I started the day with a huge Carla breakfast, surrounded by half the clan. “Did you plan this?” I asked around a mouthful of pancakes. I gestured around the room with my fork.
She laughed and shook her head, doling out another heaping stack of fluffy goodness. “No, all you hungry mouths just show up. I always have to be prepared.”
I knew what she meant. I’d been keeping my phone close by. Kara had said that emergencies could pop up at any time, and if it was something she thought I could handle, she’d be calling me to deal with it.
After breakfast, I took a long shower, leaving my phone out on the sink counter with the volume on high. When I was finished with that, I plopped down on my bed, feeling aimless.
Funny, three or so weeks ago, a whole day with nothing to do would’ve been the best possible day. Now, I felt incomplete, like there was something important I needed to be doing.
Eventually, I just dozed. My dreams were hazy and vague, but they somehow left me feeling hollow. My phone’s shrill ring jerked me from my impromptu nap.
Surprising how much I wanted it to be Kara. But it was Uncle Perry. He’d gone back to Arizona several days ago. Since he’d been gone, he’d called to check on me three times already.
And this would make four.
“Hello?” My tone of voice may not have been the best, but could anyone blame me? He acted like one of those moms that was too scared to let her kid play, so she kept him off the monkey bars or big slides.
“How’s it going?” Even though his voice sounded cheery and friendly, I knew the truth.
“I managed to burn the manor down, quit my job, and break Aunt Carla’s leg since the last time you called.”
Maybe that was a little too sarcastic. Oh, well.
“That’s not funny.”
“I’m sorry, come on.” I chuckled and sighed. “I know why you’re calling so much, but cut me some slack, man. I’m not screwing up. I don’t want to screw up. Contrary to what you all think, I do want to make you proud of me.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I won’t call as often, okay? But if you run into any trouble or if you just want to talk, you know how to get hold of me.”
“Okay. You got it. If anything gets too hard, I’ll talk it out with you. I promise.”
He sounded pleased as he hung up the phone. It would take a lot for me to call him for advice, but maybe it would get him off my back a little. I’d been telling the truth. I wanted this to go well. And after feeling this listless all day, I didn’t want to go back to my former lifestyle, even if I did have plenty of money.
With my skin crawling, I had to do something to stave off the boredom. I shot Kara a quick message. Okay with you if I go for a hike? I won’t have cell service.
She replied within minutes. Sure. We won’t likely get a call anyway, and I’m not busy. Have fun.
After a quick thanks, I stripped right in my room. Valor and I had worked on shifting quickly after we’d been kidnapped by some guys that didn’t want me to give up my other way of life. If we could’ve shifted quicker back then, we might’ve been able to escape them without having to be rescued by the might of the Kingston clan.
It had been so embarrassing. My family had to come to pick me up from the playground for being naughty. Ugh.
But since then, Valor and I had trained whenever possible, shifting, flying, and sparring with Jury’s and Maddox’s dragons.
I opened my bedroom window and launched myself out of the stuffy room, flying forward with a powerful push of my back legs. I barely felt the heat on my skin, but the rushing wind was refreshing. By the time my freefall really started, Valor would shift us and take off into the woods.
Except for this time, he didn’t. The ground rushed toward my face, and I screamed at the top of my lungs. At the last fucking second, Valor took over and shifted us smoothly, arcing upward and keeping us from slamming into the ground.
A little warning next time, and it won’t be such a close call.
I had a few choice words for my other half, and I let him have it as he flew us up and over the trees. Actually, there were a lot of words, and some I wasn’t quite sure were actual words, but it felt therapeutic to get them out.
As I often did to him, Valor ignored me.
I knew the warning thing was bullshit because I’d never given him any prior notice since the first time we’d ever shifted. He was always eager to shift, and since we’d begun training to shift on a dime, he’d been on point each and every time.
Suddenly, it was a big problem? I didn’t think so.
When he had the reins, my thoughts drifted across to him like they did when we were in my body. He could speak out loud or think back at me. He liked to talk aloud, though. Well, usually.
C’mon, Valor! I shouted at him internally. You know we aren’t in a position to be taking a mate. You can’t blame me for keeping my distance.
Strong feelings of betrayal swept through me. He thought I was being selfish and not considering his feelings. He didn’t have to say the words.
She’s a good choice for a mate. I don’t doubt she’d make a good one. But don’t you want what’s best for her instead of what we want?
Valor continued to ignore me. Of course. But Kara was strong, independent, and resilient. And I was a total spoiled brat. Not at all deserving of a woman like Kara.
We flew over
