me how far I was with the Rubicon. “Making progress,” I wrote on the piece of parchment as hard as I could and sent the last crow back. Still it wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be.
More news came but I was glad it wasn’t sent via crow, this news was coming from a babbly Fire-Tail dragon that was smiling from ear to ear when she got into the room.
“The manor is finished. My parents have invited all of us over for dinner this Friday.”
“We’re leaving Dragonia?” Becky asked, pretending that we weren’t going in the first place. The manor got finished just in time for our plans, as this weekend was Sammy’s birthday party too.
Sammy nodded.
“Freedom!” Becky yelled. “What about a celebration at Longbottoms, Elena?”
I gave her a look, she was giving everything we managed to arrange in secret away in two seconds.
“We’re going to have a celebration at the manor, Becky.” Sammy’s voice was pitching.
“I’m with Sammy.” I played my part and for a second Becky sort of looked nervous that I was going to cancel all the plans we made for Sammy’s surprise on Saturday.
FRIDAY CAME FAST and we couldn’t wait to finally see the manor. Sir Robert came to fetch all of us. George managed to slip away one afternoon and went to buy Sammy her jacket. We struggled to sneak it with us to the Manor, but somehow Becky managed.
The vibe in the limo was extremely thick as the ass and his precious were sharing it with us.
Still, Sir Robert didn’t care about his son’s foul mood. He talked with everyone about how beautiful it’d turned out.
When the limo stopped at the Port in Elm, reporters were waiting outside again.
“Just fucking great. You just had to bring her too, didn’t you?” he said to his father.
“Don’t Blake. Elena is part of this family.”
Blake had that sarcastic grin on his face, and shook his head. “You live in a dream world old man,” he said and got out of the limo before Sir Robert could say anything.
From the look on his face, I could see another beating was coming.
“Wipe that out of your mind, immediately,” I said and he grunted softly.
Reporters yelled as Blake shut the door. He didn’t say anything, answered none of their questions and by a plop and tear sound I knew he’d transformed and was probably in the air right now.
Tabitha was still in the limo with us. “I’m sorry about that. He sure is different.”
“It’s fine, Tabitha. I know this isn’t easy on you either.”
She didn’t say anything although it was evident on her face.
More flashes came as I exited after Sir Robert.
“Elena, so where are you going?”
“Home,” I said with a smile.
“You mean Etan?” Another asked.
“If I was leaving for Etan, believe me it would be a glorious day.”
Everyone laughed again, including the party I’d come with.
“So that means that the Rubicon hasn’t Dented yet?”
“I don’t need him to Dent, but I do need him to get me past those deadly snatchers.” I remembered what Sir Robert had called them that one time and thought it was an appropriate thing a princess would say.
Another question came and Sir Robert intervened. “The princess has answered enough questions for now.”
I smiled as we were separated from the reporters by a door that lead to a private section reserved for the royal and famous people of Paegeia. Thankfully, the elevator to Tith was fast.
I actually took a chair next to Tabitha.
“So, I take it you didn’t have much luck with him either?”
“I’m trying my best, Elena. It’s not easy asking him to do that.”
“Tabitha, I told you before, I don’t want him, not like that.”
“So you did.”
“I meant it.”
She actually gave me a smile. It wasn’t the kind she gave Blake but she’d given me one. Something I thought would never come from her.
We both screamed from excitement and patted our hair down when the ride came to a stop.
More flashlights were waiting on the other side and
Gerbrand Bakker
Shadonna Richards
Martin Kee
Diane Adams
Sarah Waters
Edward Lee
Tim Junkin
Sidney Sheldon
David Downing
Anthony Destefano