-23
ASLAN’S POV
“You should have gone with them. How will I find out where they are and how they are?” Zarina said with a scowl.
“Sister, didn’t you say that you hate our brother? Why are you worried about his whereabouts?”
“I am not worried about him Damit! I am worried that my plan will be ruined by them.”
She already had plotted something? During my stay at her place, I figured out that Zarina was very cunning and secretive. If I wanted her to share her secrets with me, she had to believe that I was dedicated to her. I had trained myself to control my reactions around her.
“Psst! Shall I tell you a secret?” She said leaning closer.
I raised my head and looked at her expectantly. Her eyes were aglow with such cunning determination that I was taken aback.
“Today we will meet our mother again.”
“Are you alright, Zarina? I know you have been missing mom but it just isn’t possible to meet the dead. It will do you no good to be delusional.”
She giggled at my worried expression and said, “But, we will meet the Dark Queen tonight. Celeste is going to perform the resurrection ritual and bring her back.”
“If this was so easy, why didn’t you ask her to bring mother back earlier?”
“Who said the spell is easy? We started preparing the ingredients the year mother was killed. Unfortunately, all our preparations were in vain. Only the sacrifice of her blood could bring her back…”
I felt like someone had punched me in the gut. She was going to kill Aurora’s baby to get our mother back. I almost blew my cover when I grabbed her by her shoulders. But, I managed to contain myself on time and said, “Will I really get to meet her tonight?”
“Of course, brother. I have faith in Celeste’s powers. We will have dinner as a family today.”
I had never felt so helpless. Zarina was planning to sacrifice Aurora and her baby and I could do nothing about it. Hell! I didn’t even know how to warn them.
The thought of never seeing Aurora and the baby filled my heart with grief; after all, I had shared my blood with them.
AURORA’S POV
I groaned as I turned to my side. Licking my chapped lips, I forced myself to open my eyes. My eyes widened as I saw an endless ocean of sand.
Waddling through the sand were Caleb and Logan. Their faces were flushed red. They stopped after every few steps, sighed, and moved forward again. Wasn’t I in the ritual room?
I let a teeny weeny burst of energy wander around me, testing whether this was another one of Celeste’s illusions. When I was sure this was real, I dragged myself to a sitting position and waved.
Caleb squinted his eyes, paused for a second, and bounded towards me.
“Aurora… Thank God you are alright…” He said between gasps and helped me to my feet. I staggered but his strong arms grabbed me before I could fall.
When I had stabilized he leaned forward and helped the man lying on the sand get up. He groaned and dusted the sand off his face.
“You are such a mess…” Caleb said and handed Tyson a bottle. Tyson was about to drink but he halted midway and handed it to me.
My throat was so parched that even the whole bottle of water wouldn’t be enough.
I glanced at Tyson, Caleb, and Logan. They seemed equally dehydrated. “Let us all drink one draught of water each… By the way, where did you get this water from?”
“I found this flask lying on the sand and I picked it up,” Caleb said, shrugging his shoulders.
I watched in horror as the flask was snatched from my hand and thrown away. He glared at Caleb and roared, “Are you Crazy? It could have been poisoned.”
Damn! Did these both have to start a fight amid the desert?
“My mistake… I should have been more careful.” Caleb replied and looked away.
I had expected a full-blown fight. So, I was naturally stunned. I blurted out, “Why aren’t you both killing each other?”
Tyson placed his hands on his hips and stared into the distance. He didn’t seem in the mood to talk. It was Caleb who explained about ‘Code Red’ and rescuing me.
Tears welled in my eyes and a strange ache engulfed my heart. “Tyson, Caleb… I appreciate that you tried so hard to save me and my daughter… I really do.”
Tyson exhaled deeply, looked at me with a weird expression, and said, “There is no need to pretend Aurora. You must hate me for all that I have done to you.”
I thought deeply about what he said and replied truthfully, “I was frustrated by your egoistic attitude but I don’t hate you. To be honest, I can understand why you can’t trust anyone now...”
He just nodded his head and started walking ahead. We trudged behind him as fast as we could.
“Tyson! If we keep moving at this pace we will never reach the Palace.”
“Do you have any better idea? No right… so keep walking quietly.”
I cleared my throat and replied, “I do have a better idea…”
Tyson, Caleb, and Logan halted and stared at me.
“Tyson can turn into a dragon and carry us all. I would have used my magic to teleport us but I am too drained to teleport four people at a time.”
Tyson looked at me thoughtfully and nodded his head but a moment later, he said, “I can take you and that boy but I will never let a dog ride me!”
“Fine! You go with this boy. I will return with Caleb.” I said resolutely.
Caleb grasped me by shoulders and said, ”Don’t be silly, Aurora. Go with Tyson. I will be fine.”
I snorted and said glaring at him, “No way! You came here to save me. I won’t leave you alone.”
Tyson let out a sigh and said, “ Okay… okay, You win. I will carry him too.”
A shudder coursed through me when I recalled the last time I had seen him in his dragon form. I gripped Caleb’s hand and took a few steps backward.
Tyson’s eyes flashed red for a moment but he didn’t say anything. Drawing in a deep breath, he spread his hands.
I watched in wonder as his body slowly got covered in golden scales. His body grew exponentially, his ears enlarged, his nose grew into a huge snout. Large wings emerged from his hands. His eyes seemed like his only connection to his human form.
My jaws remained unhinged and my eyes remained glued to the dragon long after the transformation. I would never look at Tyson the same way again.
Caleb shut my mouth with his hands and said, “He doesn’t look that good…”
I took a step tentatively towards the dragon, pausing to see if it would attack…
“I am still in control of myself.” I stumbled when I heard Tyson’s voice. If Caleb hadn’t caught me on time, I would have been kissing the endless stretch of sand.
“What the Holy F***! You can talk… I mean you can speak in your human voice when you are like this!”
“Get on my back quickly before I change my mind.” He said lowering his body so that he was laying on the ground.
Even then Caleb had to support me to climb on his back. I flinched and shifted my position slightly when I came in contact with the cold hard surface.
Caleb chuckled and said, “Not very soft, is he? You can count on me for a comfortable… Ahhh!!!”
He screamed as Tyson took off suddenly. I don’t know how he did it but only Caleb felt the impact. The next moment, he was hanging onto Tyson’s wings for his dear life.
Tyson didn’t bother to slow down rather he soared into the sky. The cool wind that slapped against my face was so refreshing that I forgot about Caleb for a moment.
“Do want me to fall and die?” Caleb’s raspy voice sounded over the flapping sound of the wings drawing my attention back to him.
“I am so sorry…” I apologized and gave him my hand. Tyson’s movements stabilized. It was as if Tyson was being extra careful so that I didn’t fall. My heart fluttered and blood rushed to my face.
Once he had climbed back successfully, Caleb hugged me tightly by my waist. Tyson let out a disgruntled roar but Caleb didn’t let go.
I ran my hand slowly on his back. It felt smooth and hard just like touching marbles. With time I became bolder and leaned forward to look down.
“Wohooo!!!” I squealed as I saw breathtaking scenery below me. This was better than any roller coaster ride I had ever been.
“Careful, Aurora! You will fall…” Caleb said as I stood on the dragon’s back.
“Don’t worry, Tyson won’t let me fall. Isn’t it Tyson?” I said in a honeyed voice.
I could almost hear him chuckle but I couldn’t say for sure. The only thing I heard clearly was, “Have Fun!”
Soon, Logan stood up too and we had fun posing and waving our hands. Unfortunately, Caleb didn’t share our trust and remained seated.
If I ever decided to tolerate living with Tyson it would be to enjoy rides on his back,
.