by Lisa Daniels
Rickard graciously accepted Ellie’s proffered hand, and she felt a faint whispering in her mind when she did so, which caused the hairs on the back of her neck to rise.
“Talia has told me all about you,” he said. There was no real warmth in his voice—he was just going through the proper motions, as an aristocrat did. Or a councilman. “She tells me you are planning to give the police a lot of information. That you fought in deadrings.” A strange gleam entered his blue eyes.
“I did,” Ellie replied cautiously, hoping he wasn’t about to arrest her on the spot or something. Though she’d been accepted to stay here, and Talia assured her everything would be alright, there was still the unavoidable aspect of Ellie being a criminal—no, former criminal, she told herself firmly—and this entire family had worked on the other side in law enforcement or with it.
“You’ll have to tell me all about them,” Rickard said. “It is fascinating, the way some of us use our magic. Not the worst way I’ve seen it be used, either. I campaigned for the concept of necromancer duelists to be a legal sport. There is still a lot of resilience, though I think some of our governors are starting to see the merit in it.”
Ellie raised her eyebrows at the man, honestly surprised. “You really think it should be legal?”
“Of course. But for now, they remain a problem and are out of control, since people have taken to robbing corpses out of famous graves. We’ve had a rise in the number of cremations recently as a result.”
Not that even a cremation could stop a determined necromancer. They could use the ashes, too. It might be a harder link to maintain than with a body or with bones, but if there was even the slightest atom of that person’s physical body in the material world, then a necromancer had a link. Though, of course, they could just yank the soul into someone else’s body. The connection might be less fluid, but it worked anyway. Those mismatched bodies and souls were what made those shambling, slow and jerky zombies.
“The business is about to crash,” Ellie said. “My father’s in deep trouble since he let his spirit go on a rampage.”
“He should have known better than to attempt to control a revenant,” said the revenant-human, which made Ellie wonder just how much of the human was left in him. “That was on the news. A secret deadring busted, thanks to a sting operation set up by the police.”
“It was a bit more than just that,” Ellie said, feeling instantly annoyed at how the media had chosen to portray it. “Some man called Zaimov came down to threaten my father.”
At this name, Rickard’s pupils contracted in sudden loathing. But his voice afterward didn’t reflect his expression. “I see. Well, they always need someone to run the show. Managers. CEO. Board members… it’s a profitable business. Anyway, I must get back to business. Thank you for introducing me to your friend, Talia. I’m sure she will be a great asset to our work.”
Just like that, they were dismissed, and Talia left the room with Ellie and showed her to where she’d be sleeping.
“Do you get the impression your father knows something about Zaimov?” Ellie asked.
Talia nodded. “He knows something, I think. But we won’t get it out of him directly. Anyway, here’s where you’re staying until we can educate you enough to maintain a job and get you out there.”
“Wonder what it’ll take to become an archaeologist?” Ellie asked. “I liked the sound of your course.”
Talia grinned. “Maybe you can apply to the same university I’m going to.”
Ellie grinned as well. Already, her life felt so much more interesting and vibrant, compared to being stuck in the house, or getting shuffled to some shady deadring.
The only thing she really missed about her life was, well—Mason. He was a good man. A great friend, even if he was contracted to that absentee of a father. Some of her best, happiest memories were with Mason. She felt further saddened when she saw Talia had a bodyguard of her own—some hulk called Janos.
“It’s all the rage nowadays,” Talia said, some hours later, while they sat in the sunny garden, drinking orange juice. “All of us get bodyguards, just so we don’t get stabbed in the street or something. My father has security, too. Likely if you stay with us and give valuable information, the police might assign someone to you as well.”
“Cool,” Ellie said, though her heart dropped a little further. That didn’t sound so right to her. A bodyguard other than Mason protecting her. Though his dragon form was smaller than a lot of dragons, due to his low caste (he’d explained the unfairness of that to her one day, because she honestly wanted to know why he was so small), he was also powerful. He flew through the air like a bullet. His eyes picked out anything. He belched green flames, the same color of his body, and bullets just bounced off his hide. Or so he claimed, anyway. Something like him made a great bodyguard, but his kind got paid almost nothing, because people just saw the tiny, low-ranking dragon and thought there were so many better choices.
Not for Ellie, though. She’d take Mason over anyone else in the world. He was the best.
“You will need to be careful here,” Talia told Ellie, her blue eyes now crinkling in concern. “I wish I could say it was safe, but we’ve had about four assassination attempts. Including the one at college, and the one on my father and sister. Someone in this place is gunning for us. We think there’s a kind of cult group like the KKK that are specifically trying to get us killed, because they’re pissed off that a necromancer is a councilman, and in power.”
“I didn’t expect it to be safe,” Ellie replied. “I had a bodyguard ever since I was nine, you know. The kind of work my father was involved with definitely wasn’t safe.” And my mother died…
“You don’t have one now?”
“I left him behind,” she said. There was so much more in those words other than left him behind. She didn’t want to leave Mason behind. But she had no choice. Not when it came to her own freedom.
Some sacrifices had to be made. She tried to buoy herself up with this mentality, instead mustering up the thought of living in this opulent building for a few months, getting a perfectly legal job, applying for and starting university. God knows she had enough money to do so. One handy benefit of her illegal activities. She’d left behind her fighting spirit as well, after making the solemn decision one day to exorcise them and send them Beyond. She wanted no temptation to return. Naturally, her father hadn’t noticed a thing, too busy preparing himself for the wrath of Zaimov and trying to find someone to blame other than him.
She didn’t think the situation was her fault, but a tiny part of her wondered otherwise.
Just then, Talia made a little grunting cough of surprise, having swallowed her drink wrong. “Look!” She tapped Ellie’s shoulder hard. Talia’s bodyguard closed in, starting to growl softly.
A green bolt streaked through the air, flying straight toward them. Ellie didn’t have to look for longer than a second before she let out a tiny groan. “Oh, great,” she muttered.
The green bolt made a graceful flare and swoop of its wings before landing, slowing the ascent to a near halt. Four sets of claws touched the grass, and the wings furled back in on themselves. The green dragon, about the size of a pony, remained perfectly still as Janos advanced upon him, growling ferociously, fur bursting out of his skin.
“I know him,” Ellie said. “That’s the bodyguard I left behind.”
Janos’ sudden transformation halted, and he turned his glinting eyes upon her.
“Seriously?” Talia said.
“Seriously,” Ellie said glumly, as the dragon shrank, morphing into the all-too-familiar human form that had watched over her for thirteen years of her life.
She felt all of her expectations, her hopes and dreams begin to crumble to dust.
Mason shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t be here. How? How had he tracked her?
So much for trying to keep her tracks covered.
Chapter Four – Mason
Mason stared at the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl now
bristling in front of him. He took in the sight of Talia Grieves and what was clearly a bipedal werewolf bodyguard, and wondered just how he was going to proceed with this.
“I can’t let you be out here unprotected,” was his first attempt at bridging the distance, which felt like a chasm between them. Since when had there been a chasm? They had always been close, hadn’t they? She looked up to him. At one point, she’d wanted to be him, and turn into a dragon, flying through the air and being able to explore the world. Now she was a fully grown woman, with a ferocious mind of her own, wanting to strike out for independence, rather than be dragged down by the schemes of her father. And here he was, to take it all away.
“Bullshit,” Ellie spat. “Father sent you to fetch me back, didn’t he? Well, you can go and tell him this: I’m not coming back. I’m done. I don’t want to be a part of that world anymore.”
“You might have the choice to do that, princess,” Mason said, determined not to budge, “but I don’t. You know this.”
“Yes, yes. He pays you all the money, his word is law. I always used to think you cared about me. I really did.”
That stung. “I do,” Mason said. “I’ve cared for you for so long. I just can’t get fired. I’m sorry.”
“Then you don’t care enough,” Ellie said, and her beautiful face went icy and unwelcome. She was freezing him out more, and he didn’t know what to do to push past this barrier. Meanwhile, Talia Grieves looked as if she very much wanted some popcorn to observe this exchange. Even the werewolf now seemed intrigued. “And everything you did was just a job. Nothing more.”
It wasn’t just a job, Mason thought, a lump now in his throat. “It—” he began, but Ellie cut him off with a few dismissive noises.
“No. Whatever you say, you didn’t just come here for my own good. I no longer require your services, Mason. I’ll get a new guard.”
“Please,” he said, licking his dry lips, not wanting to grab her and fly her to the airport. He didn’t have a permit to fly across borders, because Ellie never left Stoneshire, so he never invested in one. “You have to come back. Your father is worried about you.”
“My father’s moving from that place to do whatever the hell it is Zaimov wants,” Ellie spat. “He just wants me under his thumb, especially after what he did to Mother. He made me think I wanted this, but I didn’t. I didn’t, okay?” Her body language continued to be defensive, and Mason knew there was no way, nothing he could say or do, to get past that. He’d looked after this stubborn girl for that long to know.
“So...” Mason said evenly. “What exactly do you plan to do here, without support?”
“I’m supporting her,” Grieves said. “Or do you not see the huge-ass mansion behind us?”
Ellie’s anger dissipated long enough to chuckle at Talia’s statement.
“You’re a criminal,” Mason insisted. “You’ll hardly be allowed to walk around free.”
“Not if I offer up information to the police,” Ellie retorted. “And I’ve got a lot, haven’t I? I’ve got enough to ruin quite a few of those deadrings and auctions. I even know where one of Zaimov’s houses are. I know about guardian angels. I controlled one for a while, I know how they’re made, and I know how revenants are made, too.” She stood with her chin up, jaw jutting in stubborn pride. “I watched my father experiment for years, after all. You can go back and tell him all this. I’m sure he’d love to hear what a traitor I am.”
Mason felt rather ill. Ellie was quite leisurely blowing up twelve years’ worth of his career to have him possibly be buried in a ditch somewhere. If he went anywhere near Regal with this kind of information, of course. As for Zaimov, well, that was not the kind of person who wanted trade secrets spilled. He’d vanish your body without a trace.
Some of Ellie’s stubbornness faded. Her features softened and her hands went up in an imploring gesture. “I don’t want it to be like this, Mason. I’m just not going back.”
“Looks like you’ve made up your mind.” His voice came out colder than anticipated. “It doesn’t sound like I have a chance of persuading you.” The gulf seemed to widen between them. His own heart felt like it was breaking, though he didn’t show any of it upon his face. If there was one thing he was good at, it was hiding his feelings from the world.
I suppose this is goodbye, then, little one, he thought, the sinking sensation of his heart now around his feet. He didn’t know how to deal with Regal. He’d have to lie, somehow, until he secured a job. But people didn’t really look for low-caste dragon shifters like him. They wouldn’t pay nearly the same wages as Regal did. Thinking too much about his future only served to trigger a mild level of panic that threatened to turn his bowels to water.
“What will happen to your family?” Ellie asked with the slow, uncertain voice of someone who had just realized the unintended consequences of their actions.
“I don’t know,” Mason said dully. “My sister’s just starting college. Semyan’s switching to another course because he didn’t like the one he chose. My mother might get a promotion but she’s not earning enough right now to pay for her apartment.” His mind whirred, trying to think, and then stuck, unable to think any further.
“Why don’t you just pay him?” Talia said then, causing everyone to look at her. “Like, what’s to actually stop you from paying him whatever your father does? Unless you can’t afford it or something.”
She doesn’t have any money, Mason thought, even though the idea swam inside him, leaving a warmer glow inside than before. Regal was taking everything from her to stop any potential escapes, after all. No way would she have enough to last more than a week or so, surely.
Ellie, however, looked thoughtful. “I’m not sure I have enough,” she said. “I’ve saved a lot, even with my father taking most of my earnings. But I don’t—I’d have to be given a bodyguard. Until I’ve got a career of my own.”
Talia nodded, taking this in. Mason’s slight glimmer of hope hid itself again.
Janos cleared his throat, clasping his hands behind his back, taking on a power stance. “If he’s any good at his job, he could be employed as an independent contractor by the police. If Miss Lockhart’s information turns out to be valuable enough to warrant protection.”
“Is that possible?” Ellie said, eyes wide. Mason let out a breath he hadn’t noticed he was holding. “Do the police even do that?”
“Your sister has a cheap bodyguard on a police contract,” Janos pointed out. “I can’t imagine your rate as a small dragon is that high. Is that so, lizard?”
Mason resisted the urge to snap back at this insulting demeanor. “Not as much as others, no.”
“What salary does your current employer give you?”
Mason flushed, unable to control it. He always felt touchy about being approached to talk of his money. Like somehow it showed how inadequate he was. “Twenty-two thousand a year,” he muttered.
Janos let out a horribly derisive laugh. “Man, they’re paying you awful wages. You any good at your job at all?”
“I’m good enough,” Mason snarled, feeling the hot, green rage of his dragon starting to course through his brain. No good… he needed to gain control of himself before he did something he regretted. “I’d thank you not to underestimate me.”
“If you are good, then even the police payment will be an upgrade on your pitiful salary,” Janos said, striding forwards. “Dragons are supposed to be powerful. If you can beat me in a fight, I’ll personally recommend you myself to the precinct.” A wolfish grin spread over Janos’ features.
Mason regarded him coolly, knowing bipedal werewolves could overwhelm dragons three times his size, simply due to their nimbleness to leap and bite down on the vulnerable parts of the dragon. There were few spots where a dragon could be hurt, but just enough for a powerful werewolf’s jaws to take advantage of, that even a human bullet couldn’t.
“Ellie,” Mason said urgently, drawing her attention. “I ask you this. Do you want me as yo
ur protector? Even though I have ties to your father?”
Her bottom lip trembled. “Of course I do, you great oaf. Who else would I want?”
How strange, that sensation of relief flooding through him. How strange. “I’ll accept your foolish challenge then, wolf.”
“Excellent,” Janos purred, baring his teeth into a twisted, predatory smile. “I look forward to thoroughly whipping dragon ass.”
Talia sighed. “Boys and their games,” she said, gently tugging Ellie back to a safe vantage point.
“Conditions?” Mason stepped away from Janos, who was practically slavering at the mouth, the wildness in his eyes already showing.
“First one to admit surrender loses, of course. Also, try not to kill each other too much,” he said, before beginning his transformation. Mason embraced his inner dragon, letting the fire within spread out and tingle over his skin, letting the wings erupt from his back. His muscles were stronger, more clustered and capable, encased in steely, green scales. The sac in his mouth swelled with air, ready to mix with his body chemicals and produce flame.
A howl left the werewolf’s mouth, before he charged with frightening speed toward Mason.
One good thing about being a small dragon, Mason thought grimly, as he dodged quickly, using a simple bat of his wings for a quick turn to allow his tail to whip the werewolf’s body, is that I’m more nimble.
Maybe not as nimble as a werewolf, but as long as he had enough open space for his wings, he could execute fast changes in direction and speed. Janos turned, heels digging in the grass, leaving a long skid mark along it, and lunged at the dragon, getting a grip on Mason’s stocky, horse-like neck. Mason grunted and carried them both into the air, doing five quick barrel rolls in succession, causing Janos to tumble and slide off.
With the full weight of his body, Mason slammed into Janos like a cannonball, sending the werewolf bouncing. That damn werewolf seemed to be made of diamond or something, because he just got right back up without any issue whatsoever.
Goddammit. He dodged one more attack by Janos, then slapped the werewolf with one wing. When Janos dug claws into the wing, that was what triggered Mason to spray the chemical into his air sac and blast out twin streams of flame from his jaws.