Chapter 15 #2
The things that have happened in the human world changed us. We were no longer the same people, no longer fitting as we had before.
I think a normal person would feel disoriented and homesick being in a whole different world, but the truth is, deep down, all I feel is relief.
“I don’t really think about it much,” I say, and shovel another forkful of stir fry into my mouth.
Haven cocks her head. “But don’t you at least miss your friends and family?”
I shrug. “Sure. I miss my parents and sister, but I haven’t been gone that long.”
Haven must be intuitive, because the look in her eyes says that she knows I’m hiding something. I can almost see the gears in her head turning as she tries to figure out what.
“The truth is,” I say, caving, because if she keeps pushing she’ll get it out of me anyway. “Being here is a lot simpler. There aren’t the same expectations I face at home, and the goal is clear. Back in the creature world, when I was the dragon heir, it was all politics and pressure to—”
“Whoa, wait. Back up. Dragon heir? What’s that?” She puts down her fork and leans forward, her eyes gleaming with interest. “Sounds important.”
Haven doesn’t let me go on without explaining the dragon shifter political structure to her.
After that, I field questions about the creature world: the different types of creatures, how we interact with each other—anything and everything that comes to her mind.
Her eyes stay wide when I talk about all the different magic specialties, and I have to remind her to keep eating several times because she’s so engaged.
Eventually, the conversation shifts to Locklyn, and I find myself sharing stories of our exploits as children—especially the trouble my sister, Ensley, used to get Locklyn in.
The sun has long since set and our leftover food has gone cold as we talk, the conversation flowing easily.
“Did your parents ever forgive you?” Haven asks, her cheeks colored from laughing so hard at the story I just told.
“For trying to fill up their bathroom with water so we could swim in it like a pool? Eventually, but my dad still grumbles about it from time to time.”
“Rightly so,” she says with another laugh.
“Can I tell you something?” she asks, suddenly looking shy.
I lean forward, curious. “Of course.”
She chews on her bottom lip again, and I force my attention off her mouth, not dwelling on why it keeps drawing my focus.
I recognize the habit for what it is now: one of her nervous tells. She’d make a terrible poker player. Her emotions play too clearly across her face.
“I’m not sure how I feel about having a sister,” she confesses in a rush. Guilt flashes across her face. “That’s horrible. I’m a horrible person. Please forget I said that.”
She covers her face with her hands, hiding from me.
I take a moment to find the right words. When I do, I gently peel Haven’s hands away so I can look her in the eye.
Her gaze is stricken, and something in my chest squeezes.
“You spent your whole life believing your sister was dead, and then overnight, poof, she’s not. You’re allowed to feel conflicted about that. It doesn’t make you a horrible person.”
“I’m happy about it . . . mostly,” she admits.
“I’ll never forget the hope on my parents’ faces when you told them Locklyn was alive.
I think a small part of them died when they thought she did.
When I was little, I used to pretend she was there.
My own imaginary friend. But . . .” She takes a deep breath.
“I think part of it is that I’m nervous to meet her.
The way you talk about her, she sounds fearless, brave.
Larger than life. She’s done so much already, and what have I done besides run and hide? ”
Her gaze drifts to the floor in shame.
“Hey,” I say softly, tilting her chin until our eyes meet again. I don’t want her to hide from me. “You know what people forget about bravery? It doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It means you keep going anyway, and that’s something I’ve seen you do these last couple of days.”
She gives me a small smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“You and Locklyn are twins, but you don’t have to be her, Haven. You’re your own person. You’re already everything you need to be.”
Her smile turns shy, but her face brightens a notch. “Thanks, Becks. That makes me feel better.”
I start to nod when my eyes catch on the clock on the wall behind Haven.
“Wow,” I say, realizing that hours have passed.
She glances over her shoulder to see what’s caught my attention. “It’s been four hours? I would have said one, tops.”
I rub the back of my neck, not knowing where the time went. “Yeah,” I agree. “It’s pretty late.”
Haven stands and collects our dishes, taking them to the sink to wash.
“You don’t have to do that.”
She throws a quick smile over her shoulder as she scrubs the pan I cooked the vegetables in. “You cooked. I clean. It’s only fair.”
Even so, I grab a dish towel and start drying the dishes after she washes them.
“I said I’d do that.”
“And I told you, you didn’t need to.”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t protest as I help clean up.
When we’re done, she covers a yawn.
“You should head upstairs and get some sleep. You’re going to need your energy for tomorrow,” I say, and Haven cocks her head at me.
“Why? Big plans in the morning? Are we going to go foraging for food in the wilderness? Setting bear traps?”
“Nope.” I grin. “Tomorrow we’re going to start training with your magic.”
She freezes. I’ve clearly caught her off guard. A touch of fear shines in her gaze.
“It’s going to be all right,” I assure her. “I don’t think it’s your magic attracting the demon. It’s important for you to learn how to use it to defend yourself.”
Haven sighs. “You’re probably right,” she says, but something feels off. “Okay, I’m going to head to bed. I should warn you, I’m not an early riser.”
I cock a brow. “Then I should warn you that I am.”
She chuckles and heads for the stairs. I start toward the front door, wanting to do one more perimeter check before calling it a night.
“And Becks,” she calls, and I glance over my shoulder to see she’s paused halfway up the stairs. “For what it’s worth, I think you made the right decision.”
“About what?”
“About the dragon heir. About not letting the council rule your life anymore.”
I explained about how the council picks the dragon heir’s life-mate. It would have been the natural time to tell her about me and Locklyn, but when I tried, I couldn’t find the words.
At the time, I told myself that detail didn’t really matter. It was in the past, so why bring it up?
“No one should tell you who to be with,” Haven says. “You should hold out for the right one for you.”
She offers a small smile and then continues up the steps.
I stare at the place she disappeared for a long time, knowing it shouldn’t matter whether she knows about Locklyn and me—but wondering why it suddenly feels like it does.