Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“He’s closer than a brother,” Kaitlyn said firmly. “Which is why Ari and I are going to be standing by to make sure nothing goes wrong when they actually decide to go. If anything starts to go wrong, we can Shift instantly.”
“Shouldn’t you already be Shifted?” Emma asked. “Just to save time in case…” She cut her eyes at Saint meaningfully.
Kaitlyn shook her head.
“Having two other Drakes already shifted near his l’lorna would only agitate Saint’s Drake. “Besides, Ari and I can both Shift very quickly when we need to.”
“Kaitlyn is correct,” Saint said quietly. “My Drake is absolutely obsessed with the idea of having Avery to himself. “And please don’t worry for his safety—if anything, finally getting to hold and, er, cuddle him will probably calm him down a lot.”
I didn’t know how I felt about being “cuddled” by a Cursed Drake, but it didn’t seem like I would have much choice. So I simply said, “See?” to the girls and nodded confidently at Saint.
“Well…when are you going?” Megan asked, sounding resigned. “I mean, as long as we can’t talk you out of it. But I do want to be there—just like we were there for Kaitlyn when she first rode Ari’s Drake,” she added.
“Yes, same,” Emma agreed instantly.
“Well…” I began.
“Why not tonight?” Saint suggested.
“Tonight?” My voice came out sounding squeaky and high and I had to cough and clear my throat to try and bring it down out of the atmosphere. “I mean…aren’t you tired, baby?” I asked him.
“I am tired from holding in my Drake all week,” Saint said and I saw the weariness in his eyes. “He longs so much to hold you, mi Corazon—every day the struggle to keep him contained grows harder.”
“I guess you could fly to the Sky Lands tonight, break the curse tomorrow and be back before classes on Monday,” Emma said thoughtfully.
“Well, that would be convenient, I guess,” I said, trying to smile.
To be honest, I’d been hoping to put this off a bit longer—not just because I secretly feared Saint’s Drake, (even though I definitely did) but also because I was about one hundred percent certain I would lose him after the curse was broken. It had been so nice this past week, having a real boyfriend to hold hands with and cuddle with and sit with at mealtimes.
But then I remembered what I had told Saint, about letting him go. Maybe he just wasn’t meant to be mine—at least not for very long. And there was no point in putting off something you feared or dreaded—it was better to get it over with.
It was time to meet Saint’s Drake.
32
AVERY
The athletic field behind the school is the only place a full-grown Drake—especially one as big as Saint’s—could safely come out at Nocturne Academy. So that was where we went—me and my whole coven. Well, except for Jalli. She didn’t dare to bring her chimelings when Saint’s Drake was going to be out in the open. So she had stayed back with them to keep them safe.
I didn’t blame her. Part of me wished I could hide in the Norm Dorm too. But hiding doesn’t break curses—courage does. Or so I told myself as we all trooped out to the field.
All of us stood in a loose semi-circle with Kaitlyn and Ari on my left and Megan and Griffon on my right. Emma was next with Bran and Lachlan on either side of her. All of us waited while Saint stripped down to his shorts and then walked to the very center of the field.
“When it happens, it’s going to happen fast,” I heard Ari muttering to Kaitlyn. “We should be ready to Shift.”
“I am.” Kaitlyn lifted her chin. “I won’t hesitate if it looks like Avery’s in danger.”
I was glad my two Drake friends had my back—though I wasn’t sure having three giant Drakes on the athletic field would be better than having one.
“Guys, I’ll be okay,” I said to them trying to make myself believe it. “Saint’s Drake loves me—he won’t hurt me.”
“No, probably not. But the love of a Drake can be…intense,” Ari said, frowning in a worried way that put an extra knot in my stomach. “We just want to be certain that Saint’s Drake is careful with you, Avery—we want to be sure he doesn’t love you too hard.”
I had a sudden dismal image of the huge Drake squeezing me in one giant, clawed hand because he was so excited to finally get to “cuddle” me. It would be like that awful scene in Of Mice and Men, which we had dissected in English class, where George loves his pet rabbit to death.
But no—I couldn’t let myself think like that. I had to trust my boyfriend, I told myself. I knew how much Saint cared for me and a great deal of that love and devotion was coming from his Drake. It might be Cursed and completely insane, but the emotions it had for me were unwavering. I had to trust that it would take care of me, the same was Ari’s Drake had taken care of Kaitlyn before she had a Drake herself.