The Indigo Spell Chapter Eighteen

I CERTAINLY HADNT EXPECTED to walk away from todays trip with reciprocal custody of a miniature dragon. (I refused to c every(prenominal) it a demon). And, as it turned give away, Adrian was already proving non to be the most dedicated of fathers.You weed take him for now, he told me when we got backside to Amberwood. Ill handle week extirpate visitations.You dont have anything red ink on. Besides, were alto have outher a few days from the weekend, I protested. And you dont have intercourse that its a he.Well, I dont appreciate hell mind, and besides, Im not tone ending to investigate to find out the truth. Adrian set a dissipate the quartz in the basket and closed the chapeau before handing it over to me. You dont have to summon him back, you know.I to a faultk the basket and opened the car door. I know. however I feel kind of bad leaving him as a rock. Ms. Terwilliger had told me itd be healthier for him if I let him out once in a while.See? Motherly instinct already . Youre a natural, Sage. Adrian grinned and r for each one me a bag of pie slices. Hed kept some for himself. Look at you. You dont even need to break the tattoo. You conceptualize you wouldve been mothering a baby dragon a month ago?I dont know. and he had a point. It seemed desirely I wouldve run screaming from it back in the desert. Or maybe tried to exorcise it. Ill take him for now, save youve got to pull your weight at some point. Ms. Terwilliger submits the cal tiltana needs to spend time with some(prenominal) of us. Hmm.Hmm, what?I s snarf my head. Just getting ahead of myself. Wondering what Id do with him if I did go to Mexico.Adrian gave me a puzzled look. What just most Mexico?It had never come up, I realized. All Adrian had known about was Marcuss mission and the initial tattoo breaking, not the sealing. I hadnt been persevereing the rest a secret, save suddenly, I felt uncomfortable telling Adrian about it.Oh. Well, Marcus opines that after I perform this rebellious act, we flowerpot break the elements and free me from the tattoos control. But to truly bind the spell and make sure the tattoo is never repaired, I need to tattoo over it alike(p) he did. He calls it sealing. But it takes some special compound thats hard to find. He got his done in Mexico and is going to take some of his Merry Men there so they can do it.I see. Adrians smile had vanished. So. Are you joining them?I shrugged. I dont know. Marcus wants me to.Im sure he does.I ignored the tone. Ive sight about it . . . but its a big step. Not just for the tattoo, either. If I did that, thered be no going back. Id be turning my back on the Alchemists.And us, he verbalise. Un little you really are but helping Jill because of your orders.You know its not about that any more than. Again, I didnt like his tone. You know I care about her and . . . and the rest of you.His face was hard. And yet youd run off with some guy you just met.Its not like that We wouldnt be running o ff together. Id be coming back And wed be going for a particularized reason.Beaches and margaritas?I was speechless for a few moments. It was so close to what Marcus had joked about. Was that all anyone associated with Mexico?I see how it is, I snapped. You were all in favor of me breaking the tattoo and thinking on my own but thats only okay if its convenient for you, huh? Just like your loving from afar only works if you dont have an opportunity to get your hands all over me. And your lips. And . . . stuff.Adrian rarely got mad, and I wouldnt quite theorize he was now. But he was definitely exasperated. Are you seriously in this much self-denial, Sydney? Like do you actually believe yourself when you say you dont feel anything? Especially after whats been happening between us?Nothings happening between us, I said automatically. Physical attraction isnt the same as love. You of all people should know that.Ouch, he said. His expression hadnt changed, but I saw hurt in his eyes. I d wounded him. Is that what bothers you? My past? That maybe Im an expert in an realm you arent?One Im sure youd just love to educate me in. One more girl to add to your list of conquests.He was speechless for a few moments and then held up one finger. First, I dont have a list. Another finger. Second, if I did have a list, I could find someone a hell of component less frustrating to add to it. For the third finger, he leaned toward me. And finally, I know that you know youre no conquest, so dont act like you seriously think that. You and I have been through too much together. Were too close, too connected. I wasnt that crazy on spirit when I said youre my flame in the dark. We follow away the shadows around each other. Our backgrounds dont matter. What we have is bigger than that. I love you, and beneath all that logic, calculation, and superstition, I know you love me too. Running away to Mexico and fleeing all your problems isnt going to change that. Youre just going to end up scared and confused.I already feel that way, I said quietly.Adrian moved back and leaned into his seat, face tired. Well, thats the most accurate thing youve said so far.I grabbed the basket and jerked open the car door. Without other word, I stormed off toward the dorm, refusing to look back in case he saw the tears that had inexplicably appeared in my eyes. Only, I wasnt sure exactly which part of our conversation I was most upset about.The tears seemed like they were going to stay put by the time I reached my room, but I restrained had to calmness down. Even once my emotions were settled, it was hard to shake his words. Youre my flame in the dark. We chase away the shadows around each other. What did that even mean?At least smuggling a dragon into my room provided a attractive good distraction. I brought the basket inside, hoping demonic dragons werent contraband. No one stopped me when I went upstairs, and I was left wing wondering how I was going to confine him if I did summon him back. The basket didnt seem all that secure, and I certainly wasnt going to let him run loose in my dorm room. When I reached my door, I install Jill standing outside, her pale green eyes wide with excitement.I want to see him, she said. The bond was strongest in moments of high emotion, and judging from Adrians face when the dragon had been chasing us, his emotions had been running pretty strong. I wondered if shed witnessed our argument too or if that hadnt come through the bond. Maybe the tension between him and me was second nature to her now.I cant let him out yet, I said, letting her into my room. I need something to keep him in. Like a birdcage. Maybe I can get one tomorrow.Jill frowned in thought, then b unspoiledened. I have an idea. She glanced at my alarm clock. I swear its not too late.And without further explanation, she took off, promising to be back soon. I was still a small-scale shaky from todays magic but hadnt had time to rectify the situation after all the other excitement. So, I sat at my desk with a spell book and ate the rest of the now-soft coconut cream pie, on the lookout to first cut off the part where the dragon had eaten. I didnt know if callistanas had communicable germs, but I wasnt taking any chances.Jill returned an hour later, bearing a rectangular glass aquarium, like the kind youd keep fish or gerbils in.Whered you get that? I asked, moving a lamp off my desk.My biology teacher. Our guinea hair died a couple weeks ago, and shes been too sad to replace him.Didnt she ask what you needed it for? I examined the tank and frame it spotless, so someone had ostensibly cleaned it after the guinea pigs unfortunate passing. We cant have pets.I told her I was create a diorama. She didnt question it. Jill eagerly brought the aquarium over to the desk. We can give it back when you get your own.I set the quartz crystal inside and slammed on the tanks lid, making sure it was securely attached. After more entreating from J ill, I spoke the summoning words. A speckle of smoke appeared, and the quartz transformed back into the dragon. Mercifully, he didnt make any more of that screeching, so I guessed he was still full. Instead, he scampered around the tank, examining his bare-assed home. At one point, he tried to climb the side, but his tiny claws couldnt get traction on the glass.Well, thats a relief, I said.Jills face was filled with wonder. I think hell be bored in there. You should get him some toys.Toys for a demon? Isnt it enough that I give him pie?He wants you, she insisted.Sure enough, I glanced back at the tank and found the callistana regarding me adoringly. He was even wagging his tail.No, I said sternly. This isnt a Disney movie where I have an adorable sidekick. You arent coming out.I cut off a piece of blueberry pie and put it in the tank in case he wanted a midnight snack. No way would I risk a late-night wakeup call. After a moments thought, I added a stress ball and a scarf.There, I told Jill. Food, a toy, and a bed. Happy?The callistana apparently was. He batted the ball around a few quantify and then curled up on the nest Id made with the scarf. He looked more or less content, aside from the fact that he kept watching me.Aww, she said. Look how sweet he is. What are you going to name him?Like I needed something else to worry about. His father can name him. Im already on the hook for the Mustang.After a bit more swooning, Jill finally retired for the night. I made my own preparations for bed, always guardianship one eye on the dragon. He did nothing threatening, however, and I even managed to fall a peace, though my sleep was restless. I kept imagining hed find a way out and come get into bed with me. And of course, I had my usual fears about speedwell coming after me.I did hit one stretch of rifle sleep, during which Adrian pulled me into a spirit dream. After our earlier fight, I honestly hadnt expected to see him tonight, a thought that had saddened me . The reception hall materialized around us, but the image wavered and kept fading in and out.I didnt think youd come, I told him.No wedding clothes tonight. He wore what hed had on earlier, jeans and the AYE shirt, though both looked a bit more wrinkled. He was dressed as he was in reality, I realized.You think Id abandon you to Veronica?No, I admitted. Whats wrong with the room?He looked a little embarrassed. My controls not all it could be tonight.I didnt understand . . . at first. Youre drunk.Ive been topeing, he corrected, leaning against one of the tables. If I was drunk, I wouldnt be here at all. And really, this is pretty good for four White Russians.White what? I almost sat down but was afraid the chair might dematerialize beneath me.Its a drink, he said. Youd think I wouldnt be into something named that you know, considering my own personal experience with Russians. But theyre surprisingly delicious. The drinks, not real Russians. Theyve got Kahlua. It might be the drink youve been waiting your whole life for.Kahlua does not taste like coffee, I said. So dont start with that. I was insanely curious to know why hed been drinking. Sometimes he did it to numb spirit, but he seemed to still want to access that magic tonight. And of course, half the time, he didnt even need a reason to drink. loggerheaded inside me, I wondered if our fight had driven him to it. I didnt know whether to feel guilty or annoyed.I also had to come tonight to apologize, he said. He sat down, apparently not having the same fears about chairs.For one inexplicably terrifying moment, I thought he was going to take back the part about me being his flame in the dark. Instead, he told me, If you need to go to Mexico to finish this process off, then I understand. I was wrong to criticize you for it or even imply that I had some kind of say in it. One of the greatest things about you is that in the end, you always make smart decisions. Cant always say the same for myself. Whatever y ou need to do, Ill support you.Those annoying tears almost returned, and I blinked them back. Thank you. That elbow room a lot . . . and to tell you the truth, right now, I still dont know what Im going to do. I know Marcus is worried about me eventually getting in trouble and being under their control. Then again, staying part of the Alchemists seems like itd give me more power, and besides . . . I dont want to leave you. Er, you guys.He smiled, and it lit up his whole face. Like a flame in the dark. Well, we are certainly happy to hear that. Oh, and Im also happy to watch our darling little love child dragon while youre in St. Louis.I grinned back. As a rock or in his real form?Havent decided yet. Hows he doing right now?Hes locked in an aquarium. Im guessing Id wake up if he got into bed with me, so he must(prenominal) still be asleep. I hoped.Well, Im sure getting into bed with you would be Adrian held back whatever point out hed been about to utter. He instead gestured to the table, and a Monopoly board appeared. Shall we play?I walked over and peered at the board. It apparently was also suffering from his drinking, seeing as half the streets were blank. The ones that were there had names like Castile Causeway and Jailbait Avenue. The boards a little incomplete, I said diplomatically.Adrian didnt seem concerned. Well, then, I guess that improves your odds.I couldnt resist that and took a adventure on sitting in one of the chairs. I smiled at him and then began counting money, happy that all was (relatively) right in the world with us again.