A Fifth Daughter [Book 2: The Dragon Warrior]

Chapter ~ 5

~ Chapter 5: Might as Well be Late to My Own Party ~

"Please tell me this is some cruel trick." Eaton looks so tired. He's stressed and really wants to leave Wild Fairy territory – well, he wants to leave Fairy Tale altogether. And now to add to his ever changing mood I've explained Anakin's situation.

"It's not a trick," I hold up my hands defensively. "Although it is slightly cruel."

Eaton sighs like he holds the weight of the world. He runs his fingers through his silver and black hair and then runs that hand down his face. He's really over exasperating this whole thing.

"So, what are we going to do with him?" Tempest asks, glancing at the boy in question. Anakin fell asleep in our flight over, and still snores lightly on Cai's back, which has been a huge help to us, because we – more like I – don't have to worry about him asking questions and feeling insulted every time Eaton sighs like he's holding in fifty billion questions, when really he's controlling the urge to punch the kid.

"I don't know. But whatever we decide to do with him, it's not going to be giving him to the guy that hired me until I get more answers. Like what a kid from Earth is doing in Wild Fairy Jail?"

"Well, you might want to get going." Eaton taps his watch. "It's eleven thirty."

I nod, releasing a breath, before coming to a decision. "Okay, Tempest, you'll come with me and Anakin, Eaton you stay here and wait for us. Is Astrid ready to leave yet?"

Eaton nods and glances at his fiancé leaning against Fletcher. "She's just waiting to say bye to you."

I smile. There are very few things I get to enjoy now that I'm a Dragon Rider and a Runaway Princess (ugh): Someone waiting to give me a hug goodbye is just one of those things that makes me smile and feel human.

Astrid doesn't say anything when I walk over to her. Not even her hands move in words as she hugs me.

"I hope my family doesn't give you a hard time." I say, pulling back.

She smiles and shrugs, then mounts Fletcher. The turquoise dragon inclines his head to me. I definitely still think of him as Cai's separated twin, but there's one huge difference between them other than color; Fletcher has manners.

Cai doesn't give me an answer even as I feel his annoyance.

I smile a little more as Astrid takes off and disappears into the sky.

Cai shifts his curled legs and stands slowly, barely jolting the sleeping boy on his back. "We better get going, Smoke. Get this over with. Besides, you don't want to be too late."

"'Better late than never' isn't your motto, is it?"

"Those words shouldn't even form a sentence. It's just a horrible thing to live by. You'd always be late, and never want to change your ways."