Chapter 95

Anila’s POV

When I got back to the clinic, both Harley and Zach were watching me warily. I’m not sure what to say to them or how to explain to them what I was going to have to do. My stomach was in a complete knot but I was doing this for Xaden. They had to understand that.

“Are you okay?” Harley asked, watching me carefully.

“Yeah,” I lied, trying to force a smile as I sat back at Xaden’s bedside. “I just needed some air. I’m good now.”

I was a coward for not coming out and telling them that I had to leave by sundown tonight with Jaxon. That was his request; that I go back home with him, and only then will he tell me what he wants me to do before he saves Xaden’s life.

“You look like you’re about to puke,” Zach points out, his brows furrowed together.

“And we can tell that something is wrong with your emotions, Anila,” Harley said, eyeing my face. “Just tell us what’s going on.”

“Do you think maybe we can just talk later? I’m kind of tired and I think I just want to close m eyes for a few minutes.”

Harley and Zach both shared a look with one another and I hated that they were so worried about me. But I needed time to cope with what I had just agreed to. I needed to wrap my mind around it.

“Sure,” Harley said. “No, problem.”

“Maybe we should go to the packhouse and get a room so you can sleep,” Zach suggested. “The sun just rose so we should all probably get some sleep.”

“You two go ahead,” I said, shaking my head. “I think I just want to stay here with Xaden for awhile. I can close my eyes here.”

“You really should sleep in a bed, Anila,” Harley said softly.

“I’m not leaving him,” I said firmly.

They shared another look and Harley wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“Then, we will stay with you,” he said, giving me a small smile.

I shook my head, trying not to show the tears that welled up in my eyes.

“No, you both should get some sleep. You’ve been with him for the last 2 days and I know you haven’t slept or eaten much. Especially you, Zach,” I said, peeking up at him through my tear-filled eyes. “Get some rest and then come back later; we will talk once we are all well rested.”

“Anila…” Harley tried to argue but I shook my head and looked up at him.

“Honestly, Harley. I could use some alone time anyway. Please,” I said, my eyes pleading.

He sighed, but he didn’t argue. He kissed my forehead and then stood to his feet.

“Okay, let’s go, Zach,” Harley said, motioning for Zach to leave the room with him. Zach just stood in front of me, staring at me like a lost puppy. I wondered what was going through his mind at that moment.

He finally sighed and then turned to leave. I watched as they left the room, leaving me alone with Xaden.

I released the tears that had been building in my eyes since my talk with Jaxon and I turned to Xaden who looked so peaceful. I wondered if he could feel me beside him. I placed my head on his chest and cried lightly in his chest. He was breathing on his own and his heartbeat was strong; it was as if he was just sleeping and not about to die in less than 2 weeks.

“I don’t know what to do,” I whispered. “They are going to be so upset… but I need to do this for you…”

A sob escaped my lips as I closed my eyes.

“I’m so sorry…”

……

At some point, I must have fallen asleep because when I woke up again, I knew I was in a dream. I was sitting in a bed of flowers, staring off into the horizon where the sunrise met the horizon. I wore a pink dress that covered my feet, and my hair was pulled back in a pink ribbon. It wasn’t my usual attire, but I felt like a princess. I pressed my knees to my chest and took in the scent of the wildflowers that surrounded me.

The green grass and the stems of the grass tickled the palms of my bare feet, and I wiggled my toes from the sensation.

I felt a new presence behind me, and I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. I knew it was Damien, Zach, and Harley.

“Anila?” Harley asked, his voice confused and tired sounding.

I turned to look up at him; the glow of the sunlight bouncing off his skin and making him glow before my eyes. Zach stood beside him, running his fingers through his bedhead; he was shirtless and his body was incredible as always.

Damien stood off to the side with his arms folded across his chest and his head was downcast. I wondered what was running through his mind.

“Is this one of those dreams?” Zach asked, looking at the others before his eyes fixed on my face.

I gave him a small smile; I hadn’t meant to bring them to my dream world, but I was glad they were here. Maybe this would be a good place to talk to them. I stood to my feet and all their eyes watched me curiously. They scanned my dress and my hair, and I felt warm spread to my cheeks under their scrutiny.

“You look beautiful,” Harley breathed, his eyes sparkling.

I smiled at him.

“Thanks,” I said, looking down at my own dress. “I’m not really sure where this came from honestly.”

“I’m going to assume that this is another one of those shared dreams… right?” Damien finally asked, making me look at him.

I nodded.

“Yeah, I think so,” I told him, wrapping my arms around my body like I was trying to hold myself together. “I’m sorry.”

He shrugged and then ran his fingers through his hair; he started to look a little nervous.

“I actually just wanted to talk, if that’s okay.”

Before any of them could say anything, a new figure appeared in the distance and my mouth fell open. The others followed my gaze and I heard someone’s sharp intake of breath.

“Is that—?” Zach started to ask but was cut off when I ran past him and in the direction of the figure.

“Xaden!” I yelled as his image became even clearer to me.

He gave me his incredible wide smile as he opened his arms for me, and I ran into them without hesitation. He wrapped his arms around me and spun me around. I clung to him like he was my lifeline; I could literally feel the warmth of his body against mine and the smell of him invaded my senses, calming my entire body.

Tears spilled from my eyes, and I never wanted to let him go.

“How are you here?” Harley asked, patting him on the back.

I hadn’t realized the others followed me to him until Harley spoke.

“I’m not sure,” Xaden admitted. “I’ve been dreaming a lot lately, but usually I’m alone.”

“Been waiting for us, have you?” Zach teased.

Xaden surprised me by smiling at his brother.

“Something like that,” he said, he grabbed Zach’s shoulder and squeezed it. “I’m glad you didn’t have the same fate. How’d the rest of the battle go?”

“It ended shortly after you got attached. The dragon took off and disappeared. I brought you back here,” Zach told him, shaking his head at the memory.

“By yourself?” Xaden asked, raising his brows. “Impressive.”

Zach shrugged.

“You always did underestimate me, brother.”

“I won’t make that mistake again,” Xaden assured him.

I pulled away from Xaden and looked between the brothers; I’m sure I looked just as confused as I felt because Xaden laughed.

“We talked about a lot of things before I was attacked,” Xaden explained, shrugging. “It’s no big deal.”

“So, you two are okay?” I asked.

“Yeah, I think so,” Xaden said, looking at his brother.

Zach gave him a small smile and then nodded.

“Yeah, for right now, we are okay,” Zach agreed.

“Did you tell father what we found out?” Xaden asked, looking at Zach.

“Yeah; he and some of the warriors are looking into it. The problem is, that finding the Alpha King is almost impossible. He’s in hiding and is pretty much untraceable.”

“I figured as much,” Xaden said, shaking his head. “He can’t stay in hiding forever though.”

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“The Alpha King is the dragon,” Xaden shocked me by saying.

“What?” I gasped. “I thought he was a wolf.”

“He is,” Zach said. “We aren’t sure how. The only one who we know can shift into a dragon may be the Dragon King. But we both saw it with our own eyes.”

“So, it was the Alpha King that scratched you?” I asked, my mouth hanging open in shock.

I suddenly felt bad that I blamed Jaxon; I now understood what he meant when he said it wasn’t his dragon.

“Yes,” Xaden answered, running his fingers though his hair. “What do the doctors say? Is it curable?”

We all shared wary looks.

“That bad?” Xaden asked, noticing our faces.

“You have about 2 weeks before the sleep curse takes full effect,” Zach told him. “After that, you will die.”

“Damn,” Xaden breathed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “That sucks.”

“But we are going to figure out how to get the cure,” Harley said, trying to have a positive attitude. “This isn’t the end for you. I refuse to let any of us give up. It’s not impossible to get the cure.”

“But it’d be a suicide mission,” Damien said sharply; it made us all look at him in surprise. I completely forgot he was there.

He stood to the side with his arms folded across his chest and he was staring at us all like we were idiots.

“What do you know about it?” Zach asked, his brows pinched together.

Damien rolled his eyes.

“It’s magic; anything that has to do with magic I’ve studied,” Damien reminded us. “The cure for dragon tail scratches requires a dragon scale. Getting a dragon scale is impossible.”

“That’s what the doctor said too,” Harley said. “But it’s not impossible.”

“It is if you want to live,” Harley said. “Nobody has ever gotten that close to a dragon and lived to tell the tale.”

“Not true,” Harley argued. “What about the dragon masters?”

“Have you seen any dragon masters in Stardust Valley since the dragon war?”

Harley opened his mouth to say something, but he had no words and closed his mouth.

“That’s what I thought. unless you know a dragon master or the dragon king himself, getting close enough to a dragon to get his scale is a suicide mission,” Damien said, shaking his head. “Xaden is going to die.”

“No, he’s not,” I blurted. “I can help him…”

“You?” Damien laughed. “How exactly can you help him?”

I turned to face him; my eyes narrowed.

“Because I know the dragon king and I’ve already made a deal with him.”