The Dragon Realm (Dark World The Dragon Twins #2) - Michelle Madow Page 0,36

cold didn’t bother me.

One of the perks of being a vampire.

After about a minute, the mist parted.

I was in a forest. One with trees similar to the ones in Canada. Snow-covered mountains towered around me, so tall that they looked like they could reach the stars.

My stomach lurched.

It can’t be possible.

The mist continued to clear, until it was gone.

I was at the end of a river.

Rohan stood at the riverbank, waiting for me. He watched me sadly as my boat floated up to the rocks and planted itself there.

He didn’t move toward me. It was like he was afraid to get closer.

“I shouldn’t be here,” I finally said, holding tightly to the edges of the boat. “Something went wrong. I need to go back.” I glanced behind me, but the mist was gone. It was just river, forest, and mountains as far as I could see.

“There is no ‘back,’” he said. “But there is a grand plan. Which means you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.”

“I’m meant to be on Avalon.”

He said nothing.

Because what else was there to say? I looked up at the moon, which was a sliver away from being full, and felt Hecate’s magic watching over me. I trusted Hecate, and I trusted Fate.

So why were they doing this to me?

I reached for my key necklace, wanting an answer. But in my heart, I already knew the answer.

My destiny wasn’t on Avalon. If it were, I would have passed the Trials.

But that didn’t make me feel like any less of a failure.

“How far are we from the Vale?” I asked.

“A few kilometers,” he said. “Not a far walk—or run. Unless you want to teleport us back. Whatever you prefer.”

“We can walk,” I said, and I hopped out of the boat. “But I don’t feel like talking.”

He nodded, then led the way, respecting my wishes and walking back to the Vale with me in silence.

24

Harper

I woke before sunset—again.

Despite the room fit for royalty that King Alexander had given me in the Vale, with a plush canopy bed far more comfortable than what I’d had in Utopia or the Haven, I was barely managing a few hours of sleep each day. I’d spent more time tossing and turning than actually sleeping.

In the precious hours that I did sleep, I dreamed of the Trials. But when I woke up, the memories always faded.

No one remembered the Trials. Not even those who’d passed them.

Giving up on falling back asleep, I picked up the book on my nightstand and opened it to the marked page near the center. It was a science-fiction book about a group of people who’d been transported by plane to a bleak future. I’d chosen it out of the many in the Vale’s library because the main character shared my name. It seemed as good of a reason to choose a book as any, and reading it was keeping my mind off the fact that I’d failed the Angel Trials.

I’d failed the Trials.

I still couldn’t believe it.

I read until there was a knock on the door. My morning glass of blood, always delivered at the same time by Lucy, a non-royal vampire who worked in the palace. She had a chipper attitude that no one should ever be allowed to have in the early morning.

I placed the book down and walked to the door, preparing myself for Lucy’s bright smile and peppy greeting.

But Lucy wasn’t there.

Rohan stood in her place. He held two glasses of blood, and he didn’t look happy.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said.

“I’ve been busy.”

“Busy brooding in your room.”

“What can I say? I’m good at brooding.” I glanced at the glasses of blood in his hand. “I only need one.”

Newly turned vampires oftentimes had less control over their bloodlust, so they were allowed more blood as they adjusted to their new life. But not me. I’d been doing fine with regular portions.

“These aren’t both for you.” Rohan gave me a devilish grin. “One’s for me.”

“Tell me you’re not inviting yourself into my room for breakfast.”

“I can’t, because that would be a lie. And if there’s one thing I’m not, it’s a liar.” He strode into my room, placed the glasses on the table, and made himself comfortable on one of the plush chairs. “Lucy’s coming over any minute to drop off the pancakes,” he continued, as if he hadn’t just barged in without an invitation. “I heard you’ve only been living off blood. And while it’s true that vampires don’t need food to survive, the