Rafiki seems to be thinking about my words, lost in thought. We walk along the trees, getting closer and closer to the castle. These past few days, I've been thinking more often about my youth, about my time as a night rider. Maybe it's Rafiki's departure that makes me wonder if I could have done things differently. I feel like I've been waiting all this time for a miracle like Rafiki. Could I have done more? Frankly, I don't know the answer.

Rafiki is still silent, even as soon as we walk into the dragon's stables. I flinch as soon as I see Novak standing in the middle of the stables. His long black coat marks his slender body, his dark brown dyed hair is neatly styled and his back is turned towards us. His hand rests on the nose of the white dragon, the one that once belonged to Chanel. Novak had a good relationship with Chanel, like all of us.

As soon as he seems to notice us, he turns around. His red eyes flash from sadness, to amazement, to joy. His gaze glides to the nazu who walks effortlessly into the stables. Slowly he starts walking in the direction of the animal. Reviri seems surprised at the man's appearance, turns his head and looks at him. Rafiki and I stand still in the doorway, just looking at the scene in front of us.

Novak's hand glides through the air, towards Reviri's head. The dragon seems to be observing the man, checking out his intentions. His nose runs along Novak's skin and seems to make a decision. The dragon's head touches Novak's hand, a smile graces Novak's lips. Novak's hand glides over the scales, his eyes to us. His eyes slide from Rafiki to me.

'It is still a beautiful animal'. My smile grows. Rafiki takes a step forward, towards Novak. 'May I ask you something?'. I look at Rafiki in surprise at her question. Her eyes slide from me to Novak and back again. 'Yes,' Novak replies. 'Why aren't you together anymore? Is it because Celeste is in love with my father?' My eyes widen to ping-pong balls, wondering how she knows.

Then I remember our conversation in the grass and our bond, yet it remains an uncomfortable situation. I look at Novak pleadingly, hoping he will steer the conversation in a different direction. His hand slides away from the dragon and he takes a step forward. I stand rooted to the spot as Novak begins to walk in my direction. 'Some things change over the years, feelings change'. He walks in a clear direction.

The reason I'm not with Novak anymore is way before my suppressed feelings for Jamie. We both changed so much that we wanted to go in a different direction, haven't seen each other for a long time but always find our way back to each other. Whether my feelings for Novak ever really changed I don't know. In any case it is not as strong as it was at the beginning, the infatuation has gone but the loving probably has not. I've told Rafiki this before but she doesn't seem to resign herself to it. I don't understand why it is necessary to ask Novak the same question. Is she hoping for a different answer? Does she know something I don't? Is there something I don't know?

I expect him to stop in front of me, but instead he grabs my waist and almost pulls me against him. I stare in amazement at the red eyes, the eyes I know better than anyone. 'Some feelings do change but never disappear, even with time'. I am completely paralysed as soon as I feel Novak's lips on mine. The reason he is doing this is clear to me; he wants to prove a point to Rafiki.

I'm so stunned and stunned that I don't react to his moving lips. His fingers press softly into the skin of my side and then finally release me from my trans. I forget where I am, that Rafiki is standing in the room and that this is just his way of proving a point. I kiss him back, a familiar feeling slips into my body. The warmth, the tingling in my stomach.

My hands automatically go around Novak's neck as his fingers push harder into my sides. The last time I kissed him must have been years ago, yet it feels like no time has passed. It was probably Novak's intention to make it a short kiss in support of his point, which failed. Without me even realising it, the kiss intensifies, the hidden feelings come to the surface.

I want to pull away, knowing that this is not practical, but I can't. As soon as his tongue slides over my lips, I can't help myself. As soon as his tongue slides over my lips, I really want to withdraw, but Novak pulls me closer to himself. I agree with myself that it will only be for a few seconds once I open my mouth slightly, letting his tongue in. Like before, Novak's vampire teeth start to grow as soon as the kiss gets more intense.

Panting, I look at the man in his dark red eyes, his hands still on my waist. He seems surprised at what he has just done, even though it was his own action. We left this chapter behind a long time ago, now it turns out that it has changed less than I thought. Look Rafiki. A blood bond doesn't decay, no matter how long you are apart. You can love another person as much as you love them, forget them, but the bond never fades.

I look at Rafiki who, with a grin on her face and her arms crossed, is looking at us. I am still a little shocked. 'I saw it,' the grin on her lips grows. Was this her intention? Quickly I take a step back and try to take in the situation. 'What my point is, you're going to forget Noa as you know him now but you won't forget him. When you return it will probably be exactly the same as when you left. Get well apart'