Horse Stone (Book 1 of Ilyrian Series)

Chapter 98

I sighed and leaned back in my seat after I finished eating, surprised that I was able to finish the meal because I was still super nervous and scared.

My father finished his tea, and he cleared his throat and grew serious while he looked at me. "Are you finished?" he asked, and I nodded in confirmation.

"Yes, Sir," I said and shifted a little in my seat, trying to get myself comfortable. "Did you bring me clothes to change into before we leave?" I asked, and he nodded in confirmation.

"I placed a bag on the couch for you if you want to get changed," he said. "I brought you your boots so that you can change into them before we leave too."

I breathed a sigh of relief before I nodded. "Thank you, Dad," I said and stood, and he leaned back in his seat and looked at me. "I am going to change and then will put on my boots." I looked at Dr. Wilson and hesitated before I looked at my father again.

My father didn't say a word while he looked at me and watched as I looked at Dr. Wilson before I looked at him. He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "We won't discuss anything before you and I talk."

I hesitated and nodded. "Ok," I said, feeling grateful. "Thank you."

And with that, I dipped my head before I walked to the living room to get my bag and then went to the bathroom to get changed, praying that he would keep his promise and not talk to Dr. Wilson about what happened before he talked to me...

Please let him not be mad at me, I silently prayed while I closed my eyes and dipped my head a little. Please...

***

My father and I were silent on the way to the barn with Tigra in the car with us. His whole body was tense, and I couldn't help but be tense as well, not liking the silence at all.

My cat was in my lap, purring and giving me the comfort that I needed. Her whole body was relaxed, but I could tell that she was tense too while we slowly made our way to Vanar's pen.

My father sighed and parked the car near the pasture where Vanar was watching us, his ears pricked towards us. "Are you ready?" he asked and looked at me, and I grimaced and shook my head no.

He chuckled softly and dipped his head closer to his chest. "Don't worry," he said softly. "Everything will be fine, and I will never be mad at you if that is what you are worried about."

I hesitated before I slowly nodded. "Yes, Sir," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you."

My father shook his head and cleared his throat. "Now, come on," he said and tapped his steering wheel before he took off his seatbelt. "Your horse is waiting for you." He smiled and sent me a small wink, and I couldn't help but smile just a little.

"I know," I said and dipped my head while I took off my seat belt, "and I know that he is getting impatient."

"Hmph." He cleared his throat before he opened his car door. "Let's go, Ley" he said softly. "Do you know what he is?" he asked randomly, and I nodded in confirmation.

"I do," I said and opened my car door. "Go ahead and get down, Tig," I said and looked at her. "He'll slowly get mad at us if we take too long to get to each other."

"That's right," Vanar said and snorted. He shook his head and snorted again before he stomped the ground, impatient. "Hurry up, and get over here."

My cat rolled her eyes and hopped off of my lap. She stretched and yawned while she flicked her tail, saying something to Vanar, and Vanar snorted and rolled his eyes while he scowled.

"Shut up," he said and flicked his tail from side to side, annoyed. "That is not true."

I furrowed my brows and cocked my head. "What happened?" I asked and got out of the car before I walked over to him, closing the car door behind me. "What did she say?"

"Nunya," Vanar said. He looked at my father before he looked at me. "I see that you have finally told him that you know about us."

I bit the inside of my lip before I hesitated and shook my head. "I haven't, not really," I said honestly.

My unicorn paused and narrowed his eyes. He breathed in and out, his whole body tense. "What happened?" he asked, his voice slightly darker and more protective than it had been. "Is this the reason why you aren't at school and why you didn't come later yesterday?"

I hesitated before I nodded and slowly went into the pasture. I placed my arms around my horse's neck and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath of his horsey scent.

"Hadley," Vanar said softly. "What happened?" He lowered his head around my shoulder and pulled me into a hug.

"Ethan stopped by," I said, my voice barely above a whisper while my heart pounded hard in my chest. I licked my lips and cleared my throat, trying to get myself to stop crying. "He stopped by because he was dropping Izzy off and then Izzy and I had a fight because I warned her not to go for him."

Vanar snorted and shook his head. He didn't say a word and flicked his tail again, annoyed.

"He's a Sharlorn," I said, my voice staying the same level, and Vanar reared back just a bit, making sure that he didn't hurt me.

"What?" my father asked, shocked and appalled, and I licked my lips and hesitated, not saying a word. Anger filled his voice, and the sky grew darker. "What did you say?"

"Your Majesty," Vanar warned, picking up on my emotions quickly. He nudged me closer to his side before he took a step forward, blocking me from his view. "Please."

I closed my eyes and set my jaw, waiting for my father either to calm down or yell at me to answer him.

My father sighed and dipped his head closer to his chest while he tried to calm down. He cleared his throat and shifted on his feet. "My apologies, Ley," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "I didn't mean to get that angry."

I hesitated before I nodded. "It's ok," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Are you sure that Ethan is a Sharlorn?" he asked while he narrowed his eyes at me. He was mad; I could tell, but I had a feeling that he was more mad at himself than he was mad at me.

I nodded again. "Yes, Sir," I said. "Dr. Wilson also confirmed that he was a Sharlorn."

My father sighed and shook his head before he moved a hand through his hair. "Did you know?" he asked and looked at Vanar.

Vanar shook his head no. "No, Your Majesty, I did not," he replied.

My father sighed again and moved a hand through his hair some more. He pressed his lips into a thin line while he stared at us, his eyes filled with pain and sadness. "If that is the case, then I need you to tell me everything that you know and not hold back. You will not disappoint me and make me love you any less. I give you my word."

I hesitated before I nodded. "Yes, Sir," I said and cleared my throat before I did what I was told to do and told him everything that had happened, praying that what he said was true, and he wouldn't be disappointed in me with everything I had been through since the time I had met Ethan and beyond.