Page 22

From Here to the Moon And Back

Chess

The rest of that train ride was fairly calm, despite Aubrey’s ominous declaration.

We took the boxed up food and some drinks to our car, then met in one cabin again until we arrived in Sighisoara.

Between the five of us, we coaxed Dolly to eat more and turned our attention to our devices so we could monitor social media.

Nothing popped up while we were checking, but we’ll have to continue watching as we travel to Ren’s people.

When the train finally came into the station, Felix ran the off-load again, and that’s how we ended up looking at the quaint village with our bags at our feet.

“The clock tower is right up your alley,” the dragon says to Renard. He’s hoping to ease the tension in the gargoyle’s frame, but that’s probably not going to happen until we’re firmly within the territory of his kind.

Maybe not even then, given the circumstances of his exile.

“There are many guilds in the city and they maintained nine of the original fourteen watchtowers throughout the city. Gargoyles are members of them specifically, to ensure perfect places for us to perch unnoticed at night.”

“What hotel are we staying in tonight?” my angel says as she looks down the colorful Strada Tamplarilor . It’s a main street and there are lots of people milling about, so we don’t look completely ridiculous hanging out.

Felix sniffs, his eyes darting around the area before he hails a car. “We need to go to Strada Morii . Our hotel for the night is Casa Savri .”

Once we’re on our way, I let out a sigh of relief.

I’m not as paranoid as the others for certain, but something about the people on the train and being in the middle of a historic town whose tourist business centers on the supposed ‘first vampire’ is a bit too close to the bone for me.

It’s an old, semi-medieval looking part of the city where we’re staying, and I just don’t like the amount of open spaces and perches.

I’m sure it’s extremely fucking gargoyle friendly, though, and I don’t know if I think that’s bad or good, either.

“Chessie, you’re sitting like you have a rocket shoved up your ass,” Fitz says with a frown.

I roll my eyes at him, even though I’m pleased he noticed my discomfort.

He’s been light years better about realizing there are other people in the world since our mate entered the scene, and that’s extended to actually seeing when emotions change. “What’s got your tail in a knot?”

The others turn their attention to me and I think about what I want to say in this very not-secure vehicle.

“The town is quite lovely—there’s a lot of old-style towers and open-air spaces that are popular with tourists, I imagine.

Lots of room for visitors to mill around and really absorb the history, you know?

You can see everything around you because it’s not a crowded, skyscraper filled big city. ”

Dolly snaps her fingers, her eyes dancing as she looks at me. “Nowhere to hide and lots of places to get lost at the same time, yes?”

“ Exactly ,” I reply with a proud smile. “I think I’ll enjoy exploring such an unusual slice of history once we’ve settled in, obviously. I just didn’t want to be caught unawares and miss something.”

Whew. What I’d really like is not to be in this cab anymore, so I don’t have to translate my every word.

“You know, I really would like to see the sights at some point,” Dolly says as she looks out the window. “It’s a little kitsch, obviously, but I bet we’d have fun.”

“We will,” Aubrey rumbles from his spot next to the stonily silent gargoyle. “On the way back, if we have time, we will visit anything you want, lunchable.”

Our excited bunny beams at him, and I chuckle softly.

She really doesn’t ask for much and it’s incredibly easy to give it all to her.

“Good. Travel is definitely going on our bucket list for later, even if I’m scared as fuck about certain kinds.

Once it’s all over, I’m gonna conquer that dumb fear, anyway. ”

“Of course you will,” Felix says smoothly. “We’ll be there to help you, Princess.”

“Duh,” she says. “But I want to do it myself . I like to stand on my two thumpers first, okay?”

Fitz leans into her, sniffing her neck like a weirdo before he says, “Baby Girl, you can thump anything your heart desires. I’ll hold big bro back if he’s being a super dick again. Failure is how we learn, right?”

She snorts as her hand buries in his messy locks, tugging it up to look into his eyes. “It is, baby. But also, be nice to your brother. He’s just doing the ‘aggressive protector guy’ thing. In the end, we always meet in the middle because he loves me. Though it might be kind of fun to see…”

“Though… what?” I ask curiously. “I’d like to hear the end of that sentence.”

“Me, too,” Felix says wryly.

“Ew, don’t be weird ,” she practically shrieks. Aubrey and even Ren snickers across from us, and the tigers keep their eyes trained on her as she makes a face. “I meant I’d enjoy someone getting Mr. Dominant tied down so I can have my wicked way with him, not you , Fitzy!”

Our crazy mate bursts into growly guffaws that eventually tip his elder twin into similar ones.

They are definitely playing her, and I haven’t seen the two of them prank someone like that in a long time.

It makes my heart swell to see them getting along without needing copious amounts of alcohol and drugs to dull the memories of the past.

It’s about time they allowed themselves to let go of Felix’s error and move on with life—especially together.

The hotel is small and definitely a ‘boutique’ experience—everything is rustic yet obviously restored to give the experience of old world charm.

Lots of exposed wooden beams and stone, with information in our check-in packet about the wine cellar and terrace.

If we actually come back through here on the way home, I think we’d have a great time doing tastings and shopping in the markets in town.

It’s the kind of experience the academic in me—and certainly the older mythicals—would bask in.

I’ll have to make sure I mention it to Felix for consideration.

Why can’t vacation be fun and a learning experience, after all?

As we follow the hostess to our rooms, I sigh in relief when they are next to one another.

Most places we’re going to stay throughout this journey aren’t made for a large group like us, but that’s fine as long as we can remain close together.

For safety and access sake, adjoining rooms or suites are the best way for us to feel like we will not be separated and exposed.

I wish that wasn’t such a big fucking deal, but honestly?

The more enemies we pick up, the worse that fear gets in my gut and I’m sure it’s occurred to the others.

“Okay, last night was you guys, so I’ll be with the brothers tonight,” Dolly says as we face the doors. “That feels fair, and it means I don’t really have to choose as much as alternate .”

Felix nods, looking at the ancients for confirmation. Aubrey and Renard pause to give her kisses on either cheek before they step back. “That’s very true, Princess. You’re being quite balanced.”

“If only everything wasn’t damn small,” the dragon grumbles. “It’s all made for fucking tiny ass humans, it seems.”

“We didn’t look for shifter lodgings because we wanted to get to the settlement faster,” I remind him. “Doing this another way might have yielded better accommodations, but it would have made the trip take a lot longer.”

“I know; I know.”

Renard gives him the ghost of a smile as he claps his hand on Aubrey's shoulder. “You’ll have to make do with only moi , my love. Hopefully, that won’t be too onerous.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Aubrey grumbles as he picks up their things. “You miss her as much as I do, and that doesn’t have a damn thing to do with us.”

“ Guys ,” my angel says as she puts her hand on the handle to our door with a pout.

“You’ll make me sad, and I hate being sad.

If I thought we’d all fit, that’s what we’d be doing.

Plus, we’re going to have dinner and get the travel arranged for tomorrow, then hit the sack.

It will be a boring as fuck night, anyway.

We have to get up early as hell to head into the mountains. ”

“That’s true,” Ren chimes in. “In fact, once I put my stuff down, you and I are headed down to do the arranging.”

Aubrey sighs dramatically—his attitude more playful than I’ve ever seen—as he yanks their door open. “ Fine. But it goes on record that I am most definitely the bigger person.”

“In every way,” Dolly says with a wicked smirk. “Now, shoo. I want to get settled, so we can go back to surfing the web for posts. Your intuition on the train has me really freaked out, big guy.”

The two winged warriors exeunt to their chambers and we follow our brave bunny into the room we’ll be sharing for the night. She drops her things on the first surface she can, then throws herself on the bed with a sigh.

“I hate being separated, too, and have determined that we have been very spoiled by our quarters at the schools.” She starfishes on the bed, looking up at the ceiling as Felix and Fitz arrange our bags.

“But Chessie was right—we can’t control everything when we travel, unless we make plans way ahead of time.

That’s a luxury we didn’t have when we decided to make this trek.

We’re limited by what’s available, close, and works best for getting to our ultimate destination. ”

I pad over to the side of the bed, peering down at her. “You’re being very compliant so far, Angel. That has to mean you’re worried, but I’d like to know what specifically has you so malleable.”

“Me, too,” Felix adds as he walks around the room, scrutinizing it. “I enjoy the change, but I’ve wondered why you’re not putting up much of a fight about most things.”

Dolly rolls her eyes, her head moving as she gets comfortable.

“Guys, I am so out of my element. I mean, Aubrey had to teach me to pack, I’ve never been on a train, I don’t know anything about all this travel shit, and we’re running on a hope and a prayer that no one figures out who or where we are.

There’s so much bullshit to process that I can’t possibly get my back up about shit.

Being able to trust that you’re making good decisions is how I’m keeping my anxiety about all this new shit under control, you know? ”

It’s an excellent point, and I sit on the edge of the bed as I lay my hand on her leg. “Very astute, Angel. I didn’t consider it from your point of view—at least, not in that sense. You’re always so good with change and adapting when weird shit happens at home.”

“I am good at changing and adapting, but everyone has a breaking point. There’s too many people out to get me and so much new information being thrown at me that I have to let go of something .

If I don’t, I’ll lose my shit.” Her lips curve up as she props herself up on her elbows to look at me seriously.

“It’s difficult for me to do, mind you, because I spent so long being controlled by my parents and my friends.

Coming to Apex alone was how I broke free, even though it scared the fuck out of me.

Letting my mates run the show for a bit should tell you how much I trust you not to abuse that privilege. Duh.”

Duh, she says, like she didn’t just make my heart—and probably my brothers’—explode with happiness with a single sentence.