Flutter (The Discover Series) (62 page)

             
“Don’t do that,” I said, referring to the provoked gesture. It was the same thing I did. “It’s creepy that you copy me.”

             
He snorted. “Right. Because I need to copy
you
.”

             
“I am older.”

             
He put his hands up. “I know where this is going, and I’m letting it go.”

             
“Wise choice.”

             
He smirked. “You have it that bad?” He asked, but I ignored him. “Well I hope she is worth it.”

             
“Where are they now? Are you guys staying at this hotel?”

             
He looked up at the building as if just realizing it was there. His face twisted in disgust. “Unfortunately.”

             
“I’m going to go talk to her. You,” I pointed at him, “pack your things. All three of you are leaving
today
.” I turned to go into the hotel, but was stopped once again.

             
“They aren’t up there.” He said slowly.

             
“Where are they?” I said deadly.

             
“I’d say take two guesses, but I don’t think you’ll need even one.”

             
I had taken off before he could even finish the entire sentence.

             
“Really-, what are you-, you’re going to run all the way there?” He shouted.

             
My hand shot up, but I didn’t bother to turn around to give him my answer.

“I don’t understand…I’m a what?”

             
My heart was pounding wildly inside my chest and I was pretty sure everyone was aware of that fact. Apparently we all seemed to be some kind of mystical beings here. My heart thudded harder.

             
I was only half paying attention to Adan’s sullen
Fiancé 
as she glared violently at me.

“I know you’re confused Sara-

             
“Is that suppose to make me feel better?! You
know
I’m confused, and I’m just supposed to…what? What am I suppose to do?”

The shock had definitely worn off.

             
I hated that I was falling apart in front of Adan’s mother and
fiancé
!  The word caused a bitter aftershock tremble to run rampant through my entire body. The ugly glare that damaged her pretty face was replaced with a smug smirk, and I wanted nothing more than to scratch her eyes out. Screw scratching. I apparently had this all mighty ability, and with just a little flick of my fingers, I could
burn
-

             
“Sara.” Andres interrupted my hostile thoughts.

I fought myself to calm down when I felt the heat bursting through my skin. How easily it was for me to lose control. I looked at him, drawing air in slowly through my parted lips.

“What?! I wasn’t
really
going to do it.” I said in defense. At least I didn’t think I was going to.

             
“I couldn’t tell you before Sara.”

             
“Why?! Give me one freakin good reason why you could not find a way to explain to me that I am a long lost Princess to some enchanted world that I know nothing about!!”

             
“You weren’t ready to know”

             
“And how exactly did you determine that? Aren’t there some kinds of royal rules you’re suppose to follow? Being a
Princess
and all, doesn’t that require me to be a little higher up on the pecking order?

             
“It’s not that easy.”

             
“It
is
that easy! Accepting it is the hard part and you should have trusted that after the initial surprise I would have been fine.”

             
“I wanted you to enjoy the last few weeks of being seventeen. Everything was going to change for you.”

             
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I have enjoyed nothing about the last few weeks.”

             
“I didn’t realize what you were going through. I wish you had told me about the illusions.” He seemed genuinely sorry, but it was too little, too late.

             
“The illusions?” Adan’s mom spoke up before I could ask the same question. I threw a look at her, but she was busy ignoring me.

             
“Sara was caught in a toxic illusion. They branded her pretty badly.”

             
Both of them turned
toward
me.
Oh, now they wanted to look at me!

             
“She looks fine.” Maria said, her attitude remaining nonplussed.

             
“Adan healed me.”
Ha!

If I was twelve, I would have followed that by sticking out my tongue, but the narrowing slits of her eyes was enough.

“Adan can heal
her?
” There was no missing the disgust lacing her tone as she spat the word.

“We’re not sure how that works.”

She huffed. “I’m sure.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked, feeling utterly lost by this point. Had I missed something?

“Adan’s ability, it’s not to…heal?” The words felt weird as they left my mouth.

“No. It’s. Not.” She said, biting off each word.

I’d had it!

“I’m sorry, why are you here exactly?” I asked, wanting clarification as to why I had to endure this woman for so long.

His mom and fiancé’s eyes bulged.  Apparently they weren’t used to being talked to like that.

“She obviously hasn’t been raised like as a true Princess should have been. If you think my son, a
Prince,
is going to take her hand-”

“You know that’s not in Adan’s future, Queen.”

What?! Queen?! Adan is a Prince?!

I didn’t think it was possible, but her face turned a ghostly white, her hands balling into fists.

“How
kind
of you to remind me. Adan will be leaving with us tonight. My son should have
never
been dragged into this! He is getting married to Ana, and
you,”
her eyes burned into mine, “and your people will have to find another sacrifice.”

             
I was completely lost. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

             
“How nice it must be to sit there blissfully ignorant of the lives you’re taking without a second thought.” Her upper lip curled as the words spilled from her mouth.

             
“That’s enough.” Andres said. “You know none of this was her fault. She was born into this fate, same as Adan.”

             
“Fate? Is that what you call it? It’s a burden! A death sentence! And for what? What makes her worthy of another’s l-”

             
“No more Maria. You’ve said enough. Adan will make his choice.”

             
“He doesn’t have a choice! Her parents and your council made sure of that when you bound them-”

             
“I think it’s time for you to leave.”

             
I was suffering from the sudden whip flash of their back and forth conversation. My head was spinning from everything that had been said, none of which I understood.

             
The
Queen
and her royal pain in the ass stood stiffly, walking to the door. Andres followed, but her majesty was a step ahead of him, putting her hand on the door knob without opening it. She turned to face Andres.

             
“I apologize for my outburst, but I am a mother, and I will do anything to protect my son from,” she glared at me, “these circumstances.”

             
Right, like that’s what she meant to say.
I wanted to slam the door in her face, but I doubt Andres would have approved. After all, it wouldn’t have been becoming of a
Princess
.

             
Andres nodded and she pulled the door open.

             
Adan stood on the other side of the open door, his eyes flying immediately to mine.

             
I sucked in a breath, looking around at everyone else, wondering if they could feel it too. Adan’s emotions floated around me, soaking into my skin, and it was an overwhelming sensation. He was anxious, upset, worried, and angry. He looked at his mother.

             
“I’ll see you back at the hotel.” Was her only remark.

             
She stepped around him, gingerly making her way down the steps, her posture stiff and unrelenting. Ana was silent, her face marred by her scowl, stopped in front of Adan.

             
“Adan.” She said.

             
He gave a slight bow, but didn’t say a word to her. She threw one last ugly scowl at me, and then followed her Queen.

             
Andres ducked out without a word, leaving Adan and I alone. I didn’t know where to begin.

             
“You’re engaged.” I said, stepping on to the porch, shutting the door behind me. “And in case you didn’t catch that, it was an accusation,
not
a question.”

             
“I can explain.”

             
“Oh, you can? Can you also explain to me how you were in the mountains with me? How you can
heal
me,
hear
my thoughts, have full conversations with me without moving your lips, and let me think...what else...” I pressed my finger to my lips before shooting him a condemning stare. “Oh right, why you’ve lied to me about
everything
?”

             
“Sara-”

             
“Let me guess. I wasn’t ready to know? It’s not that easy? Andres already used those excuses, so the next time you two plan to lie to me, you should get together beforehand so you can plan out what each of you are going to say.”

             
“What can I do to make this right Sara?” His eyes pleaded with me with as much intensity as his words.

             
“I asked you if there was someone else, and you told me no, right?”

             
“Yes, but-” He went to grab my hand, but I pulled it away.

             
“No, there are no ‘buts!’ Did you, or didn’t you, say there wasn’t anyone else?”

             
He moved so fast I didn’t have time to slip from his grasp this time. Holding me to him, he cupped my face with his hands.

             
“I didn’t lie, Sara, there is no one else. Ana is my mother’s way of trying to defy my fate. I don’t love her.”

             
“I don’t understand why your mother thinks I’ve marked you with a death sentence. Like your fate is marked and sealed, and somehow I’ve put the stamp on it.”

             
He sighed. “I see she had a lot to say. Don’t listen to anything she says about my
fate
. I’ve never understood a word of it, and honestly, I gave up trying to decode her psychobabble years ago. She says the same thing over and over again, with no explanation as to what she means.”

             
“Doesn’t that bother you? Not being a part of your own future? She seemed pretty upset about whatever it is that I have, or will be, doing to you. She has to have a reason.”

             
“I’ve dealt with it most of my life, Sara. I’m always half way in the dark concerning some situation or another. It’s a part of my life and I’ve accepted it.”

             
I pulled away from him, putting a good arm’s length of space between us. I couldn’t breathe or think clearly when I was this close to him.  I could already feel my anger melting away as it tried to comply with my body’s lustful betrayal.

             
“Well, it bothers me. I don’t like being blamed for something I know nothing about, especially for something that hasn’t happened yet, and could possibly change. I don’t like being lied to. Call me a hypocrite, because I’ve shared a few lies too, but it was a snowball effect.”

             
“I didn’t want to lie, but it wasn’t my place to tell you who you really are Sara. I wanted to tell you so badly the other day at the falls, but it wasn’t the right time. I’m not even…”