by Danica Rayne
Lots of the other kids were making use of the decent weather as well, shedding their winter coats and tossing them on the ground in front of the school.
I watched them for a bit before turning to Kayden. “Are you ever jealous of them?”
He followed my gaze. “You mean the jocks who are having a water bottle fight?” He twisted his nose. “I have issues with shared water…”
I giggled. “No! I mean, are you ever jealous that they’re living in bliss. That they don’t know that we could have lost all of this.” I gestured around.
He shrugged as we continued on toward the library. “Not sure. I mean, I dreamed of being a normal human for a very long time, but I don’t feel that way anymore. I’d rather know what’s going on than be ignorant. But they definitely seem happy.”
“I guess I’m comparing things to my life before,” I said. “Before my parents were killed. Before I found out I was a slayer. Before everything changed. I’m not saying I don’t want to be the slayer of Edgewood, but I guess I wonder what my life would be like this very moment if I wasn’t.”
He slid his hand into mine. “You’d be happy.”
“No way. I wouldn’t be happier than I am now. I wouldn’t have you guys in my life.”
“But you’d have your parents,” he pointed out.
I was quiet for a bit as I thought it over. “True. Too bad I couldn’t have both.”
He brought our hands to his lips and kissed the back of mine.
We continued on toward the library, and I couldn’t help marvel at how healthy the world looked. It was December, so there were no flowers and leaves, but the earth and branchless trees appeared like they were rejuvenated. Like the world had been reborn.
When I pointed it out to Kayden, he nodded. “I noticed it, too. I smelled it. Maybe the witches added some life into the world, to make up for what was lost.”
“Spring will be beautiful,” I said.
The library building was fairly small, nothing compared to the original one. There were many boxes full of books crammed in the corners of the hallway. Still, there were plenty on the shelves and the place was pretty packed.
Kayden wandered to the mystery section while I checked out some young adult contemporary novels. After what I’d experienced the last few days, the thing I needed most was to immerse myself in a book about normal, day to day life and struggles of a teenager. No fantasy or thrillers for me, at least for a little while. It was time to relax and enjoy life. Amidst slaying supernaturals, of course.
“Really?” a young girl around seven years old gushed to her mom as she held two books in her hands. “I can borrow both?”
Her mother smiled warmly at her. “Of course you can borrow both, sweetie. We’ll read them together tonight. Just you and me.”
I smiled as I watched them. Since the library was still in the process of being built, the adult and kids’ section were all squished together. They planned to move the kids’ section upstairs once it was ready. Watching the little girl and her mother reminded me of my mom. It panged my chest, but it felt good, too. Now that I said a proper goodbye to both my parents, my heart didn’t feel as empty and hurt. I knew I would think about them every day for the rest of my life, and their memories would stay alive in my head, but I was glad I finally made peace with their deaths. I was ready to move on.
“Find anything good?” I asked Kayden as I joined him in the mystery and thriller section. Four books were tucked under his arm.
“Surprisingly, yes,” he said as he scanned more books on the shelf. “There are actually some books here that I haven’t read.”
“It’s like a goldmine,” I exaggerated.
He smiled.
I examined the books with him, pointing out the ones I thought sounded interesting. Then a cover caught my eye. It was on the top shelf, just within reach. Kayden knelt by the bottom row, eagerly reading the blurb of a book. Standing on tippy toes, I stretched my hand and tugged the book out of the shelf. I miscalculated the force, and when the book came loose, I lost my balance and tipped over. Kayden locked an arm around me just before I crashed to the ground.
“You okay?” he asked, his eyes searching mine.
Our faces were very close, just a few inches apart. His breath was warm on my cheek, and I got lost in his beautiful sapphire eyes. My eyes dipped to his lips before returning to his eyes. His breath caught in his throat as his gaze fell to my mouth.
I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. Then I pulled back, my eyes once again searching his. His gaze dropped to my lips, and then he yanked me to his body and closed his mouth over mine. His books tumbled to the floor, followed by mine, as our hands clutched each other, our lips moving over each other’s desperately.
“I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” he murmured between kisses.
“Why didn’t you?” I tugged on his dark hair as our lips continued to explore each other’s. He kissed me so passionately, so urgently.
His lips trailed down my neck, and I threw my head back to give him easier access.
“Don’t know,” he muttered as his lips continued sweeping over my skin. “Too scared, I guess.”
Our lips found each other’s again, just as fervent. Kayden was super-speeding around the rows, accidentally bumping into the shelves and knocking some books to the floor. In the back of my mind, I knew we should be careful—the books were brand new or salvaged from other libraries, and they were precious, but we were both so caught up in the amazing feeling. I wasn’t even sure if Kayden knew he was losing control like that.
“I’m glad you’re not scared anymore,” I rasped as his lips trailed down my neck again. My fingers tangled in his hair, my other palm pressed against his racing heart. I tugged on his hair softly, guiding his lips back to mine. We kissed like it was our last day on Earth. Pretty ironic, considering we had just saved the world.
“I love you, Alivia,” he said between kisses.
“I love you, too.”
He removed his lips from mine to gaze into my eyes. “I assumed I’d have to be with another vampire, but I didn’t know if I’d ever meet anyone like me. That was why I scoured the streets at night. I was looking for someone like me.” He tucked some hair behind my ear. “But I don’t need to find someone like me. I found you. Well, you found me.”
I smiled. “We found each other. Kayden, I forgot to ask you how you’re feeling. What you had to do to your mom…”
He shook his head. “She wasn’t my mom.”
“But she was. And no matter what kind of a mother a person has, no one should have to kill her. You’re one of the strongest people I know.”
I tugged on his hair again, smashing my lips against his.
My phone rang.
“Damn,” I muttered. I continued kissing him, ignoring the incessant ringing.
“It might be important.”
I groaned and stepped away from him, reaching into my pocket.
“Holy…did we do this?” Kayden exclaimed as his wide eyes studied the mess of books on the floor. The shelves had been slightly moved from their place as well. Kayden got on the floor and gathered the books.
I pressed on the green button. “Hello?”
There was a short pause before a voice said, “Hello, Alivia?”
The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it. “Yes, who is this?”
“Hi. This is Carole Blossom.”
I didn’t know any Carole Blossom.
“The slayer of Chicago,” she clarified.
“Oh! Of course. Sorry. Hi.”
She was quiet for a second. “Yes, hi. How are you?”
“I’m good.”
“I heard what happened back at Edgewood. You were great out there.”
I shifted from one foot to the other. “It wasn’t me. It was all the slayers. And my friends.”
“Yes, but I heard you were phenomenon. It mustn’t have been easy, and you’re so young…” She cleared her throat. “The reason
I’m calling…I’d like to apologize. I was pretty hard on you during the slayer meeting. I came down on your mom pretty strongly.”
Yeah, she did.
“You have to understand how hard it was back then. We lost a slayer. A sister. It was so hard to let her go, felt like a vital organ had died.”
“I’m sure my mom didn’t mean to make you feel that way. She—”
“No.” She laughed lightly. “Sorry, you’re totally misunderstanding. I missed your mother. It was very hard for me to let her go. You could say she was one of my favorites. She was one of the strong ones.”
“She was pretty strong,” I agreed.
“Yes, well…I didn’t want to forgive her. My pain turned to anger, and I took that out on you. I’m sorry. After what you did last night, the way you led the others, you are one of us, Alivia. Just as your mother was. I want to welcome you to the sisterhood of slayers and I’m asking you to please accept my apology. I’m glad you’re continuing your mother’s legacy.”
“Thanks for apologizing,” I said. “I really appreciate it.”
“I heard your mother’s crossed over. I’m very thankful.”
“Me, too.”
“You have my number now,” she said. “Please don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
I was about to hang up, when she said, “One more thing. I think I know someone who can help your dragon friend.”
“What?” I clutched the phone. Kayden glanced up from where he was flipping through a book.
“Fly with him to the Colorado Mountains. I think you might find some answers there.”
“Why the Colorado Mountains?” I asked.
“Just take him there. It’ll help. Goodbye.” She hung up.
I stared at my phone. “That was weird.”
Kayden came over to me. “What did she say about mountains? Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
“She told me to take Liam there. Why would she say that?”
Kayden was quiet for a moment. Then a light bulb clicked on behind his face. “Dragons used to live in mountains.”
My eyes widened. “Are you saying…there are dragons there?”
“Maybe Liam’s not the last one on Earth like we thought. Maybe there are others living in the mountains. Survivors, just like him.”
“We’d better tell him.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“What’s going on?” Liam asked when we raced into his room. “I was trying to do my homework.”
“You have to come with me,” I said. “We need to fly to Colorado.”
“For some romantic getaway?” he joked. “I would totally be up for it, but I have this huge assignment for tomorrow—”
“This is serious, Liam. You might not be the last dragon on Earth.”
His mouth snapped shut and his eyes bugged out. “What?”
“I got a call from one of the slayers,” I informed him. “She told me to take you to the Colorado Mountains.”
He swallowed, then turned away from us. Running his hand through his hair, making the flames dance wildly, he started to pace. Then he stopped. “There are other dragons out there?”
“Maybe,” I said. “I don’t want to get your hopes up, but we should check it out. Liam.” I stepped closer to him and took his hands. “You might find your family.”
His eyes searched mine, and I could see years of hoping, dreaming, yearning floating in them. “My family,” he whispered.
The heat leaping off his body seemed to be ten times stronger than usual. With much reluctance, I pulled my hands out of his.
Liam faced me and puffed out his cheeks. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Every part of me itched to slip my hand into his as we made our way toward the forest, but I could feel his body heat from only a few feet away, and it had definitely gotten even stronger. I could also hear the rapid beating of his heart.
“I can’t believe this,” he said as we entered the forest and made our way to the cliff. “I just can’t believe it.”
We climbed onto the cliff, where Liam peered over the edge. “I’m just so shocked.”
“We won’t know what we’ll find until we get there. Try not to psyche yourself out. Whatever happens, it’ll be okay.”
He nodded. “You’re right. Hop on.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his middle, and he leaped in the air, transforming into his dragon form. Like the last time, I couldn’t help but marvel at the amazing creature I was riding on. With his massive form and beautiful dark blue scales and talons, he was breathtaking. And to think there could be others just like him out there. His family.
I could see the mountains in the distance, covered in snow. Liam’s body grew tense. Leaning forward, I rubbed his neck and pressed my lips to the top of his head. It helped him relax a little. He slowed down when we drew near the mountains, and then he hovered over them like he was scared to descend. The mountains were so beautiful. Was it possible people survived down there in this kind of weather?
“I’m here with you,” I whispered in his ear. “Move a little closer. I’ll tell you if I sense anyone.”
With a nod, Liam flew to the highest peak. It was a little hard to concentrate on my slayer senses because of the strong wind and because it was so cold.
“There!” I pointed. “I sense something down there.”
Liam flapped his massive wings before slowly making his descent. I once again felt how tense his muscles were, and I ran a soothing hand down his back. But it didn’t seem to help.
When Liam’s legs hit the ground, he folded into himself and shifted to his human form. I quickly grabbed onto to him before I hit the snowy ground.
“I just need a minute,” he said.
“Take all the time you need.”
“You really sense people?” he asked in a low voice. “Supernaturals?”
“Yeah.”
His chest expanded and contracted heavily as he tried to regulate his breathing. I sat very close to him, once again wishing to touch him. Even though it was freezing up here and we were sitting on the snow, I felt his body heat. It was as scorching as ever. Even the special gloves I had bought wouldn’t protect me.
Finally, after what felt like five minutes, he stood up with a confident expression on his face. “I’m ready.”
We hiked up the slope of the mountain, which thankfully wasn’t too steep. My lungs burned with every step we took.
“I don’t know how they can live up here,” he muttered with disgust. “It’s too cold.”
“It must be the only place they can avoid detection,” I offered.
When we reached the top of the mountain, we came face to face with a man in his early forties, dressed in fur, the bottom of his boots caked with snow.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded. “You’re trespassing.”
I glanced at Liam, who swallowed. Then he said, “Um, my name is Liam Caldwell. I traveled from Edgewood, Oregon—”
“Don’t care who you are or where you came from,” his gruff voice said. “I told you you’re trespassing. Leave my property.”
I craned my neck to get a glimpse of what was behind him, narrowing my eyes to tap into my slayer abilities. Farther down, I made out huts, and there was an opening into the mountain.
“No, you don’t understand,” Liam tried to explain. “I’m one of you. I think.”
The man squinted. “I don’t know who you are or how you found out about us, but we defend our own.” He reached behind him to produce a rifle. “Now leave my property, or—”
“Henk?” a woman called from behind him. “Henk, who’s there?”
“It’s no one, Merla,” Henk called over his shoulder, keeping his eyes pinned on us. “Just a couple of hikers who lost their way. I’m showing them the way down.”
“Sir, do you believe in dragons?” Liam blurted out.
The man’s face filled with alarm. He pointed his rifl
e at Liam. “What do you want? Speak fast, boy, or I’ll shoot.”
He held up his hands. “I think I belong here,” he said in a nearly inaudible voice. “I think I’m one of you.”
The man’s face completely changed. He lowered his rifle as he stared at him.
“Henk?” A woman appeared at his side. “Henk, what’s going on?”
Keeping his eyes pasted on Liam, he said, “Explain yourself.”
“My foster dad found an egg in the forest sixteen years ago. He thinks it was there for many years. He helped it hatch.”
“You?” the man asked.
Liam nodded.
The woman, Merla, gasped. “What does this mean, Henk?”
Henk aimed the rifle at him. “It means these people are pulling a dirty trick on us, because there were no other survivors. We’re certain of that. So I’m asking you one more time, boy, who are you and what do you want?”
“He’s a black color,” I said. “With dark blue scales and talons.”
Merla gaped at Liam before bringing her eyes to the man. “An Indigo?”
“I’ll change and show you,” Liam said.
“No!” they both shouted. Then Henk lowered his voice. “You can’t do that,” he hissed. “You’ll be spotted by humans.”
“No one will see us from up here. Besides, I can turn invisible.”
Now both Henk and Merla gaped at him. “He’s from the royal line,” she gasped again.
“Royal line?” Liam asked. “What are you talking about?”
“I must get Dink,” Merla said. “He’ll know if he speaks the truth.” She turned around and hurried away.
Henk aimed his rifle at Liam again. “If this is a trap…”
“It’s not a trap, I swear. I really am a dragon.”
Merla returned a few minutes later with a man and a woman, and I stared when I took in the man. His face looked so similar to Liam, and because he didn’t wear a hood, I could see his hair. It had flames in the strands, just like Liam had.
“He claims he’s an Indigo,” the woman, Merla, said to them. “He claims he can cloak.”
“The similarities are remarkable,” the other woman said as her eyes moved between the two of them.