Chapter 148 Venturing Into the Dragon World

Chapter 148 Venturing Into the Dragon World
LYRIANNE

Come morning, we all find out that Finn left the estate and we have no idea where he's gone. He didn't even bother telling Zorah what happened between us, and she's a little sad about that. 

In truth, I have no idea why she still expects so much from him when he has made it clear that he changed a lot since he left for the academy years ago. The Finn we grew up with and loved changed completely, and I guess that's hard for both of us to accept, but doing so spares us from having to feel the pain of his new personality. 

Honestly, I'm glad we're no longer mates. 

The Finn I loved was the old one who used to mess around with us and joked every chance he got. The man we've been around isn't him, and there's no reason why we need to stay caught up in the past, imagining something that isn't valid anymore. 

I've already come to terms with the fact that I have to let him go, but Zorah, being his sister, is still way too attached to him. I don't blame her, but I can't lie to her and say that it hurts me when it doesn't anymore. 

Besides, we have way bigger things to worry about right now. If we let Morian go ahead with his cruel plan, more than half of Eron will be killed. Women, children, old people. You name it.

We can't let that happen, no matter what. 

One thing I've come to understand is that Alpha Serion Delacourt was single-handedly responsible for the persecution of halfbloods and any full-blooded wolf who dared to consort with a human, like my mother did. 

Lorcan agrees with this, too. It was their family tradition. From the beginning of time, the Delacourts have fought for an Eron free of human and dragon influence. They were always worried that their race would be washed out completely and replaced.

The way things are headed now, they might just be right, but it's the full-blooded wolves' fault this time, not ours. 

Zorah decides to join us on our journey, and I think that it's partly because she has no place to go. She's definitely terrified about going to a land where there are only dragons, and in truth, who isn't? 

I know for a fact that I'm terrified, and Lorcan tries to be strong, but inside he's nervous, too. 

Those creatures are supposed to be extinct, for crying out loud. What do they even want from me?

I only exchange a few words with my father before we leave. He tells me that he isn't sure when he will see me again, and honestly, I don't know, either. I do have a feeling that I'll never see him again, but I don't say the words out loud. It's just a feeling. 

"It was great meeting you for the first time," he tells me sincerely. "You remind me of your mother, and I never thought I'd see her face again, not in this life."

"A lot of people told me I look like you," I admit. 

He shrugs. "I don't see the resemblance. You're far too beautiful and I, well, I'm just an old man."

"You're not old," I remark. "You're not even forty yet."

"I feel old," he claims with a wistful smile. "I guess it's because I've been living with so much pain for so long. Pain and longing. Regret." He steps closer to me and cups my cheek. "I don't want you to live that way. Don't make sacrifices that would ruin your life, Lyrianne. Don't give up on the people you truly love, no matter what."

I nod. "I won't."

He nods, lets his hand drop to his side, then steps back. I know it's time to go without it having to be announced. 

Traveling to the dragon world is even worse than the trip to Cassea. It's the longest trip of my entire life, and by the time we get there, I forget what my own name is. The boat rocked back and forth the whole trip, and I couldn't keep a morsel of food down. Fifteen days later, we have arrived, though. 

At first, looking around makes me realize there's not much to it, mostly because all I can see is the shore and the palm trees way ahead. The sun is hotter than anything I could've ever imagined and it's almost like I can feel my skin burning. 

"You're on your own now," my father's guy says as he hops back onto the small boat that brought us ashore. The bigger one is swaying in the distance. "I can't venture past those trees. Dragons and I don't really get along."

"But what do we do now?" I ask, agitated. "How do we get back?"

He shrugs. "Sorry, that wasn't part of the arrangement. I was told to bring you all here and that's it. Good luck. I'm sure you'll figure something out."

My mouth falls open as I watch him row away. Lorcan steps behind me and squeezes my shoulders. Zorah throws her arms up and says, "Great. Now, we're supposed to navigate all of this by ourselves! Do the dragons even know we're supposed to be here, or are they going to eat us?"

"I don't think Lyrus would send his daughter here without a plan. That guy's just being an asshole," he says confidently. I turn around to meet his gaze and he nods at me. "We've gotta get you out of the sun. Come on. Let's head toward the trees."

Zorah starts to argue, but she has no choice but to follow us. When we get to the tree line, I feel a lot better, but the humidity paired with the heat is an awful combination and I'm still sweating like crazy. 

"I think I might need some water," I claim, knowing how it sounds. Looking up, I ask, "Do you see a coconut anywhere?"

"I don't—"

Suddenly, before I know it, we're surrounded by these warrior-looking type of people wearing all leather and speaking a language that I've never heard before. It's completely different from ours. 

"Hey!" Zorah yells. "You're poking me with that spear! Hey!"

Lorcan and I make eye contact as our hands are tied behind our backs. Oddly enough, I feel calm. I don't know what this means, but I'm not going to bother panicking when we're already here and there's no turning back. 

I guess we'll have to see where it goes, and as we're dragged away from the shoreline, I realize that maybe I should've thought this through a little more.