the news.”
Despite everything, I feel a flutter of excitement for my friend. “Oh, my gosh! That’s great! Who is it? Which dragon?”
For the first time since starting this conversation, Jordyn’s enthusiasm wavers. She makes a face, her nose scrunching up. “It’s Grim.”
“Grim?” I can’t help the surprise in my voice. “The big, grumpy trainer who grunts and growls at everyone? The one who couldn’t crack a smile if he tried?”
“Yep.” Jordyn sighs. “The big, grumpy shifter who’s perpetually in a bad mood and acts like everything is the worst possible inconvenience.
” She releases my hands and flops backward on the bed.
“He told me that all partial bonds have to be explored because there are so few bonds made nowadays. We’re being given four weeks to see if a more solid bond can be established. ”
“That’s amazing!” I turn to look down at her, happiness warming my chest despite my own situation. “At least we’ll be here together. We won’t have to say goodbye.”
Jordyn sits up, but her earlier excitement has dimmed.
“Grim doesn’t seem to think it’s going to work.
He made it very clear that partial bonds rarely turn into full bonds.
” She picks at the fabric of her sundress.
“He told me not to get my hopes up. He didn’t say it in so many words, though.
I wish he could be a little more optimistic about the whole thing.
I’m worried he won’t put enough effort into making it work because he’s already decided it’s a lost cause. ”
“Well, you’ll just have to be positive enough for both of you,” I tell her. “If anyone can win over Grim’s grumpy ass, it’s—”
The phone on my desk rings, the shrill sound cutting through our conversation and making both of us jump. I clap a hand over my chest, my pulse at an all-time high.
“What the hell?” I stare at the device. “That thing wasn’t working when I tried it earlier. There wasn’t even a dial tone.”
“That’s plain weird. The one in my bungalow wasn’t working either. You should probably answer it,” Jordyn suggests, her eyes wide.
I hesitate for a moment before crossing to the desk. Of course, I trip on the edge of the rug, quickly righting myself, then I pick up the receiver.
“Hello?”
“It’s me.” Drake’s deep voice comes through the line, and I feel something flutter in my chest that I immediately suppress. “Your phone is now working. You can call home whenever you’re ready.”
“Thank you,” I manage, gripping the receiver tighter.
“There’s something you need to understand.
” His tone shifts, becoming harder, more official.
“All calls will be monitored and recorded. You are not to break your NDA under any circumstances. There will be dire consequences if you do. Not just for you, but for whoever you give classified information to as well.” He pauses, and I can practically feel his intensity through the phone line.
“You may not disclose a single thing about Draig Island, the dragons, the shifters, or anything that happens here. Is that clear?”
“Yes,” I tell him. “I understand.”
The line goes dead.
I stare at the receiver for a moment before slowly placing it back in its cradle. Just when I think we’re making progress, that we’re getting on the same page, he does something like this. Would it have killed him to say goodbye? To show even a hint of warmth?
“What’s going on?” Jordyn asks from the bed.
“Just so you know, Drake isn’t a ray of sunshine. He might just be more grumpy than Grim.”
“Not possible.” Jordyn laughs. “Was that him? Mister Sexy-as-Sin.” She fake-swoons.
“Yes, it was him. I’ve been given permission to phone home,” I tell her, still staring at the phone like it might bite me.
“Well, call!” Jordyn jumps up, her excitement returning. “Call Miles right now. He must be so worried about you.”
I glance at the small clock on my desk.
“He should be home from work by now.” I chew on my lower lip, an uneasy feeling settling in my stomach. “I’m nervous.”
“Why?” Jordyn tilts her head. “You’ve done nothing but talk about Miles since you got to the island. Well, up until recently. But with everything going on, that’s expected.” She pauses, studying my face. “Do you want me to give you some privacy? I don’t want to intrude.”
“No, stay,” I say quickly. “I could use the company.” I swallow thickly. Shit! I really am nervous.
Taking a deep breath, I pick up the receiver and dial Miles’ number. My fingers remember it automatically, and I count the rings. One. Two. Three.
“Hello?” a woman’s voice answers, and my heart drops into my stomach.
I know that voice.
“Cathrine?” I ask, confused. “Is that you?”