Page 56 of The Dragon's Warlock

18

Diem

Each day, it got harder to get out of bed. Diem wanted to sleep and forget about the world around her. The beast who used to be loud barely spoke to her. It had been more than a week since she’d changed.

Kayda’s attitude wasn’t getting any better. She was a bitch to everyone, and she wouldn’t talk to her. In the beginning, Diem had pretty much begged her sister to talk. She didn’t even know why she was still at Kia’s house. It was time to move on. Gideon wasn’t coming for them. He’d moved on.

She knew Kirin and Kia had talked to him because every so often, she would walk into the room, and they would change the subject. Being a shifter, she knew what they were talking about way before she entered the room. Gideon had gotten memories back, and he was working on some special projects for Kirin.

Things would be easier if she left. But where would I go? She didn’t have a car or a job. Since her dragon barely made a sound in her head anymore, maybe she could go back to being a pilot.

“He’ll come for you,” Alida said.

Diem jumped. Over the past month, Alida would pop in and out of the house, scaring the crap out of her each time. But very rarely would she pop into Diem’s room without her parents.

“Where’s your dad?” Diem asked.

Alida walked across the room and sat on the bed next to her. “He’s with Uncle Kia in the computer room, and Mom is home with my baby sister. He misses you.”

Diem felt the tears well up. She wasn’t going to have a conversation about her feelings with the young girl. Alida wouldn’t understand. “It doesn’t matter. He’s not here.”

The young girl's eyes flashed white for a second. “He’s trying to fix things. I told him not to fight the pull.” Alida frowned.

Diem couldn’t hold back the laugh. “The grumpy thousand-year-old warlock only listens to himself. Maybe things are better this way. I think it’s time I pack and go on my way.”

The last thing she wanted to do was overstay her welcome at Kia and Lucy’s house. She’d become good friends with Lucy. But they were already taking care of her sister. She couldn’t keep expecting them to take care of her. It was time she left. Maybe she would head down to Cassadaga and spend time in the fairy gardens.

Lucy walked into the room and looked from the girl to her. “Alida, I think your dad was looking for you.”

“Okay.” Alida jumped off the bed and turned toward her. “Just wait a little longer.”

Diem didn’t have time to respond to the girl’s statement before Alida vanished. Well, that works when you want the last word.

“Wait for what?” Lucy asked.

“I think it’s time I leave, and if you need me to take Kayda, I understand.”

“You don’t have to leave.” Lucy let out a sigh and sat in the chair near the corner. “Your sister shouldn’t leave. I just need a little more time with her.”

Lucy had worked with Kayda nonstop, trying to find something to help. Diem didn’t think it had anything to do with the transformation. Something was on Kayda’s mind, and she wasn’t opening up. Her sister wasn’t the same person she ’d been six months before, but Diem wondered if she’d really known her sister back then. She seemed to be good at keeping secrets.

“I think it’s time I go. Everything around here reminds me of him, and when I see you with your mate, it hurts.”

She didn’t want Lucy to feel bad or not be the person she was.

“Why don’t you go bang down his door?” Lucy asked.

She’d thought about it, but she was the one who’d gone after him last time. Yes, he went on the mission with her. Yes, he helped her get to her sister. But when everything was over, he hadn’t come for her.

“He doesn’t want me,” Diem said.

“I’m going to tell you something. After the rescue, Gideon had a rush of memories. Many bad things came back to him—things he did over the past hundred years. Many of them, he feels responsible for. He doesn’t think he’s good enough for you.”

This frustrated her more than anything else did because they’d talked about the fact that if he got his memories back, this should be something they worked out together. Instead, he didn’t want her to be part of his team. He only wanted her when he needed her.

“He’s taking the choice away from me. Maybe if I get out of town for a while, I can clear my head.”

Lucy didn’t have time to say anything because Alida appeared in her room again, and she wasn’t alone. Gideon was with her. He rushed to her side. “What’s wrong?”

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