Horse Stone (Book 1 of Ilyrian Series)

Chapter 26

I woke up screaming out in fear, bolting out of bed and landing on the floor with a soft thud. Tears pricked my eyes as panic set in, the feeling of being trapped strong. I tried to scramble out of the confines that were holding me to no anvil.

"Let me go," I sobbed, trying to get out of whatever was holding me. "Please, let me go." My eyes were tightly shut as I tried to get out, not wanting to see the dangers of my nightmare being played out.

Something hopped onto top of my struggling body and started to scream as if the thing was trying to get my attention. The thing finally had enough of me moving around and bit me, and I sat up instantly and opened my eyes, flinging whatever was on me away and finally breaking free from my prison and dream.

Sweat beaded my forehead, and my stomach turned as I laid back down, trying to calm my beating heart. My heart was still in my chest as I laid still, praying that I was still alive and well.

"Mreow?" something called out, and I looked at her. Blankets started to move around until a little head popped out of them. Tigra stared at me with her big eyes, and I could tell that she was worried about me.

I closed my eyes and placed my hand across my face. "I'm ok, Tiggy," I said, finally. "I just had a nightmare, is all."

My cat hopped onto my chest and laid down, purring. Her purrs resonated through my body, finally, and I slowly but surely relaxed and stopped panicking.

"Are you one of them, Tig?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I took my hands off of my face and looked into her big green eyes as she blinked slowly.

She was waiting for me to elaborate, I could tell. She was a little excited, though, and I could tell that she was probably happy that I might know what she was, or a part of what she was.

"Are you from Ilyrian?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Like Lucas?"

Tigra lifted her head when I said, "Lucas." She looked to the window and then looked back at me as if to see the falcon was there. She cocked her head and frowned, probably wondering why I had said his name.

"I "met" him today," I whispered. "He was in the room with Anthony Wilson and me. I had a... vision before meeting them about Ilyrian this morning."

Silently, she urged me to continue, and I shook my head. She frowned, and I could tell that she was rather annoyed with me not telling her everything.

"I will tell you later," I promised. "Right now, I want to take a small shower and make it look like that I wasn't crying before going to see V- Shadow. I need to get him to trust me, Tig. I need to get him to trust me enough to answer all of the questions that I have. He's the only that can without the King's permission."

***

He stood in the kitchen with his back facing the doorway. He was holding a cup of coffee and staring out the window with his other hand tucked behind his back. His whole body was more or less relaxed as he watched something, not paying attention to any of his surroundings.

Dominating, that was the only word that I could describe him as. Dominating and authoritative as if he was some King, but then again, he was a CEO, a very powerful CEO of a tile company that had many offices around the United States.

I was starting to feel rather intimidated with him, just as I had many times before. I licked my lips, feeling them go rather dry as I tried to come up with the courage to tell my father that I would go to visit the stables.

Probably sensing my presence, my father turned around to look at me. He stirred for a moment and blinked before a smile appeared on his face. "Hello, Ley," he said, and I smiled at him. "How did you sleep?"

"Good," was my reply. I licked my lips and cleared my throat. "Is it ok if I go to the stables?" I asked, holding the bag that I had packed in my hand. "I want to start working on Shadow and seeing if I can get him to trust me."

He hesitated but nodded his head. "Would you like me to drive you there?" He raised an eyebrow when I shook my head, a small smirk appearing on his face. "And, why not?" he asked. "Do you not want to hang out with me?" He cocked his head, the dominating feeling leaving him as he teased me.

"I do," I said, widening my eyes. "I want to walk, though. I don't mind it."

He chuckled and nodded his head. "I know," he said. "I am just messing with you." The smile turned a little bigger as I scowled and narrowed my eyes at him. "I will pick you, though, so I hope you call me when you are done."

I took in a deep breath and let it out before nodding my head. "Yes, Sir," I said. "I don't know when I will be done, though."

"It doesn't matter," my father said. "I will still pick you up, ok?"

I nodded my head. "Yes, Sir," I said. I licked my lips and cleared my throat. "I will see you later."

He nodded his head. "Just be careful while you are out there, ok?"

I nodded my head. "I will," I promised. And with that, I left, hoping that I could get Vanar to answer some of the questions that I had.