Dracon (1st book of the Draconon Series)

Chapter 48

I pressed my lips into a thin line but didn't say a word while I took a deep breath and released it with a small whoosh, trying but failing to calm my nerves while I looked at the portal and the "secrets" it led to.

"Here," Targon said and held out his hand for me to take, and I looked at it before I looked at him with a blank look on my face. He bit back a small smile and tucked his head closer to his chest. "Let me have your hand, Your Majesty," he said and bowed his head ever so slightly while he looked at me through his eyelashes, "that way you will be able to close your eyes and not run into anything while you do so."

I set my jaw and narrowed my eyes while I stared at my guard, amused. "And who said anything about me running into something when I close my eyes, Targon?" I asked and raised an eyebrow in question, earning a small smirk from the man that had been a second father to me while I grew up.

"Experience, Your Majesty," he said with a small hum in his voice and bowed his head deeper and did not look at me. "This will be your first time going through a portal in a long time, and I know that you will be wanting to close your eyes before we are done going through the portal."

I bit back a small sigh and held back an eye roll while I did what he wanted me to do and placed my hand in his hand, and he instantly squeezed my hand before we started to walk to the portal.

"Go ahead and take a deep breath and close your eyes, Your Majesty," Targon said and looked at me from the corner of his eye. "Once you open your eyes, you will be back in your new home with your friends and Garthron waiting for you."

I set my jaw but did what I was told to do, closing my eyes without saying a word. My heart pounded hard and fast in my chest, and I couldn't help but feel nervous while Targon led me through the portal and back into my new home, wondering if Frederick would even be there.

"Clove!" multiple voices exclaimed at once as soon as I stepped through the portal, except for Frederick, and I opened my eyes to see that everyone that I knew was there and saw the relief in their eyes and faces when they saw that I was ok.

"Are you ok?" Miguel asked and stood while he walked over to me, and concern filled his eyes while he stared at me, and I set my jaw and slowly nodded in confirmation.

"I am," I said and let go of Targon's hand before I looked around the room and pressed my lips into a thinner line when I didn't see my mate. "Where is Frederick?" I asked and looked at Miguel, setting my jaw just a tad.

Miguel sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. He shook his head before he cleared his throat and shifted on his feet. "He left to cool off for a bit," he said with a small hum in his voice and tucked his head closer to his chest. "He was getting antsy and nervous about waiting for you to come back. It has been a while since you left, and he was getting antsy and was afraid that you had gotten hurt."

I bit back a small sigh and moved my hand across the back of my hand, grimacing. "Ya... it has been a lot harder for me to shift in my dragon form than we thought it would be..." I said before I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet. "Do you mind telling him that I am safe and alive?" I asked, and Miguel nodded in confirmation.

He did what I told him to do, and his eyes became glazed over before they became clear again while he looked at me. "He is on his way back to the house," he said, and a look of worry flashed through his eyes. "Do you want me to tell him not to?"

I bit back a small sigh before I shook my head and pursed my lips in annoyance. "It's fine," I said before I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet some more. "He can come here. It's not like I can stop him anyway..." I shrugged and grimaced.

"You can," Miguel said and slowly nodded. "I can tell him that you don't want to see him. It'll hurt, but..." He shrugged and grimaced, clearing his throat. "He will understand."

I didn't say a word and set my jaw tighter. My heart ached and became filled with pain, but I did not know if I wanted to see him or not, even though a part of me didn't, especially since I was still mad at him and the way he made me feel.

"Go ahead and see him, Dear," Yana said, and I looked at her with hard eyes. She smiled and tucked her head closer to her chest, not phased about the look on my face. "I know that you are still mad at him, but it would be for the best, especially since Alphas are... very protective of their mates."

I bit back a small sigh of annoyance and nodded, relenting. "Ok," I said and looked at Miguel. "He can continue to come over to the house and see me, Miguel."

"After that, I do suggest that you rest. It has been a hard shift for you both, and I know that you are going to need it." She gave me a pointed look, and I pressed my lips into a thin line but didn't say a word.

"Why?" Antonio asked and looked between the three of us with furrowed brows and a small frown on his face while he looked at me. "I thought she had shifted before you all had to do this." He looked at Targon when he said that, and I held back an eye roll while I pressed my lips into a thin line.

"She did," Targon confirmed with a quick nod. "However, something happened which caused her to be in pain while she shifted into her dragon form again..." He looked at my grandmother when he said that and raised an eyebrow in question, silently asking her if she knew what happened and why.

"And I will see what caused that," Yana said with a small chuckle in her voice while she nodded. She cleared her throat and grew serious while she walked over to me, and I looked at her with wide eyes. "I do have to go, Sweetheart," she said and patted my arm, sympathetically. "I have stayed long enough and have outstayed my welcome."

My throat closed when she said that, but I slowly nodded and didn't say a word while I looked at her because I knew that I wouldn't be able to change her mind while my heart slowly started to break.

But I just got you back...

My grandmother's face broke out into a wide grin as if she knew what I was thinking and chuckled. "Oh, Baby Girl," she said with a small laugh in her voice while she pulled me into a hug, and I couldn't help but hug her back and close my eyes. "You aren't going to lose me, again, Love," she said and chuckled while she pressed a kiss to the side of my head. "I just have to get home and take care of some things that I cannot do here." She pulled away from me and patted my cheek. "I have to train you, anyway."

I raised an eyebrow in question. "Train me?" I asked, and she nodded in confirmation. I furrowed my brows and cocked my head while I studied her. "Why? With what?"

My grandmother smiled sadly and shook her head, and sadness filled her eyes while she looked at me. "You will know in time, Dear," she said and patted my cheek one last time. "For now, talk things out with your mate. He will be here soon and learn what you can from Targon. If you need me, call for me, and I will come. I promise."

I pressed my lips into a thin line but didn't say a word while I looked at her.

My grandmother's smile turned sadder while she patted my cheek again. "I will be near, Dear," she promised and tucked her head closer to her chest and stared at me through her eyelashes with tears in her eyes. "Behave and learn what you can ok? I will see you soon."

I bit back a defeated sigh and slowly nodded because I knew that I wouldn't be able to change her mind. "I will see you soon, Yana. Thank you." I hesitated and licked my lips before I cleared my throat and shifted on my feet. "Thank you for everything. I appreciate it."

My grandmother smiled and nodded. "Until the fire burns brighter than the setting sun, my love for you will never waver, my Dear."

"And until the moon shines brightly in the sky and death is upon us, you will never travel alone, for I will be by your side until the end of time," I said, saying the greeting I had been taught a long time ago.

My grandmother smiled and nodded when she heard me say the greeting. "Until the end of time, Dear."

And with that and a flick of her wrist, my grandmother disappeared into thin air without a single trace that she had been there except for the aching in my heart.

Oh Gods help me...