Chapter 129 - I want to go home

HADRIAN

The scent of disinfectant and ink is ample and burns in my nostrils. The drill of the needle hums in a never-ending song. Lucas whines and whimpers with every draw of the needle on his skin.

I understand the urge to roll my eyes now.

The tattoo artist smirks. The woman is covered in tattoos and many of them are visible. She has long black hair and has stained her lips with a deep dark maroon red. Her eyes are lined with charcoal and it makes them sharp.

She reminds me a little of Lela. There is something sinister about her.

I sink further and further into the sofa as the hours pass. Nero has already fallen asleep. He’s peacefully napping now. Even though he isn’t constantly on the forefront I can feel his presence. There’s a sense of protection and security even when he sleeps.

“All done, pretty boy.” The tattoo artist says with a final wipe over his back.

Lucas sighs in relief and dramatically wipes the perspiration from his brows. He rises from the seat and twists and turns in front of the mirror to see the result.

“Are you next, handsome?” The woman asks me with a wink.

“No.” I get up from the sofa. I’m so ready to leave this place.

“Come on, man,” Lucas complains in a whine that I had to listen to for the past three hours. “You promised.”

“That was before…” I let my words fade. He can fill in the blanks. It was before I marked Emma and recovered. A cut or prick of a needle will heal in a matter of seconds. Anyone could figure out what I am if they watch injuries heal before their eyes.

“Fine,” Lucas grumbles. He turns his back my way. “What do you think?”

The eagle is drawn with a detail that has me surprised. The wings span wide from shoulder to shoulder. They are defined with every shade of gray in the spectrum.

Every edge of the feathers is sharp, the eyes are bright and the claws seem to jump out of his skin. There’s a darkness to the colorless image that makes it daunting and threatening.

Eagles are sacred animals that have a freedom that wolves will never experience. They can fly and that makes them majestic. They are strong and courageous. They are also wise birds and represent honesty and truth. It seems fitting.

“It looks good,” I say truthfully.

The woman moves to stand next to me with crossed arms. “He’s right, it really does.”

“You sound surprised by your own work,” I say as I peer down at the woman.

“I guess I am.” She shrugs her shoulders and twists her body my way. “Are you sure I cannot persuade you?”

Her eyes roam over my frame and her hand draws over my bicep with a light scratch of her nails. “I’ll even do it for free.” Her voice turns low and seductive.

What she’s trying to do would work if it wasn’t for the fact that her touch burns like acid and her voice scratches my eardrums.

“No.” I walk out of the shop and Lucas is quick to follow me.

He nearly stumbles as he puts on his jacket. He catches up to me. “Soo, are you and my sister still fighting?”

“We're not fighting,” I grumble, the annoyance is unwavering lately. More like for the last forty-eight hours.

“But you’re not talking either.” He concludes.

It’s been two days since Emma decided to reject me and simultaneously tell me that she was going on a date with Dex.

I might not know everything about their world, but I do know that humans go on dates to explore their romantic interest.

The idea alone sends a new wave of fury through me. I feel my muscles vibrate to a point where I might shift in the middle of town. I stop walking and take a deep breath to control myself. “Why are you suddenly so interested?”

Lucas dramatically swings his arms. “Because I’ve never seen two people more depressed in my life.”

Lucas releases a theatrical sigh. “This is worse than when she just came here. Now I have to deal with two of you.”

“Emma is depressed?” The idea makes the hurt in my chest grow. I don’t want her to be hurting. I would never want that.

“Of course she is, she loves you,” Lucas says with a punch on my shoulder. “So you better make up to her, before I have to kick your ass.”

“Shouldn’t you be happy with the distance between us?”

“I should,” Lucas grumbles and there’s apprehension. “But my gut is telling me that this is right. I know your loyalty wouldn’t compare to any human man.”

Different emotions are fighting inside my body. The hurt and possessiveness are stubborn and competing with the longing and hollowness. Both sides of my nature are relentless. But there’s one common concern and that is Emma. And now both sides are losing her.

We move further away from the tattoo parlor. I don’t engage and Lucas lets the topic go.

There’s silence between us until we get back to the house. Lucas stops me with a hand on my shoulder. “By the way, everyone expects Grace to be at the wedding.”

The wedding is tomorrow. Many of us have been helping with the preparations.

“Why are you telling me this?” I grumble.

Through the window, we can see Dex and the others on the sofa. We stand far enough that our voices don’t travel inside. The sky is darkening and we’re secluded from their sight.

Lucas scratches the back of his neck. The unease rolls off him in waves. “Well, hardly anyone has seen your supposed ‘girlfriend’.”

“My what?” I ask in a low growl.

“Word travels fast in a town like this,” Lucas argues in defense. “Dex had to only tell one other person of your night of passion.”

The whole reason that someone might even think that Graciella is my girlfriend is because of him. The idea sits sour in my stomach. It goes against my nature.

“Now everybody thinks you're one step away from getting hitched.” Lucas spins his hands around in a tumbling motion. “It’s how things work around here.”

“I don’t like this.”

“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice, buddy.” Lucas drapes his arm over my shoulder and guides me into the house.

———————

I lean my head against the wall when I don’t hear any sounds from the other side. Emma is not in her room and the question of where she might be nags at my chest. It’s already nighttime and she usually spends some time in her room before she goes to sleep. I could follow her scent and find out.

The hurt has not vanished overnight. If anything, it has only increased. But the distance makes my chest hollow. She’s in possession of my beating heart and without it I feel incomplete.

When I move to the window, I find a figure standing in the backyard. I recognize Graciella under the luminance of the moon.

I’m reminded of what Lucas said. The wedding is tomorrow. I should probably talk to her first. I climb out of the window and I don’t go to Emma’s room. I let myself drop to the ground instead.

“Can I ask you something?” Graciella immediately asks when I step into the backyard. Her voice is only a whisper, but I have no trouble hearing her.

“Sure,” I grumble as I cross the distance.

Sadness hovers around her as she turns around. “Do you know what happened to my father?”

I slow down my step and cast my eyes down. It’s unbecoming for someone from my stature, but shame overrules. “Why do you ask?”

“I’ve tried to mind-link him…” Her words taper off when she swallows. There's a tremble as she closes her eyes. “He’s dead, isn’t he?”

“Yes,” I confirm after a moment. She deserved to know sooner and I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t want to have this conversation. “He was punished for attacking a member of the royal family… me.”

Graciella shakes her head and tears brim her eyes. “My father wouldn’t do that.” There’s confusion marring her features.

“He was desperate to find you. He did things out of that desperation.”

I understand that consuming feeling all too well now. It takes over everything. It becomes more important than breathing. All that remains is the need to find her. I would’ve done the same if it would have let me to find Emma.

“He died from his injuries,” I say with shame and regret. Because maybe I could’ve stopped it if I just stood up to my father. “I couldn’t save him, I’m sorry.”

There’s pain in the tears that fall. There’s grief in the tremble of her hands and there is strength in the stern set of her features. This is not a surprise to her, but it still hurts. “I understand.”

Her endurance reminds me of Emma. I recognize it in many people here. It’s a power that comes from going through pain, it builds this fortitude.

“Before he died he made me promise that I would bring you home. I intend to keep that promise.”

Graciella gives me a small smile and nods. “I want to go home.”