Flutter (The Discover Series) (68 page)

“It’s your mother Adan.” Andres said and I could see him hold out the cell phone toward Adan.

And just like that the spell was broken. Reality was a hard slap in my face with just four little words. Adan cursed, not bothering to look in Andres’s direction. “Tell her I’ll call her back.”

“It’s important.” Andres said.

He sighed, “I’ll be right back.” he whispered to me, and turned to take the phone from Andres. Putting it up to his ear, he walked away.

“Is everything okay?” I asked Andres.

“I’m not sure, she wouldn’t say”

Figures,
I thought irritated.

Walking up to me, Andres still looked uncomfortable. “Sara-”

“I already know what you’re going to say Andres and I told Adan I couldn’t see him anymore.”

Even if it hadn’t looked like that when he walked up
, I thought to myself.

“Even if I was okay with it, the council won’t be. They won’t let it happen.”

“I’m the Princess; don’t I get some kind of veto card?”

“It doesn’t work like that.”

“Of course not. Why would it.”

“Even if we don’t understand it, they have your best interest in mind Sara.”

             
“Who is this council anyway?”

             
“They’re made up, of three of the oldest Dragonflies.”

             
“Will I meet them?” I asked, feeling a little intimidated,

             
“Possibly.” He cleared this throat and I realized he had something else on his mind. “I have something for you. Something from your parents.”

             
He took a something from his back pocket and handed it to me. I took it from him. Examining the slightly damaged folded envelope, I looked at him.

             
“What is it?”

             
“A note your mother left for you. I found it shortly after we escaped from the island. She wanted me to give it to you when I told you about everything.”

             
I stared at the aged old envelope, feeling a mix of emotions. I knew my parents were gone, but I felt like reading this, opening the letter was finalizing everything and I wanted to hold on to them just a little longer.

             
Andres and I both looked over hearing Adan’s approaching footsteps. Slipping the letter into my back pocket, I instantly knew something was wrong. I could feel it pouring off of Adan.

             
“What’s wrong?” I asked.

             
He looked up from the cell phone, his gaze finding mine and it was all I could do not to run to him.

             
“It’s Nicholas and Ana. They were ambushed and captured.”

Flutter

Epilogue

I am

“Do you have everything?” Andres asked.

             
“Yes.” I said.

I gave him my bag to put into the trunk of the car. Everything consisted of the new toothbrush and toothpaste Andres had bought just hours ago, and a week worth of outfits that I would be able to change into on our trip.

Giving what remained of our house one last goodbye glance, I turned toward him. “I’m really going to miss this house.” I told him sadly.

“Me too mija.” He said closing the trunk to sneaking in his own glance.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you about something.” I said walking to the passenger side door, opening it.

“Yes?”

“We’re going to
Spain
.”

He laughed. “Is that a question.”

“I wasn’t finished. People in
Spain
speak Spanish, how am I suppose to communicate with them?”

“Some of them know English. And for those who don’t you’ll have me until you get better at speaking it.”

             
“Okay I guess. Are you ready?”

             
“Yep.” We climbed into the car and Andres started it up and pulled out of the driveway.

             
As we drove through
Flagstaff
,
Phoenix
bound; I realized this was probably going to be the last time I was ever going to be here. Just like everything else, it was a bittersweet feeling. We passed by my job and I could see the closed sign hanging on the door. Andres had given me a day to say goodbye to everyone before we had to leave. Maggie had been first, I hadn’t expected it to be so hard to say goodbye, but it had been. She had become a great friend, and I felt oddly close to her.

             
Saying goodbye to
Elizabeth and Scott had been
harder, and not only because I was close to them, but because they wanted answer I couldn’t give. I had told them that Andres had gotten another job and that with the fire destroying the house, he was going to take it. They both had been understandably shocked, Eli was devastated and after a lot of crying on Eli’s and my part, I watched them until they disappeared from my review mirror.

             
Andres turned onto the exit for
Phoenix
, putting
Flagstaff
officially in our past. I was hypnotized by the pine trees that flashed past my window. I was going to miss Maggie, Elizabeth and Scott, but their loss wasn’t enough to help me forget the loss I felt when Adan had left. After he had gotten the call and the news of his Brother and Fiancée being captured, he had been on the first plane out of
Phoenix
.

             
He hadn’t wanted to leave me, but Andres didn’t want him to stay. Of course he didn’t say that in those words, but it was obvious. Andres had reassured Adan that we would be fine with David and Rhys traveling along with us, and he had reluctantly left. Andres hadn’t given Adan the chance to be alone with me before he left and I was only partly thankful for that. Having to go through that with Adan again would have definitely killed me.
Before leaving
Ada
n ad given me a note, a note that I still had yet to open. I could feel it burning a hole in my back pocket, along with the note from my parents. Also unopened.

             
I didn’t know what I was going to say to Adan when I saw him again, but I had plenty of time to work that out. Relaxing into my seat, I tried to enjoy the final hours I had left of just being Sara.

Soon I was going to become Sara Alejandra Marquez… I was born into a world unknown, and my fate was sealed. Defender to a kingdom awaiting my arrival, I was their only hope.

             
I am
… The Dragonfly Princess.

Acknowledgement

I have been waiting a long time for the day when FLUTTER would finally be finished, and now that it is, it doesn’t quite feel real yet! There are so many people that have helped support me and my journey through this all, for which I am incredibly thankful!

From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely love you all.

I want to thank my family for their unyielding love and for always being there to listen to
my
freak outs.
To my sister, Samantha, for helping me when I first started writing Flutter. For being there for me to bounce ideas off of and not being afraid to tell me when something needed to changed. And to my brother, Steven, for staying up with me until the sun came up while I wrote. I love you both so much!

There is no greater support system than that of my family and friends.

To my beautiful daughters, for loving me unconditionally - even when your laundry was in piles, and your routine became less than ideal. I love you more than words can say.
And to my husband, Robert, for being my tech hero & being there to help me figure out all the publishing stuff.

I love you more you guys more than words can say.

A very special thank you to Lilly, I am so happy that I have found you as a friend! Thank you so much for always being there at 24/7, whether it was to help edit something big or small, or just to talk me through one of my many melt downs toward the end.

I simply adore you.

For anyone & everyone who has or will buy & read, Flutter
–
I can’t thank you enough for your love and support. I hope you enjoy reading it and fall madly in love with it as much as I have!

xoxo - Mel

Flutter