The Others

Chapter Twenty

Jonathan.

She keeps her mouth shut for the entire road. Something that I would not have guessed, but I’m very grateful for. There are a thousand thoughts running through my mind. The high word’s finally out, and she knows about my engagement. Not only that, but she also knows about my uncle, and my family. I need to ask her if she will keep it all a secret, but I’m afraid that when I open my mouth, she will do the same and the questions will start. And I do not want to answer more questions.

From the day that I first laid my eyes on her, I have this feeling about her. There’s something special there. And I feel drawn to her. But I can’t… I’m not just engaged, I’m also family to the King. Since my uncle has not told me yet who he has chosen for me, I can only assume. But It’s most likely a maiden to my aunt’s court, or someone from a family that he’s indebted to. The only thing I do know, is that the wedding will wait a couple of years, because I basically forced him to give me space. For as long as possible.

When I joined the army, I already knew of my engagement. But I have never had any problems when it comes to having fun with the girls around here. It’s just that the look in Maya’s eyes makes me sensitive. I can’t stand to hurt her, like I did with so many others. Besides, with Lilly by her side, her and me will probably have a long professional future ahead of us. It would be incredibly stupid to get her on my wrong side.

Not to mention that she has no clue about her brother, still.

I do not know what came over me when I kissed her. I’m just a man. Maybe I should not have put myself into this position. Her, with barely any clothes on. Completely wet, and defenceless... What was I supposed to do?

One thing I do know, is that I’m never going there with her again. It was a stupid decision, and I’m pretty sure I will not hear the end of it. From the start she has made it sure that I regret everything I do around her, and I need to be extra careful in the future. Not just for my own heart, but mostly for hers. I’m not the man for her.

The moment we reach the camp, I turn around to look at her. A part of me wants to guide her to her tent, like I always do, to make sure she reaches it safely. But a stronger part of me needs to get this out of my system, preferably with force.

I look her in her clear blue eyes. It’s strange that no one ever figured she’s magic, since they are almost as fluorescent as her dragon’s. If she would have been brought up among magicians, I am pretty sure she would’ve had a very different youth. Not to forget that her entire posture has something so graceful… I have not seen it with anyone except for the memory of my own mother. But that might be affected, since she’s been gone for many years.

‘Do not tell anyone’, I tell her. I make sure she listens to the seriousness in my voice. She can not let me down, not this time. ‘Especially not Isla.’ I see disappointment in her eyes, and realize I’ve made the right choice to talk to her. She one-hundred percent would’ve gone to her friend. That’s what women do, isn’t it? They talk, talk, talk.

‘Jonathan’, she says. Her voice sounds serious, and it could be my imagination, but she hides my name inside of a moan. If only she knew what her voice does to me, especially when she says my name. I can’t take it.

‘Don’t Jonathan me’, I stop her. ‘You promised that you wouldn’t ask me anything.’

She shakes her head. ‘On the way to the camp. Well, we’ve reached the camp now.’ Crap. ‘Why did you not tell me you’re the king’s nephew? Why is that something you would hide from anyone?’

I raise my hands. ‘I’m not in the mood for your questions, Maya’, I stop her. She takes a step closer to me and puts her hand on my chest. It’s like a million lightning bolts escape her fingertips and enter me. I instantly take a step back. ‘Just keep your mouth shut’, I say before I turn around and run away.

Without looking back at her, I head for Thalia. The panther has been trying to talk to me non-stop inside of my head, but I have not let her access my thoughts. I know that she senses my frustration. I’m pretty sure she even knows of the lust, but I have never asked her and I’m not starting now. The last thing I want to think of when I’m in bed with a woman, is if Thalia can feel my arousal.

I let her in, and instantly defend myself. “Don’t ask questions, please Thalia. Where are you? I need to let go of some anger, and I could do with a work-out.”

I hear her chuckle. “Anger?” I can not stop a small smile myself.

“Any way, Jon”, she continues. “Raphael is here, and I am afraid that it’s not just for fun.”

Raphael is my older brother. He’s not my favourite go-to guy. Ever since we were little, we have collided. A lot. He received his other when he was only eight years old, and I have been in his shadows ever since. Nothing I have ever been able to do, makes my father proud. And it’s haunted me, my entire life.

I instantly head for my tent and open the cloth. Raph is sitting on my bed, with River sitting on the floor next to him. It’s like his wolf is getting bigger and bigger, every single time I see him. It’s a beautiful creature, with one blue eye and one green. A little bit like Isla, but if I remember her face correctly, it’s mirrored.

‘What’s up?’ I tell my brother. Raphael stands up. He’s at least half a foot taller than me, and with his entire chest being as puffed up as it is, he makes me feel small. Something that I have never liked.

‘Good day to you too little brother’, he says with a big smile. ‘Fifth division is gathering, so we need you to step up to your new title and gather the strongest of the strongest. There’s a fight coming, so we need to recruit some newbies. Preferably with strong animals, cats, wolves. Couple of big ones are welcome too. Got some elephants, rhinos? That sort-of thing, to carry the weaponry.’

Typical Raph, never takes time to soften his messages. ‘What fight?’ I ask him. Raphael shrugs and walks out of my tent. River following him majestically. I do the same.

‘The princess, and the falcon’, he says, and I instantly know what he means.

‘They are looking for a fight? They have never looked for a fight before.’

I hear Raphael chuckle. ‘You can be so naïve sometimes, little brother. When there’s a fight, there’s two sides to it. And it does not need to be their side, that picks the fight. If you know what I mean.’

That’s when I see him get distracted. He looks up to the sky, and the smile vanishes from his face. I look up, to see what he sees.

In the sky, I notice Lilly. She looks incredible from up so high. Her wings create shadows over the entire camp, and I see her drop herself down like a rock, before she catches herself with her big wings, and lands on the floor, causing it to tremble.

‘Faetur’, my brother says her Old name. ‘Take me to her. I want to meet this little dragon’s princess.’

I instantly feel my heart beat faster. If I could, I would keep Raphael away from Maya, at all cost. But since she’s the new dragon rider -even though she’s never ridden Lilly- there’s no stopping Raph. And that’s exactly why I did not want to have any feelings for the girl. She creates trouble.

‘Sure’, I say before I lead him towards where the dragon landed. It does not take me very long to find Maya. She’s standing in front of the dragon, with her hand on Lilly’s nose. Her white golden hair reflects in the sun, and the huge dragon in front of her makes her look amazing. It’s an impressive sight.

The moment Raphael sees her, he holds his step for a couple of seconds. Just to stare at her. I sense anger coming up, while I observe the look on his face. It’s a way I do not want anyone looking at her, let alone my own brother. ‘Beautiful’, he says, and I decide that he’s talking of the dragon. I do not want to think of the other possibility.

‘I thought you wanted to meet them, not just stare at them’, I say agitated, and I keep walking towards the two. It’s Lilly who notices us first, and quickly after that Maya also turns her head. She was probably warned by her dragon. A smile breaks out on Maya’s face when she sees me, and my heart skips a beat. Why is she smiling? I thought she was angry with me.

‘Jonathan’, she moans my name once again, as she walks up to us. She then turns to Raphael, who bows to her. Why he’s doing that, beats me. But it’s aggravating me. He takes her hand and kisses it.

‘My name is Raphael, oldest son of prince William, brother to the king.’ I see on Maya’s face that she’s trying to make the connection.

‘So, you are related?’ she says when she looks at me. Raphael answers for me: ‘Brothers. Did Jona never tell you who his father is?’

An innocent look appears on her face, as she makes eye-contact with my brother. ‘Let’s say your brother values his privacy.’

Raphael laughs. ‘Well, do not worry. I have no need for privacy around you.’ He winks at her.

‘Well, you met her. Let’s go’, I instantly say. Raphael looks back at me, and I see a certain look on his face that tells me that he figured it out. A look that only means trouble.

‘Ah’, he stretches the word long, and with an extreme low voice. ‘I see. Well, Maya, is it?’ Maya nods excitedly. ‘Tell me something about yourself.’ He offers her his arm, and the girl takes it. Just looking at her grabbing his arm makes the fire inside of me light up.

‘Shouldn’t we go to Mart, and brief him on what you told me?’ I ask my brother, who just smiles back.

‘How about you go to Mart, and I spend some time with Maya here’, he says, as he leads her away from me. I see River following them from afar. I look at my brother’s back, while he takes her further and further from me. I see she’s laughing, and him as well.

If looks could kill, my brother would be a dead man by now.