Once upon a Dragon Gift (Once Upon a Dragon Series Book 4)

“The Rubicon’s orbs?” Tabitha asked as Brian and Lu stared at their empty plates.

“My dream set them off. It was like a beacon telling them that I needed them, and now it’s a constant bleeping in the back of my mind. I think it could guide me to them.”

“And you think they will get Elena back?” Brit questioned. “How exactly?”

“I don’t know yet. But I think it will come to me in dreams, like Garrison came to George.”

I had no idea where George and Becky were. My sister was also not here yet.

Brit’s left eyebrow raised as if whatever left my lips sounded far-fetched. It did, but the feeling inside of me when I thought about my orbs knew that I would succeed. I could save Elena.

“I know what it sounds like. My orbs are powerful. I just need to find them.”

I got up as a soft beacon was still in the back of my mind.

Footsteps rushed behind me. Lu walked with huge strides to keep up with me. “You really think you can do this?”

“Yeah, I need to speak to Master Longwei. See if you can find George, if we need Garrison—”

“No need to say more.”

Our paths split.

I rushed to Master Longwei’s office. The knock sounded urgent enough, and yet he took his sweet time.

The door finally opened. “Blake?”

“We need to talk.”

He stepped aside as I entered.

“Sit,” he said, and I plopped down in one of the chairs in front his desk as he took the seat behind his desk.

“I think my orbs are calling me.”

“What?”

“I think I know what they can do.”

Master Longwei stared at me; surprise made his eyebrows arch. “What do they do, Blake?”

“Whatever I need them to do. They can get Elena back. I don’t know how, but I saw it.”

Master Longwei nodded. “I’m not the one you need permission from, as not all of your orbs are here behind the wall.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning that some of them are on the other side, Blake.”

“I have to go back?”

He nodded. “What does the calling sound like?”

“It’s an irritating bleep, but it’s manageable.”

“You need King Albert’s permission now that the Ancients are no longer part of the decision making.”

I nodded.

Another knock sounded at his door.

Master Longwei sighed, showed me with his hand to wait for a second. He opened the door.

“Is Blake here?” George sounded alarmed.

“George,” Master Longwei greeted, and George entered.

His gaze locked with mine. “You had that vision, didn’t you?”

I frowned.

“The one about your orbs, Blake.”

“You saw that?”

“I told you there was something. I felt it first, but I didn’t know what it was, just that there was hope.”

“You had a vision of my orbs?”

The corner of his lips fanned into a smile. “They can get her back.”

“You saw it?” I was more adamant now.

He nodded. “They can get her back.”

“How?”

“Something tells me one of us will see that soon. We need to get them.”

The second presence, it was George.

“We need to speak to King Albert,” I said to George. He’d come back to my room once we finished up with Master Longwei.

“That is what your orbs can do?” Lu asked.

Brian was there with Brit and Tabitha.

“You saw me with monks.”

George nodded. “I don’t know where it is.”

“I think I do. My dad once took me there when I was little. The only people on the other side of the wall that still truly believe in our existence.”

“Monks?” Lu questioned.

“Yeah. I know it’s hard for you to grasp as you are human. Wait, your father never communicated with them?”

“Not when I’m around.”

I huffed.

“So what is the plan?” Tabitha wanted to know.

“George and I go find my orbs,” I stated.

“I can help too.”

“Tabitha. You’ve done enough. Besides, you need to stay here with Lu.”

“What about Becky? She belongs with George, Blake.”

I knew she was going to argue her case.

“George saw a lot more than what I did. I need him.”

From the corner of my eye, George’s chest puffed up.

“I can assist too. There are plenty of ways I can help.”

“Tabitha, please. Stay with Lu. Besides, I still need permission for George to come with me. I have a solid reason for wanting to take him. I don’t have one for you.”

Her face fell. Since Lu had claimed her, she’d wanted to prove how brave she was. She was becoming someone who reflected Lu in all his ways. It was sort of draining to have two of them.

“When do you want to leave?” George asked.

“Now. I don’t like how the elevators make me feel, so I will meet you there.”

“We can fly together,” George remarked.

“You need to speak to Becky first, George.”

“She knows, Blake. I was with her when I got the vision, and she was the one who told me to seek you out. It was around Elena, and she deemed it as top priority. Believe me, I do not have to tell her anything.”

I nodded. “Pack lightly. We might get an immediate grant. If that is the case, I would like to find them as fast as possible.”

“You really hear them?” Lu inquired.

I nodded in response.

“It’s so wicked. They way you discovered what it is they do. I’ve always wondered about that.”

“Me too.”

“What are they going to do?” Lucian asked.

“That part is still unclear, but I saw Elena. She was fine.”

“I saw it too,” George confirmed.

“But you need the monks to help?” Tabitha asked.

George sighed.

“They have the mother orb, or that is what George thinks,” I replied as I chucked clothes into a bag.

“I saw it,” George answered. “It was a mother of a pearl, too.”

Lu chuckled, followed by George.

“Then something tells me, we need them. They know more about my orbs than we do if the mother resides with them.”

Tabitha nodded in agreement. She pointed at George. “Don’t forget to document it. We do not know what the Rubicon’s orbs or anything look like.”

“Fine, I’ll document it.” George shook his head, clearly annoyed with all of Tabitha’s suggestions. I finally saw the use of her to going with us on this trip.

“Go pack and meet me here in ten.”Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“Got ya.” George left, and I could feel Tabitha’s eyes on me.

“I’ll ask King Albert, Tabitha. I promise.”

She smiled.

“If it’s okay with Lu.”

Lucian jumped out of his thoughts. “What now?”

“Me, going with. Is it okay?” Tabitha asked.

He touched her cheek softly as his lips curled. “Of course, it’s okay. I’ll be more at ease knowing you are there assisting them.”

She looked back at me. “See?”

My lips curved as I pulled out a pair of jeans, some underwear, and a few shirts. I shoved them into my bag as I nodded. “Then I’ll ask.”

In less than half an hour, we were on our way to Etan. Lu said that he would let Master Longwei and everyone else know about our departure. This was important. It involved the royals and my Dent, so I really didn’t give a crap about consent from Dragonia.

We had to rest halfway as George was pooped. I’d told him so many times to take the elevator, but he was as stubborn as I was, so I took the break.

We set up camp and just spoke about the vision. What we both saw, Elena being okay.

“It didn’t make sense.”

“What?” George asked.

“In my vision, I got the feeling that she didn’t like me much.”

George laughed. “I saw that too. But she knew you, Blake. She wasn’t running either, or hyperventilating. She knew this world.”

“That is what I saw, too. How?”

He shrugged. “Possibilities are endless. Best is to wait until one of us gets that vision more clearly.”

I nodded and laid back on the ground, using my bag as a pillow, staring at the moon.

I closed my eyes, and before I knew it, the sun kissing my cheeks woke me.

The fire was reduced to glowing embers, barely alive.

I jumped up, realizing where we were and that we needed to get to Etan.

“George, wake up!”

He stirred, but didn’t wake. Just moaned a lot.

“George. I swear, I’ll leave your ass here.”

He grunted, and his eyes flew open, as if reality only dawned on him now. “I’m up.”

I stamped out of the fire, took off my clothes, and put them in my bag again.

The shift was fast and in less than a minute, we were in the air once more, heading to Etan.

Around six, the castle stood vastly on the horizon. By now, my father would know that I was on my way. The soldiers parading the roof would also have told them.

I tried to tune in, to hear Elena, but nothing. Maybe I was still too far.

My stomach felt heavy as I struggled to ignore the shift in our bond after we’d woken up. I couldn’t feel her anymore the way I used to, but it didn’t mean that I loved her less. That I could survive without her.

I wouldn’t. That was still with me. It would always be with me.

The palace drew nearer, and then we landed.

Dad was waiting with a robe and behind him, one servant with another.

I shifted back, took the robe from my dad, and pulled my arms through as he started firing questions away about this vision. Master Longwei had phoned them when Lu told them about our departure.

I nodded. “My orbs. They can get her back.”

“How?”

“I need to speak to the king.”

“He’s in his office.” He nodded as George, already wearing a robe, pulled open the door. We slipped through, rushed down the tower’s steps, and down the hallway that led to King Albert’s office.

I entered, and King Albert looked up from his desk. Jako was with him, as well as one of his soldiers.

“We will pick this up later. Blake?” He smiled. “What is this about orbs I’m hearing?”

“I saw them. I hear them. They are soft now, but I’ve got a feeling that they will grow stronger if ignored.”

The king frowned. “Ignored?”

“I need to find them. I saw Elena too. That she was okay. I think my orbs can bring her back.”

The hope threatened to reach his features, but there was something else mixed with it. Guilt. “Blake.”

“Let me try. Please. She is my Dent. I can’t live without her.”

Silence lingered as he stared at me and then nodded.

His gaze shifted from me to George. “George?”

George bowed. “My king.”

“I need him to come with me. And Tabitha.”

“Why?”

“George saw the same vision. He saw monks too. I think it’s the ones Dad took me to when I was little.”

“Tabitha?”

“She is extremely smart. I probably don’t have to elaborate on that.”

King Albert’s lips curved into half a smile.

“Monks,” Dad said.

The king looked at my father, and Dad huffed as his lips quirked.

“What did you see with them?” King Albert asked.

“That they have the mother pearl. It’s what it’s called,” George answered.

“Headaches?” King Albert questioned him.

My gaze flickered to George as he shook his head. The truth dawned on me what George could do.

King Albert reached him and touched his face with both hands. “You saw my daughter?”

“I did.”

“And you want to tell me, you don’t have any headaches?”

“Yes, my king.” George sounded unsure.

King Albert laughed as I gaped. George could see the royals’ future without the side effect. There had never been a seer like him before.

“Can I have a few minutes to discuss this with your father? George, I’m going to need your mother’s number and Tabitha’s—”

“Tabitha’s parents disowned her after Lucian claimed her.”

King Albert looked at his table before he nodded.

“May I see Elena?”

“Of course, you can. Your aunt is with her now.”

“Thank you, my king.”

I turned around and walked out as George stayed to give the king his mother’s number.

“Blake,” George yelled. “Hold up.”

I walked slower to Elena’s room. Heaven knows how much I’ve missed her, and I did not know what that vision meant. She was okay, and that was all I wanted. I didn’t care about the rest.

I knocked on Elena’s bedroom door. A few seconds later, it opened, and my aunt smiled at me as she let me in.

“Was just about to leave.”

My heart wanted to break when I saw Elena sleeping on the bed. Something was wrong.

“Elena?”

She didn’t answer, and I walked with huge strides to where she was.

“Blake?”

She just slept. I touched her, and she felt cooler than she should be.

“Speak,” I ordered my aunt.

“King Albert thought it was best.”

“To do what?”

“Blake.”

“This is my wife, my Dent. Constance, why didn’t any of you speak to me?”

“She doesn’t know any of us. She doesn’t even know who she is, what she is.”

Tears pricked as my fire bubbled up in my throat. “It doesn’t change the fact what I am to her. What we share.”

Silence lingered, and I broke eye contact to get my anger at bay.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve thought about that. It was a sudden decision.”

“So, what? He’s giving up?”

“No, he is making it better for her, Blake. This rather than the serum.”

It felt as if I could breathe again. I thought he’d given her the serum.

“You are not here at nights when she wakes up screaming, and her panic attacks are just getting worse.”

“I’m not here because you told me to go.”

“I know. It was for the best, and I’m sure King Albert has his reasons for not informing you.”

He must have, as he didn’t think twice about letting me see her. “He has no choice. He needs to let me find my orbs.”

“Your orbs?” Constance asked, and I told her that I’d gotten a vision; George too. That he knew more or less where they were and what they could do. That we both saw Elena being okay.

“George has seen this?”

“Yeah, and we know what it is he can do.”

She kept staring at George. Her mouth was slightly ajar. He was a remarkable young dragon seer.

“You are waiting for his answer.”

I nodded. “Looks like they are coming at just the right time, too.”

“How long do you think you’ll be gone?” she inquired.

“Don’t know. As long as it takes, I guess.”

She nodded, then huffed. “I never thought that Goran could do this to anyone.”

“Is it really such a horrible thing to expect of him?”

“If you knew him the way we did once, yes, George. He was so kind, kinder than Helmut, soft and selfless. My mother always said that it was the quiet ones you should worry about. Goran sort of fell into that category.”

It was weird hearing her speak about that monster as if he once had a soul, had love in his heart, was kind. That, to me, sounded blasphemous. I couldn’t imagine it. My memories of him were a bit jarred too, as he looked exactly like his twin. I never knew which one was the king and which the sorcerer.

“May I have a second with her?” I looked at George and my aunt.

“I was just about to leave. Take all the time that you need.”

I waited for them to leave, and when the door closed, tears pricked and my throat clogged up.

“How did we get to this, huh? I should’ve listened to you.” I touched her hand. It felt cold. I rubbed it, trying to get some warmth back into her, not that it would matter. I thought her temperature had something to do with the spell that my aunt had placed on her.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t listen. We could’ve been together now, where you were still you.” I sniffed and wiped a tear. “But I promise, I’ll find you, and I’ll bring you back. It might just take some time and maybe a lot of convincing.”

I didn’t know why I said that last part. I just remembered the dream. It felt so backwards. Like we were stuck fighting each other.

I planted my lips on her knuckles and held them there for a few seconds before letting her hand fall back on the bed.

“I’ll see you when I come back, okay?” I got up, bent over, and kissed her head.

She didn’t even smell like herself anymore. I missed her so much, it hurt my soul. I needed to get her back to me.

Around dinner time, the king finally exited his office.

He joined us around the table. Jako wasn’t here, and I still had that one thing to sort out with him. My mother had begged me to let it go. Putting Elena under that spell wasn’t easy for him.

She was my rider, and I was her dragon. She wasn’t her father’s anymore, and neither was I.

My tongue burned as I chewed my food and swallowed. Thomas, one of his butlers, put dishes in front of him and my father. George was already eating faster. He was a bit of a coward when it came to confrontation, or he’d become one after Becky claimed him. He used to be so feisty.

We ate in silence.

A knife and fork touched fine China.

“Blake?” King Albert spoke, and my gaze fluttered toward him but not on him.

“I know you are angry with me. I’m sorry that I didn’t inform you of my decisions.”

“I know she is your daughter, but she is my everything. She was my responsibility, my life.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t wait; it was necessary.”

I nodded.

“I didn’t do it behind your back. If I did, I wouldn’t have told you to go see her. I happen to think that we would’ve made the same choice if you were here that night.”

“How could—”

“I know it was us that sent you away. It was for the best and still is. I have done you a great wrong though, and I’m sorry. I want you to find your orbs. Take whomever you want to take with you.” He nudged, and Stephan, one of his guards, put an envelope next to me on the table. “You’ll find all the paperwork in there for everything that you are going to need.”

“Thank you, I really appreciate it.”

“Just bring back my daughter, please.”

I nodded, and we carried on eating. I didn’t feel better at his apology, but at least he gave me his blessing on my mission. A huge opportunity to find my orbs. We would figure out the rest along the way. I knew we would. The only thing standing between me and Elena now was time.

With my orbs, I’d find her.