The Bond (Book 2) (30 page)

Willem turned back, brows furrowed. “For what? She kissed you.”

“For not telling you.”

A flicker of a smile, then Willem grew serious again. “Well. You told me now.”

“And you still want her back?”

“Sure, she loves dragons. And I can’t blame her for liking you.” A wry smile twisted his lips. “It’d be a little like sugar complaining that honey is too sweet, no?”

“Well, what about Fillion? He came here to see me as much as Anaya, you know. He . . . kind of has a crush on me.”

“I know.”

Aeron lifted his arms in the air. “How do you know everything?”

Willem burst out laughing. “I pay attention.”

Aeron let out a breath in relief. “So, you’re okay with him coming back, too?”

“Yeah. He deserves to come back, too. I mean, people get crushed on. No one can control that. Sure, I got jealous sometimes. Like when Liara would hang out, mooning over you, or when you and Fillion would talk about the stuff you guys did when you went on that trip. And now, when you and Renata talk about your dragons
 . . .” Willem shrugged.

Aeron had no idea that he’d gotten jealous all those times. “You don’t have to feel—”

“I know,” Willem said. “I just can’t help it. Especially with Renata. Not only is she pretty, she’s very exotic-looking
and
she has a dragon. How do I compete with that?” He took a breath and let it out. “But I trust you. I know how you feel about me, so I just laugh at myself for being silly and try to ignore the jealousy.”

Willem looked out the door to the den. Aeron supposed he was staring at Anaya. “You know there’s only one way they’ll come back, right?”

Aeron rubbed his face. “I do. It’s just that after everything I did, or didn’t do, I don’t know if I can convince them. It’s going to be so hard.”

Willem walked over and took him in his arms. “Most worthwhile things are. But you can do this. I know you can.”

Aeron’s chest felt hollow, and he took shallow breaths. Stomach in knots, he stood before the building that housed the dorms and Bath Hall.

You can do this, Aeron. Willem and I both believe you can.

Thanks, sweetie.

He wished he was as confident as Anaya. Well, he was damn sure going to try. His friends deserved it. At least, he hoped they still considered him a friend.

He took the steps two at a time.

It had been months since the last time he went beyond the bathing rooms, and he hadn’t returned to the boys’ dorms since he’d been moved into the Magic Craft Hall. That wasn’t his destination now, though. He turned left and headed to the girls’ common room.

If Liara wasn’t there, he’d ask one of the girls to check their bunk room. But he was pretty sure she’d be in the common room, engrossed in some book. That seemed to be a favorite past-time of hers. At least it used to be.

The place hadn’t changed hardly at all. Some of the posters on the wall were different, but other than that, it was much the same as he remembered it. Girls and a few boys sat about the room in comfortable chairs or couches, chatting, playing board games or cards, or reading.

Liara sat in a leather chair, bent slightly over a book, with her hair hanging down. He walked up to her. She must have noticed his feet, because she looked up.

Momentary surprise was replaced with suspicion. “What do you want?”

“I know you hate me, but, can we talk? Please?”

A flash of irritation  passed across her features. “I don’t—” She let out a breath. “Whatever. Sure.”

He followed her from the common room. She stopped at the corner of the hallway, turned to him, and said, “What?”

Alright, he thought, just be honest.

Taking a breath, he said, “I’d like for you to come back, to be a dragonlinked.”

With a raised brow and crossed arms, she said, “Really?” Her voice was full of doubt.

“I do. I’ve felt terrible since you both stopped going to classes.”

“Both?”

“Yeah. Fillion went back home. You didn’t know?”

She shook her head.

“Well, he did. Anyway, like I said, I felt terrible. At first, I thought I could just apologize. But I wasn’t sure how to. I mean, what would I be apologizing for? I meant what I said.”

Liara’s eyes grew large and she drew her arm back. For a slap, Aeron was sure.

He grabbed her wrist. “No! Wait! That didn’t come out right.”

“Let. Go.” Her gaze was intense.

“Okay, but please, hear me out. I’m terrible at explaining myself. Give me a chance. I’m begging you.” The last came out as a whisper.

Her eyes softened a bit. Then, she raised her brows and pointedly glanced at his hand on her arm.

He released her, fully expecting to be left by himself in the hallway.

She rubbed her arm but didn’t leave. “Well, go on. I’m listening.”

Relieved and happily surprised, Aeron took a deep breath and let it out. “I didn’t mean the part where I called you guys the ‘stupid others.’ You aren’t stupid. That was just a dumb expression. But I did mean it when I said I wanted Willem to be the next dragonlinked. I still do. I can’t help it. I love him.” He shrugged.

Liara stared at him and then nodded.

“But that’s not to say I won’t be happy for whoever is next, if it isn’t him. I just hope it is him.”

“I see.” Liara glanced away from him. She seemed sad, or upset, or
 . . . in pain.

Of course. He was such a fool. “I just realized what I should apologize for.”

Liara turned to him, long lashes framing her chocolate-brown eyes.

“I hurt your feelings.” Looking down at his feet, he said, “You’re my friend and I hurt you. I’m sorry.” He closed his eyes.

Her finger under his chin made him look up.

“That’s all you had to say.” The smile on her lips was lost when she kissed him on his. “Idiot.”

Aeron was stunned. “So, you’ll come back?”

She raised a brow. “Try and keep me away.”

+ + + + +

She doesn’t kiss as well as Willem.

Cheeks burning, Aeron said,
Don’t you
dare
tell him she kissed me again. If anyone does, it’ll be me.

Anaya’s rumbling chuckle vibrated the saddle beneath his legs. With slow and powerful wing-beats, she flew them to Cotter’s Grove.

Still wanting to keep the gateway spell a secret for as long as possible, Aeron had opened the portal at the site where he and Millinith had left Anaya on the investigation trip all those months back. They’d left that little grove of trees behind and now flew over mostly flat land covered in fields. The ground passing below was green with the shoots and sprouts of spring. Long-gone was the snow that had covered the land in a fluffy white mantle.

Aeron hardly noticed, however, still thinking about kisses
as he was.
Besides,
he said,
hers wasn’t so much a kiss as a peck on the lips. Willem’s kisses are much longer and much more, ah, involved.
Thinking about Willem’s last kiss made his heart beat faster and made other parts of his body react as well.

I told you his kisses were better.

Aeron laughed.
Hush, you!

From the air, Cotter’s Grove looked much smaller than he remembered. It was bigger than Caer Baronel, but it had seemed so much larger than this when he’d walked it on foot.

We are drawing attention.

More than a few people stared up at them where they hovered several dozen feet in the air.

I know, love. I’m trying to remember where Elder Cayo’s house is.

It took him a few minutes to work out where he and Master Millinith had walked, studying the streets from above, but he eventually located the village elder’s home.

Set down there
, he said pointing to a clear area where two streets intersected.

Anaya didn’t bother looking back to see where he was pointing, he noticed. She’d probably just taken the image from his thoughts. He grabbed the handholds on the saddle as she angled down sharply for a landing.

The looks he got from people were different than the last time he was here. The curiosity was the same, but it was mixed with awe, now, rather than suspicion. Of course, having a nearly full-grown dragon at your side tended to change things a little. He smiled and glanced at Anaya, who was taking everything in with her usual happy inquisitiveness.

It is much like the Caer. Though the buildings, many are of wood, and everything is a little dustier.

The streets here aren’t all cobbled, sweetheart. So dirt gets kicked up by people, horses, wagons and such.

Ah, I see.

Everyone gave them a wide birth, which suited him just fine. He’d rather that than people swarm over them. Thankfully, Elder Cayo’s house was just ahead.

The porch was the same as he remembered. The feeling, the sense of this being a home, made him happy. Shortly after he knocked, a woman appeared behind the screen door.

“Aeron?”

Smiling, he said, “Hi, Loranna. How are you?”

She returned his smile. “I’m good, how have you been?” She opened the door, invited him in, then stood at the threshold, staring.

“
Oh, I don’t think you’ve met Anaya, have you?”

She shook her head.

“Anaya, come meet Loranna. She’s Elder Cayo’s wife.”

Lifting her wings and taking care not to step on anything on the way to the door, Anaya paused at the steps to the porch, staring at the woman. She ducked her head and let out a little chirp.

“Was that her greeting?” Loranna said. “How adorable!Hello Anaya. It’s a pleasure to finally meet the dragon we’ve heard so much of.” Her eyes got large. “Oh! Let me get my husband. He’ll be thrilled to meet you too.”

She disappeared into the house, returning a few minutes later with Elder Cayo.

“Aeron! And, my goodness, she’s as remarkable as Loranna said. Hello Anaya.” He bowed his head.

A happy rumble preceded Anaya’s chirp of greeting.

“What brings you both to Cotter’s Grove?”

“
Primarily,” Aeron said, “I came to apologize to Fillion.”

The boy’s parents glanced at each other.

“He did seem to be in low spirits when he returned from the Caer,” Loranna said.

Aeron nodded. “That would be my fault. And I think it is high time I took responsibility for it. Is he around?”

“He left a few minutes ago to drop off a letter at the mail station for me,” Elder Cayo said. “You should find him between here and there.”

“
Just take the street that way,” Loranna said, pointing to Aeron’s right. “You’ll find the station soon enough.” She studied him a moment and said, “I’m glad you came back for him.”

“
He’s my friend,” Aeron said and shrugged.

“
Friend?”

Apparently, Fillion had told his parents about his feelings at some point. Aeron grimaced. “I know how he feels about me, but
 . . .”

“
You don’t feel the same.” Her eyes were sad, but sympathetic.

“
Well,” Aeron said, “I’m already seeing someone.”

“
I see. Still, he’ll be happy to see you.”

“
And Anaya,” Elder Cayo said, smiling at the tawny dragon. “Nary a day goes by that he doesn’t mention her by name or otherwise.”

“
I’ll also be inviting him to come back to the Caer,” Aeron said, “to continue his dragon studies. I hope that is alright?”

“
That, I think, was what had him in low spirits more than anything,” Loranna said. “Not being able to be around Anaya. I would be grateful if he were able to go back, if you could convince him to go back.”

“
I think being with dragons is his place,” Elder Cayo said, nodding. “We talked about finding one’s place before, didn’t we?”

“
That we did, sir.”

“
Well, don’t let us delay you any longer,” Loranna said, placing her hand on Elder Cayo’s arm. “Go. Find Fillion.”

Aeron took his leave and, with Anaya beside him, walked down the street in the direction Loranna had indicated. The crowd that had gathered to see Anaya followed behind them.

They arrived at the mail station several minutes later with still no sign of Fillion. Aeron recognized the building easily as it was identical to the one in Caer Baronel. He frowned. Maybe Fillion was having to deal with an uncooperative mail clerk. Aeron took a step up the stairs.

He is not inside.

What?

“
You still insist that you are on good terms with a dragon? Oh, Fillion, when will you drop this tale of fancy?”

“
Shut up!”

Fillion’s voice seemed to be coming from the alley between the mail station and the next building. Aeron ran for the corner.

Three boys faced off against his friend, whose back was to Aeron.

“
I’m sick and tired of you, Slyndon,” Fillion said, fists clenched at his side. “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a million times: I don’t care if you believe me about Anaya. It makes no matter to me. But if you call me a liar one more time, I’m going to break your pissing nose. Not as
cultured
a response as you might give, but unlike you, I’m not trying to be anything other than myself.”

The other boys stared at Aeron and Anaya.

“What’re you . . .” Fillion turned around and his eyes grew large. “Aeron? What are you doing here?”

“
Hi,” Aeron said. He looked at the boy Fillion had been shouting at. Bullies were everywhere, it seemed. Though some used words instead of fists. Anger tightened Aeron’s stomach. Putting a smile on his face, he said, “What? Anaya and I can’t come visit our friend?”

Anaya padded over to Fillion and touched her nose to his cheek. She let out a happy chirp.

Aeron sent a giant mental hug through the link to her. That was perfect!

Confusion alternated with pride on Fillion’s face. He reached up and patted the dragon on her neck. “Hi Anaya, I missed you, too.”

A strangled sound made Aeron glance back at the boys. Slyndon’s eyes nearly bugged from his face.

Murmurs and snatches of whispered conversations came from the people that had followed them. The crowd now filled the street and the entrance to the alley.

“Could I have a word,” Aeron said, “before the entire town shows up?”

“
Yeah, sure.” Fillion walked over to him.

“
Listen,” Aeron said, quietly, “the real reason I came was to apologize.”

“
Apologize?”