Alpha Island: My Enemy Mate

3. You Owe Me

RORY

My mood was definitely better now that I kicked the lycan prince's a*s. He must have been furious that I managed to get away that easily. Something told me that his ego would never be able to handle that. Too bad we were never going to see each other again.

I reached the famous Alpha Island fast as the Fairy Kingdom was the closest territory to it. Taking a circle around Alpha Island University, I tried to spot the barrier protecting it. As a royal, I could see it and admired how elaborate it was. There were so many symbols intertwining, and the seals of four great clans were shining brightly on it. A year ago, my cousin and his friends from the other great clans enhanced the protection to maximum strength as they found the previous one lacking. I could tell now they did a good job here! This thing was a piece of art. I bet no one would be able to sense their mates inside,not even the royals! I heard this was one of the benefits of studying here–no mate senses–so that students were able to concentrate on their studies instead of the overwhelming emotions of finding their soulmates, which happened a lot at the students' age. That plan backfired two years ago.

I arrived too early and had to find somewhere to spend the night. Luckily, the island was big, and there was a town close to the university which was supposed to have a hotel or a bed-and-breakfast at least.

Shifting somewhere in the outskirts, I walked to the centre on foot.

Within minutes of my search, I found a charming little hotel and handed a receptionist my card with trembling fingers. I knew the Queen had told me all my accounts would still be working, but I had started to have trust issues lately.

Thanks to the dragon gods, the payment went through, and I booked myself a simple one-bedroom to sleep in. Once that was done, I went to the bar downstairs, hoping they served food as I was starving. After everything, I hadn't even remembered to eat properly.

Once again, I was in luck. The menu was limited since it was a bar, but they had fancy little burgers and fries. I didn't want to lie to myself, so I ordered three. I needed energy.

When I was done with the food, I came to the conclusion that the night was young, and I had had a very cr*ppy day. A long day that called for some alcohol.

Not thinking twice, I went straight to the bar and sat next to the counter, ordering an extra strong mojito. And then another one. And then one more.

I was done with all three when a drink moved right in front of me without anyone's hand attached to it, and I looked left and right in search of the one who was trying to treat me.

"You just look like you need it." A tall, handsome guy with white hair and tanned skin was sitting beside me. Half of his hair was cut short, but the other half was styled to one side in long, playful locks. It looked as if he didn't care about it, but, at the same time, his whole look was perfect. How did I not notice him before? He was sipping his own drink and not looking at me, while my eyes were glued to his pointy ears, one of which had an elegant golden earring in it with a rather large blue diamond.

"Thanks," I muttered and slid the drink back to him. "My mother taught me not to accept drinks from strangers."

The words left my mouth and stung my heart. I tried not to think of that woman anymore…

"Apologies. I didn't want a beautiful woman to drink alone." The guy shifted to look at me, and I almost gasped, seeing his black opal eyes, dark with specks of different colours in them.

A drow!

He was a freaking drow! A dark elf in the flesh, and I had only seen one in my entire life since they didn't mingle with other species much!

"You are…" I mumbled.

"I am." He confirmed as his lips curled into a smirk. "So, how about that drink, Aurora Thorn?"

Okay. Now he had my full attention, and I was sobering up fast.

"You know who I am?" I decided not to kick around the bush.

"If a sky starts to dance one cold, dark night, tilt your head way back. Watch ribbons dance on black like ballerinas of light. Sway, wonder and try not to blink. If an aurora shimmers and waves overhead, thank you is all you should think." He cited the words of the famous ancient poet Laura Purdie Salas, and I arched my brow. What did that have to do with anything?

"And?" I waited expectantly.

"Who wouldn't recognise the only dragon princess?" The drow touched my hair, twisting one strand around his finger, and I gritted my teeth. Those lilac locks of mine were more famous than I realised. Even though I used an illusion every time I appeared in public at official events, people seemed to know about my appearance.

"Well, since you know my name, it would be rude not to introduce yourself!" I pulled my hair back, and the dark elf chuckled. He was wearing a black shirt unbuttoned to show all his toned chest and stylish golden necklaces which looked like artefacts. His kind was known for their elegance and love of beautiful things which once upon a time made them allies of the dragons. It didn't last long, though, as their dark magic slowly corrupted their souls, and our 'friendship' ended with a betrayal from their side. But that was irrelevant now.

"Why don't you try to guess?" He tilted his head, the blue diamond gleaming in the bar's dimmed lights.

I was about to say something snarky when a large hand landed on my shoulder.

"Long time no see, Rory!" a familiar voice made me snap my head, and I saw Torrin, one of the palace warrior dragons, glaring at me. Let me guess… the Queen sent him to "guard" me?

I had to say that this choice made me angry because I actually liked Tor. He and I trained together even though he was older; if anything, he was my only competition for the role of Darren's general.

And now he was a spy… That sucked, to be honest... for both of us.

This wasn't a general's kind of job, so he couldn't be too happy about it either. And, in return, I hated that he was chosen out of everyone to spy on me. Not to mention that I knew very well how responsible he was. He would report my every move!

"Tor!" I tried to smile at him, but he didn't buy it. "What brings you here?"

"Cut it, Rory," he stopped me at once. "You know very well what. You were not supposed to leave without me! Where have you been all this time? I have to know."

"Right here!" I lied through my teeth. I couldn't tell him about my little detour to the Fae Kingdom mainly because I was prohibited from going there. And also, it could have been interpreted in the wrong way. Not to mention that I didn't plan to tell anyone about the little plastic bag with a cigarette leftover in my pocket. That item would be checked by me and only me, and only then would I reveal it to the world. If it is worth revealing, of course...

"Smells like a lie!" Tor didn't buy my little pathetic excuse. "So, I repeat myself. Where…"

"We were together the whole time!" The drow wrapped his arm around my waist, and I giggled nervously. What was that now? Was he trying to help me? "And now I see why you were in such a sour mood the whole time, Aurora."

"And this is?" Tor's eyes flashed silver, the colour of his dragon.

"Lorcan." The drow smirked and didn't add anything to his first name.

Not that it was important now. I had to go with the flow.

"So, you were here the whole time drinking with some drow you just met?" Tor quirked his brow up.

"Can you blame me?" I snorted, and he clenched his lips tight. Of course, he couldn't. "I could have been doing far worse things tonight!"

"I was actually counting on that!" The drow chimed in, and I secretly wanted to hit him. Too bad I couldn't.

"But I didn't!" I pointed out with pride. "All I did was make a friend because, sure as hell, I need one now!"

"Fine," Tor grunted and took my hand. "Let's go. You need a good night's sleep before your lessons start tomorrow. And so do I."

"Okay." I decided not to cause more trouble for one day. I had to stay under everyone's radar.

"I got us a room," the dragon informed me, and I choked on the air.

"Excuse me?" I stared at him. "As in ONE room?"

"Two beds," he added as if he read my mind.

"I already have a room." I cleared my throat. Dragon gods knew I needed my peace tonight. "So, I'll take that one."

"One bed?" Torrin's lips curved into a grin.

"Yeah…" I nodded.

"As you wish," he said. "But I snore."

"I meant that we would spend the night in different rooms!"

"No can do," my "guard" lifted his hands defensively. "I have to protect you at all times."

"Are you going to sleep behind my door in the university dorms?" This was ridiculous. I rolled my eyes. I was a trained warrior and didn't need protection from anyone. Of course… he wasn't here for my safety. He just had to watch me 24/7.

"That will be different," Torrin ran his hand through his long blonde hair that reached his shoulders. "You will be under a barrier there, and there are rules. But I still plan to stay close most of the time."

"And suck the fun out of my life?" I let out a desperate laugh, but he did not even flinch. He was serious, and I knew I would have to give up for today. I had learned how to choose my battles, and this wasn't worth fighting now.

"Let's go," Torrin offered again in a calmer tone, and I sighed, turning to the smirking drow.

"Thanks," I gave him a weak smile, and he leaned down to whisper right into my ear.

"See you around, Aurora, and do not forget that you owe me one now," Lorcan's voice tickled my skin, and I glared at him in horror.

What did he just say? I owed him something for this? No, no, no! I couldn't be owing anything to a drow! This was one of their old tricks, and it never ended well!

"Come on," Tor was practically dragging me out of the hotel's bar now, and I looked back just one more time to see the drow raising his glass at me and looking smug. Damn it!

~***~

To Torrin's honour, the rest of the night was calm. I took a shower, and he was already in his bed when I walked out in a dressing gown. I checked my jacket pocket once again before going to sleep to ensure that my little piece of evidence was safe there.

In the morning, I dressed up while my babysitter went to get breakfast and was ready by the time he returned with a table on wheels full of everything, except for coffee.

We didn't speak much as everything was still awkward, but I had to admit Tor was helpful as he already had the uni bracelet ready for me and all the papers filled, saving me some work.

"Rory," Torrin looked at me as we stood before the university gates, watching students walking through the barrier. I looked at him with furrowed brows, waiting to tell me something about my royal duties and saving the royal family's face while I was here, but he surprised me. "Maybe it's all for the best. You always wanted to come and study here, remember?"

"I do," I smiled at him for the first time since he arrived. "I am surprised you remember."

"I thought about it too, but our paths were carved before all that. Now we both get to experience this simple life together. Who knows.. maybe we will like it."

"Maybe," I shrugged, and we stepped through the gates next. I felt my bracelet activate and knew I was now officially a student at the Alpha Island University.

Torrin finally left me to get our bags into the dorms, and I wandered around the campus, watching excited students greeting each other. This was indeed a different universe compared to what I was used to. When Darren and Sky were telling me about this place, I couldn't help but dream of going here one day. Be careful what you wish for... Now I was here. Who knew that these would be the circumstances?

First, I wanted to go straight to the lab and try to check the cigarette. I needed equipment for that. But then it occurred to me that doing this on my first day here would be suspicious, especially during a day. I was, after all, just a freshman here now.

So, I decided to explore the premises. I had to use the moment Tor wasn't around me because something was telling me it would be rare.

I looked at the university map given to me by one of the students helping newcomers, and my legs immediately took me to one place with a familiar name.

Jelly Bean.

It was the café Skylar used to work in. She and Darren talked about it a lot, and I wanted to check it out. On top of that, I needed coffee. Badly.

However, to my surprise, the place was closed when I arrived. I checked the hours, and it was supposed to be working. Maybe it was some unofficial day off today? I was about to leave when I heard a familiar voice behind my back.

"Look whom fate brought right in my hands?"

I turned on my heels to face the smirking lycan and immediately decided to take back all my good words about the island. Why did I meet all the worst people here?! It wasn't even full twenty-four hours yet!

Kayden had his arms crossed on his chest and looked me up and down.

"It's a small world indeed, thief." He seemed so smug that I had to bring him down from his high.

"Ah, Butterscotch! I should have known you were here since it smelled like candy." I winked at him and heard a warning growl.

"My scent is Panderosa pine!" He bared his teeth at me, and this only made the laugh that escaped me louder.

"Sure, it is, Butterscotch!" I sneered. "What did you forget here?"

"Something that belongs to me!" He grabbed my hand, pulling me closer, and I made sure my eyes flashed with lightning as a warning to him. "Give me back that cigarette leftover!"

"Eww, Kayden!" I pushed him away. "Smoking is such a bad habit! And you don't even have your own! You can pick up all kinds of diseases from that. Consider it me taking care of your health! I saw a shop for students down the road. Go buy yourself a new pack there!"

People were gathering around the café, and I saw that damn wolf checking out a girl that had just arrived with another guy. Had he no principles?!

Not that I cared.

"This conversation is not over!" He promised, letting go of me, and I wanted to laugh in his face again. Just what did he think he could do about everything? Annoy me to death?

I came up with a sharp enough reply to shut him up when the words stuck in my throat.

I sensed her before I could see her, and when my head snapped in her direction, I lost the ability to speak AND to move.

Skylar, Darren's mate, walked right towards me with her friend Ava, the lycan princess. They both were missing for a year! We searched the world for them! And they appeared just like that? Was Darren here too?

"Sorry about that!" Ava rushed to the door of the Jelly Bean.

"Sorry, we are late!" Sky giggled as her eyes grazed over me, evoking no emotion on her face whatsoever.

"What the f*ck?" Kayden breathed out next to me.

Both girls walked past us as if they didn't know us. This was not normal! Sky and I were good friends; we were more than friends… we were family! If Darren was my brother, Sky was my new sister. She had to recognise me!

But she didn't, and that only meant something was very wrong with her and her friend.

Kay and I exchanged concerned glances, forgetting about our little war, and we both got out our phones.

Darren's number was on speed dial, and I waited for the signal to come through.

"Hi, Rory," he picked up, and his voice was so…empty. "This is not a good time, to be honest."

"Ren, Sky is here! She is on the Alpha Island!"

AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, how was the surprise? We've got more for you in the Alpha Island ARC group on sss. Something special is waiting for you there tomorrow :) Also, don't forget to help with chapter names.

P.S. The poem and the poet's name used in this chapter are real, and you can find them online.