Chapter 23: CHAPTER 19.5: Family Issues

I didn’t have a relationship with Konn before, so I didn’t have the same feelings as they did. “It was like a normal lesson,” I answered while staring down at the paperwork. “I think I upset him.” It was better for me to open up instead of what I was doing before. Cade was my older brother so I felt like I should get advice rom him and to do that I have to open up Cade stopped writing and looked at me. “What do you mean? He’s not very expressive of how he feels, maybe you misunderstood.”

I read through the first document then spoke. “I think I’m stressing him out by being here. He said things were hard and that we all were trying to adjust.” I put my elbow on the desk and rest my head in my hand. “Things would be easier if you or Gray were the holder instead of me. Then Konn never would have had to come get me.”

Cade scoffed. “You really would want that? Obviously, things are going to be difficult at first Aqua.

You’ve been here for less than a month. Out of the three of us you were chosen to be the holder for a reason. Even if you weren’t and Father never went to get you, he wouldn’t be better off. He probably thought about you all the time but now he can see how you turned out and be in your life. I know our father Aqua; he cares about you and you’re my sister, so I do too.”

It felt good to hear but was it enough to put my doubts away? “Thanks Cade.”

We focused on finishing the work while only talking a little bit. Lexus dismissed us and Cade stopped me on my way back to my room. “Hey if you see us at the festival, you should say hi.”

“Uh, I don’t think Konn would like that since Gray doesn’t know who I am.” I didn’t want to make things anymore harder on Konn.

“You still should, I think it’ll be harmless. You don’t have to say who you are, only say hi. I think it’ll be nice.” He smiled.

“Okay, maybe I will.” I returned the smile then left to my room to get ready for the festival. When I was done, I waited outside the castle gates for Calvin. I saw Konn flight off in his dragon form with his family on his back. I tried to remember everything Cade and Lexus said, and it helped.

I saw Calvin in the distance, and I felt a little nervous. “Hey…” I greeted him when he got to me.

“Hey, you look nice.” He looked at the castle. “It looks exactly how I expected it too, I knew it’d look a lot bigger than it does on the news and in pictures.”

We started walking. “Sorry we have to walk; I wish I could fly or at least shift.”

“We don’t have to walk, I could shift, and you could ride on my back,” He offered.

I chuckled nervously. “I think I’m fine walking.” It was common for someone to ride on a dragon’s back here, but I wasn’t sure how common it was for someone to ride on a werewolf’s back.

“I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but your energy is kind of human-like. I can definitely sense that you’re a dragon shifter, but I sense something similar to a human too. You’re the first shifter I met who grew up in the human world, so it makes sense.” He’s probably been wanting to point that out for a while. I wondered if anyone else sensed that.

“I get it, humans were all I knew.” I looked down at my hands. “I wish I related more with dragon shifters. I feel like a human who was brought into this world instead of a shifter who belongs here.” I only felt that way because my abilities were sealed.

“I don’t think that feeling will last for too long.”

I looked at the sun as it was setting. “I’m surprised you asked me on a date. You barely know me.” It’s not like we texted all that often. We only had a short conversation every day or two.

“That’s why I asked you on a date, I want to get to know you more. When you think about it, you’re a little mysterious.”

I chuckled. “How do you find that?”

He hesitated. “Well, you come here out of nowhere from the outside world. You’re also the current holder of the moon goddesses’ gift who no one knows much about.”

I saw his point. “Okay, fair enough.” When he got to the festival it was beautifully decorated. There were booths, food trucks, and performers. “Wow you guys go big.”

“The festival is to bring luck to the rest of the year,” Calvin explained. If anything, I knew I needed luck and a lot of it. We walked around for a while then I saw Lexus and Sadia.

Sadia looked worried and she walked to us when she noticed we were close by. “Calvin, do you know about what’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” Calvin asked.

Sadia frowned. “I think some of the other pack members are in trouble. They’re out looking for Tam.” I had a feeling she was the other girl with them when I first met Calvin.

“Damn.” Calvin turned to me. “I have to go. I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I’ll understand if you go home before I get back.” He was worried, it wasn’t an expression I had seen on his face before. It made me feel like he was a caring person.

“I’m going with him,” Sadia told Lexus. “Tam is the only girl in the house who I consider a friend. I’m gonna go with Calvin but I’ll keep you updated, okay?”

I expected Lexus to go with her but instead he said, “Okay, Stay safe Sadia.”

I watched them go then looked up at Lexus. “What’s your plan now since both of our dates just ran off?”

Lexus smirked. “My mouth is a little dry.” Lexus was unbelievable, that was for sure.