Treasure Of Dragons, Royal Dragons Book 1 Chapter 61

Natalia

I have finally made my decision. I have been thinking about this for a while now. I just hoped that things might change and I kept clinging to that. The other day when we met with the Stoicas and I listened to what Ria had said, I knew then that I had been kidding myself. 

The moment I put that sleeping medicine in her drink, I ended whatever friendship we had begun to build, and burned the bridge completely to the possibility of there ever being one. 

I also thought a lot about what she said to me in the garden, and I came to realize that she’s right. We thought we had a better grasp of what she would do. We were looking at her as a possible Royal Dragon Female, then a positive Royal Dragon Female to be a mate to my brothers. She would be a new sister for me and we would be great friends. I had acknowledged that Ria was extremely standoffish and would have run from the guys fast if not for me being there.

We just never really accounted for why she was that way, we just attributed it to normal female nerves around unknown men. None of us even entertained the idea that she wouldn’t fit in, she wouldn’t love our people, she wouldn’t love my brothers, she wouldn’t fit seamlessly into the whole dynamic with us. We created a space for her and just assumed she would fit there. 

However, that was never the case. Ria had a whole shit ton of trauma and bad life experiences that she carried with her. They colored and still color absolutely everything for her. So what was to us a necessary small thing, that should be easily forgiven once explanations were made, was a nuclear detonation that destroyed everything to her. 

Not to mention, hearing her talk about what a hell she grew up in and living on the street, to finally find love in a family, to finally be happy, then to lose all of it to us, must have been and be unforgivable. We stole her family from her. Yes, there would have been problems due to her dragon, but as a Royal Dragon Female her dragon never would have awoken if she weren’t mated, so it is possible she would have lived normally as a human and never been the wiser about actually being a dragon. At this point, it’s impossible to know. 

So, after all of that I realize, that seeing me here every day is more than just her anger at who she thought was a friend and safe, and basically spit it back in her face, but it actually causes her pain to see me and be reminded every day. She’s also told me that I remind her of Cin, under other circumstances that might be a good thing, but now, with Cin’s death, that’s just one more painful reminder to her of what she’s lost.

So, I have been speaking at length to Amy, my friend at the boutique in town. I have decided to move into a small house that a friend of hers owns. That way I won’t be the constant painful reminder to Ria. Also, they are about to have another set of twins. With the way Ria is going, they will end up filling up that castle with little ones, which would be absolutely amazing, but it might help if they didn’t have to work around me. I’ll still see the kids and be around, just not so much around Ria. 

I knock on Drago’s office door as I know he’s in here today, “Come in,” answers my knock.

As soon as I walk in he smiles at me like he usually does. I sit in one of the chairs facing his desk and I think he can see from my face that whatever reason I am here for, it’s not just light-hearted sister stuff.

“I’ve made a decision. I have actually been thinking about it for a while now, and the day with the Stoicas decided me for sure. I am moving out and renting a house from one of Amy’s friends.”

He looks at me for a moment, “Are you really sure Natalia?”

“Yes, Drago, seeing me actually hurts her. It’s not just her being angry, seeing me point out so many things we did wrong without even knowing it. Plus, she’s told me I remind her of Cin, so seeing me hurts on that level too. Also, you guys are going to end up filling this castle up with kids, so you’ll need my room.” I smile but I know it’s a bit flat.

“I’ll still be here Drago, and I will be around to spend time with the kids, plus trips to the cafe and festivals. So, I just won’t live in the same house anymore is all.” He lets out a huge breath.

“Yeah, that day pointed out a lot of things we had never really considered before. If you are sure this is what you want you know I will always support your decisions when I can. If you decide you want to come back all you ever have to do is say so.” I nod, then get up and hug my brother. I have moved to plan.

Drago

Natalia has officially moved into town. In some ways, it’s weird not to see her at family meals and things, but in another way, I guess a lot of times little sisters move out of the house and go off on their own.

She’s not off on her own, she’s just in town not far away. We are already planning for her to be with us when we take the kids to the cafe next week. However, today I have a different mission.

Since Ria came down to the control center we have diligently been working to find Christofer Zavitnik, brother to Braun Zavitnik everywhere. We have been working with the other families to cast a very large net and use some new facial recognition software. 

I finally have news to give to Ria, and she’s having a break while the kids are down for naps, so I thought this would be a good time with no children around to speak to her about what we’ve finally found.

She’s on her usual bench so I go and sit at the end and just look over at her. She’s watching me and just waiting to see what I have to say.

I just take a deep breath and tell her, “We found him Ria.”