Firebolt(97)

I’d never felt so safe and so exhausted all at the same time.

It dawned on me what had transpired tonight. I’d accomplished something only five women had and I was the only one alive that knew what happened behind those doors, but I’d promised on the life of my first born not to reveal any of it to anyone else.

I fell asleep as Lucian's rocking started to become more than just soothing. I could feel myself being moved as he took me inside the tent and laid me down on the sleeping bag.

Then everything fell into blissful silence.





Chapter Thirty





I woke up suddenly, drenched in sweat. It was quiet accept for the sound of a fire dying, and water babbling in a nearby stream.

A faint light emerged from an electric lamp inside the tent. Lucian slept next to me. He looked so peaceful, and I reached out to stroke his cheek.

A deep growl emerged from my stomach, telling me I desperately needed food. I tried to slide out from beneath Lucian's grasp, but when he flinched, I stopped. He went back to sleep, and I waited another five minutes. Crickets chirped like crazy and the singing sound rang in my ears. I decided another attempt to get free. This time I managed and made sure that the pillow I slept on was tucked underneath his arm, just in case.

I just needed some time, alone, without his constant worrying.

The“zip” noise sounded as if it would wake up the entire campsite, but once I was out of the tent, I realized it was still quiet. I stared at the bit of glowing coals that must have been a huge fire a couple of hours ago. There was no food.

Not one bite? I picked up a log and chucked it in the fire. Orange coal dust rose into the sky. I jumped when I saw Blake leaning against a tree in the distance. My heart beat fast, and I took deep breaths to calm my nerves.

Blake guarded the entrance of the campsite and the moon lit up his face, making him look extra mysterious.

I swallowed hard.

Crap! Why do I feel like this around him? I shook my head. Every girl feels like this in Blake's presence. I tried to assure myself.

He was writing in a small journal but stopped suddenly. I stared at Blake. He looked up as if he was searching for something in the sky, and then he went back to writing in the journal. I assumed by the cloudless night, he was stargazing.

He didn't look at me when I reached him, but he buried his journal under his ass.

“Do you mind?”

“Sure, whatever,” he mumbled.

His promise jumped into my mind; the one where he would give me his respect if I made it out alive. It’s so not going to happen, Elena.

I sat down opposite of him, resting my back against one of the trees.

I don't think Blake likes anyone much, except his precious Tabitha.

“It was really brave what you did tonight,” he said.

'What? Was that a compliment?'

“I guess anyone in my position would have tried their best,” I said, shrugging it off.

He huffed, and the corner of his mouth twitched. “How's the arm?”

“Hurts like hell.”

He gave a lopsided smile and stared into the night again.

What does he hear?

The crickets started to work on my nerves again. I sighed and decided that maybe it was time to go back to the tent.

“You're wrong about everyone being able to do what you did.”

“Blake, please. I did what I said I would do.” I didn't want to talk about it. It might be his way of trying to find out what I saw inside the cave.

I can't break my promise.

It was already hard enough not being able to tell them anything. I was dying to know a couple of things myself. Like, who were those ladies playing in the dragon’s garden?

“That's exactly my point. What people say they'll do and what they do are two different things, Elena. I learned that the hard way.”

I felt sorry for him again, but knew exactly what he meant. Dad also said things and instead did the opposite so many times. “I always do what I say I will.”

“You don’t get it.”He chuckled.“You could have asked to see anything.”

“And your point is?”

“You have no idea why your dad died? Or why that dragon was after you? The pond would've even shown you where your mom is?”He looked away the minute he’d mentioned Mom.

How?

“How do you know about her?” My voice broke at the end.

“Just forget what I said.”

I swallowed hard and felt angry; no one was supposed to know she might still be alive. The witch must've told him. After all, he was the highlight of her week.

He was right; I could have asked to see where my mom was or why those dragons attacked Dad that night. But what good would it have been? “It doesn’t matter. The past isn't going to save us from any of this. I went in that cave to find out about the sword, and I did.”I tried to hide the fact that I’d lost the only chance of ever knowing if my mom was still alive.Maybe I wouldn’t even like what it would’ve shown me, and then what?