"So you"re not really shy then?" Ariana asked. "What do you think?" Lobo asked in return with a small chuckle. "No, it looks more like a giant act but why?" Ariana replied causing Lobo to show off a mischievous grin. "I told you, the males from my clan mate for life. We are very cautious with choosing our mates. If some female is nice to me and I over think her actions, then what? Will I have to suffer in grief while she moves on? I rather be misunderstood then have a broken heart thanks." Lobo stated firmly.Ariana placed her empty cup back on to the counter and thought things over in her head. "You said there is a giant debate going on, can you tell me what it"s about?" Ariana asked in a low voice. "People think you are the priestess herself. That you performed another miracle and made yourself younger to test the worth of the people in the Kingdom. Others believe you are some secret love child between Zula and Gregory. Some think it"s just a giant scam and your are no one while a small group believe you are the priestess"s daughter." Lobo reported.
"I still think you look like your father." Mr. Dabney grumbled. Ariana looked up at Mr. Dabney as gave him a weary smile. "I don"t know if he would be happy to hear that." Ariana replied. "I wish I could tell you kiddo." Mr. Dabney said as he patted Ariana"s head. "Lobo, do you think that"s why Vanessa approached me?" Ariana asked in a desperate tone. "The one who called me a potato? No idea. I only followed you not her." Lobo said with a shrug. "Then who was in the bushes?" Ariana asked as she squeezed Vasu against her waist. "My guess, her mother and father." Lobo replied. Ariana paled, in her mind she knew this was just the beginning.
"What do I do now? Should I not bother hiding my secret? I mean, if the parents are whispering about the idea that I am somehow related to the priestess do I deny it? Would I be hurting my mother"s memory or will people demand to know who my father is? If I come out with the truth I don"t need to hide for those few days I change into my garnet dragon form right? I won"t have to inconvenience anyone and just live my life." Ariana asked Lobo, hoping he could give some insight.
"What?!" Lobo shouted as he jumped upwards. "You don"t think it"s a good idea?" Ariana asked in a dejected tone, she dropped her arm and Vasu was set free from her hold. "But what else am I supposed to do? This whole thing proves I can"t keep a secret. I talk at night but you found out everything. G*d knows who else knows! I even went out into the woods and had a conversation with Vasu. Then there was the whole Shevar Guronui is your father in the library and looking at both my mom and dad"s pictures. I"m so stupid! I bet everyone knows the truth now." Ariana groaned as she brought her hands up and covered her face. She was drowning in shame.
"Hey, it might not be as bad as you think." Mr. Dabney said as he tried to comfort Ariana. "No it is. I have no idea what is going on anymore and I just screw up left and right." Ariana sighed as she brought her hands down. "Sorry, can you just back track just a little bit." Lobo said as he waved his hands in the air, signalling Ariana to stop. "Sorry?" Ariana asked and Lobo started to pale. "You"re a beast person?" Lobo asked with a slightly squeaky voice. "Well of course. You should know that you already. You were with... Oh... Great." Ariana groaned as she facepalmed herself. "So what do I do now?" Ariana asked as she dragged her hand down her face.
"You"re a royal?" Lobo asked in surprise as he really looked at Ariana. "I don"t know, maybe? Look I don"t know too much about my dad"s situation. I know he is the prince of the garnet dragons and yes I am a mixed breed but does that mean I am ent.i.tled to anything? My mom is human and-?!" Ariana was explaining but was completely cut off. Lobo had rushed up to her and grabbed her wrist. He pulled Ariana towards him with great strength and in a split second sealed her lips. Ariana didn"t know what happened. She was utterly shocked and apparently so was Mr. Dabney.
As Lobo pulled away he dropped to one knew and bowed his head to Ariana as he placed his right fist over his heart. "I, Lobo Wainwright, son of Leonard Wainwright, Captain of the royal guards to the King, pledges loyalty to her Royal Highness Ariana Drake. Daughter of the rightful ruler of the Animus Kingdom, Shevar Guronui." Lobo said proudly. Then bit his bottom lip and spat blood towards the ground. A red magic circle appeared underneath Ariana and Lobo. It had a wolf crest in the middle with a sword and shield. Runes danced along the edge of the circle. "What"s going on?!" Ariana shouted.
"Say it, state your name and linage. Don"t lie, I"m gambling my life." Lobo shouted as he kept his head down. "Pascal?!" Ariana called out as a gust of wind started to shoot up from the magic circle. "There"s no time just do it!" Mr. Dabney said as he shielded his face. The red light from the magic circle was getting brighter. "My name is Ariana Drake, daughter of Evangeline Gaurita and Shevar Guronui." Ariana shouted just as they both were engulfed in red light.
After a moment Ariana opened her eyes and saw that nothing changed. She turned and saw that Mr. Dabney was fine. She turned to Lobo and saw he was still kneeling but the magic circle was gone. "What happened?" Ariana asked. "May I rise?" Lobo asked in a dignified voice. "I"m sorry?" Ariana asked. "May I rise?" Lobo asked in return. "Ya sure but what happened?" Ariana asked as she watched Lobo slowly rise up. "You weren"t lying." Lobo said with a wide grin. "Of course not!" Ariana shouted then she paused. She looked at Lobo"s stupid, happy face and felt rage.
"How dare you!" Ariana shouted as she slapped Lobo across the face.