Page 83 of Draekora

It was a mark of just how much she wasn’t thinking that even when Roka’s body locked, she still didn’t realise the catastrophic enormity of what she had just done.

Before she could offer up more reassurance to the suddenly stricken-looking Meyarin, his hand flashed out to grip her wrist, holding her arm in place.

“Roka, what—” She trailed off when his eyes moved from her finger up to her face and she read the emotions there: Confusion. Fear.Anger.

Alex looked back at her hand and gasped loudly as belated understanding washed over her. She violently yanked her arm from his grip and curled her fingers tightly, hiding the miniscule drop of red—so very red—blood from view. But it was too late; the damage had been done.

“Roka,” she whispered, feeling her face pale. “Roka, please. I can—I can explain.”

His eyes were wild. “What manner of deceit is this?”

“Just—Just give me a second and hear me out,” Alex begged.

Roka started backing away from her, but she followed quickly after him.

“This is wrong,” he said, his voice low, horrified. “I—You—” He stopped retreating and inhaled a staggered breath. “You’re a Meyarin—I’vefoughtyou as a Meyarin! You’re bonded to a draekon and you can call forth theValispath, and yet… your blood… How can this be?”

“Roka, please,” Alex repeated urgently. “Just listen to what I—”

His face darkened as his gaze locked on her still tightly fisted hand, betrayal hitting his eyes. “You lied to me. You’ve been lying to all of us. You’re—You’re one ofthem, aren’t you?”

“Roka—”

“Answer me!”

At his roar, Alex jumped in fright, her hand automatically opening again, allowing his gaze to narrow in on the small smear of red at the tip of her index finger.

The fury blazing in his eyes caused Alex to tremble outwardly as prickles of electricity fired along her nerve endings, so acute was her feeling of dread. She didn’t know what to do; she didn’t know how to respond in the face of his wrath, in the face of her deceit. She mouthed his name, unable to call up any sound to form a response, and something in him snapped, sending him stumbling away from her. She reached out a hand to stop him, but it was too late. He activated theValispathand disappeared without once looking back.

Shaking fiercely, Alex reacted on instinct. She knew she was too upset to even think about being calm enough to tune into her Meyarin abilities and call up theValispath, so she did the only thing she could. She bolted.

Running through the palace, hurtling past startled Meyarins going about their own business, Alex was blind to everything as she sprinted as fast as her legs could carry her.

Alex! What’s happened?

Her steps faltered as Xiraxus screamed into her mind, his voice filled with concern as he registered her fear. Barely keeping from tripping over her own feet, she continued her mad dash along the hallways and spiral staircases, answering him as she flew through the palace.

Xira, I was so stupid!she cried.I need to get out of here!

Where are you?

Heart pounding and panting heavily from fear, she answered,Nearly back at my room.

I’m on my way.

That was all he said. He was coming for her, no questions, no hesitations.

Almost dizzy from her whirlwind of emotions, Alex tore along the corridors, cursing the enormity of the Meyarin palace and her limited human speed. Without being able to use theValispath, it was a mission to get anywhere in a rush, but Alex still made it back to her room in record time, throwing the door open and slamming it behind her. She skidded to a halt and stood frozen in place, so terrified that she couldn’t gather a clear thought as to what to do next.

A massive shadow blocked the glow of the city under the moonlight, followed quickly by athumpas Xiraxus landed precariously on the edge of her balcony, his massive body barely able to maintain a foothold. Seeing him there, with his black scales melting into the night and his anxious eyes shining bright in the darkness, Alex didn’t hesitate. She darted straight for him, taking a running leap to scramble up the side of his body.

The moment she was secure with her arms gripping tightly at the base of his neck, she screamed, “Go, go,go!”

He didn’t need any more encouragement to heave his body off the spiralling tower, freefalling until his wings caught a wind current and hoisted them back into the air.

Only when the radiant city was far below them did Alex start to calm somewhat, the trembles running through her frame easing as the distance between her and Roka increased.

Show me, Alex, Xiraxus said gently, soaring them ever upwards through the night’s sky.

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