Firebolt (The Dragonian Series)(77)

"Here." Lucian gave me his shades that were way too big for me and pulled the hood of his leather jacket over my head. “We walk out when security arrives. Don't say a word, Elena; we might be able to hide your identity.” He glared at Maggie again.

“I won't say anything, Lucian.”

“Nobody else knows her name except you. Don't get any ideas, Maggie!” he warned. She locked her mouth with an imaginary key. Three hard knocks on the door made me jump.

“It's just security. Are you ready?” he asked in a croaky voice.

I nodded.

“Not a word, Elena, and keep your head down.”

I did what he said and kept my eyes on the ground, clinging to his hand.

He opened the door and the first thing I heard was the security speaking over their radios. I noticed they were using codes.

“Prince Lucian, what's her name?” I heard one reporter shout.

“Are you a couple?” another yelled.

I didn't know what he did, as no sound came from his lips. Everybody yelled questions as security tried to lead us back to the Hummer. I allowed Lucian to guide the way as I stared at the ground. My heart bounced inside my chest with the rhythm of the thousand flashlights. For the love of blueberries, how could Lucian handle this kind of attention?

We finally reached the Hummer, and he helped me inside.

“Sorry about this,” he whispered in my ear. “Just keep your head down.”

I smiled as he closed the door.

Don't look up, Elena.I waited for him to get in the driver’s seat.

When his door opened, more flashing lights assaulted us. The security asked the paparazzi to back away from the vehicle,but it didn’t look like it was working.

Lucian revved the engine and reversed out of the parking lot. I was glad the windows were tinted, but the photographers didn't care; they still took pictures like crazy.

“It's fine, you can look now. Are you okay?” he asked, sounding the way I felt.

I lifted up my head to look at him. “Yeah, are those pictures going to be in all the magazines?”

“I'm so sorry, Elena. I should've thought twice about today's trip. I'm so naive when it comes to people keeping their mouths shut,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Is it like this every time you go outside?”

He chuckled. “Pretty much. Sometimes I get away with hiding behind my disguise.”

Lucian honked for the two bikes in front of us. They saluted him and turned in the opposite direction at the stop sign. He floored the Hummer, and we were back at Dragonia in no time. We kissed goodbye at the stairs until someone close by cleared his throat.

It was another student,and he didn’t look very happy. “Master Longwei wants to see you in his office.”

“Thank you, Stan,” Lucian said, and the guy ran off. “Don't worry, he probably wants to know what happened. It's not a scolding. Go take a hot bath and I'll see you at dinner, okay?”

I did what he said and sighed as I slid into a hot bubble bath. When Becky and Sammy returned from their day out, I told them what happened.

“Are you okay?” Becky asked. We sat on the couches, each having a Coke. The sugar helped as it entered my bloodstream.

“Taking a bath seemed to work.” My heart beat at a high tempo as I told them everything.

“Elena?” Sammy put her arm around my shoulder.

“It's going to be in every newspaper and every magazine, you guys. I don't want to even think about what his parents are going to say. Not to mention what they would do.”

“Well, if Lucian didn't tell his dad about you, I guess they're going to find out the hard way. I'm so glad that I'm not Lucian,” Becky said.

“Becky!” Sammy glared at her.

“What?”

Sammy rolled her eyes.

“Will he get into trouble?” I tried to ignore Becky's remark.

“We'll have to wait and see,” Becky said, and eyed Sammy again with a huge question in her eyes.

Sammy shook her head. “Remember what you said to me? Everything happens for a reason. We just need a little bit of faith.”

“Thanks you, guys,” I said, feeling a bit better.

We talked about their day and how goofy George acted around Becky, who was gloating.

At six, we went to dinner. I didn't speak much. The images of King Helmut forcing Lucian to break up with me played over in my mind. Lucian kept stroking my back, and every ten minutes or so, he kissed me on my shoulder.

Lucian started to tell them about the gallery and the queen's painting.

“I'm sure it's a first date Elena will never forget,” Becky teased.

I couldn't help but smile. “You got that one right.”

Around eight, we walked slowly back to our dorms.

“Elena, meet me tonight?” Lucian whispered in my ear. I gave him a frantic look, thinking that we had enough drama for one day, not to mention what happened the last time we sneaked out at night.