I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | X | XI | XII | XIII | XIV | XV | XVI | XVII | XVIII | XIX | XX

Steps echoed through the hallway, quick but sure. At first, I didn’t notice as I was busy strapping weapons to my body with Ethan’s help. However, the sudden stillness of my mates hands brought it to my attention.

I looked up and saw Michael rushing towards where we were posted on a breezeway at the top of the main campus hall. A few others were with us, getting their things ready for the possible invasion. Still, they barely glanced at the currently enraged man.

“Michael? What are you doing here?” Ethan crossed his arms over his chest, causing his muscles to bulge as his eyes narrowed in annoyance. 

“I had to find you. What are you doing up here? You’re not ready for this!” He tried to reach for me, but I backed away at the same time Ethan growled. 

“You should be down with the rest of the students in the training room. It’s safer there.” I spoke quietly and turned away from him. I knew he was only worried, but he needed to get over his feelings for me. That was driving this. 

“So should you!” He took a step forward, only to be stopped by Ethan.

“Ellie is where she belongs. We’re bonded, and she is to be by my side at all times. It’s safer for her.” His voice was steel, and I was scared that Michael might push him too far this time. I stayed quiet though, I had too much on my mind right now to get into this. 

“She belongs with us. With me!” Michael’s voice rose in anger, and he stood toe to toe with Ethan, the older Dragon towering over, the younger.

“Listen, whelp, I’ve held back because of your friendship with Ellie. But you need to get over this crush of yours. She’s mine. She will always be mine. And you need to move. On. Now.” He punctuated his words with a quick jab to Michael’s chest. 

“I don’t think-” Michael cut off when I sighed loudly and turned towards him, moving around Ethan to stand before him.

“Michael, I want to thank you for being my friend in this place when no one else would. I know that you thought we’d had something initially, but honestly, I didn’t.” I watched in sadness as Michael’s face fell, his heartbreaking. This was a long time coming. I had hoped that he would have figured it out on his own that he was only a friend to me, but no dice.

“Ellie…” Michael’s eyes grew dead, the spark left.

“I’m sorry, Michael. I will always love you as a friend, but that is all we can be. Ethan is right, I am his Bond, and I belong with him. Now, you need to get back to the others and help protect them. We have an invasion coming.” The three of us were silent for a moment before he took a step back, hand over his heart, clutching his shirt. Pain etched its way across his handsome face, and he shook his head. 

“You’re wrong…you’re wrong.” His voice was a whisper as he glared at Ethan. “You’ll regret this.” He whipped around and raced off, leaving Ethan and me in silence.

“Well, that went exceptional.” I sighed and tightened the last strap of my gear on. 

Ethan frowned and paused a moment looking at something. I followed his gaze to see Rachel; she had seen and heard everything. A sinister smirk crossed her hallowed features. She turned away and went back to her duties as we moved towards the edge of the breezeway to overlook the grounds. 

I could see a massive dark cloud forming in the distance. It didn’t look like any storm I’d ever seen before. One of the men from earlier stopped beside us, and he frowned, leaning forward.

“Looks like you were right, little one. They’re coming.” I nodded slowly as I watched it quickly move towards us, a harbinger of doom, and I knew the possible ending. 

I just hope nothing else happens. 

Michael and Rachel’s faces flashed through my mind. Something didn’t feel right there.