Robbin's POV
Nothing makes sense anymore. It's either that, or I'm just not the same person that I used to be. But I guess both are equally truthful. The way my body is acting is not something that has happened to me in the past. I've always been strong-willed that I refused to let anything bring me down. Or is that being stubborn? It doesn't matter I suppose. Not anymore.
As I lay once again in a hospital bed, I contemplate the recent events to fully understand the situation, and what led me here. Ever since I escaped my prison, I've had a weaker immune system. The frequent trips to the treatment rooms are proof of that.
I think the strongest I've felt in the last few months was when Xander bit me. It sent a wave of power through my body but sadly didn't last very long because I fainted.
A weak immune system is one thing but doesn't explain the fainting. Is it narcolepsy? It's possible, but that would only happen in relaxing situations. I think I should deduct that possibility.
I guess just not as strong as I used to be, or rather as I thought I was. Hopefully, the palace doctor will be able to clear this up. Maybe he can fix this. Maybe. I'll be sure to ask him as soon as Xander and Phineas are done speaking to him. Why did they choose to converse privately? I have no clue. Why speak of me when they can do it to me? I'll never understand the function of the male brain.
I'd ask Olympia and Alec to find out what's going on, but they seem to be deep into an argument about me staying in the Westerlie kingdom a little while longer. Do these people not realize that I'm right here?
I sigh inwardly and gently swing my feet over the edge of the bed. My body still feels sluggish, but I can't stand being in this room anymore. It was only when the heart monitor started beeping did Olympia and Alec notice me pulling out the wires in my arm.
"What are you doing! You need to rest!" Olympia rushed toward my side and tried to sit me back down."
"You have no idea how much I hate it when people tell me that, Pia. seriously, I'm fine, now let me pass." I tried to walk past her but it was no use. At the moment, she was stronger than me. Her hands were placed on my shoulders and she slowly pushed me back down on the bed.
"You're not going anywhere until the doctor comes back."
"How about you go find him and I'll wait here for you." I couldn't help the sarcasm dripping from my mouth as I spoke.
"There's no need," Alec spoke as he approached us. "Xander just mindlinked me and said they're on their way back now."
"When will they get here?" I asked, feeling anxious to be let out of this room already.
"Right now," Xander spoke as he and the doctor walked through the already opened door.
"Where's Phineas? Wasn't he with you guys?" Olympia moved away from me and near the doctor as she solicited her question.
"He excused himself for a council meeting with your father. Now lay back down. You need to rest Robbin." Xander answered for him, but his words were sent to me as he spoke.
"No, I'm tired of resting. I just want to spend whatever is left of my freedom outside, not stuck in this damn room, now tell me what's wrong with me so I can fix it and leave."
My voice rose enough for Xander to give me a hard glare. He opens his mouth to speak, something most likely not appropriate for the rest of the company in the room, but the doctor beat him to it.
"Princess Robbin, it may not be as easy as you think."
"How do you mean?" My eyebrows furrowed at his comment. Does he not think I'm strong enough to get past this?
"Princess, have you felt anything strange since you left your prison?"
"If by strange, do you mean my weak immune system? If that's the problem, it can be fixed easily."
The doctor gave Xander a worried glance, and he returned it before the two of them directed their attention back to me.
"That may be part of the issue, but I'm afraid it's much more complicated."
"I'm sure it can. I come from a very strong bloodline and I used to be a very powerful person. Whatever the problem is, I'm sure there's a solution." My impatience was growing stronger by the second. What could be so bad that it's affecting me like this?
"Well, the blood sample we took came back with results. King Xander has told me about the results when you were first treated there." He looks down at his clipboard and hesitates for a moment, creating an unwanted silence.
"Speak already." Olympia stole the words from my mouth, and I could sense the irritated state she was in.
"It appears your dragon blood is corrupted."
The silence returned, only it was caused by shock. My mouth lowly hung open as I took in his words, for they are the last anyone with dragon blood wants to hear. Corrupted? It can't be possible.
"How?" Olympia's voice was strained as she spoke in my place. I wanted to ask for myself, but the words never left my mouth.
"It's usually caused by DK solution, but king Xander told me there isn't any in his kingdom. Another possibility is the exile of your dragon, Vision."
Vision. My sweet dragon. A pained look appears on my face as I'm reminded of him. I knew the loss of him brought me a new form of pain, but I only expected it to be emotional. Maybe there's where I messed up. I never assumed it would do any real damage to my physical body.
"What are you implying?" Once again, Olympia asks for me. She must've noticed the sudden loss of my voice and wanted to retrieve the answers I desperately needed.
"When you left your prison, only half of you came back. Your dragon holds the other half. It's because of the connection you two share. It entwines your souls, making you live like one. But since he's still made in stone, half of your soul, causing your dragon blood to corrupt."
No one spoke, perhaps because the news was too much for anyone to bear. A bond between a dragon and one of dragon blood is stronger than the average mind may think. They complete us in an unexplainable way. We don't choose our dragons, they are chosen for us by the many gods. They're what activated our dragon eyes. A werewolves mate bond may be the only thing that brings the two species into the same category.
The doctor spoke once more, breaking the silence. "You cannot remove the corrupted blood because it has spread too far into your system. You might be able to stop it, but, but I'm afraid there's a time limit for this. If it continues to spread, all of your dragon blood will be impure, and you'll lose the last of your connection with Vision and he'll never return to his original form."
His last words were the final hit on my broken heart. This can't be possible. If the corruption continues to spread, I'll lose him forever?
"Tell me how to stop it." Words finally fell from my mouth. They were strong, but they were filled with sadness and pain.
"You need to wake Vision up. As I said, he holds the other half of your soul and vice versa. But for you to do this, you need to fully awaken the dragon that already lies within you."
"How am I supposed to do that? As you said, he is the other half of me, my dragon half."
"That is true, but you were born with dragon blood running through your veins. There is a dragon inside of you. After all, King Xander and your father have told me they've seen your dragon's eyes."
"But they only appeared because Xander bit me and my father is strong enough to make anyone's dragon eyes appear. It doesn't prove anything."
"It does. It only further shows you're still capable of activating them."
"Well, how do I do it then?"
"It's not something I can tell you, only something you need to figure out on your own."
"Are you kidding me!" Olympia rejoins the conversation after her silence wore out. "You mean to tell us that you know what the problem is but can't fix it?"
"No, Olympia, he can't." Our eyes turn to Alec who only now has decided to speak out. "If there was a manual on activating dragon's eyes, a foreign enemy may try to use it to their advantage. Only someone carrying it knows how to turn them on, dragon, or no dragon."
That was surprising. Who knew Alec knew so much about dragons. He never mentioned anything about my kind when we had a long chat after he found out about my attempted escape.
"How much time do I have left?"
"It's hard to say for sure. If you continue to get injured or become extremely light-headed, the corruption will speed up. But if you manage to wake your dragon up in the next two months with little to no damage to your body, it will stop."
"And if she's hurt?" Xander's voice startled me. I turned to see him now standing on my right. I never noticed or sensed him move. He was just suddenly there.
"It depends on the damage, but the time limit will continue to be cut short."
This was a lot to take in. If I don't wake Vision up within two months, he'll be lost forever, taking part of me with him. And even if I do, I'll end up being a liability because my dragon blood is corrupted. But I don't care about what happens to me. Vision is my main priority. I'd never been able to live with myself if he never woke up because I didn't try hard enough. This is on me. Only I can do this, and I will.
"I don't want to live my life filled with fear of getting hurt. There has to be another way."
"Princess Robbin there's no-"
"There has to!" My anger was evident now. How can they ask me to give up something like flying? It's the only thing keeping me sane at the moment.
"I'm sure there is. I come from a very strong bloodline and I used to be a very powerful person. I can handle it." the words came out of my mouth, but I'm afraid they didn't hold much truth to them.
"I understand that you're different, but that doesn't change the fact that there's something in your system that's poisoning you."
The conversation ended on that note and everyone except Xander excused themselves. Olympia and Alec went to tell my father and Phineas of my situation. I looked down at my wrist and traced the veins that showed through my skin. I know the doctor said there isn't a way to remove the damaged blood, but there must be something I can do. If only this was found earlier, then I would've had more time.
My eyes widen at the thought. I turn to Xander who just stood there without a word. "Why didn't they find this in the first blood test, Xander?"
"Because there was no dragon blood detected in your system." His voice held truth but something still didn't seem right. A typical look was held his cold face, but his eyes were...confused?
Maybe he's right. Maybe I was when I said the separation from my home and dragon did something to mask it.
I sigh and look around the room for my shoes. I've had enough of this depressing environment. I need some sky therapy.
"Don't even think about it." Xander's voice once again surprises me as I see him now standing behind me. "You can't go out flying right now. Not for a while."
"Are you insane? This may be the last connection I have to dragons right now."
"The doctor said that lightheadedness is prone to cause you to faint again. You should rest som-"
"Dammit will everyone stop saying that! How in the seven hells am I supposed to get better if I'm locked in this room all day?"
"That's enough." A warning growl rumbled through him as he gripped my arm. "You'll watch your tone when you speak to me."
His harshness takes me aback. I guess whatever happened earlier means nothing-not that I was so willing to trust and believe him so easily. I pull my arm back and head toward the door. I don't want to be controlled in my own home, my kingdom.
I need to get out of here. It feels like everyone is trying to cage me in. I leave the treatment room with Xander in it and make my way to my bedroom. Being in this castle feels suffocating now that the wolves have arrived.
Walking down the long corridors, I glanced through the tall windows to see it's still light out. I might as well enjoy the outdoors some more before they deem it too dangerous for me to feel the wind blowing against my fragile body.
Once I entered my room, I changed out of the clothes I've been wearing since breakfast-a black long sleeve fitted top with matching tight trousers-and throw on a pair of loose black pants and a hooded jacket. If I'm going to be treated like this in my palace, then I'll have to go somewhere that won't.
I'm not running away, just getting away, for a decent time. I debated on whether or not I should jump out of the window since it's closer to the courtyard that's near the gate dividing us from the rest of the kingdom, but I'm four stories up so it's a no-go.
I go with plan B, which is to sneak out as fast as I can without making it look like I'm sneaking out. That might be better done than said, which is a first for me since running away has proven to be something I'm terrible at. But it's different here. They won't suspect it from me.
I make my way to the courtyard, not taking the window route because, in all honesty, it sends a message that I'm trying not to get delivered, and am greeted by guards who instinctively bowed their heads at my presence. I nod back and gave them a simple response.
"I'm going for a walk through the grounds."
"Would you like us to escort you?"
"No thank you. I'll only be twenty minutes." I gave them a sweet smile and they bowed again, then returned to their guarded positions.
They seemed to not be suspicious of my intentions so I continued with my plan. Once I made it into the courtyard, I headed to a field of trees that covered the gate I was planning on climbing.
Approaching it, I survey the area and find no guards. Perfect. The gate seems taller than I remember, but it isn't something I can't handle.
Now that was easier said than done. After fifteen minutes of slipping and losing my grip of the bloody gates, I finally manage to get to the top of it, which was thankfully still covered by the towering trees. I thought that the hard part was over until I realized the long drop to the bottom. I couldn't get down without slipping completely.
But it was a risk I would need to take. I told the guard I'd only be twenty minutes, and that time frame is nearly done. I take a deep breath and turn to grab the bar to lower myself down, but my grip betrayed me and down I went.
I hit the ground with a loud thud, bumping into a few dozen branched on the way. I didn't even want to process the pain that was sure to come and pushed myself off the ground. Well, at least I'm out.
I turn away from the gate and start to head for the path that leads to the town. During my time back home, I never really left the palace, only to Visit Vision down by the bay. But besides that, I spent most of my time with my family.
I missed the city of Havnnic and all it has to offer. Had, it appears. So much has happened to society during my years in exile. I saw it when I stayed in the Northerner kingdom and slightly here, but the rest of the world? I have yet to see what it's like now.
I guess I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn't realize the presence behind me. It was only when a strong hand found its way around my waist that I snapped out of it. I pushed away from the hand and spun around.
Of course.
"We told you not to leave." Alec was the one to speak. Xander however, just stood there with piercing eyes. I assume is anger is coming from me not listening to him.
"Technically, you told me not to get hurt."
"And the blood on your elbow is for decoration."
I don't look down at the wound that now decides to cause me pain. Instead, I keep the conversation going.
"How did you find me?"
"Are you kidding me? Robbie, we saw you leave. Did you not notice us in the courtyard?"
"So you followed me? Is privacy not a thing you understand?" Perhaps turning the tables will get me out of trouble faster.
"Well, given your track record on escaping when told not to, you don't get any. Besides like you said, we never said you couldn't leave the palace."
"Fair point. Wait a minute! If you two didn't try to stop me, why didn't either of you helps me up that damn gate?"
Alec and Xander shared an amused glance before looking my way once more. Is this a joke to them?
"You're very adorable when you think you can run away." Xander's tone spoke with humor, as well did his eyes. He then grabbed my arm that was injured and wiped away the blood. "Will you ever listen to me?"
"You can bet your kingdom I won't. And I didn't run away. This is my kingdom. I can sneak out if I please to."
"Well if it's your kingdom, why do you need to sneak out?"
I wasn't going to let him take that win, so I pulled my arm back and headed once more for the town, which was now only a few streets down from where we were. The heavy footsteps that were trailing behind me were clear that they had no intention of letting me go alone.
"I don't need any guards."
"Don't think of us as guards," Alec said as he matches my pace, "We just happen to be heading in the same direction."
"And what direction would that be?"
"Whichever way you're going, Luna."
"Alec, we talked about the formalities."
He didn't look at me, but the smile that spread on his face grew wide enough for me to catch it.
"By the way, since we're 'heading in the same direction', might I ask a favor?"
"Of course."
"When we return to the Northerner Kingdom, can I train with the pack members?"
"That's an odd request, but I see no-"
"Absolutely not."
We turn around to see Xander with annoyance written all over his face. Are you kidding me? Why does he feel the need to interrupt? "You'll train with the royal guard, as has every ruler has done in the Northerner kingdom."
"No." I couldn't get any more words out when he spoke as soon as I did.
"It's not up for debate Robbin."
"Why do you feel the need to do this?" I walked up to him, my rage-filled with apoplectic.
"Do what?"
"Don't be guileful. You know what I mean. Why do you drive such a large wedge between us? Do none of your words hold any truth to them? What has changed from the conversation we had down by the bay?"
"Nothing has changed Robbin. And my words do hold the truth. I'll keep my word and not chain you up anymore, but the submission rule still stands."
"Listen to me Xander, for I am tired of these repetitive words." I moved closer to him to where I was practically covering his body with the heat that radiated from my anger. "I swear on the Westerlie throne that I will never submit to you. May the many gods take my breath the moment I do."
I had hoped that the mockery in my words would be enough for him to turn and head back to the palace, but instead, I'm shown an entertained face, so I did what any furious dragon would do.
I slapped him. I couldn't help it. Just like the last time, he was asking for it. Only this time, he kept a cooler composure.
"Oh, did I anger you, little dragon? It seems so. Your face is burning up. Either that or you have a kinky si-". I cut him off with another slap, only it got cut off with his hand.
"Enough." his voice lowered drastically and the grip on my hand tightened.
"Xander what the-" He spun me around and clamped his hand over my mouth. I heard bones cracking and turned to see Alec transform into his werewolf form.
"Listen to me Robbin, you won't fight. You will not fight." Xander released his hold on me only to step in front of me, but I stopped him. He was going to shift as well, but I needed to know what was happening.
"What's going on?"
Suddenly, several large wolves emerged from the trees surrounding the path we were on, all with bloodlust in their eyes.
I looked back up at Xander, but his gaze was never returned. Only words, or word, shall I say.
"Rogues."