12. Chapter 12
twelve
Rodi
L eather is layered over my skin, straps tight around my thighs. My fingers graze over the dark brown color as I can’t believe I’m wearing riders’ gear.
This is it. I’m actually leaving this clan. I knew this day would eventually come, but I never expected to leave with two dragon shifters pinned to my sides. With my only bag in my hand, I follow Ethan and Ares down the hallway, my heart racing.
Life is moving so fast, and I hope I’m heading in the right direction.
“Ready to leave this place?” Ethan asks as we head down the stairs.
I take a deep breath and nod. I’m not meant to stay in a place like this. I can feel that in my heart. “Yes. I’ve been wanting to leave for a while. ”
“You don’t belong here. You belong with me,” Ares says in his usual gruff voice as Ethan and I slightly trail behind him.
Ethan smirks and shakes his head a little, but he’s used to Ares’ possessiveness more than I am.
I’m still getting used to the intense dynamic that I have with Ares and Ethan, and the tension they share with each other is beyond my comprehension. I believe they’re friends deep down, or at least they used to be, because how can Ares be so cold to his own friend? Or maybe that’s just how he is…
“Wait!” I gasp. Speaking of friends, I can’t leave without saying my goodbyes to Liza, knowing I might never see her again.
I know I’m going to miss her, and it’s probably too soon to leave with Ares and Ethan, but I have to leave this place behind and follow the path fate has created for me. I know she’ll understand.
“What?” Ares asks as his eyes narrow slightly.
“I need to say bye to Liza. Can I meet you out front?” I ask.
“Don’t be too long,” Ares replies with a nod before taking my bag from me. He and Ethan then walk toward the exit.
I take a detour and hurry to the dormitory where Liza is hanging up her dresses. She has no idea what news I have to share with her. “Liza!”
Liza turns around and drops the rest of her dresses on her bed without a care in the world. “Are you okay? I’ve been hearing rumors around the orphanage about you and the Aetherion and his Warden.”
Of course, any news concerning the Aetherion will spread like wildfire. I should’ve seen this coming, and my face grows warm at the thought of so much attention heading my way just for being associated with him.
“I’m leaving with them today. They’re taking me back home where I belong,” I tell her.
Liza’s eyes widen. “Rodi! You deserve to get out of this place. ”
A bittersweet smile crosses my face as she takes my hands and gives them a squeeze. My heart aches as I peer at her, realizing that I may never see her again. She’s been such a good friend to me, sticking by my side through everything. It feels wrong to leave her behind while I get to leave this place.
“I hope you’ll be able to leave too,” I say.
Liza smiles and nods. “I believe I will. I have hope.”
“I’m nervous,” I admit, my muscles stiffening as I think about leaving everything that I know behind for something completely new. It’s exciting but frightening at the same time.
“Just take care of yourself, okay?” Liza replies before tapping my temple. “Listen to your brain, but also your heart. And don’t overthink things!”
I let out a pitiful laugh. “I always overthink everything.”
Liza joins in my laughter. “This is good, Rodi. I know it’s scary, but it’s good.”
A shaky breath falls from my lips, and I nod before pulling her into a tight hug. There’s so much that I want to tell Liza, but I just don’t have time to tell her everything. “Goodbye, Liza.”
“Bye, Rodi. I’ll miss you.” Liza sighs as she tightens her arms around me.
We stand there for a few seconds before breaking apart. My eyes sting as I back away with a small wave, feeling torn. I’m so happy to be leaving this place, but I wish I didn’t have to leave my best friend behind.
Before any tears can escape from my eyes, I turn and walk away, following the hallway that leads to the foyer.
When I step out into the sunlight, I breathe in deeply to prepare myself. My stomach still twists when I see Ethan and Ares standing on the clearing, though.
There’s no preparing me for what’s about to happen.
“Come,” Ares says as he holds his hand out to me .
My eyes shift to Ethan, who looks like he wants me to ride with him, but Ares’ demand is clear. I pitch Ethan a small smile as I take Ares’ hand and let him guide me.
“I’m glad I’m taking you back. It’ll feel more like home with you around,” Ares tells me as he loosens his cloak.
“I just can’t believe I’m actually… free,” I say as our eyes lock.
The corner of his mouth curls up a little. “You’ll never be trapped again. You’ll have the life you’ve always wanted. I promise.”
My heart flutters at his words as the rest of his clothes are tossed to the side and he morphs into his majestic dragon. His skin darkens and his scales grow as his bones crack. Not a second passes where he loses my eyes. His tail sweeps over the grass, and even as he snaps his fangs, screeching, there’s not a hint of fear in my body.
The ground rumbles as he turns and lowers himself, and I carefully step closer, my gaze gliding over his form as I wonder how to climb on.
Strong hands grip my sides as a warm breath grazes over my ear. “He can’t change size like I do,” Ethan teases as he lifts me up. “Grab those scales. I’ll give you an extra boost.”
My cheeks heat as a soft whimper falls from me. The scales slice through my skin as I grip tighter, trying to pull myself up.
With the extra boost from Ethan, I manage to crawl on top, positioning myself just behind Ares’ shoulders.
“See those two?” Ethan says as he points to the two horn-like scales. “Hold on tight to those.”
“I won’t let go,” I say, and Ares moves. He makes big, swaying strides and then lowers before the push. I lean forward, readying myself for it, my thighs clenching as hard as I can as his wings cut through the air. Soft clouds part for us quickly, and it doesn’t take long for Ethan and some other dragons to follow. Some have gear strapped on their backs, and some seem to circle us.
Is this what my life is going to be, on the back of a dragon?
Trees become smaller and scents change as all that fills me is this chilly freshness mixed with the smell of fire.
The clan that used to be my home is behind us as the mountains that shield Slatebane from the world stand beneath Ares’ wings.
The skies are empty besides us, and a sense of peace rakes through me as my fingers loosen.
My broken skin peels from Ares’ scales as I release my hold and carefully spread my arms, wanting to feel the wind beneath them.
Laughter breaks free as my head falls back, tears rolling as I know no one can take this feeling away, this moment.
Screeches follow, and my head whips to the side. Sunlight bounces off Ethan’s dragon as he swirls in the air, moving quicker with every turn.
Black smoke trails over Ares as he huffs.
“He’s showing off,” I say to him, and a sound leaves Ares’ nostrils, almost sounding like a snort.
“I won’t fall off,” I say and grip the horn-like scales. “Show me.”
He tilts his massive head as the gold between his scales glints. Fire crackles from his nostrils, and with one big huff, flames leave him and he picks up his pace, flying through the fire.
I wait for the burn, the pain, but nothing comes, and I lean closer to his body as he spins around.
My knees tremble as he moves from right to left, trying to keep up as he chases Ethan.
The same fight I saw before, but this time, I have no intention of falling .
I lean in with every turn, and his scales vibrate between my legs as heat spreads beneath my skin. Strength follows as my eyes focus on Ethan’s dragon.
The air whistles past me as Ares creates more fire, but this time, he doesn’t move through it. He swirls under and catches Ethan by surprise as he nips his tail with a small bite.
A whimper breaks from Ethan as he hurls around, his fangs bared as fire builds at the back of his throat.
The orange hue fades with a huff, and Ares drops low, luring back my sight ahead. A gasp leaves me as the forest clears and a massive estate awaits us with a stone exterior, large, tall windows surrounded by flower beds, passages, and a fountain at the back.
It’s incredible.
Ares widens his wings, slowing us down as his hind legs drop to the ground first. With a soft thud, his front legs quickly follow, and he shakes his long neck as he lowers as far as he can.
Lifting my sore leg, I toss it over Ares’ back and glide down his shoulder until the grass crunches beneath my leather boots.
“Whoa,” I say and step away from Ares’ dragon form. Bones break, snapping beside me as the shadow his body creates diminishes.
“It’s been waiting for you,” Ares says as he takes a cloak from another man, shielding his naked body.
“What do you think?” Ethan’s voice makes me turn.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Your new home,” Ethan says as he kisses the top of my hand.
My skin buzzes as excitement roams through me. As I flex my fingers, I notice the cuts in the palms of my hands are healed. My gaze remains fixated, as I’m sure I hurt myself .
“Wait, where are the cuts? I felt my skin break and now… there’s nothing.”
A silence stretches and Ares takes my hands in his. “Now that you wear my mark, I can share my power with you. I can heal you, strengthen you, and vice versa, once you mark me and complete our bond.”
“It is said you can even sense when it happens, the joining between rider and dragon.”
The joining … “I think I did feel it, the vibration crawling beneath your scales and through my body. And when you marked me, how your body shivered against mine and how the bite healed so quickly.”
“The moment we were truly one,” Ares says and draws my stare up to his eyes.
Softness and kindness radiate from him, and I wonder if there could be peace between the three of us, if he could accept what I want or whether this was just the build up to a scarring, emotional war.
Ares’ fingers interlace with mine, and I walk beside him as he leads us into the estate.
“Welcome home, my little rider,” Ares says as he opens the front door.
I step into the foyer, walking across sleek marble flooring. I can’t believe this will be my home now.
“I can show you around,” Ares offers as we walk toward a staircase.
I sigh and brush my fingers through my hair. My entire life changed in a flash, and I’m still reeling from it all. “Actually, I’d like to go to my room.”
His shoulders slump slightly. “Follow me,” Ares says. He takes me up the stairs and down a hallway to the right. We pass by other closed doors until he stops at the last one on the right. He pushes it open, making my eyes widen.
The room is stunning and captivating with large windows, a light tint of blue in the curtains. The large bed is covered with soft, white sheets, and a dresser and nightstand made of dark wood also adorn the room. And a large fireplace to my left to keep me warm at night.
Ares places his hand on the small of my back as he leans closer to me. “I hope you like it…”
“Thank you,” I say as I turn to face him and wonder why I have my own room. Sure, I don’t want to sleep next to him right now with what he did, but is this going to be my life?
Ares smiles a little. “I’m just glad you’re back where you belong.”
I hate how right this feels. I hate how much I want to step closer and wrap myself in his strong arms and forget about everything he has done.
I just wish things weren’t so complicated. The strings holding everything together are so tangled, threatening to snap at any moment.
My silence draws him closer. The heat from his body simmers into mine as I feel that slight pull luring me in.
A shiver rakes through my spine as I recognize the call. His arms wrap around me, and my legs tremble as he trails his nose over my neck, down to where he marked me as his. Only his.
“Ares…” I breathe, my pulse growing heavier and quicker. I run my hand up his neck, delving my fingers into his hair.
Ares groans as he tightens his grip on my waist, his fingertips digging into my skin. He kisses my neck before bringing his lips to mine, making me succumb to a numbing kiss.
I moan softly into his mouth, leaning into him as our kiss deepens by the second. I drink in the warmth of his mouth and the way he devours me like he’s starving. Our hunger rages on, demanding to be fed.
“I want you. Let me have you,” Ares tells me.
He already took me. He marked me without permission. I pull back, fighting his call. “You can’t decide everything for me. You can’t use the call to make me submit. ”
Ares looks down into my eyes. “I know you better than you know yourself.”
What if he’s right?