Chapter 13 Liz #2
Perhaps the dream was a memory, he says. We’ve always called you earth children.
I can’t help staring at him, especially when he looks preoccupied. He’s so beautiful. Massive. Powerful. But somehow also delicate and perfectly crafted, in both forms.
I could stare at him all day.
Is something wrong? He peers at me. You’re staring.
I look down at my hands.
Are you upset that I haven’t bonded you?
I shake my head. I mean, I am, but that’s not the real reason I’m staring.
It’s better for him if he doesn’t comprehend all the things I’m struggling with.
“I understand why you haven’t,” I say. “In fact, if you asked to rebond me, I’d be excited, but I’d probably say no.
You should find someone to bond who isn’t headed for another visit with Freya in the volcano. ”
He frowns. I’ve been thinking about this. If you have to go back into the volcano, I’m flame blessed. I could go back inside with you. Perhaps I could even help keep you safe.
My heart lurches a little—it’s very similar to what he told me before the humans attacked. He said he’d go in with me and protect me. Not that it worked.
“The last time we went in, you writhed in agony while I spoke with Freya.” I shake my head.
“It has to be me, and it’s not something you can protect me from, unfortunately.
” I pull the leather of my tunic aside and show him the heart-shaped birthmark on my chest. “You don’t remember any of this, but I’ve apparently been marked as the proper human sacrifice since I was quite young. ”
He doesn’t look at all pleased by that.
“When you had your memories, it was hard for you that I had to do this. It’s probably better for you not to worry about it so much.
The only reason I haven’t dived back into the volcano yet is that I’m trying to help you find willing humans first. My wings seem to have become a real asset in our search. ”
The humans are impressed with them.
“Indeed they are,” I say. “And tomorrow, we’ll see if we can impress enough to stave off Hyperion a little longer.”
Or we can just go to war and take what we can find. You and I were not bonded by choice, but then we entwined. His eyes look curious, but I’m not sure I can talk about that.
“We only entwined thanks to your ability to shift into a human form,” I say. “We became closer that way—and it’s not even possible now.” Saying the words aloud hurts.
Do you miss it?
I can’t talk about it, not without crying again.
“I’ve noticed something, you know. You think attacking humans will be easy, because we’re small.
Physically, tigers, bears, even dogs, can all easily slay us.
But from sticks to guns, we never fight fair.
Forcibly taking human bonds may be more dangerous than you’re anticipating. ”
You’re worried about us?
I sigh. “I’m worried about both peoples. That’s my problem.” I laugh bitterly at myself for being so stupid. “Isn’t it ridiculous? I want to keep the blessed and the humans safe, all of them.”
It’s brave.
“And ultimately, it’s probably a futile effort that makes me hated by both sides.
” Neither of us talks as I fly back. When I get there, the kids are all gone.
I panic, more than a little. Thankfully, with Azar’s help, we discover they’ve all been taken back to the Hotel Selfoss, Coral riding with Rufus, and Asteria and Gordon taking their newly bonded humans.
“He ate!” Sammy’s jumping up and down with joy when we arrive. “Gordon’s going to be fine.”
I wish I knew the same would be true for Sammy.
I’m sorry, Gordon says. I really am.
But there’s nothing we can do about it now. “I know,” I say. “I’m not angry.”
“Really?” Coral slowly bobs her head. “That fast? No big deal? You’re just over it?”
I point. “Do not get any ideas. This is a huge mess. Like, please tell me you’re not planning on going off with your dragons and sleeping who knows where, now.” I glare pointedly.
“Of course not,” Sammy says. “Gordon’s always slept in the room next to mine.”
The open air freeze-box. Right.
“And that’s close enough?”
Gordon bobs his head.
“Fine.” I turn. “But what about you, Princess?”
Is that directed at me or at her? They’re both the most imperious, holier-than-thou creatures I know, but at least Jade’s kind. I suppose Asteria’s kind enough, for a dragon.
“Asteria says she’ll stay in that room as well, for now.”
For now. I hate hearing that. Unlike before, I’m not in charge of keeping Jade safe anymore. I’m not the boss of where she sleeps or what she does—Asteria is.
“You’re bonded to the sister of Mom’s bonded.” I hate that. Ocharta was the literal worst.
I’m nothing like my sister.
I can’t argue that. No one could even approach her level without being at least half-devil.
No matter what strange sort of rivalry Asteria and I have, I don’t hate her.
She seems to be mostly good. “I can’t think of another dragon I’d rather see Jade bonded to,” I say.
“Though I’m not happy it happened. Thank you for understanding that she’s very young and still needs her human family. ”
That night, in spite of the late hour, I take the time to tuck the kids in, hug them, and kiss them.
Then I tell them a story. It’s not an epic story.
It’s not about the love between the earth and the sky.
No, that night, I tell them the story of how our mom and dad met.
I talk about how they fell in love, and how, in spite of their differences, they built our family.
“But Mom kind of let you down,” Coral says. “Aren’t you mad at her?”
“She wasn’t nice to you,” Sammy says. “She didn’t come see us, either, and you were bonded, but you did.”
I pull them all close, Sammy against my left, Jade on his other side, Coral on the right.
“Mom helped me escape when the humans were torturing those dragons. Without her, I would never have made it back.” I tell them that story too, and I realize that without a bad guy, without a villain to fight, our stories don’t mean a lot.
“Heroes are defined by the things they do when life’s hard, and the way they’re willing to stand up and fight, even when the enemy’s scary,” I say.
“You three are too young to become heroes or villains, yet. Do you hear me?” I press a kiss to Sammy’s forehead.
“No fighting or saving or anything else until you’re eighteen. ”
“Do you think they’ll wait for us to grow up?” he asks. “Or will everything awesome happen while I’m stuck in this room, growing?”
Nothing ever waits. “I hope so,” I lie.