Shadow and Flame

by Katya Moore

  "Who are your sources?" Aric asked, affecting an air of disbelief. "This sounds pretty out there. The Proving Grounds have more wards than anything else on the planet."

  Gray leaned back, pride swelling his chest. "I got connections. Know some people who know some people."

  "Apparently." Aric rested his hand on my knee.

  A hand clapped onto my shoulder. I startled, almost falling off Aric's knee. I looked up and saw Billy standing there, looking severe.

  "Is there a problem?" Aric asked tersely. I felt every muscle in his body tense, ready for action.

  "Nothing that concerns you." He didn't even look at Aric. His eyes were locked on mine. "We gotta talk."

  I stood up and looked back at Aric. "He probably found my purse. I'll be back." I leaned over and kissed Aric on the cheek, ignoring the seething glare from Billy and the curious looks from the dragons.

  Goddamn it.

  Chapter Four

  I closed the door to the back room behind me. "Now is really not a good time," I hissed at Billy's back.

  "It's never a good time for you. Not anymore." Billy crossed his arms, refusing to look at me.

  "What is this about, Billy?" I was not here for a temper tantrum. Especially right after finding a massive security leak in the Elder Council's private communications.

  He turned around. "You know what this is about. It's about your new friends. All of your new friends." He pointed at the door, a look of disgust on his face. "I don't know what's human and what's not anymore. All I know is, the more dragons that show up in this place, the more of those freaky cultist bastards show up, and I'm sick of having to fight them off with my face."

  I winced at that. He still had a bruise on his jaw from last week, when he'd gotten knocked out defending the bar from Kiernan Donovan and his new Chosen friends.

  "Look, I was dealing with that when you came over and interrupted me. Someone's leaked word that..."

  "I don't even want to hear your excuses." Billy raised his hands and slammed them on a table. I backed up a couple steps. My heart pounded in my chest. I didn't doubt that I could defend myself if Billy got violent, but I desperately didn't want it to come to that. Besides, he was a full foot taller than me and on a primal level, Angry Billy was Scary Billy. He did most of his work as a bouncer by being physically intimidating.

  "What is your fucking problem?" I yelled back. "I'm not doing this at you. I'm not out to cause trouble."

  "But it keeps finding you! In my house!" Billy shouted.

  "Kitty's house," I corrected firmly. "She wants me here. She's asked me to be here."

  "Well, that's just great, isn't it?" Billy whirled away from me dramatically. "Kitty loves you. Missi loves you." He paused for emphasis. "You know who else loves you?"

  I felt like I was going to throw up. Oh god. "Billy, don't."

  Billy turned to look at me again, with full puppy-dog eyes. "I love you, Sia. Dammit, why don't you love me too?"

  Fuck's sake. "Billy..." I slumped against a table, resting my ass on the edge. I felt tired. Very tired. "Look, you've been a great friend the past few years. A great fr..."

  "Don't say it." Billy's voice was cold. "I don't want to be your friend, Sia."

  "Obviously!" I stood back up, rage replacing the nausea. "You sure as hell haven't been acting like one since you made your pass at me. I'm not your friend anymore unless I spread my legs for you, is that it?"

  Billy gaped at me. He opened and closed his mouth a couple times mutely, looking like a large muscular fish.

  I glared at him. "That is it, isn't it? You were my friend so I'd put out for you. That's all it ever was, wasn't it?"

  "What? Wha... no! Of course not! I just... you just..." he flailed. He gripped the back of a chair until his knuckles went white. "Dammit, you were supposed to like me. Not them." The disgust returned to his face. "All four of them. Seriously, Sia, when did you become such a slu…"

  I crossed my arms and stared at him. My dragon writhed. "I dare you to finish that word, asshole." I could feel a hint of talon flickering across my fingertips.

  Billy stared at me and blanched. "Jesus, Sia. You’re not even human anymore."

  "I never was." That one struck a nerve. I focused on my breathing and tried to calm my dragon before I proved how right he was.

  He shook his head and continued. "I don't like who you've become, is all," he finished lamely. "You used to be such a nice girl. Quiet, friendly..."

  My dragon was ready to launch. He was one you should smile more away from the full misogyny playbook. I held her back as best I could. "Well, she's dead now. I've gotten louder. Stronger. Less willing to put up with bullshit like this steaming patronizing heap you're unloading on me right now." I crossed the space between us. "Are we done here? I think we're done."

  Billy stared down at me with a blank expression on his face. "I..."

  "We're done." I stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut behind me.

  I leaned against the wall next to the door for a moment, catching my breath and willing my dragon to ease down lest I suddenly shift and take out half the bar.

  "Everything okay?" Aric called from the table by the dartboard.

  I turned to look at him. Two of the men had left, leaving Salt-and-Pepper behind.

  I forced a smile and made my way over to them. "Nothing I couldn't handle," I chirped as I sat down on one of the vacant chairs.

  Salt-and-Pepper gave me a knowing smile. "I would expect nothing less from the Shadow Queen."

  My heart lurched to a stop.

  Salt-and-Pepper sipped his beer, amused by the undoubtedly priceless look on my face. "Don't worry. I didn't tell the others. Nor will I." He flashed a crooked grin. "In case you hadn't noticed, they're a little loose about the lips."

  "How...?" I stammered.

  He set his beer down and looked at me with a faraway gaze. "Like I said before. Those eyes. I've never forgotten them, and I never thought I'd see them again. Until tonight." He bowed his head reverently. "You are the spitting image of your mother. I might've been the first to recognize you, but I will not be the last. We old-timers have long memories."

  I swallowed hard. "I... really look like her?"

  He cocked his head. "You don't remember?"

  I stared at my hands, balled into fists on the table. "Little bits, here and there." I looked up at him, fighting back tears. "It's... it's good to hear. From someone else."

  "She was a lovely woman, and a just queen." He tipped his glass to me. "I trust you'll follow in her footsteps."

  "I'm doing my best." I managed a small smile.

  "So, what did Billy want, anyway?" Aric asked, dropping the pretense. "Is there danger afoot?"

  I opened my mouth to answer. The door to the back room slammed open, unleashing Billy’s fury upon an unwary bar. He was nearly purple with rage. Apparently, he'd been stewing in there since I'd walked out, and he had a full head of steam as he charged at the bar. The din of conversation died down, all eyes shifting toward the unfolding scene. I saw some of the regulars lean in, curious why good-natured Billy was on a rampage.

  Kitty gaped at him. "What the hell is the matter with you?" she asked in a loud whisper. "You're scaring my patrons half to death."

  "They should be scared, with the riffraff you're letting in," he growled.

  "Excuse me a moment," I said, standing up and starting toward the bar.

  Aric rested a hand on my shoulder as he rose to follow me. "You're not going near that asshole when he's looking like that." He turned me to face him. "What did you two talk about in there?"

  "We...he..." There was no good way to say it.

  "You're endangering your patrons letting that...that...that WHORE bring her friends around!" Billy continued.

  Aric's hand nearly crushed my shoulder. "Excuse me a moment," he snarled as he pushed past me. I saw Galen and Cass getting to their feet at the bar.

  This is bad. This is really bad.

  I scampere
d forward, shoving past Aric and diving between Galen and Billy. "Look, guys..." I began.

  Kitty was having none of it, either. "You do not get to call her that. Not here. Not ever." Her voice was deadly calm, her eyes flashing with restrained fury.

  "What do you call someone who fucks around with four guys? I think it's..." Billy was not letting up that easily.

  Missi came up behind him and whacked him upside the head with her notepad. "Damned lucky, that's what I call her. Damned lucky she never gave you the time of day, you miserable, entitled sack of ass."

  "Guys, really..." I raised my hands, trying to bring some peace. No one was interested.

  "Get the fuck out of my bar, Billy." Kitty crossed her arms and glared down her nose. "Go home. Sleep it off. If you can be civil, you can come back." Her mouth was a thin line. "If you can't, fuck you."

  "Forget it. Fuck her, fuck you, fuck all of you." Billy glared around himself wildly. "I've had it. I'm out."

  The bar was dead silent as he stormed out the front door, shoving past Tyrone as he did. I could see the muscles in Tyrone's arms tense, but he let Billy pass unchecked.

  "You okay, Ty?" Kitty called.

  "Yes, ma'am." He rubbed his shoulder, then nodded at the door. "Not worth it."

  Kitty closed her eyes and rubbed them, leaning heavily against the bar. "Ah, fuck," she sighed. "Sia, baby, are you okay?"

  My jaw clenched with rage, but I still felt guilty that Kitty had to suffer for this. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so..."

  Kitty raised a hand. "This was a tantrum by a man-child who thought his toy was taken from him." She opened her eyes and fixed me with a stern look. "You are no man's toy. And I'm not going to let him call you a whore for living your life happily without him."

  "Damned right." Missi's hands rested on my shoulders from behind, gently rubbing them. "Only I get to call you a whore, and that's only when you steal my cookies."

  A laugh slipped through the tears. She had a knack for bringing light to dark times. "I only did that once."

  "This month." The backrub became a hug. "Snickerdoodle-thievin' whoo-ah."

  "You sure you don't want us to go talk to him?" Galen cracked his knuckles ominously.

  Kitty raised a hand. "Up until a couple minutes ago, I called him my friend. If you're going to kill him, don't tell me about it."

  I shook my head. "No. Just let him go."

  Galen gave a dissatisfied grunt. Aric still looked bloodthirsty. I was very glad that Chase hadn’t come along. I doubt I would have been able to hold all three of them back.

  Cass looked more concerned for me than vengeful. He walked up and put his arms around my waist. "I'm sorry, Sia," he murmured. "I know he was a friend." I rested my head on his shoulder, exhausted. Missi squeezed my shoulders, then released me to his care.

  Suddenly, realization hit.

  "Aric, that guy we were talking to..." I pulled away from Cass and spun to look over by the dartboard. The table was empty.

  Aric looked over at the same time and cursed under his breath.

  "Tell me you got his name," I moaned. "Or any of their last names."

  Aric growled softly, sinking his face into his hand in frustration. "His name was Nix. I was about to ask when shit hit the fan."

  "Goddamn it," I moaned. Cass let out a short laugh. I shot him a look. "What?" I asked tersely.

  "Nix." He looked at Aric. "Nix means 'nothing.' I doubt it was his real name."

  "FUCK." Aric punched the bar. Cass took half a step back.

  "Why? What did you get from him?" Galen leaned against the bar next to Aric. Aric gripped the bar rail and fumed silently.

  "We found out there's a leak in the Elders' communication chain," I sighed. "And he was our chance at finding out who."

  Chapter Five

  I curled up in Cass' lap on the sofa in the sitting room, feeling defeated. Billy's outburst and resignation. The leak in the Elders' communications. Knowing the Alpha Squad's shame at my hands was public knowledge. And Chase's sister was still missing. For that matter, so was Chase. There was no sign of him anywhere in the mansion. It gave me an uneasy feeling.

  "Maybe he decided to jet up north and check things out for himself after all," Galen suggested.

  "Sanders said he was here an hour ago. If he took off, we just missed him." Aric chewed at his thumbnail for a moment. "Besides, it's not like him to just run off without telling anyone. He's all responsible and shit."

  "He would have at least told you," Cass assured me, stroking my hair. "He wouldn't just leave you in the lurch."

  "I'm not worried about my pride just now, Cass," I sighed, sitting up and pulling away from him. "I'm worried about him. What if he did take off by himself?" I chewed at my lip. "He's on edge right now. I don't know how clearly he's thinking."

  "He's Chase. He's got a good head on his shoulders." Galen reached over and rubbed my knee encouragingly. "He'll be fine, wherever he is. It’s not the first time he’s gone off on his own investigating something."

  My brow furrowed. "I hit him yesterday, when we were sparring. A lot." I placed my hand on Galen's, halting the petting. "I've never hit him that many times. He wasn't focused on the fight. He was a million miles away. And that was just us sparring. If he gets in a real situation…"

  Galen smiled hopefully. "Maybe you're just getting really good. You have gotten a lot of practice, lately."

  I gave him a sour look. "Yeah. But this was different. You didn't see him. His reaction time was crap." I released his hand and clutched my hands in my lap. "I can't just sit here and do nothing. I don't care what Schulte says. I need to get out there and actually do something."

  Cass rubbed my shoulder. "You keep asking the Elders to trust you. It's a two-way street." I frowned at him. He raised his hands and continued. "I know they've given you precious little reason to trust them. But, as a show of good faith, holding back on this might be the best option."

  "It's his little sister, Cass. And it's eating him up inside." I looked out the door to the foyer, hoping he'd walk through the door. "I'm worried about him. I want to help him."

  "I know. We all know," Galen soothed.

  I looked back at him in despair. "Does he? All he knows is that I'm sitting on my hands when, for anyone else, I'd dive into hellfire to save them. Just because Schulte said to stay out of it."

  "Hey, it's not like that." Galen reached out and took my hands in his.

  "What is it like, then?" I cried out in frustration. "Because that's what it feels like I'm doing. I'm abandoning him to search for her on his own because of fucking politics, and I hate it!"

  "Get used to it, yer majesty," Aric drawled. "This is your life now. You're the Shadow Queen. Sometimes, you have to play politics, even if it sucks."

  "You're starting to sound like your brother," I snapped.

  Aric glared at me, then continued. "Chase knows that you have to play the game. He signed up for this, same as we all did. We all saw it last week, when you interrogated me for treason."

  My jaw dropped. I didn't expect him to throw that back in my face, not after we'd reconciled. "I didn't..."

  He waved his hand dismissively. "What-the-fuck-ever. Water under the bridge. My point is, you did what you had to do to be a queen. To show the Elders you can lead. To show them you can put dragonkind first and us last, like you're supposed to." He leaned in. "We need you to be the ice queen sometimes."

  "Fuck you." I threw Galen's hands off mine and stood up to pace around the room. I glowered at Aric. "I don't want to be an ice queen. I don't want to put you guys last. I hated every fucking second of that interrogation and you know it."

  "But you did it. You took a chance that you'd have to tell them to kill me." Aric's voice had a cold edge to it. "And now you have to fuck Chase over a little. It's not fun. Life's not fun. But it's your life now, and we're part of that life." His lip curled in a half-smile. "Last I knew, we all volunteered for that. Enthusiastically. As often as possible. We're big boys, yer
maj. You don't need to coddle us."

  I stopped pacing and sat down heavily on the arm of the sofa. "I hate this," I whispered.

  "If you didn't, I'd suspect body snatchers." Galen hooked his arm around my waist and squeezed. "You care too much. It's why we love you. And why being a queen is going to suck balls for you. But we're here to help."

  The front door opened. I jumped to my feet like my ass had been zapped. Chase crossed the foyer and stood in the doorway to the sitting room.

  "They have her." His face was pale, haggard. "The Chosen have my sister."

  We all froze, the words hanging in the air.

  "Are you sure?" I managed at last.

  Chase nodded slowly. "My sources are good. One of Schulte's protégés at the Proving Grounds, a friend of Lina's." He made a noise that might have been a laugh, then looked at me. "You should be expecting a call. Schulte was supposed to be letting the other Elders know tonight."

  "Is that where you were?" I walked up to him. I could see the tension in his arms, in his shoulders, in his face. I was afraid that he'd snap at my touch.

  He nodded. "She snuck away from the Proving Grounds and drove down here just to meet with me. The students are scared. Rumors are flying, and Schulte being there is just making them worse."

  I reached a hand out to him. He looked at it blankly for a moment, then reached out and took it in his, squeezing gently. I gave a gentle tug and guided him to the sofa. Galen vacated his spot to make room for the two of us.

  Chase sat down heavily, then sank his face into his hands. "Shit," he sighed, then gave a humorless laugh. "Usually, I'm the one getting into shit. She was always the one running to get our folks when I got stuck in a tree or down in a ditch."

  I rested my cheek on his shoulder. "You haven't told me much about her," I urged gently.