Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
ALINA
Isat up on my bed, trying not to make a sound.
In the dark, I could see the outlines of Frid’s back.
The handcuffs I snatched from the city enforcer were carefully wrapped in a towel.
I contemplated locking Frid to the metal frame of the bed, but her steady breathing told me that it was safe to proceed.
I put on my flying suit and tied my boots, taking as long as I needed to stay quiet.
When that was done, I placed the handcuffs in one of the hidden pockets of my jacket and inched closer to the door, pausing every time the floorboard creaked under the soles of my boots.
While I was unlocking the door, Frid moved in her bed and I froze, rooted to my spot.
There could be no second thoughts. I had to get out of here. I had imagined and planned my escape so many times that I simply could not delay a moment more.
Quietly, I stepped out into the shadowy corridor, trying hard to suppress the wild beating of my heart.
I was not safe yet. Forcing myself to go slow, I traveled through the hall and down the set of stairs.
I could not avoid the squeaks of the old staircase, but I was far enough from the rooms and not too worried about being spotted by someone else at this hour.
Feeling nothing short of triumph, I grinned, imagining Tynan’s distraught face when he realized that I was gone. But then I thought about Frid, and my face fell. I felt bad about deceiving her, but I had no other choice. I had to get away.
Stepping lightly, I opened the front door and when my feet touched the polished rocks of the pavement, the pressure left my chest. I was finally able to take a deep breath, and filled my lungs with the cold, misty air. I could almost feel it. My freedom was so incredibly close.
The man I had danced with told me that he traveled through the east all the time. He said that he had seen The Fall but was never curious enough to approach it. And my plan formed long before the poor guy stopped talking.
I would fly over the sacred dragon lands then figure out how to cross the border when I got there.
I did not have any food or water with me, and trying to get some would be too suspicious with Frid constantly being with me.
And Tynan was also watching me like a hawk every moment of the day.
That was not the only weak point of my plan, there were also crawlers.
But, I had no other options. It was too late to turn back.
With those thoughts, I walked through empty streets, enjoying the silver glow of the moon that dusted the shingles on the cramped roofs.
I passed another set of houses and my steps brought me to a narrow road. I wanted to get closer to the bridge and from there I could shift. I just hoped that the spear launchers would not be able to see me at this time of night.
“Where do you think you’re going?” the calm voice sounded from somewhere behind me. My heart nearly stopped. Panic exploded in my chest when I turned and found Tynan standing in the archway. His arms were crossed on his chest, he seemed relaxed. His tone spoke of nothing but a slight amusement.
I turned back around and darted in the opposite direction.
I needed to transform, I would have a better chance to escape if I was up in the sky, but I could not shift so fast. I needed more time.
My heart was leaping in my chest, my feet were sliding on the wet rocks, and I could hear Tynan right behind me.
Gods!
I just needed a moment of peace, only a moment to turn to my dragon.
I made another turn, but before I could so much as take another ragged breath, Tynan’s arm reached my shoulder, and I spun around, my back hitting the wooden door.
Before I could react, the door behind me gave way and I fell backward into the building with Tynan landing on top of me.
The smell of hay and barn animals invaded my nostrils in an instance.
With all my strength, I lifted my knee and kicked him in the groin.
With a muffled groan, he fell to the side and I scrambled onto my feet.
But the next moment, his hand caught my boot and I fell forward into the stack of hay.
“Let me go!”
I tried hard to boot him in the face, but he grabbed my other foot, and the next moment he was on top of me.
“Stop,” he said quietly as I tried to wiggle out.
“Let me go!” I screamed.
“I can’t!”
“For you, it’s just a mission. I’m a real person! I just want to go home.” I hated that my words sounded like a plea.
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re not sorry!” I tried to push him away.
I kept fighting him. I did not care that I was losing, that he was stronger than me. Tynan was the only obstacle in my way of getting home, without him I could be free. I was so close, so close.
“You’ll hurt yourself. Stop!” He caught my arms and pinned them above my head.
“What do you want from me?” I shouted, trying to kick him again.
“Nothing. It’s just like you said, you’re just a mission. I need to get you to your next prison cell and be done with you,” he growled, clenching his jaw.
“Let me go. Please . . . please,” I begged him.
I was begging, begging him, and I hated every second of it. Then another powerful feeling poured out of me, like thick black resin, coating all other emotions.
“I hate you, I hate you!”
“I know,” he said, standing up and offering me his hand.
“I will never stop fighting you!”
Instead of submitting, I kicked his knee and got to my feet. I ran further into the barn and climbed the ladder to the second floor.
Tynan remained standing below, not even bothering to follow me.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Liar!” I shouted back at him.
When my feet landed on the wooden boards, I sprinted to the window intending to shapeshift. I could hear swearing from below as I climbed over the window sill.
I had to turn now. I had to. My breathing was labored, my heart was racing as I hopelessly tried to create the feeling of warmth and tingling in my limbs. I search for the familiar sensation, not finding it.
My hands clenched to the frame as another sound reached my ears and my blood ran cold. I did not want to look back, but I did. The black-as-ink shadow of a dragon bumped into me, catching me, peeling me off the wall like I weighed nothing.
As soon as we got back to the tavern, I saw the alarmed face of Frid, and Victor’s scowl. I turned away, too flustered to feel anything except anger and frustration that I was caught so easily.
“I trusted you!” Frid shouted.
I pressed my lips tightly together.
“We will have to make some changes. From now on, she will be staying with me,” Tynan said.
I raised my head high, unwilling to look intimidated.
“I’m sorry, Ty. You were right, and I was wrong,” Frid said and I turned away.
A heavy arm landed on my shoulder and almost immediately I was pushed up the stairs.
“Get your filthy hands off me.” I gritted my teeth.
“Move!” Tynan said.
I followed his orders. When we entered the dark room, I walked to the window and turned around to face the figure in the doorway.
“Now what? What are you going to do with me?” I asked, watching him take his boots off.
“I’m going to rest, and I suggest you do the same,” Tynan said.
“I don’t need your permission,” I responded walking to one of two beds.
Tynan turned on one of the oil lamps that was placed on the side table.
A moment later, a quiet knock sounded at the door. Tynan swung it open and I saw Frid in the doorway.
“I’ve got her change of clothes and other things here,” Frid said.
“Thanks,” he responded, accepting the stack.
“Really, Ty. I am so sorry,” the blond girl continued.
“It’s alright,” Tynan said.
“I did not hear her leaving,” Frid continued.
Both of them acted like I was not even in the room. I crossed my arms on my chest and plopped onto the bed.
“Get some sleep,” he said at last and the girl left after a short hesitation.
“How did you know what I was doing?” I asked, watching him place my clothes, towels and toothbrush on the wooden table.
“I’m a light sleeper,” he responded.
“That’s not true. I was really careful.” I eyed his annoyingly beautiful profile.
“Not careful enough,” Tynan said and all I wanted to do was to throw something heavy at him.
“What are you going to do with me?” I asked for the second time.
“I’ll wait for my orders,” he sat on his bed.
“That’s right. I forgot that you’re not your own master.” I could not help the thin smile curling my lips when I saw his expression.
“Careful now,” he said quietly.
“Or what? There’s one thing that you’ve yet to realize; I have nothing to lose,” I hissed.
“Nothing to lose? That’s really ignorant, princess,” he said slowly.
My eyes widened.
Was he threatening me?
I searched his face, trying to find a trace of malice, or a double meaning in his words, but found nothing. His eyes looked right at me. An open, direct expression in every feature, his strong jawline set, his mouth a straight line.
He said it just to get to me.
My shoulders relaxed, and I lowered my gaze, worried that my expression would give him more information than I intended.
“I suggest you get some rest while you can.” He stretched out on his bed and adjusted the pillow.
I untied my boots, and placed them neatly together. As soon as my head touched the pillow, I could smell the strong scent of alcohol.
“What is this? Did you and your friend drink yourself to sleep last night?” I asked.
Tynan looked at me for a long moment before tossing me one of his pillows.
“I don’t need your charity.” I threw it back at him.
“Suit yourself.” He said, then closed his eyes.
“I want to change.” I sat up watching his annoyingly calm face.
“Go ahead,” he said, not opening his eyes.
“Can you leave the room?”
“Not a chance.”
“Are you going to watch me?”
Instead of answering, Tynan turned his back to me. I walked to the side table, picked up my clothes, and peeled off my leather suit.
“Why did he make you a black suit?” The sudden question made me stop.
“What?”
“Why did the tailor make you an all-black flying suit?” Tynan stretched his words.
I completely ignored him while I finished putting on my spare cotton shirt and returned to my bed. I turned to look at my captor one more time before flipping my pillow and trying hard to get comfortable.