Frostbite (The Dragonian, #3) - Adrienne Woods Page 0,89
as I opened the door to the room I’d slept in.
I could hear Cheng and Tanya still talking. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but I bet I knew what it was about. They were wrong, I would never come to terms with it, and I would make Cheng promise me never to tell them who I was. Even if I had to scare the living crap out of him, I wasn’t going to claim the Rubicon.
I became tired again and fell asleep as I refused to think about anything anymore. I loved Lucian and Cara was my dragon, it was going to stay that way. Even if it killed me.
HE NEXT MORNING I walked in on Cheng and Anna having a conversation around the breakfast table. Tanya wasn’t there and Anna gave me an awkward smile.
“Come, sit down have some breakfast, princess,” Cheng said and smiled.
I pulled out one of the nine chairs and slumped down onto the seat. “Don’t call me that.”
He chuckled. “You are one, doesn’t matter what you say.”
“Now I know how Lucian felt.”
They both chuckled.
“I liked him, I’m sorry that he died,” Anna said right before she put a heap of scrambled egg into her mouth.
“It turns out that Anna’s dad is the leader, or the Khumutsi, as you call him?” Cheng asked her.
She nodded. “He’s not all that bad once you get to know him.”
“I bet.” I played with my food.
“Eat, it’s a long way back,” Cheng said.
“We can fly back.”
“Elena!”
“Don’t, Cheng.”
He dropped it and the table fell silent.
I still couldn’t think about it, let alone consider it. She was my life, she kept me alive. I was too weak to survive, if I killed her now, I’d die anyway.
The door flew open and Tanya came in. “You have to go, now.”
“Mom!” Anna jumped from her chair with huge unblinking eyes.
“Your father has a deep fascination with Cheng, Anna. He doesn’t want him to leave.” She looked at Cheng. “You should’ve never told him what you were, Cheng. He’s always wanted a Crown-Tail. Now get your bags and follow me.”
We didn’t need to be asked twice and followed Tanya to the back of their house. She moved a painting away and pressed a button. A door that was hidden in one of the wall panels opened. Two familiar chairs covered with cobwebs looked back at us.”
“You have an elevator?”
“He doesn’t know about it, now go.”
We sat down on the chairs. “Where will this take us?” Cheng asked.
“Don’t worry, you’ll have enough time, just remember your promise Cheng.”
“What promise?” I looked at both of them but Cheng looked away.
The door of Tanya’s apartment flew open again and male voices filled the room.
“There is no time, just keep quiet,” Tanya whispered. She didn’t even cover the opening.
The men found her and she stood by the window pretending to look outside. My heart sat in my throat as the men saw me and Cheng.
I almost jumped up but Cheng held me down and shook his head.
Was he blind, they were going to kill us. I glared back at him and he tapped on his head with his finger and pointed at Tanya.
I looked at her figure still standing as if nothing was wrong at the window.
“Where are they?” one of the men asked.
“They left last night,” Tanya had questions in her eyes. “You didn’t take them out?”
One of the guys spoke on the radio and I could hear another answering back. They all turned around and exited. When the coast was clear Tanya came back to us.
“Why didn’t they see us? We were right in front of them.” I asked, shock mixed with surprise and relief laced my tone.
Cheng started to laugh.
“I’ll take that as a compliment, Elena,” Tanya said and gave Cheng two kisses on the cheek. She turned to me and I pulled myself away from her. “Okay, just take care and do as you are told, Elena. She will kill you if you ascend and she’s still inside of you. Don’t let your parents’ sacrifice be for nothing,” she begged.
“Remember our promise, please,” she said to Cheng again. “Take care.” She closed the door.
“What promise, Cheng?”
The two chairs dropped and I took a breath when they came to a halt. We flew forward and the chairs threw us into the air. I fell with a thud onto the ground.
It was night time and I looked back. The Acker Woods were behind us and there was no sign of an elevator.