Chapter 8 - Sierra

Wiping away my tears, I get to my feet and decide it's enough. No more sulking about my current situation. I need to get out of these clothes; the fabric of my yoga clothes sticking to my legs like a second skin.

The only problem is that I'd been flown to the island without any of my possessions. Not even a cell phone to update the group chat with my clients that I'll be missing in action for however long it takes to get out of here. There's no way of calling for help, either. I started to wonder if there were any other humans here. Any other weredragons. My mind takes me to my childhood when my grandmother would read me bedtime stories about weredragons, werewolves, and the like.

I never imagined that they would be real. After all, those stories were just fairytales, fables passed down by the tribes of our ancestors. In hindsight, those stories must have had some depth of truth to them. Even though we know nothing about their existence in today's world.

While my mind is filled with questions, my feet carry me over to the oak doors lined up along one wall in the room. I open the doors absentmindedly, eyes scanning the rest of the room when I spot the fresh paintings on the wall.

I can tell it's new because it glistens with a sheen, which is only evident from the fresh paint. Going closer, I'm able to make out what it is.

It's an angel carrying a cherry blossom flower - my favorite bloom. Not only is the flower significant to my tastes, but it's the angel that truly captures my attention. As I take a look around the rest of the bedroom, I notice more of the image painting in calculated intervals on the walls.

Is it possible that Felix had these painted here for my sake? I don't want to read too much into it, especially since he hasn't entirely made up for what he did all those years ago.

Threatening my father's life and tricking me into coming here isn't exactly the apology I'd been expecting.

I wasn't expecting much, if I'm honest with myself. I'd been counting on never seeing his face again, hoping it would allow me to go on with my life as if he never existed. I carried with me only the memories, naming my yoga studio in the pleasant memory of him—when he'd call me "mi ángel" adoringly.

Now, with the angels carrying my favorite flower along the walls of the bedroom I've been locked in, I can't help but wonder if it's purposeful. Is this his way of showing that he truly cared? Or is he just bound by duties, needing to woo me into being his mate?

I won't be fooled! Scoffing, I turn back to the wardrobe, only to discover that the closet is full of clothes. Satin kaftins and bright-colored Summer dresses hang on the rails.

Even the choice of wardrobe matches my tastes, only reigniting my resentment. I hate that he knows me so well, flaunting that fact in front of my face as if I should be falling to my knees for him. Grunting under my breath, I pick out a paisley-patterned kaftin, find a towel, and head to the bathroom.

Hah! If he thinks I'd grovel at his feet just because he's painted angels holding cherry blossoms on the walls and packed the wardrobe with my favorite clothes, he's in for a surprise.

This is my chance to get my revenge.

***

Stepping out of the bathroom, I dab the wet tendrils of my hair and pad back into the bedroom. The plush carpet under my soles feels heavenly now that I've scrubbed the grime out. Having a shower here feels different, almost as if the water is plumbed from a crystal spring.

I giggle to myself when the thought crosses my mind. It probably is from a natural source, sparking my curiosity even further. I've decided to accept being shackled to this place as long as I can make Felix's life a living hell.

If I was once an angel to him, I plan on being a devil now.

So when there's a knock on the door, I smile smugly to myself, straightening my spine while standing in the center of the bedroom with nothing but a towel hugging my frame. If Felix expects me to be his mate, I'll dangle the carrot in front of his nose and never let him have it.

There's no such thing as second chances. Though I've never been the vindictive type, I now have an opportunity to be the karma in Felix's life.

"Come in," I call out sweetly, plastering a salacious smile on my face

Waiting with bated breath as the door opens up, I'm startled when it's not Felix who walks in. Instead, a soft female face appears, the smile on her face spreading from ear to ear.

"Hi, Sierra," she greets, blonde curls swaying around the gentle features of her rounded face. "I—" she pauses, smile fading when her eyes land on me. "Sorry! I'll give you your privacy!"

Amused by the way her creamy cheeks flush, I wave dismissively. "No! Come on in. It's fine."

The woman nods sheepishly as she steps into the room. I make my way to the bed to get dressed, not feeling in the least bit uncomfortable in her presence.

Women, I can trust. There are only two men in the world who can't be trusted, and one of them happens to be a weredragon.

"I'm sorry if I disappointed you," the woman begins, making her way to the silver chaise couch near the window.

"Disappointed me?" I chuckle questioningly as I slip on the satin kaftin.

"Yeah… It sounded like you were expecting someone else," she explains. "I was under the impression that things weren't great between you and my brother."

"Y-your brother?" I frown at her. "Felix is your brother?"

She nods.

"Then you're a weredragon too?"

She nods again. "I'm Kairo."

Sighing, I take a seat on the edge of the bed and continue drying my hair with the towel. "What did you mean when you said you thought things weren't great?" I ask, unsure about how much she knows.

"Well, usually, when my brothers bring humans to the island, things don't start well."

"So there are other humans?"

"Two," she concedes. "Lily and Yazmine." The female weredragon, Kairo, gets to her feet and crosses the room to the dresser. She opens a drawer, removes a hairdryer from inside, and turns to me.

"This room is fully equipped," she beams. "Would you like me to do your hair?"

I nod despite frowning. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

Kairo shrugs. "I'm nice to everyone. It's my brothers who come across as hard-headed. Felix, on the other hand, is usually nice."

"That's not what I've witnessed."

"You should get to know him," Kairo offers as she pulls out the dresser chair and waits for me to sit behind it. "You'll be surprised at how pleasant he is."

She doesn't seem to know that Felix and I have a history, so I decide I won't say anything further. I allow the sweet girl to dry my hair and style it, watching her intently as she whistles to herself, wearing a permanent smile that doesn't seem forced.

When she's done, I meet her eyes in the mirror.

"I didn't choose this for myself," I tell her.

She sighs, dropping her gaze sadly. "I know. I heard about what happened. Felix was counting on you agreeing to this."

"I would have agreed anyway. My father's life was in danger; I had no choice."

Kairo frowns, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Your father's life wasn't in danger, Sierra."

"What are you talking about?"

She steps out from behind and faces me. "Has my brother not told you?"

"I mean—" I gulp, realizing that I'd barely given him the chance to speak. I'd been so angry, he couldn't say much. "No. We haven't spoken."

She sighs discontentedly. "Of course not," she shakes her head, muttering under her breath, "They always need me to be the mediator." She looks up again. "Your father was hired by someone in the mortal world to find our location. ‘Cause our existence is top secret, we had to bribe him into silence. The Council—which is made up of the dragon shifter elders—took it a step further and discovered that you are a match for my brother. So they offered your father double the amount on condition that you agreed to come here."

Once again, my whole world crumbles around me. Everything I thought I knew isn't true anymore.

My father lied to me. Why am I not surprised?

I fight back the tears in my eyes, wanting so badly to be strong and failing dismally. Kairo notices and instantly pulls me into her arms, and that's the moment I cave and let the tears spill out.

Ever since coming here, all I've been doing is sobbing.

"He lied to me…" I whisper through my tears. Only when the words have left my lips do I realize the statement holds for both my father and Felix.

Felix and I lived together for six months, and I had no idea he was a weredragon. He lied to me when he promised never to leave my side, only to leave me with a few fleeting words scribbled on paper.

"I'm sorry, Sierra," Kairo apologizes, even if she isn't the one who lied to me. She's the only one who's being open and honest. She pulls back, staring at me with the most compassionate emerald eyes. "My brother is dealing with what happens next. I'm sure he'll take you back home when he's figured out what to do."

"My father?" I ask out of curiosity, not concern.

"We don't believe in killing humans," she assures me. "And Felix hates the idea of using force, either."

Instinctively, I turn toward the door. Her blind trust in her brother seems invalidated.

"I don't really hate the idea of being here…" I begin. "But I can't be locked up like I'm a prisoner."

Kairo sighs. "I'll speak to Felix about that. There's no need for you to be locked in this room."

I nod, staring at the balcony. If I'm to execute my grand plan, I'll need to be able to walk around freely. Flaunt myself in front of him. "Yeah, I'd like to see the rest of the island."

"Oh, you'll love it!" she says excitedly, following me out to the balcony. "There's a spot on Mount Aurora that you'll love. It's next to the waterfall, so all you hear is the gushing of water."

I gasped, suddenly becoming more interested in what the island offered. The way the sun's bright glow hits every corner of the island and illuminates the pretty colors is tempting. I soak in the scenery, eyes raking up the waterfall ahead. "You have to take me there!"

"Of course," Kairo bleats. "It's gonna be our meditation spot."

Frowning, I turn to Kairo. "Our meditation spot?"

She blushes, pursing her lips. "I might have done some digging. I know about your yoga studio in Charlottesville."

"Right," I say with a nod, turning back to the view of the island and smiling warmly. "So, you're into meditation too?"

"Yeah…" she replies. "It's how I pass most of my time."

"It's no wonder you're the sweetest weredragon I've met," I muse. With Kairo on my side, I'll be able to exact my revenge without hassle.

"You've only met two so far," she giggles. "As soon as Felix agrees to let you out of the room, you'll meet the others."