Ember of Hope

“Can’t we just cloak and fly down to the road?” Damien asked.

“No” Sarah and Raegan yelled together.

“Alright, alright I was just kidding. No need to bite my ears off”.

To say Damien had been irritable the whole way would be a gross understatement. Now they had crossed the barrier and were trekking down to the road. The trek from the portal wasn’t hard. It seemed that with every step they took Damien’s anxiety took a step upwards as well. By the time they’d reach home he’d be skipping ropes. Sarah silently slipped her hand in his and continued on. Nina on the other hand was looking around in wonder as if she hadn’t ever seen trees in her life. The wide eyed wonder look on her face was almost comical.

They arrived at Tamara’s house near dinner time. She’d handed her house and car keys to her neighbors and asked them to keep it going in her absence. Raegan stopped at their house to get the keys because she was the only one they knew and would trust. Their plan was to take the car to the city in the morning. All five of them fell down on the couches around the sitting room even though they hadn’t had to travel much. The portal from Ilya opened up to several interlinked portals spread across the human world. Wherever someone wanted to go; the operator would divert the portal-way to that place.

Raegan made them go out for dinner instead of ordering in to lift everyone’s spirit. They ended up at a food truck and ate delicious greasy food under open sky.

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The next morning they all fit into the car and headed out for Raegan’s apartment. The ride over would’ve been silent if not for Nina pointing at everything and asking questions. Even the car ride – a thing so normal and trivial for Raegan and Sarah, was exciting for her. And even though they kept indulging her curiosity; the situation’s seriousness had started to seep in. they’d have to tell the Salvatores about the magical world they’d been to… and not just for traveling. They’d returned with their mates – a bond more profound than marriage. All while they thought they were on a trip to some place within their own world.

“How do you think they’d take it? I mean even I thought you were crazy for a while when you told me.” Sarah asked Raegan while nibbling on her lower lip. She was now more anxious than Damien.

“But we have proof for them… two very big, very alive proofs. They’d be shocked for sure but they’d believe us. I don’t know how they’d take it but at the end of the day I believe what matters to them most is your happiness. And they’d see that you’re happy with Damien. You don’t have to worry; I have a good feeling about this”. Raegan assured her panicked friend. And it was true what she’d said – she did have a good feeling about it.

Once at Raegan’s apartment; they ordered lunch and sat around to discuss strategy while they waited. Valiance’s eyes found hers and a secret smile adorned his lips. Last time when they’d been waiting for food to arrive; they’d done much more than just sit around and talk shop. She knew they were both remembering the same thing.

“Hey, would you guys stop eye fucking each other for a moment and pitch in to what we’re planning here?” Damien grumbled; thumping Valiance upside his head.

“Look man, whatever we plan now is going to fly out of the window once we’re actually face to face with them. We’ll just have to wing it.” Valiance shrugged and he was not wrong.

Raegan agreed, “Besides, it’s not like we’re going to lie to them. We just have to tell them the truth.”

“Yeah as if that’s so easy” Sarah threw her hands up in exasperation.

“No, it’s not easy but it’s still the option we’re going to go with. So we could either sit here and lament OR we could actually enjoy our time and relax.”

“I’d go with option two”. Nina chimed in.

“You would, because it’s not your neck on the line” Damien rolled his eyes.

“It’s not like they’re going to chop your head off Damien. Don’t be a baby”. Nina rolled hers right back at him.

At their playful banter; an image struck Raegan hard.

“You ate all of my mint chip brownies” Raegan screeched at Max.

“Ugh it’s not like you can’t buy more. Don’t be a baby Raegan”. He grinned and skipped up the stairs to his room while she was left standing in the kitchen; seething and stomping.

Her eyes watered as the memory surfaced. She got up fast and headed to her room.

“Ray, where are you going?” Sarah called behind her

“Bathroom. I’ll be right back.” She answered, trying her best to keep her voice normal.

In the bathroom she let go of the tears she’d been holding in. Even that day she wasn’t really mad at Max – she never could be mad at the little devil. She just used to pretend that she was. Now she wanted nothing more than to be able to hug him in her arms and never let go – the way she used to do when he was little.

Valiance wrapped his arms around her from behind and she relaxed into him. Of course he knew she was upset. He always knew how she was feeling even before they were bonded. “Talk to me love.”

“It’s nothing. Just a memory… my brother and I used to butt heads just like Nina and Damien were doing out there and it just… I really miss him… miss them”. She inhaled shakily.

“I know sweetheart. I know. And it won’t ever be easy to not have them in your life anymore but know that they’ll always be with you… in here” he tapped her chest over her heart, “And here” he kissed her temple. “And they’d be proud of the strong woman you’ve become”.

“I believe so too” she smiled through her tears. “They would’ve loved you. And Max… you’d be his hero and he’d have been unshakable once you showed him your dragon. However indifferent he thought he was; that little shit was a geek through and through” she grinned.

“And when he realized his own sister was a dragon too…” Valiance lifted an eyebrow at her; smirking.

“Damn, I didn’t even think about it.” then a thought occurred to her, “Do you think Katherine had told them something? About what I was or what she was?”

“I don’t think so. What you’ve told me about them so far makes me believe they wouldn’t have kept it from you if she had.”

“Yeah I think you’re right. Come on, we should head out before they start guessing at what we’re doing in here”.

“And what is it we’re doing in here love? I don’t mind them thinking anything.” He trailed his nose behind her ear and she shuddered. “They must be thinking it already so we might as well do it, wouldn’t you agree”. She said something unintelligible in response because he was now leaving open mouthed kisses and little nips along the column of her throat. A hand wrapped around her neck to tilt it to his liking, while the other wandered down her thigh to spread her legs to give his hand more access.

A loud knock sounded on the door, “The food’s here and we’re hungry”. Damien yelled from outside.

“Damn food and its bad timing” Valiance growled, “Someday I’m going to have to kill my best friend”.

Raegan agreed wholeheartedly, “I’d be right there by your side, helping you with the cleanup”.

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