Page 51 of Brutal Alpha Dragon

I shrug as I get to my feet and take a seat beside her. “He was bad enough to steal me away from here without letting me tell you guys,” I sigh. “He was bad for me.”

Though the words leave my mouth, they’re not words I truly believe. If I did, I wouldn’t feel a pang of guilt grip my insides as if I’m committing the greatest sin.

Lying.

But that’s what I’ll have to do if I’m meant to be back here. Back to my world—the real world. Where I have to go on with my life.

And where I have to pretend that I hadn’t met the man of my dreams. The dragon man hadn’t walked out of my deepest fantasies to show me that I was living a lie all this time.

It was my life that had been a lie. Because in the human world, I’d only faced suffering. I didn’t belong. I knew I didn't belong here since I was old enough to understand.

And now that I’m back in the place where I don’t belong, I have to forget that Aurora Island exists. A place where I felt like I belonged, even as a prisoner behind four luxurious silk walls.

Violet takes my hand and folds it on her lap. “He was good enough for you to run away with in the first place.” she points out.

“Can we just drop this conversation?” I ask with a nervous giggle. “How’s Mom and Dad? Have they been well?”

“Oh, they’ve been fine, Lils,” Violet blows nonchalantly. “They’re not even here. Dad booked a weekend away for the two of them. They’re camping somewhere in the mountains,” she giggles.

“Really?” I ask with genuine surprise. “What about you? How’s school?”

“Well, remember that Hanz scholarship I applied for?” When I nod, Violet continues. “Well, I got it!” she beams excitedly.

“Oh, my God!” I exclaim, flinging my arms around my sister. “Congrats, Vi!”

For so long, I thought my family wouldn’t survive without me. It comes as a pleasant surprise that they actually can. I’d been tormenting myself, believing that I always had to be around. Yet, these past two weeks have proven that my absence wouldn’t kill anyone.

I wish I’d known sooner.

The day drags on, with me sleeping off most of it. Violet goes about her day researching for her college paper, leaving me to my own devices.

Thankfully.

When sunset rolls by, I feel the intensity of the sun’s rays penetrating the blinds and heating the room. It’s impossible to sleep at this time of the day, when the evening draws closer.

Yawning and stretching my arms over my head, I pull myself out of the rather uncomfortable bed. My bones had grown accustomed to the luxury of the bedroom I’d been held captive in. So, I know it’ll take some time to readjust to my old life.

I drag my feet toward the window, gazing at the horizon as it glows with orange and purple hues. While the sun finds its resting place for the night, it gives way to the moon’s dominance in the sky.

I strain my gaze as if I might see him. See the golden dragon with ruby crystals for spikes gliding through the air toward me. But I no longer feel like the princess locked in the castle, protected by the fire-breathing dragon.

I’m just Lily Turner again. Not the human virgin destined to be the Alpha dragon’s mate. Not the measly human he finally warmed up to.

I’m just good ol’ me, having to go back to my old life.

As I wipe at the stray tear that rolls down my cheek, escaping the prison of my eyes, I see Draco’s face in my mind. As if it’s been etched there to remain as a memory, I can’t believe that the last time I saw him was last night.

If I’d known, perhaps I would have carved a better picture. A clearer one.

Or maybe I would have put up a fight. Only this time, it would have been a fight to stay in Aurora Island.

Chapter 21 - Draco

Three Days Later

A knock on the door wakes me, and I reluctantly open my eyes. As I yawn and stretch, another knock sounds on the door.

“Coming!” I call out with a hoarse throat. Parched, I reach for the glass of water on the nightstand.

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