Maya´s POV. I didn’t know what to think or even what to feel. When I woke up, everyone seemed to have passed out on the grass, and the fire had died long ago. I had to shake them, really hard to get anyone to react. With groans and grunts, they slowly returned to the world of the living, but then everything changed into chaos. Eir was gone. At first, I panicked, thinking this had to mean that whatever they were doing to her last night had gone wrong. But Tew swears she came back, that she was fine, and fell asleep afterward. And now everything was just wrong. Chaos and desperation. Eir was nowhere, and Toke was gone. “He can’t just leave here! Not having to drag her after him!” I couldn't help it, but the anxiety raging inside my body vibrated with each word as I almost shouted in Tew´s face. “Maya, breathe. We will find her, believe me! We will get her back. He can’t just vanish into thin air!” “NO? Then where are they? Don’t you remember what he tried to do to her? What if he
I had a weak moment, and that was all it was. I scowled at Arcane but quickly looked away, freaking out that he would see me and misunderstand it. I mean, who could even blame me? I shouldn’t even be here! To be honest, nobody should be here at all. Werewolves and fey, sometimes I still wonder if I just fell asleep reading again. But no such luck; it was all real. Everything here was so genuine. Once, I dreamed about this, diving into my favorite book and being swooped off my feet by a drop-dead gorgeous vampire or werewolf. Letting out a deep sigh of frustration again, I found myself scowling at Arcane. He had apologized over and over again. I believed him, too, believed that he didn’t mean to make me cry or hurt. So, like a characteristic damsel in distress, I cried in his arms. Found solace and comfort in his massive arms. I didn’t object when he lifted me off my feet and carried me over to a little bench by the railings. I didn’t object when he sat me down and put his arm around
Eir´s Pov. Placing the empty veil on the little countertop by the wall, he walked right out of the room, holding the other one up high. His eyes and mind were lost studying the thick red substance inside it, so he turned and nudged it in front of him, then walked right out. The double doors swung open and shut again behind him, leaving me alone. Right then and there, the room felt so massive. White walls, white ceilings, and even the floors were light grey, almost white-looking surfaces. The only color inside the room was this horrible chair and me. Even the little countertop was made of a solid white piece; it didn't even have legs holding it up. Just one white squared box of some sort nailed on the wall holding it up. Without anything to distract me or even let my eyes rest on, my mind had a life of its own. Pulling up my conversation with Hades and what he told me about the dragons, Tew had later filled in some of what he had heard of them, and then Toke's voice appeared in my me
He said something, but I didn’t hear it, or at least understand it. Baffled, I turned around and studied the room he led me to. My head is spinning out of control, almost to the point that I’m beginning to fear he is playing with my mind. This King is impossible to understand! One minute, he talked about horrible science projects, showing me cells and glass cages and giving me a history lesson he was proud to know. Promise he will take me down to that horrid dungeon, and I swear I thought my freedom would end right then and there. But instead, he keeps talking and continues pulling me down the hall. Now I’m here? It doesn’t make sense at all. The room is enormous! Two widows show off that magical view I saw earlier, a king-size bed filled with pillows of different sizes and colors. A beautiful and thick bedspread was neatly placed beneath all the pillows. The room had its own personal bathroom, and even from here, I could see the bathtub and the luxury details of gold and blue shimmer
I'm not sure how to feel right now. At first, I was mortified because it wasn’t a dream at all. It was not my imagination playing me because my wishes and needs were overwhelming. No, the last person I had expected to help me in any way. The monster of all monsters. The dragon king himself. Still confused by it all, I looked around the room; it was still the same room. But where were the shadows that stretched for me, clawed at my skin? The heavy and cold feeling that pressed around me? Now, it all looked so typical, just a room. Nothing more, nothing less. Dread and embarrassment had washed over me in merciless waves when I realized he carried me over to the bed, which I didn’t even notice. Is it finally happening? Is my sanity slipping, and will I eventually go insane? Like mother, like daughter, right? I’ve heard this my whole life, and I brushed it off as cruelty and people’s ability to see what they wanted to see. Judgmental people didn’t bother me anymore, but now doubt had c
I just had time to feel the edge of the panic that rose before it all vanished in thin air. Compliant and with a smile, I found myself falling back into the warm and welcoming darkness that embraced me. Deep down and tucked away, I knew I should be worried. I knew I did not appreciate this magic chest growling of his. But then again, it felt so lovely and cozy. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a feeling of freedom. Nothing could bother me, hurt me, or even get to me here. It was like I knew it; my body and soul knew it. So I fell deeper into the soft comfort, embraced the darkness back, and leaned in. Something stirred down here with me, another presence awakening and slowly searching for me. My skin still erupted with goosebumps over my arms and down my back, and the continuous rumbling sound that followed me—vibrated through my chest, making my heart flutter with anticipation, waiting for something. Then I heard her soft voice fill my head. She was calling for me, pulling at everyt
I hated to admit it, but food helped. It didn’t mean it felt okay in any way! I felt like a burrito-wrapped mental patient being force-fed, especially at first, and shaking my head from side to side, avoiding the spoon flying towards me like he was trying to feed me like a stubborn toddler. The only thing missing was him making motor sounds. The food soiled my face, chin, and cheek. But he didn’t give up, and just as I was about to ask him to stop this nonsense, he used the opportunity to show that spoon inside of my mouth. After the first two spoons, I gave up, and frankly, I was starving, and the food was delicious. This stew was filled with meat, as most things I’ve eaten, but this had spices, onion, and salt! Oh god, how much I’ve missed salt! And to top it off, Drifta didn’t really help. She purred inside my head with each bite. So, I stopped struggling and accepted the strange feeding scenario. I mean, how many can say they were hand-fed by the Dragon King? Drifta laughed, and
“Why are you so weird? I said I’m fine, and I’m in the bathroom. Have you ever heard about knocking? You can’t just barge in like that. What if I was about to get in the shower or already there?! That would have been wildly inappropriate!” I scolded him while looking at the wall behind him. I’ve never cared much about being seen without clothes like that, but right now, I felt it at least gave me a fair point! He didn’t know me anyway. Grabbing his hand, I literally pulled it off my face; it didn’t work as I planned. My back pressed against the sink, so close I could feel the heat of his body through my clothes. Towering over me, I could feel his intense gaze on me and his grip on my shoulder. “I said stop that!” I intended to brush his hand away as he lifted my hair away from my neck and placed it behind my shoulder. Only to realize I still held his other hand in mine, rather flustered; my hand almost threw his hand while I started looking from side to side. Have no idea what I wa