Island of Dragons (Unwanteds #7)(35)

Panther turned to look at Aaron, her eyes wide and sad.

Aaron set down the spider he’d been working on. “You’ll be okay without me.” He frowned, and then he slipped his arms around the panther’s neck in an awkward hug.

Panther struggled to get up, and Aaron quickly got up too. He’d been here far too long. He needed to pack his things. “Good-bye,” he said. “Tell the rock and the dog that I said good-bye. And I’ll . . . I’ll see you later. Sometime. Okay?”

Panther screamed in Aaron’s face. Aaron gave the beast a long look, and then he swallowed hard and went inside the tube. “Keep your tail on,” he said. “I’m not sure if Al . . . if anyone, I mean, knows how to fix those. Not like me, anyway.”

Panther wagged her tail, and Aaron stood helplessly watching her. Finally he waved, trying not to break down, and then pressed the button that would take him back to Artimé.

In the kitchenette, Aaron stepped out of the tube, pinched the bridge of his nose, took in a deep breath and let it out, and then entered the hallway. He walked toward the balcony, stopping by Alex’s living quarters. The door was open, and things were strewn about the room.

Alex stood at the bed, cramming clothes into a medium-size traveling bag.

“Hey,” said Aaron.

Alex looked up. “Oh, hi,” he said. “Are you packed?”

“Almost,” Aaron said. He looked swiftly away. “I was wondering if you have an extra bag. It seems I’ve accumulated a few things that I don’t want to leave behind, and I can’t fit everything into my trunk. Just a small one will do.”

“Yeah, sure,” said Alex. He went to his closet and pulled out a cloth bag with handles, and handed it to Aaron.

“Thanks,” said Aaron, taking it. He hesitated, and then expelled a sharp breath. “Okay, see you in a bit.”

“Around sundown,” Alex reminded him.

“Got it,” said Aaron. “And, uh, don’t forget to tell your blackboard that you’re leaving this time.”

Alex grinned. “Thank you for the reminder. I’ll do that. Hey, Clive, you filthy beast, wake up! I’m going away for a few days and . . .”

Aaron stepped away. With his mind full of plans, he slipped down the hallway toward the balcony and headed for his room, never noticing Simber near the mansion’s entrance, watching him curiously as he often did.





More Good-byes


At sunset the white boat was fully loaded with soil, wings, personal items, and Charlie the gargoyle, who was stationed in his favorite spot inside the cabin. Aaron looked at the crowd that had gathered to send him off. He was surprised and quite moved by the number of people and creatures who had come to say good-bye. While Alex stood quietly to one side, Aaron accepted hugs from Sky, Lani, and even Samheed, as well as Ms. Morning, Ms. Octavia, Carina, and Sean. When Kaylee stepped over to him, she hugged him for a split second longer than he expected, and then she kissed him lightly on the cheek, making his ears flame. “If you fix the tube,” she whispered, “maybe I can see you again.”

Aaron became immediately flustered, muttered something unintelligible, and quickly stepped back.

Kaylee grinned and shoved her hands in her pockets. “And Ishibashi, Ito, and Sato, of course,” she added.

“Right. Sure,” Aaron mumbled. His heart thudded in his chest as if he’d just run full speed across the lawn. He didn’t understand his feelings. He only knew that whenever Kaylee whispered in his ear, it gave him a thrill he’d never felt before.

Quickly he turned away from her and bent down to pick up his sisters. He hoisted them up and gazed at each one’s face. “Good-bye,” he whispered to them, and tears sprang to his eyes. “Perhaps you can come to visit me now and then.”

Alex stepped in and put a hand on Aaron’s back. “We will,” he said. “I’ll make sure of it.” He looked at the girls. “Can you say good-bye to Aaron?”

“Bye, Ay-on,” said Thisbe.

“Bye, Ay-on,” echoed Fifer, and then her face crumbled and she began to cry.

“Oh no,” said Aaron. He tried to comfort her, but she only cried louder. “There. It’s going to be okay.” He looked around anxiously.

Crow stepped in and took Fifer, and Sky reached for Thisbe so the brothers could depart.

At last Aaron turned to Liam and shook his hand. “I’m very . . . I’m proud of you. Of us,” he said, his voice cracking a bit. “Thank you for what you said that day in the palace . . . that day you asked me if I wished I was Unwanted. I . . . well, I won’t ever forget that. And you took a huge risk. You’re much braver than you think, Liam.”

Liam, dumbstruck, just kept shaking Aaron’s hand until the former high priest removed it from his grasp.

Alex looked at Aaron, and Aaron at Alex. “Let’s go,” they said together in one voice. The group around them tittered, and even Aaron managed to break a smile. With a last look over his shoulder, he caught Kaylee’s eye, and the heat rushed to his head again.

The brothers struck out for the boat, and a few minutes later Alex was steering away from Artimé. Aaron stood at the stern, reminded that once upon a time he thought he’d never have another friend after Eva died. But now he watched a myriad of them grow small in the waning light, Fifer’s cries taken away by the breeze. It very nearly broke his heart.