CHAPTER 301: GOING HOME II

I was to return to the community as Raul’s bride-to-be, the daughter of a royal from a faraway kingdom, whom he had met on one of his travels.

Until all purposes were met though, and then my real—yet not true—identity would be revealed to the inhabitants of the community which had once been my home.

Of course, a select few knew of my incoming homecoming, my family in the community at that time, for one.

I let my tongue run through my teeth. How will they look now?

None had come to see me since my time at the Isle of the Chosen. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the choice—or if the Queen had made it that way. I had a feeling it was the latter; part of my training on how to learn to stand alone, I guessed.

I became aware of Isla’s blatant stare.

"So, you are really some royal... I thought that was a joke, you know. You being engaged to him too."

Maybe I should have left her at the institution. But who would make a better sidekick than she—who had streaks of madness I had seen many times—never minding the innocent look she carried so well?

"I thought you were a joke too... I still think you are."

Not bothering to see the effect of my words, or the consequences they would wreak on her face and mood, I tilted my head, resting it on the seat’s apex, and closed my eyes.

I ignored the stares I could feel coming from Raul. Duke, however, was already used to this mean streak of mine. He rather chuckled while typing away on his phone.

I wondered who he was texting. The dude was just as secretive as I was, in some cases.

I was supposed to be sleeping when minutes passed by, but it wasn’t forthcoming. So I opened my eyes and turned to Raul.

"How are things in the community? Still the same?"

He nodded without hesitation, and I scoffed. "That’s boring."

He laughed. "It’s a magic community, Sage. Not your normal human realm where lots of things happen on a daily basis. But... there has been tension between our community and the Lycan region since that night. We have not attended the peace treaty in the past three years, because somehow, during the previous parties, fights always broke out. So, the Queen ceased going, banned us from going, and the King from coming too."

He sighed, then added softly, "Even though the King has apologized for your death..."

I nodded to his explanatory gaze. The story was that I had died despite treatments, a good platform to incite angst between the people.

"The community hasn’t accepted it. The commoners especially... since they had faith that you would be the next Queen."

And now that hope had been dashed with the Queen still ruling them, with their choices taken away, since there was no other person with the white hair to take over from her somewhat unfair rule.

But I believed that they should be grateful, really. A fair ruler would have made peace with the Lycan King, and would have been too easy to dispose of.

"Then everything is going well, then." I muttered, rubbing my hands with glee, to Isla’s astonishment. She had no idea what we were talking about, especially since she was of the impression that I was merely a bride for Raul, not someone with a past tied to his community.

"I think I am lost."

"You are always lost, Isla."

She kissed her teeth in annoyance. "Why did you bring me, if you are going to keep making cutting remarks like that..."

I shrugged. "Because you will make a good sidekick."

Raul and Duke, who had been waiting to hear my response too, chuckled, shaking their heads. Isla wasn’t amused though.

"And what is that supposed to mean? That I am here to follow you around like a sheep, to be an escort—or is it maidservant?"

I smirked. "All of the above. If you don’t wish for that, you can come down and trek back to the institution."

She glared at me hotly, but she didn’t dare tell the car to stop, because then she really would be lost. We were already far from the institution, shrouded in magic and trees, away from the sight of humans.

"You are... you are..." Her anger wouldn’t let her talk. Then she flung her hands up in frustration. "Why are you doing this to me?"

I scoffed. "Because I can? And besides—you looked miserable, and I thought to rescue you..."

"If this is your version of rescue, I don’t want it! I thought I was going for a mini vacation before the next session commenced."

I looked at her like she was a fool. "You actually won’t be returning anytime soon."

Her frown deepened, so did Duke’s curiosity.

"What is she talking about, Duke?"

But Duke was just as clueless as Raul—and Isla. They had seen me walk into the ugly Matron’s office, but they had all thought I was only obtaining permission for Isla’s absence from the institution for a couple of days.

Oh, the fools.

"I have no idea."

"You have no idea?" Isla’s eyes were wide now, to my amusement. "Aren’t you coming back? I was hoping to make the journey back with you."

Duke shook his head. "I am not coming back to the institution, Isla. I’m done with it. My mother wants me home."

Isla ruffled her hair, glaring at me all the more. "What did you do? Can I at least send a letter to Freda to ask for my return?"

I shook my head dramatically, humming a lullaby. "Nope. You are stuck with me, until I’m done... although I think you will want to stay after all the madness is over."

I leaned forward, enjoying the shock and fear spreading across her face. "I know you, Isla. You have a thirst for the crazy—and that’s what I will give you. What do you say... best friend?"

But Isla’s response was to gasp like she had just met the craziest person on the planet.