A knot formed in my throat; fear bounced around in my chest like it wanted out. Then I heard metal against metal and my own scream sounded foreign to my ears.
“Let me go!” I screamed. “Axel! Axel!”
“Shh, he’s fine. There are others helping him,” I heard a female voice tell me. “They can’t hear you or see you. I’ve cloaked you… er… made you invisible.”
I didn’t know who she was. I didn’t care what she did to me. Axel was all I could think of right now. And he was in trouble and I needed to… what? Anything but sit back while he was in danger. I needed to make sure he was okay. I thrashed until I was free from the grasp and ran like hell, screaming Axel’s name over and over again. When I got closer, I noticed a crackle in the air.
“Axel, to your—”
I was tackled to the ground. What the hell? I turned around to find a blond-haired, button-nosed girl pinning me down, with a finger over her lips to silence me.
“That was her,” a thick, raspy voice said.
“The one you’re referring to is a human,” Axel responded calmly.
They were talking about me? Curiosity got the better of me. I could see them, just barely. Axel’s back was turned to me. Even from here, I could clearly read his body language, as if I had known him all my life. That was scarier than facing ten Goarders ready to rip out my heart.
Now is not the time to ponder that.
He was close to losing his temper. His fingers twitched like he was dying to take them out. I saw the wind pick up speed and the air grew brisker, sharper. I knew this was his doing, his ability to control the air element.
The one with the raspy voice, I could see him clearly. He looked normal enough, except for his black globe eyes. Well, that’s different.
“Leave, Rolium,” Axel warned.
Rolium sneered. “If my memory serves right, you are in no position to tell me what to do, Dracian. Especially since our last encounter.”
Axel’s fists clenched against his thighs. The wind grew painfully cold. Sand swirled all around us, and it was getting harder to see. What were they talking about?
“Yeah, well, last time it was just him and a dozen of you cowards.” Tyler drew out his dagger from the back of his pants. “This time, the playing field is a bit more even, don’t you think?” He pointed to three others that stood their ground, ready to spring into action.
Rolium’s smile disappeared. He growled. It sounded animalistic, a cross between a lion and a tiger. Tyler could be right. There were only six Goarders and five of the Dracians in a standoff.
“We shall meet again,” Rolium said, his gaze falling in my direction before he disappeared along with his Goarders.
I felt the abrupt change in climate. The temperature returned to normal, and as far as I could tell, no tornado was about to land near us. I knew the immediate danger had passed. I ran toward the group, feeling the sand kick up behind me. My body ached to grab Axel in a tight hug. It took every last ounce of my self-control not to do so.
“You’re okay.” I stated.
He nodded. His eyebrows furrowed and a vertical line appeared between them. “Why didn’t you listen and go, like I asked?”
He wouldn’t understand how hard it was for me to watch him run toward danger to protect me. He didn’t reciprocate my feelings, so he wouldn’t know. He couldn’t.
He sighed. “Are you hurt? Are you okay?”
My body trembled as the adrenaline started wearing off. I fisted my hands and clenched my jaw. I wanted to throw myself into a tear-fest, but I somehow held it together. “I’m okay.”
“Let me drive you home.” It wasn’t a question.
Axel turned around and talked to the other Dracians, including the girl that pinned me to the ground, in a hushed voice before he reached for my hand and walked me toward his car.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Since the night we were attacked by Goarders, I’d returned to avoiding Axel and was in dire need of a distraction. That distraction came in the form of Dean. We started hanging out at the arcades, the bowling alley, the movies, and several bonfires. Soon, I became his excuse when he wanted a way out of clingy flings or family activities.
But no matter what I did, how hard I tried to divert myself, Axel was always in the forefront of my thoughts.
I sighed and pushed my laptop aside. I walked to my window seat and pulled out my favorite book, sitting down for a relaxing read.
After what felt like mere minutes, my stomach growled in response to the aroma that reached my room. Setting the book aside, I followed my nose toward the kitchen.
“Muskles?” I called.
“Out here, killer.”
I walked out to the patio and gasped. Our backyard was lit up like the holidays with Tiki torches and music playing in the background. Dinner was set up on the patio furniture with candles and all. Joshua, dressed in a blue dress shirt and faded jeans, stood grinning ear to ear with a white gardenia in his hand.
“All right, spill,” I demanded as I skipped down the steps. I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“I felt bad for not being around much.” He tucked the gardenia carefully behind my right ear. He pulled out the chair and waited for me to have a seat.
“You gave up on your dreams to babysit me… It speaks loads. You really have nothing to feel bad about,” I replied softly.
He smiled, pushing my chair under the beautifully laid table. I served food on our plates and he poured us drinks.
“Tonight, I wanted to celebrate and catch up.” He handed me a glass and toasted, raising his own. “To us.”
“To us,” I repeated.
We ate our dinner, talking about everything that happened over the past year, and I somewhat skimmed through my boy troubles.
“You know I’d be more than happy to permanently stick my foot up someone’s ass, if it’d help.”
“I don’t think that would work, seeing how you might need your foot to get around… and having your foot up someone’s ass…”
We laughed and chatted until we could no longer ignore the crusted dishes in front of us. By the time everything had been cleaned and put away, the moon peeked through the clouds. Silence passed between us as we swung on the porch swing.
“I miss them.” It was obvious to whom he referred.
“You want to go visit them tomorrow?”
“I’d like that,” he responded.
“You remember our neighbor’s dog that used to poop and pee on your skateboard every time you left it outside and Mom kept saying you needed to start taking care of your possessions?”
He grunted, annoyed. “Yeah, I hated that mutt.”
“Whatever happened to it?” I asked out of curiosity. “The mutt, I mean.”
“I have no idea.” He emphasized the word no with a bit too much mischief.
“No!” I exclaimed, my hand over my mouth. “Did you, like, kill it or something?” When he didn’t answer, I poked him harder. “Muskles?!”
He chuckled. “No, I just convinced the owner if I ever caught his dog near our house again, he and his dog would be fetching their missing balls.”
“No, you didn’t.” I couldn’t help but laugh, hard. I had tears in my eyes and my stomach hurt. We were interrupted when we heard the doorbell.
“Were you expecting someone?” I asked Joshua, opening the front door, still laughing hard.
I froze in place when I found Dean standing before me, hand running through his hair, with his signature cocky lopsided grin.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as three more people walked up the stairs, talking and laughing.
“Who is it?” Joshua called from the kitchen.
“The Jensens,” I yelled back. I hugged Cassie, Dean’s sister. “What ya doing here so late?” Suddenly, concern hit me like an edgy, creeping thief. “Is everything okay?”
I looked from Cassie to Dean to their parents.
“Everything is fine, killer.” Joshua walked into
the room, grabbing Cassie in his arms, dipping her and kissing her like he hadn’t seen her in a century.
“Eww,” both Dean and I said in unison.
“John, Sandy,” Joshua said with a handshake and a hug. “Would you like something to drink?” he asked, walking back to the kitchen without waiting for an answer.
Oh, something’s up all right.
Drawers and cabinets opened and shut with loud thuds. Silverware made loud clunking noises. It sounded like pirates were taking over the kitchen.
“Would someone like to tell us what’s going on?” Sandy asked, eyeing her daughter.
“That’s my cue,” Cassie said, pointing a finger in air. She left the room and reappeared with Joshua and dessert a few minutes later.
Cheesecake, strawberries, and whipped cream. Yum!
“First, dessert,” Cassie said. She and Joshua methodically handed out our succulent treat and stood next to each other, holding hands, looking nervous and shifting weight from one leg to the other. Joshua gently squeezed Cassie’s hand.
“We have some news.” Cassie looked at Joshua with a soft smile. “Joshua and I are getting married on New Year’s Eve!” Her eyes glittered with excitement as the room burst into excited congratulatory voices. “In Nafplio, Greece.” She turned to me. “And I want you to be my maid of honor.”
“Dean, I would be honored if you would be my wingman,” Joshua said. Dean bumped his fist in acceptance.
Hugs and laughter filled the room. Cassie looked at me, waiting for my response. Coming out of my stupor, I sprang out of my seat and jumped up and down, squealing like a five-year-old that just got approval to eat all her Halloween candy.
“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes…” I hugged and danced with her, humming the da-dum-da-dum.
With everything that Joshua and I went through over the past year and half, this was exactly what we both needed. What he needed.
The rest of the night, our house was filled with music, laughter, dancing around, and stories about Joshua and Cassie. They were perfect. A match made in heaven. My heart filled with joy.
An hour later, I bid everyone good night, heading upstairs to my room.
“Hey.”
I jumped in surprise and my hand flew over my racing heart. “Don’t scare me like that.”
Dean slouched against the doorway—standing at six-three, he fit perfectly. His hand nestled securely in his front jeans pocket. He smiled, running his other hand through his messy hair.
Over the last few years, he’d certainly grown… But his soft blue eyes still drew me in.
Dean pushed from the doorway, stepping into my room. “Much hasn’t changed here.”
My room was not girly by any means, but it was me. A full-size bed, study desk, and a loveseat occupied most of the estate. To add color, I decorated with flowery designs in yellow, red, and sky-blue bed accessories with lots of pillows. Several James Dean posters were plastered around the room. He was the hottest and sexiest man, dead or alive. And a wooden homemade wind chime with blue crystals hung by the window.
“I like consistency. I don’t do well with change,” I replied, turning back to my closet. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to shower and get to bed.”
Dean walked over to the wind chime and gently ran his fingers through it. “You kept this.”
I shrugged and continued to stare at my clothes with meticulous observation.
Dean made the wind chime for my thirteenth birthday—the last gift I’d received from him.
“It’ll keep bad things away and remind you I’m here for you, always and forever. Dean and Nellie, always together—forever,” he had said, sweetly.
At that time I thought that was the cutest thing any boy had ever said or done for me. Especially a boy I had a huge crush on. But a few months later, everything changed between us. Still, I couldn’t throw it away. It wasn’t only part of my room; it was part of me.
“After all the bashing the past four years, I didn’t think you’d keep it.”
“I don’t hate you, Dean. I do, however, want to punch you in the face every time I see your stupid smirk…” I laughed. “If I were a violent person. But since I’m not, I settled for the verbal bashing.”
I’d been staring at my clothes for too long, so finally I gave up small talk. I turned around. Dean was watching me. He nervously rubbed his temple with his brows creased. His entire person radiated apology—a look that didn’t fit his features very well.
He closed the distance between us in two long strides and placed his hands over my cheeks, lifting my face so we were looking into each other’s eyes.
“I’ve regretted one thing.” Remorse poured from him, heavy and smothering. “If I could go back in time, I would redo that one moment. I don’t know why I acted the way I did. Then…” He gave me a long, tortured blink. “I was a complete idiot to push you away. After that kiss, my first kiss, our first kiss, I freaked. I wanted to come back and apologize, beg you for forgiveness, but my ego…”
“So you thought if you made an ass out of me, you could feel better about yourself? How original.”
“I already admitted to being an utter disappointment and a pompous ass.” His smile turned genuine. “There wasn’t a single day I didn’t regret it. I knew we were drifting apart. I knew I needed to do something. I wanted to. I didn’t know how… It’s really stupid.” He traced my cheek and jawline with his thumb.
“Well, men, on a basic level, are plain stupid… But…” My words disappeared when my eyes locked with his.
Dean stared back at me, his eyes clouded and seductive. He leaned in, waiting for me to push him back—away. I placed my hands on his chest, unsure of my own needs and wants. I knew I shouldn’t want this—not when my heart was still aching for my Dracian.
Before I knew what was happening, his mouth covered mine. He started to softly kiss my lower lip. Once. Twice. And three times. A range of flutters built in the pit of my stomach as his lips seared a path from cheek to neck. When I didn’t push him back, he took that as an approval and covered my mouth with his, kissing me with more urgency. He pushed apart my lips and his chest vibrated under my hand. He let out a little moan and pulled me closer to his body, between his legs.
My heart was screaming this was wrong, although my body was responding to his touch. A strong mysterious bond connected me to Dean. But it was never nearly enough compared to how I felt toward Axel. Axel was what I wanted, what I needed. Not Dean. Never Dean. I placed my hand over his chest and fought against every urge of my treacherous body.
“Stop. Please.” I pulled back breathlessly.
Confusion dressed his features. His heart beat frantically against my palm. His eyes were clouded and cheeks flushed. His warm breath teased my lips. He looked painfully vulnerable… gorgeous.
I shook my head. “Dean… I-I can’t.” I pushed him harder, desperate for distance between us. “This isn’t fair… for either of us.”
A range of emotions crossed his face before a devilish smile settled. I knew that mask. It was one I was entirely familiar with. He took a few slow, deliberate steps back.
“Are you always this uptight?” he asked, running a thumb across his lips.
Argh! There it was—his need to be an arrogant ass. Another reason why we wouldn’t work. I didn’t understand how he could switch from being a caring person into this selfish, egotistical asshat. I squared my shoulders and put on a brave face.
“You would’ve known if you stuck around,” I spat and spun on my heels, facing away from him.
I hated Dean for what he did. It wasn’t the humiliation or the kiss, but the fact he chose them. He chose his other friends over his best friend. Over me.
“Look at me.” His voice pleaded.
There it was. God, he was worse than a girl PMSing. I turned to face him, my hands in fists. His features were soft and calm. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me to him. “I’m sorry. I promise on my life, I’ll never leave you again.”
“You’d be doing me one hell of a favor if you just tell me where we’re going.” I whined.
“Just wear something causal, preferably something that covers you head to toe,” Joshua yelled up the stairs like he couldn’t believe I was capable of saying such a thing. “And leave Grumpy behind.”
“Well, I wouldn’t be grumpy if you left my ice cream alone, douche!”
He chuckled. “Just get down here. For God’s sake, I’m about to turn into dust. You’re worse than Cassie… Ouch!”
My phone buzzed.
Axel: This reminded me of you.
When I clicked on the attached link, my cell blasted with the “I am a Gummy Bear” song. I started laughing.
“Stop laughing and get your ass down here,” Joshua said. “Ouch!”
Me: It must be the bubbly personality.
Axel: Nope.
Me: The incredibly sexy voice?
Axel: Hmm…
My heart fluttered and I grinned.
Axel: Nope
Me: Then it’s definitely because the gummy bear is so edible.
Axel: Bingo!
I nearly dropped my phone, reading the last reply. Be still my heart.
Axel: I have a surprise for you.
Me: Yeah?
Axel: Yup.
Me: What is it?
Axel: It’s been delivered to your house.
“Would you get your ass down here already?” Joshua interrupted my thoughts.
“Say that one more time and I swear to God, I’m gonna turn you to dust myself,” I muttered, knowing all too well he couldn’t hear me.
I cleared my head and looked into the mirror, giving one final assessment. I wore a white floor-length silk skirt that sat below my hipbone and an off-the-shoulder orange silk top that sat above my hipbone, leaving a tad bit of bare skin showing. I complemented my attire with sizzling T-strap orange heels. Mom’s amulet, as always, hung low around my neck. My hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, leaving two strands shaping around my face.
With newfound confidence, I stepped out of my room and walked down the stairs. My skirt flowed around me like waves of soothing water. I checked my phone one last time in hopes of another text from Axel.
Dracian Legacy Page 9
