Chapter Seventeen
Two weeks passed, and Amy barely noticed.
Amy had never been more depressed. She felt like grabbing her charge card and flying to Cancun for a couple of months, but she’d only be miserable there, too. Besides, she had responsibilities here. So she put long hours in at the office, even if it was pointless. She might as well have been rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
She let Ivy and Molly deal with the Drakeborne Knights, or the Smith brothers, or whatever they called themselves. Amy wanted no part of the aliens, and couldn’t wait for them to leave, especially Faro.
A storm front had moved in off the Arctic Ocean, and a blizzard was in full force. They were supposed to get a foot of snow by morning. The skies were dark and gray, and everything seemed desolate.
Amy was still stunned by the turn of events.
Did Faro care about her at all? Amy doubted it, because he’d kept so much from her. Had she been nothing more than a silly fling? And yet, she had trouble reconciling his behavior with what she knew of Faro. Up until the point of his confession, she’d seen evidence of his kindness and caring.
And what about Mydon’s terrifying power? Had he made Faro say those things, like he’d prevented her from blabbing about the comet? Or was she grasping at straws?
Ivy plopped down in the chair across from her. “I haven’t seen you in days. What’s going on?” Amy hadn’t even noticed her walking into the office.
Amy longed to confide in her, but she literally couldn’t.
“I broke up with Faro.” At least she could tell Ivy that much, without falling into a coma.
“Again?”
“Yup, and I think it’s permanent this time.”
“I’m sorry, that really sucks.”
Amy snorted. “Trust me, you don’t even know…”
“Wanna hang out tonight? We could order pizza, maybe watch a flick. We could see The Martian.”
“Sounds fun, but I don’t have the time.”
Nothing brought her enjoyment anymore.
She’d tried reading, watching television, anything to get her mind off the impending doom, but nothing distracted her for long. Although, spending time with Comet and Cupid still consoled her. The silver lining, if she could call it that, was Amy would see her father again, sooner than she planned.
“Come on, I know you love that movie. Matt Damon can make anyone feel better.”
Amy smiled, despite herself. Maybe they should’ve talked sooner.
“Not tonight, but how about tomorrow?”
“You got yourself a deal.”
“So what’s going on with you?” Amy asked.
“Well, I’m kicking ass in dance.”
“I’m glad. How’s the ankle?”
“Fine.” She tapped her leg. “I’m tough as ever.”
The answer came too quickly. Amy had a feeling Ivy’s injury was getting worse. Although, it probably didn’t matter now, anyway.
“Guess what? I saved my first five thousand dollars.”
“Congratulations. You’ve been working your butt off.”
“I know. At this rate, I’ll have enough to buy my dance studio in three years.”
No, she wouldn’t. In two years, they’d both be dead.
And that’s why she’d been avoiding people.
Everyone around her was making plans for the future, one they wouldn't live to see. Ivy wouldn’t become an instructor. Molly wouldn’t graduate from college and go on to medical school. Lucy wouldn’t publish the new book she worked on every night.
Nothing mattered anymore.
They were all dying, and nobody knew it but her.
***
Faro was doing his best to embrace the ability he’d been given.
Mydon had tried to speak with him several times, but Faro had ignored him. He couldn’t bring himself to reconcile with Mydon yet, and perhaps he never would. So he reported to the mine every morning and then went back to the inn.
He’d taken Jude’s advice to heart, and since he’d never backed down from a fight in his life, Faro hatched a plan. Faro was used to going around Mydon and he’d found a large loophole he hoped to exploit.
In the meantime, he honed his gift, letting the walls down and allowing everyone’s emotions to wash over him.
At first, it was deafening, like standing in the middle of a large crowd. Gradually, he gained more control over the volume, and fine-tuned the way he listened. Faro still had a long way to go, but it didn’t bother him as much.
But being apart from Amy ripped him up inside. Even though they hadn’t spoken in days, he could still feel her anguish.
One night, after his brothers left for the tavern, Faro slipped into Amy’s office and shut the door. She’d been working late a lot, and he took advantage of the situation.
“Leave.” Her gaze was fixed on the computer screen.
“Please, let me explain.”
“Explain what? How you lied to me? How you used me for fun? How you’re going to leave me behind to die?”
He flinched. “I’m sorry I lied, but I’ve taken an oath to save my people. I didn’t want to deceive you. If I had it to do all over again, I would’ve told you straight away. And as for the rest, Mydon made me say those things.”
“I figured that out when he ordered me not to tell anyone, but there’s a grain of truth in your words.”
“No, there isn’t. I should’ve told you sooner, and maybe it doesn’t matter anymore, but I lo—”
“Don’t!” Her chin trembled. “Please don’t say it.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t believe you.” She shook her head.
“You will, if I let you in.” Earlier, they’d bonded when he’d shared her grief, but now, it was time to give something of himself. He didn’t want to hold anything back from her, and he had one more enormous secret to share with Amy.
“I’ve been fighting my instincts, when I should’ve been listening to them. From now on, I’ll only tell you the truth, and the truth is, I love you.”
Amy shut her eyes. “I can’t deal with this.”
“I don’t deserve another chance, but I’m begging you to give me one.” He clasped his hands together.
She stood. “Why should I? Why should I even talk to you?”
“Because I know you love me, too, that’s why you’re hurting so much.” He could still feel the spark of her love, though he’d nearly extinguished it with his own stupidity.
“I’m not agreeing to anything, but what about Mydon? He forbid us to be together.” Amy didn’t acknowledge his confession, nor did she refute him.
“Perhaps, but I’ve found the solution to the problem, and I’ll tell you shortly, I promise.”
“What about his mind control mojo?”
“Mydon gave us very particular orders. He made me break up with you, and I did, but he didn’t stop me from making up with you, or telling you everything.”
It was the one way to circumvent Mydon. To be safe, Mydon would have to close every single loophole, and Faro was adept at finding ways around orders.
“But he could.”
“Yes, easily, unless I have a compelling reason why he shouldn’t.”
She rolled her eyes. “And here we are again. What’s the reason?”
“I’ll tell you soon.” He crooked a finger. “Please come here. I’d like to open myself to you completely.”
She frowned.
And he couldn’t blame her. The last time she’d let him in, trusted him, Faro had wounded her deeply.
“Please Amy, I can’t bear to be apart from you anymore. Let me make this right, allow me to share my feelings with you.”
“How?” She narrowed her eyes.
“I want to show you, the way we melded before.”
She bit her lip. “Okay.”
“I’ve never done this before, so you’ll have to bear with me.”
Faro closed his eyes, and centered himself, concentrating. It was difficult, but he pushed though the anxiety and fear, until the inner walls fell down, collapsed under the weight of his love.
He let all the joy, the need, the lust, and the pain of her loss rush out.
Amy moaned, as the wave hit her. She doubled over, clinging to the chair.
Faro shot across the room and gathered her in his arms, and Amy stiffened at first, but then let him hold her. Faro was relieved. He thought he’d never get this close to her again.
“Do you feel it?” he asked. “My love for you?”
“Yes.” Tears glittered in her eyes as she looked up at him.
“I’ve been working on my powers, honing them.”
“Well, mission accomplished.”
“And what do you think or feel about me?”
Amy didn’t speak for ages. Faro knew better than to rush her.
“I wish I hated you,” she said finally. “It would be easier.” It wasn’t quite an admission of love, but it could’ve been worse.
“But you don’t hate me yet?” He couldn’t quite pinpoint it.
“No, not yet.” Faro could almost taste the bitterness of her anger. If their separation had gone on long enough, she would’ve succeeded in pushing him away forever.
“And do you, could you, feel more for me?” he asked. Faro agonized, waiting for her answer.
“I don’t know. I’m confused right now.”
“Fair enough.” He’d take what he could get. At the very least, she hadn’t refused him out of hand. “I need to show you something.”
Amy frowned. “Just tell me.” Evidently, he’d pushed her past the limits of patience already.
“I’m sorry, but it’s something I must show you. Come outside with me, we need a lot of space.”
“There’s a blizzard going on out there.”
“Please?”
“Fine.” She gave a long sigh.
After she bundled up, Faro led her outside.
“Okay, we’re outdoors. What do you want?” Amy grabbed the gloves from her coat pocket and put them on.
He shook his head. “We need someplace private.”
“I don’t have time for this, and I’m not just saying that. I literally don’t have a lot of it left, none of us do.”
“I’m aware, but you wouldn’t believe me unless you see my transformation with your own eyes. Let’s go out to the woods, where we walked that one day.”
“You’re going to show me your other form?”
“Yes.”
“Fine, let’s go.” Amy bundled her coat tighter around her slim frame and took off for the vehicle.
Faro knew her interest was piqued and he intended to put on quite a show.
***
I can’t believe I’m doing this.
Her curiosity had gotten the best of her, and Amy wanted to see what he’d been talking about, even if this was their last conversation.
They drove for a half an hour, and left the city behind them. The snow was really coming down, creating white-out conditions. Amy couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of the car.
She parked by the woods, where there was a small clearing in the distance. No other vehicles were around, and dusk had fallen. She figured most people were spending the evening indoors, and the nearest house was miles away.
“Come with me. I promise you have nothing to fear.” He walked to the center of the field, and she followed him. Snow blew around them, swirling in the wind.
“When you say things like that, I get nervous.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll understand in a moment.” He stood several feet away from her, and then closed his eyes.
And nothing happened.
Was this some kind of elaborate trick? Amy opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind, when there was a flash of brilliant, blinding light.
Amy shut her eyes against the onslaught. When she opened them once more, standing in front of her, towering above the trees, was a freaking dragon.
“What the hell?” She dashed away from the beast instinctively.
It was beautiful and terrifying.
The dragon stood still, staring down at her. It was deep blue, with matching eyes. The wings were massive, and its scales were iridescent, reflecting the moonlight, like those of a fish or a lizard. Its teeth were massive, and razor sharp, and the creature had giant claws.
And then she remembered his story about drakes.
“Faro, is that you?”
“It’s me, sweeting. This is my other form.”
However, he hadn’t spoken the words. They’d popped into her head, as though they were her own thoughts.
“And you’re telepathic…?”
“Yes, in this form.” The dragon nodded, and it was a strange sight. Whenever she’d seen them in movies, they’d always been frightening and angry, not calm and sentient.
It was unnerving.
Right. Okay. “So you’re part human, part drake.”
“Exactly.”
Amy nodded. “So there’s a lot to take in here.”
Faro’s an alien. Check.
And an empath. Check.
And surprise, Faro’s a shapeshifting dragon from outer space, because things weren’t weird enough.
“What do you think?”
“I’ll get back to you.” Amy didn’t know how to respond. Just when Amy thought she’d acclimated to the new normal, he shocked her again.
And then she realized the looming form she’d seen high above the horizon all those weeks ago had been either Faro or one of his brothers.
“You’re all dragons, right?”
“Yes, except for Link, but there’s something else I must tell you.”
“Here we go.” Amy laughed without much humor.
“I suspect we might be mates.”
“Mates?”
“Yes, our lives have become entwined. You’re mine, and I’m yours.”
Hadn’t he mentioned this once before? Something about drakes mating for life?
Regardless, Amy couldn’t deal with the news. She didn’t even know if she could forgive him, let alone become his dragon soulmate, or whatever the crap was going on here.
“But I’m not a dragon.”
“Yes, but I am part drake.”
“Uh-huh. What does being your ‘mate’ mean?” The term sounded so archaic, and a bit animalistic.
“Mates are sacred in my society, and Mydon can’t stand in our way. For all intents and purposes, we’ve become one flesh.”
He made it sound like they’d gotten hitched. And hadn’t he said something about dragons losing their shit when one of them dies? The news was overwhelming, but then again, it was par for the course when it came to Faro. Nothing about him or their relationship was simple.
“Meaning…?”
“The ramifications are numerous, and since one of my kind has never been mated before, I can’t predict what will happen.”
“So, it’s like a mystical version of marriage?”
“That’s one way of putting it. Does it trouble you?”
Amy thought it over. “Not as much as it should, but over the past few weeks, everything’s been turned upside down.”
“Good, and I want you consider something else. When we leave this planet, I’d like you to come with me.”
Amy gulped.
Could she leave Earth? Staying here would be suicide, but what about her friends? Would Faro bring them along, too? Somehow, she didn’t think so. And could Amy leave them behind, while she escaped to safety?
Ugh, this is all wrong.
“I don’t know, Faro.”
“Whatever you resolve to do, I’ll respect your decision.”
“All right.” Amy doubted she’d figure it out anytime soon.
“And if you choose to stay, then I will, too.”
“Why?”
If I can’t share your bed, then I’ll share your grave.”
Her lower lip trembled. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you are the most important thing in the universe to me, Amy. I’d rather die with you, then live without you.”
She was speechless.
“And now, I’d like to take you to see the summit of Mount Regent.”
“Wait. What?”
“You told me you always wanted to go, but couldn’t afford the helicopter ride. With me, you won’t need one.”
Oh, this is what he’d been hinting at earlier, when they’d found the owl. And woah. Ride a dragon? She’d imagined hitching a ride before, but never thought about actually doing it.
Wait, I know what’s going on here.
Faro was tempting her. Amy could see the mountain looming in the distance, like a lure. And his dragon eyes freaking sparkled with mischief. She wanted to tell him no, just for spite, but Amy longed to see the summit.
“What if we’re seen?”
“We won’t be. It’s nighttime, in the middle of a blizzard.”
“But is it dangerous?”
“I’ll keep you safe, sweeting.”
She must be insane, but Amy believed him.
“Climb on.” He lay down upon the snow, lowering his back.
She gulped, hesitating a moment, but before Amy could change her mind, she scrambled on board. His skin gave off heat, so she wasn’t cold. And his scales were smooth to the touch, like marble warmed by the sun.
“Hold on tight.”
She grasped the lowest ridge on his neck. Amy was lucky she wore gloves, or her skin would’ve been sliced open by the sharp spines. She straddled him, setting herself between his thorny wings.
Faro got to his feet, and then launched himself into the air. And then she hovered above the clouds, looking down upon the town. Everything looked tiny, as they flitted through the sky.
Amy gave a shout of pure delight.
“Having fun?”
“Yes, this is way better than a helicopter!”
Cloaked by darkness and the swirls of snow, Faro flew around the mountain range, and Amy felt freer than she’d ever had in her life.
Eventually, Faro flapped his wings to slow their descent, and touched down on the top of an outcropping.
Hmph. It’s time to come back down to Earth.
And then she slid off his back and walked to the cliff’s edge. In between lingering bursts of snow, Amy could see for miles and it was a breathtaking vista. Everything was laid out in front of her—the low-lying hills, the town nestled in the valley, and in the distance, the frozen bay.
“Is the view all you’d imagined?”
“Yes, and more.”
She could scarcely believe her eyes. It surpassed her expectations. It was hard to believe the scene was real, but then again, everything had a dreamlike quality this evening.
For a long time, they stood on top of the mountain, gazing down at Bleak Bay. The clouds hung low, like fog. Coming here had been part of her bucket list, and she’d checked a big one off. It should’ve made her feel triumphant, but it didn’t.
Soon, all of this would be gone—her town, her state, everything. These days, any lingering joy was stained with sorrow.
“Thank you for bringing me.”
“You’re welcome.” Faro cocked his head to the side. “I thought it would please you, and yet I can sense your distress.”
“I’m pleased about the trip, but I’m still miserable.”
“Yes, I can feel it.” He lumbered over to stand beside her. “Can you ever forgive me?”
Despite his deception, Amy loved Faro. No, she was in love with Faro. Living without him had been awful. Not as bad as losing her father, but damn near close.
“I don’t know.” Amy smiled for the first time in a long while. “But I’d like to.”