Alpha Island: The Dragon's Mate

Chapter 5

SKYLAR

Seriously?! Just how did I get into this kind of trouble?! Now I was starting to think that it wasn’t the best of ideas to pretend to be a dragon! I should have gone with warlocks and witches! It would be so much safer there. Probably…

  And dragons… I was mixing with just one of them for a few minutes and already could see that nothing would be easy with them. Now they had some kind of code? What the hell is dragon code?! Where do you read the excerpts? Was it possible to avoid what happened?!

  I felt how my cheeks were getting red again, fire trying to get out. And that meant that I needed to take myself under control. Or this would end badly.

  “Hello again, Skylar the dragon,” I heard a slightly mocking voice and raised my eyes to see the warlock that I met at the dining hall. He was scanning me with his green eyes and somehow, I just knew that it didn’t promise me anything good. It also did not escape me that he was repeating the name of the kind I chose all the time as if he waited for me to change my story. 

  “Long time no see, Loki the warlock!” I smirked at him, raising my chin high and mimicking his tone, “But unfortunately I need to go.”

  I made a mental note to avoid the guy at all costs. I didn’t feel any particular danger coming out from him. But he seemed nosey and it could have been a problem.

  Luckily, he did not try to stop or follow me, but when I turned to check on where he went, he winked at me with his hands in his pockets. And then turned and went in the direction of the library. Good riddance.

   I returned to my room and found Deidra sitting at her desk and working on her make-up with precise attention. It was a strange change from one hour ago. 

  “I thought you don't want any suitors,” I went straight to my part of the room and got my things out of my bag. There weren't too many things but I wanted to start feeling at least slightly at home here.

  “I still don't,” the siren smirked at me, “but I have a plan!”

  Suddenly, I was interested.

  “May I ask what it might be?”I chuckled, looking at her determined face, as she started to curl her hair. She looked at me with her mesmerising eyes and for a second there even I could understand why so many guys were seeking her attention. 

  “My plan is simple, really!” she announced, “I am going to do a demonstration!”

  “A demonstration of what?” I furrowed my brows, the glint in her eyes was… unhealthy. 

  “Of why it is a bad idea to piss off a siren!” she grinned at me, “I’ll do it just once and they will all leave me alone.”

  “Do what?” now I was intrigued.

  “You’ll see! At the dinner!” her lips curled as she stood up and went to the wardrobe, getting out a very beautiful yet ridiculous for the occasion silver dress, which was super short and barely covered anything. Deidra slipped out of her current one, dropping it to the floor and standing naked in front of me. Wow. I did not expect for us to get this close this fast. But okay.

  She was a mermaid after all, and they were used to nudity even more than werewolves.

  My roommate put the silver dress on, the fabric of which imitated scales and chose appropriate high heels too.  She looked unbelievably good.

  “Deidra,” I tried to choose words carefully, “If guys see you like this, you will cause a war on campus.”

  “Oh, trust me,” she snorted, “I won’t. And I doubt that fairies would ever let me take their crown away. Plus, it’s for today only. Today I need them to look at me, so that next time they don’t dare.”

  I liked her spirit. I really did.

  “Sky,” she turned to face me, “Will you go with me? For support?”

  I gave her a guilty smile, preparing to come up with some kind of an excuse but she stared at me with the eyes of the damn cat from Shrek and I… I needed a friend. At least one. It felt nice being able to talk to someone. I missed this…

   And in all honesty, Deidra was perfect. She attracted attention, yes. But it only meant that she diverted it from me. However calculating that sounded, it was a good thing. But the best part was that she didn’t plan to interact much either, meaning that it could be only her and I. 

  “Fine,” I nodded, “I planned to skip the dinner but I’ll go. For you.”

  “Why on Earth did you want to skip the dinner?” the mermaid changed the subject quickly since she got what she wanted already.

  “Long story,” I sighed, getting my one and only dress out of the bag.

  “Spill!” Deidra ordered, eyeing the dress, “And put this on. By the way, is your luggage lost? This can’t be everything you brought with you.”

  “We aren’t that rich,” I chuckled nervously and told her every freaking detail about my interactions with Darren and Loki. Right now it seemed like the best way to avoid her digging deeper.

  “No offence, but your kind is so arrogant!” she splashed her hands when I was done, helping me with the zipper of the dress. It was a purple chiffon floral dress with long sleeves and elasticated cuffs, a double-layered skirt that ended right above my knees. It was my special occasion outfit but Deidra insisted on me wearing just that, saying that she would feel way more comfortable with me looking gorgeous by her side.

  “Yeah, that we are,” I chuckled awkwardly, pulling on my boots, “And that dragon code sucks.”

  “Oh, yes!” the siren snorted, “Paying with blood for insult, not sharing “treasures”, keeping your word until you die if you gave it to someone, coming at the leader’s call in a heartbeat… And that’s just what I know!”

  Well, it was more than I knew and I swallowed a lump in my throat. Just what did I get myself into? My lack of magical education was finally catching up with me.

  “What are the other rules of the Code?” Deidra asked and I tried to brush her off.

  “You named the main ones! The rest are just as ridiculous and boring!” I took my phone and grabbed her hand, “Look at the time! We are almost late!”

  We entered the dining hall and most students were already sitting and gobbling their food. It definitely got quieter as the two of us walked in and Deidra flicked her shining hair from one side to another. I could practically feel how fairies were drilling us with their eyes. Including the one who tried to jump Darren earlier today. Only one of them seemed unbothered, taking a selfie on her phone and completely ignoring the rest of the world.

  “Skylar the dragon!” I heard someone shouting and noticed Loki waving at me, “Come here!”

  I rubbed the back of my head awkwardly when I heard a powerful growl and turned to see Darren himself.

  “No need!” he said loudly and moved a chair right next to him, pointing me at it with his gaze.

  “Wow,” Deidra whispered as she grabbed my hand and pulled me in the direction of trays and food, “You may need a demonstration of your own, Sky!”

  “I’ll see how yours go,” I chuckled, helping myself with the delicious smelling dishes. I was starving again and still couldn’t believe that I was able to eat to my heart’s content. 

  Darren clearly was using his wish and since the dragon code was apparently a thing, I decided not to take any chances and join him. Deidra followed me eagerly and landed right next to Griffin, who seemed happy at this coincidence.

  “Good choice,” Darren bent lower and whispered to my ear, “You even dressed up for me, Sky.”

  “That’s a bit sexist to think that I can only dress nicely for you,” I faced him with a raised brow and saw his smile fading slightly, “And it’s not like I had a choice.”

  “Oh, poor you,” he chuckled, “Sitting at the best table next to a handsome guy must be horrible!”

  “Confident, aren’t we?” a smirk formed on my lips, “Maybe I wanted to sit at the handsome warlock table…”

  I choked on my own words when his eyes got darker, much darker. He bent even lower so that I could feel his hot breath burning my skin. The sensation that I strangely liked so much.

  “Now, why would you want to…” he started talking but the sound of breaking glass disrupted our weird conversation. Right in front of us Deidra was kissing Griffin with passion, holding his face in her hands.

  “Well, that was fast,” Darren snorted looking at them but then his face changed. I looked at the crazy couple again and noticed something terrifying. Dark veins were protruding on the dragon’s neck as the siren held him in place. He did not try to push her away but she… was clearly draining the life essence out of him.

  “Oh, my God!” I screamed, “Deidra!”

  “Get your hands off him!” Darren growled, standing up and I felt that he was about to summon fire, grabbing his arm to stop him. 

   Griffin looked weak now but he still motioned for his friend not to interfere, the whole dining hall watching the scene in dead silence.

  Deidra broke the kiss and made sure that the guy stayed sitting in his chair and catching his breath.

  “And THAT is what happens when you pursue a siren!” my roommate announced, “You become food and nothing else! Especially if that siren is the granddaughter of the Sea Witch.”

  I bit my lip, glancing at Griffin, who was watching Deidra with some kind of amusement. Shouldn’t he be super weak now? Draining life essence is a horrible experience. I should know…

  “So, make wise decisions and don’t go to places that you can’t handle!” the mermaid let out a little chuckle, “Well, I am not hungry anymore.”

  She prepared to leave and then waved at me, suggesting for me to join her. 

  Well, I wasn’t staying here. Not after what she just did.

  “Take plenty of fluids,” I winked at Griffin and grabbed a sandwich from my plate. I couldn’t let all food go to waste. Catching Darren watching my every move, I smiled at him awkwardly before leaving.

  This was for the best.

  Deidra and I didn’t say a word to each other all the way to our room. I wanted to reassure her that I understood why she did what she did. But as soon as we stepped inside, she collapsed to the floor, shaking.

  “What the hell?” I helped her up, but she did not look well at all.

  “That was against my nature,” she whispered to me, “I knew that it would work. But now I have a price to pay.”

   “What do you need?” I decided not to kick around the bush. If there was a person in the world who wished to be left alone more than the girl in front of me, then it was me.

   “Water,” she was breathing heavily, “I need to get to the lake behind the left-wing. It is designated for such purposes.”

  “Got it!” I nodded and grabbed her dressing gown, which was hanging on the hook in the bathroom. Then, letting her lean on me, I helped her to get all the way to the lake. It was already dark and it seemed like not a soul was there.

  She jumped into the water straight in her dress and in a few seconds I saw her tail above the water, making splashes and letting me know that everything worked.

   I sighed. It was a long first day and I was already exhausted.

  “Who do we have here?” I heard a familiar chuckle.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi, guys! Don't forget to check the sister book "Alpha Island: The Lycan's Mate" and see how Dylan and Ava are doing. P.S. I will need to come back and edit this chapter, I am slightly behind my schedule.