Rise of the Dragon Princess

CHAPTER 16

~WREN~

Commander Alistair appears without a warning barely before I sit. I jump startled by her presence. She moves like a ghost when she wants to and I'm sure this is one of the moments judging from the look on her face. She is smiling at my shock. Did she see me getting out of her office? I wonder in silence.

I press my right hand on my pocket for reassurance. My phone is right there with images of the book's notes. I have to read them later and at least get me something— some kind of explanation.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" she asks. She definitely saw me.

"Uh... I... I don't know what you mean," I stammer are try to avoid the conversation.

"Come on Wren. You know you can't lie to me. I know you were snooping looking for something in my office."

I swallow hard. What's the point of lying? I shake my head and wat to say no but the word won't come to me. Instead, I decide to ask my own question.

"What am I?" I ask confidently. "I'm not a witch but I have some kind of power close to that so what the f**k am I?"

"Sweetheart, your power is nothing close to that of a witch. Not even close to five witches combined."

"I need to know," I state firmly realizing that she is avoiding the conversation. "I can't control what I am without at least knowing what I am in the first place."

"A dragon."

"What?" I ask in shock. Did I mishear her? No, she just said what I heard her say. "How the f**k am I a dragon? Is that even a real thing?"

"As real as any other supernatural being, Wren." She sits on the table in front of me. "Trust me, none of us could believe it either until I set my eyes on you when you were three years old, and felt your power in my system when I suppressed it."

She stands up and goes on.

"Now we need to discuss your dreams in details."

I'm not sure I hear her over my loud stream of thoughts. I have read a lot of things and I know a little bit about dragons. I know there are several types depending on power, there are friendly ones and dangerous ones that can destroy anything and anyone at will. They are way more aggressive. Fire dragon's.

"I'm a fire dragon, aren't I?" I ask in fear and she nods slowly. "Oh God!"

"Hey, don't panic!" she states confidently and takes my hands. "You are not what you think you are. You have the power to control that darkness inside you and I am here to help with that."

"You don't know that! You don't know that I can control it or not. You don't feel what I feel inside me especially when my thoughts overrun me!" I state almost tearfully. I'm scared. For the first time since I learned I have a power, I am scared of myself. I shake my head slowly. "I can't be here... I can't —"

"Wren, stop it!" she commands and forces me back in the couch the moment I try to get up. She stares at me sternly and goes on. "Now listen to me carefully. I'm only going to say this once." I sigh deeply. "This school is your safest bet and I can't let you out of these walls, not again. Do you hear me?"

Her tone is more threatening than directing. I haven't seen this side of her and her eyes hold a little bit of anger. Several seconds pass holding that stare but I finally nod.

"Yeah."

"Good."

At that moment, Roman appears with questioning stares between us. I meet his gaze briefly and look away.

"What's going on here?" he asks.

"Just a little girl talk. Don't worry about it," Alistair responds.

"There is quite a lot of that going around here this evening," she states and looks at me. I remain silent knowing that he is referring to Brooke's response earlier.

"And what's going on over there?" Alistair asks forcing me to look behind me.

Brooke makes her way out to the door carrying a bag. She doesn't spare much more than a glance in our direction and doesn't say anything. I look at Roman who stares after her in silence until she disappears from sight. The front door clicks open and then bangs closed. He turns back around and shrugs.

"Brooke is moving back to the hostels."

"Oh? Just like that?" Alistair questions. "Without even a fight?"

"Yes, just like that."

Roman agrees then walks closer to us. His gaze remains on me and somehow I can't look away. I don't know if he sent her away or what happened between them, I just know that something happened. Did he realize what Brooke had done to his room and sent her away?"

He walks up to me and sits down right beside me. I'm not sure how to react. It is the first time since morning that I am allowing myself to look at him. Something inside me, the wary part of me, warns me to stay away from him but another part won't let me stop wanting him.

"Mom, could you give us a minute alone?" he asks without looking at her.

I look up and meet her gaze alternating with his. For a moment, Alistair doesn't seem to approve but eventually she gets up and leaves. Roman doesn't speak until he hears the office door lock click.

"I'm sorry about what I did this morning," he begins which surprises me. "I was angry and I couldn't... Sometimes I can't control it when it comes to someone I care about."

"Did you ever do anything like that for Brooke?"

"Never," he states without hesitation. I don't know if it's a good thing or not. Does Brooke really deserve what he is doing to her?

"He was right, you know?" I say and slowly hold his gaze again. "That werewolf. He was right to call me an abomination."

Roman's features twist for a moment. He closes his eyes and exhales deeply before looking at me again.

"Don't you dare call yourself that again, Wren." His voice isn't threatening but it is stern. "Please," he adds.

"What do you want from me?" I ask gently.

"Nothing. I just want to love you," he traces a finger along my face. "If you will let me." A shiver runs through me and I fight hard not to give in to it and the power he has over me. "Please stop fighting me," he adds and leans closer to my face. His breath washes over my skin awakening my body just like the first time he came this close. "It's killing me," he adds roughly, his eyes darkening as he gets closer to my lips.

I gulp. My lips itch for contact. Just like the first time, I can't control how I am feeling but this time, I hold my ground. I let him pursue me.