Chapter 11

EMERSON

"You lied to us, Emerson. You're Armani's rider!" Emily shrieked when I slipped into the backseat of our car.

After the bullshit with Armani, I was over everything. I sat there tight-lipped while I fought back my tears. The Fates were probably having a good laugh at this. 

All the dragons in Draconix, and mine just had to be Armani, the cruelest person I'd ever met, and the fucked up thing was that I couldn't bring myself to hate him.

He shouldn't get to treat me like shit and still hold importance in my life, but who was I kidding? I'd always care for him. We were entwined until the other died, and chances were I'd die when he did.

I'd spent the hours it took to confirm he was okay on my phone, looking up everything that had to do with dragons and dragon riders. The duo couldn't live without each other, and in most denial cases, the loss hit the dragon the most. 

There was a list of the side effects of pulling away, and one that had stuck out to me was death. The dragon died first, and shortly after, the rider followed. Although there were some rare cases of the riders surviving, the dragon would most definitely die.

Either way, I could die. If he chose the death route, I'd suffer. If he pulled away from me, the same threat of losing my life was on the line.

"Emily, calm down. Let's get home before we discuss this," Darren said.

"Actually, you're right. I'd like to go home."

Darren raised a brow at me. "That's where we're going."

"No. That's your house. I want to go home. My home. I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be Armani's rider!"

"Calm down, Emerson. We'll take you home. Your home."

"What?" Emily glared at her husband.

"You don't control my life, Emily. You might hate to hear this, but you just walked into my life five days ago. You don't get to control where I go like I'm your daughter. You're not my mother. Sure, you might have given birth to me, but my mother is back at home, and that's where I'm going."

I was sure I'd regret everything I said later, but right now, I needed the comfort of my bedroom. I quickly shot off a text to Belinda, letting her know I wasn't returning to the mansion.

B~ You okay?

E~ No.

B~ Shit. I'm getting my ass home now.

Darren started up the car, the somber air worsening the grief in my heart. I didn't want to fight with my parents, but I was frustrated right now. I'd allowed everything Armani said to get to me, and I'd lashed out at the first person in anger.

It wasn't until he parked in front of my childhood home that I noticed the tears Emily was trying to hide.

Fuck, I was an awful person.

"Emily, I'm sorry. I didn't mean any of that. I'm just really stressed out right now. That doesn't excuse my behavior. I shouldn't have been a bitch to you. I just… " I broke off at a complete loss for words.

"I think a weekend off is what you need. Let everyone cool off," Darren said instead.

Dejected, I nodded before climbing out of the car. As Darren took off down the road, I was sure I'd ruined every chance of becoming a family with them. Tonight just kept on going downhill. 

***

"He's a dick. I'm so fucking pissed right now I could punch his face," Belinda huffed.

"He is," I agreed. "Do you know what's fucking funny?" I chuckled. "I still care about him. I'm still thinking about him, wondering if he's alright. He's right about one thing. I am pathetic. I shouldn't care after everything he said."

"That's not your fault, babe." Belinda stroked my hair. "He is practically your world now, and no, I don't mean that in a relationship way."

"I know. He's my dragon."

"Since you know that, there's no need to feel bad. You're not pathetic. It's the bond between you two."

"Is there a way to sever the bond?"

Belinda gasped. "You don't mean that. He pushed you that far?"

I rolled on my back, staring at my ceiling. "Not necessarily, but I know this is going to happen again and again, and like the fool I am, I'll keep going to him, like I'm some fucking glutton for punishment only to get shut down by him."

"Is this the bond talking or your attraction to him?"

I chuckled. "I don't know. Both. There's this weird need to help him relieve the demons he so desperately tries to hide from the world."

An image of his piercing green eyes fills my head. Along with that image is one of him on the basement floor, shaking from the cold.

I wasn't lying about anything I said to Belinda. I had this weird need to protect him. I had no idea what I wanted to protect him from, but the need was there.

"Damn girl." Belinda whistled. "You've got it bad for this guy."

"I don't know why, but I think so, too. I think I'm in a fuck load of trouble, Bel."

Armani wasn't the type of guy you developed feelings for. He was the type to yank your heart out of your chest, leaving you to bleed out in front of him.

"You know, I'm glad you attended S.A.D instead of me, and I'm sorry I threw a hissy fit. It was never your fault, and I guess I was acting like a spoiled, little bitch."

I smiled. "You guess?"

"Okay, I admit I was a bitch. Life here is simpler, but your school seems like a whole other drama."

"Trust me, it's pretty uneventful. I just had the misfortune of having Armani as my dragon."

"Semantics." Belinda turned on her stomach, propping her chin on her palms. "I have a plan to get back at Armani, that is if you're interested."

A chance to hurt Armani as much as he'd hurt me? Count me fucking in!

"What's the plan?"