Chapter 71: Chapter 71

JONEA

We returned to the blue sapphire, precisely in the underground crossing tunnel. The place where Daran first saw me and asked me to go for a walk. And that night, I asked him to take me to the dragon hill.

When we returned, the atmosphere in the blue sapphire was still night, and the lights were still illuminated in the underground crossing tunnel. Only this time, the three of us were together with Owen.

Daran walked in front of me. I walked faster and pulled his hand to stop him.

“What’s wrong Jonea?” Daran turned to me.

“There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

I glanced at Owen, who was still standing beside us. He pretended not to know, then said he would go home first. Now, only Daran and I were left.

“What’s wrong?” Daran asked once again patiently. “Tell me.”

“It feels like we’ve been gone for days, right? But why did we return to the blue sapphire at the same time as we left?”

“The blue sapphire and the land of magical creatures are in different dimensions. Time passes faster there. It feels like you’ve been away from the blue sapphire for days, but it’s actually only been a few minutes in the human world.”

I nodded in understanding, but I was still unsatisfied with the answer. “Daran, didn’t I tell you that I wanted to visit a place?”

“Yes, you said you wanted to go there to relieve your sadness. At first, I was a bit surprised when I heard that. But you were so sure you wanted to go there. So, I took you there, to the dragon hill. How do you feel now? Do you feel better?”

I couldn’t tell Daran my true feelings. Not in words. Because it felt… hard to translate. So mixed up.

At first, I thought maybe my sadness would disappear if I went there. I could meet Aland again. We were separated there that night.

But now, the opposite is happening. After returning from there, I feel anger, sadness, and also despair nesting in my chest. What is this?

I lifted my face and looked Daran in the eye with determination. “Why did you erase my memory of that day at the dragon hill?”

Daran barely reacted. He just tilted his head slightly to look at me. “Do you think so? Which memory did I erase from you?”

Of course, he wouldn’t admit it. I wouldn’t tell him the truth either. That the memory that Daran erased had returned entirely to me. I remember when Zephyra, the dragon that Aland rode, kidnapped me. The memory of when Aland took me to the dragon’s nest. The memory of when we kissed and slept in the same bed. I remember everything so clearly now! I even still remember how Aland touched my body…

“Jonea?” Daran scolded.

I was so angry, but I was afraid to express it. “Forget what I said earlier. I guess I was just confused by the change in time,” I muttered softly while lowering my head.

“You’ve said the same thing twice, Jonea. Which memory did I erase from you?” Daran asked patiently.

I tried to put a smile on my face and shook my head. “Nothing. Come on, let’s go home. I’m so tired. Daran, thank you for taking me for a walk. Now my heart feels happier.”

We walked together in silence. But my mind kept wandering to the last land of the dragons. I was grateful that Aland was okay. It turned out that it wasn’t a dream. I really met him.

I also still clearly remember when Aland told me about his journey. We were lying in his warm bed. I wasn’t even wearing clothes, but he covered me with his body. It felt warm. His scent still stuck to my body.

I gasped. Did Daran realize that?

But Daran didn’t seem to be bothered. He still walked beside me calmly.

Azura’s words echoed in my mind again. He also told me about Aland’s early arrival. After escaping from Luke Draken’s prison, Aland wandered through the portal until he arrived at the last land of the green dragons.

One of the dragons guarding the nest door reported to Azura Aland’s suspicious appearance. He said he was a werewolf but could understand dragon language.

“I went directly to him at the nest door. That’s where I first saw Aland Hamilton, a wolf cub who had a dragon bloodline on his forehead. He had a pair of sharp eyes and unstoppable anger. He thought we were also part of Luke Draken.”

“How is that possible?” I asked Azura at that time. “Aland’s parents are werewolf blood.”

“But, it’s not perfect! It’s not pure werewolf blood,” said Azura. “He might have been hiding his true identity all this time to stay safe.”

I felt the dragon tear pendant given by Aland. It made sense. If not, where did Aland get it?

“At first, all the dragons did not believe that Aland Hamilton was the figure we had been waiting for to lead us. Because he could not show his dragon tears. But, just by looking at his eyes I was sure it was him.”

“Our numbers are very small and we are already endangered. That is why we chose to hide in this place. The few descendants who are still alive, we gathered and guarded in this place while waiting for our leader to come.”

“Then, how can you accept Aland? Even though he does not have dragon tears as proof.”

“We gave him several tests and he passed them. One of the tests was to conquer the wildest dragon and ride it.”

“You mean Zephyra?”

Azura nodded. “Zephyra is the wildest dragon and no one can control it. But, Aland managed to conquer and ride it. Even gave it a name. That is enough proof that he is the leader we have been waiting for.”

I unconsciously kept walking while daydreaming. My head bumped into Daran’s back. For some reason, he suddenly stopped, surprising me.

Daran turned around and immediately hugged me tightly. He even carried me so quickly.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked in surprise. “I can walk.”

“It seems like you’re feeling better,” Daran said.

I smiled at him. “This is all thanks to you. You’ve taken me around the land of magic. That day could have been the worst day of my life, but because of you, now I feel happy.”

I put my arms around Daran’s neck. I looked into his eyes behind his expressionless mask. Suddenly, Daran turned his mask to the side, and our faces faced each other.

I gasped and was really not used to seeing his natural face.

“Is my face not handsome enough for you, Jonea? That I can divert all your attention to just me?”

“What do you mean, Daran?” I became embarrassed, and my cheeks felt hot. Damn, he’s so handsome!

“Your body is with me, but why isn’t your mind here?” Daran muttered in annoyance. “Where did you leave your mind, Jonea?”

“I... didn’t...”

Did I get caught?

Daran immediately kissed me very intensely. At first, it was soft, but then it got hotter and more baritone. At first I was shocked, then I enjoyed it, then I was scared.

This wasn’t the Daran Carver I knew. He became so aggressive and wouldn’t let go of my lips. I was short of breath.

“Stop,” I groaned in fear.

Daran immediately broke the kiss and lowered me from his embrace. He quickly covered his face with the mask again and turned away from me.

“I’m sorry I was rude to you. This was completely out of my control. I won’t do it again. Come on, let’s go home.”

I was still in shock, mixed with confusion. I held my lips, which felt swollen and hot. Why was Daran acting so out of character?