Hidden Flame: Bound to the Triplet Dragon Kings

Chapter 16: Nightmares Avery Before I fell asleep, I sent each of The Ta text saying that I wouldn't be at school until Friday. Also, I sent them bits of what I had done for our shared classes too. I have rarely ever done anything for myself and this headmaster-approved vacation will serve as an early graduation present to myself. I picked my book up and I Intend to read until 1 fall asleep. After a few hours, sleep took me. I was plunged into my memories. I watched my six-year-old self run into the woods. It was one of the many times that I sought refuge in the woods to hide from the kids at the orphanage. I see hell looking around. This must have been the tafter I had run into that dragon becouse I could vaguely see the scat poke out im my shirt.

I hide in the trunk of a tree. I remember doing that but I don't remember what comes next because this dream shows something different entirely from what I remember. I hear the bullies' voices approach my location. A dragon's roar shakes the trees. A green dragon with silver eyes lands between the bullies and me. It's the sone that clawed me. I rub my back because the scar begins to burn. That's a detail that I don't remember too as was the dragon appearing. I feel my pulse racing and my heart beating fast. I hear pounding in my ears and suddenly feel the world spin. I woke up in a sweat. So the dragon appearing is why I fainted? I must have had a panic attack. Back then I woke up inside the tree trunk. had just thought that I had fallen asleep.

Even if that one dragon tried to protect me, I still fear and hate seeing them. I decided to go to the kitchen and brew stea. Tea has always helped calm my nerves. As I reach for my usual Jasmine tea, a box catches my eye. It is Jasmine tea mixed with butterfly pea flowers. I think that I will try it. After I put the kettle on, I get out my favorite mug. It has a quote on it that have always found comforting. The quote is by Aristotle and says "It is during o darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." After the kettle whistles, I pour the hot water into my mug and drop the tea ball into the water. I hold the steaming mug under my mose and inhale. I am immediately transported to a strangely familiar yet beautiful world. Jasmine vines hang from the trees and these beautiful purple and blue flowers grow below the fragrant decorative boughs. As quickly as I was thrust into that world, I was returned to reality when I heard my name. "Avery, Avery are you okay? Conner asks.

"Yeah, I just couldn't sleep. Why?" "I have been calling your nfor the last five minutes," he replies.

"Oh, I must have zoned out. Do you need something?" "No, I can't seem to fall asleep." he says.

I offered him stea and he accepted. We sit at the counter and sip the tea at the stime. "Dooo, this tastes like blueberry muffins." "It does. I have not had this since I was little. Where did you find it he asks.

"In the cabnear my Jasmine tea. I had never noticed it before so I decided to try it, and I am glad that I did because I think that. I found my new favorite tea. Where did it cfrom?" "Corra. That tribe is known for its variety of flowers and for using them for medicinal reasons in both dragons and humans. My parents likely brought this back from one of their diplomatic missions,” he explains.

We sat in contemplative silence for a bit before we both returned to our rooms.

Conner I tossed and turned for a few hours once I got hfrom the restaurant. Every tI would fall asleep I would dream of my parents and wake up. 1 went to the kitchen to find something to relax me. Avery was making tea so I accepted her offer to makesome. Little did I know that it would be my childhood favorite. I thought Cassius ordered everything of our parents' to be removed but the 1/2 Chapter 16: Nightmares few paintings that hang on palace walls. Imagine my surprise when tasted that tea. Avery said it was her new favorite and I had to hide the smile on my face behind my mug.

I got quiet after I explained where the tea cfrom because so many memories cflooding back to me. Things were so much simpler when we were young. I often wish that I could rewind tand I would have told my parents that I wanted to be king. They could have helpedprepare for what was to come. I am also not luppy with the guy I see when I look in the mirror. I need to change and when better than after my Grand Ceremony? I will stand up to my brothers and tell them that I want to be the next king, I doubt that Clint would challengehut Cassits might. I dont want to fight my brothers, but sthings are worth fighting for.

I remove my pants and t-shirt before 1 crawl back into bed. Staring the celling, I lay there until sleep takes me. Hours later, I woke up gripping my sheets. 1 had dreamt of dragon talons gripping Avery's shoulders to carry her off. It angeredtoo. I am not sure why it affected me, but it did. It was probably just the nostalgia from earlier mixing with my parents' death. I showered and got dressed before I headed off to school. I will be early and hopefully no run into Heldi. I don't want to explain anything to her, especially these strange things that have been happening lately.

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