between the Lycan and I. I was only able to hold the barrier up a few hours after I left him.
I believed I was safer with the dragon because if this dragon who carried and protected me against his chest wanted to hurt me he would have done so the first night he had me. This is what my logic told me.
“He follows, he’s nearing, but don’t be distraught I won’t let him take you again.” He said to me.
“Do us both a favor and kill him because he won’t leave me alone,” I uttered. “He did something… irreversible to me. I will never be the same. If I had enough strength, I would kill him myself.”
“It is too late for that little sister. You shouldn’t have run from me when I first found you. But don’t worry when I’m through with him, he’ll wish he was dead.” He said running. But I now felt Ly, so he had to do something and do it fast because the Lycan very likely had us in his sights.
Just then I heard his outraged howl. Yes, he definitely had us in his sights. Probably thought it was Darius who had me now.
“Climb on my back… over my shoulder, and don’t let go. I’m taking you home.” He automatically began shifting.
With the last surge of my strength I did as he said, perhaps because of his reassuring words and also because finally I had found where I belonged, family.
His great expanse of leathered wings opened wide, began climbing into the sky. Lying face down on my brother’s back… I barely had to hold on because his back was so massive in beast form. I felt the dragon dip, and knew he attacked the Lycan. Fearing he would burn him, I tried to look to see what it was he was doing. He was flying low ahead of Ly, taunting him.
“Keep your distance. He is faster than he looks… Please, just take me away.” I knew I was safe for now, so I just said to leave the beast alone hoping he understood me because I knew he had wanted vengeance when he’d said he would make him pay. I was full of contradictions it would seem because now I couldn’t imagine wanting the Lycan harmed.
Once I knew there was enough distance between us, I let the gentle breeze comfort me enough, warily falling asleep, and soon everything was forgotten.
__________________
I woke up alone in a strange bed. No dragon, no brother, and with painful realization no Lycan. The worst part about it was so obvious to me. Why should I feel pain knowing the Lycan would not bother me again? A hunger pang struck painfully through me, and I realized I had my answer.
I decided I’d had enough, that I shouldn’t be thinking about him in the first place, find another viable source; therefore, I tried remembering everything I could from last night. I was in a spacious, stone and cherry wood cabin, and I couldn’t help but wonder if this was home. I could scarcely remember what happened when my brother brought me here last night, but I did remember how frantic he looked trying to get me to respond. There were flashes of memory from when I was brought in, mostly my brother’s concerned face. I remembered someone else with him, a woman. She was a witch, and she worked relentlessly on me all through the night, while I did my best to stop her. I was done with witches, but it appeared- they weren’t done with me.
They both tried feeding me their blood, but my brother was insistent it should be his blood I take. Every time they fed me, moments after I would empty it out again. I was so confused and disoriented because many times they spoke in a language I didn’t understand. I was a foreigner here in so many ways. There was a mutual understanding between them. He’s my brother , my mind whispered- He would not conspire with the witches against me. How could I be so sure? I know nothing about him.
I heard a noise somewhere in the cabin. It comes from her, but no sound of him anywhere in the cabin.
I was now in a large wooden carved bed with the softest silver silk sheets on me.
I heard the woman humming somewhere within the
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