Abby nearly spit out her beer. “A lot in common? You and me? How do you figure?”
Stan shrugged. “We’re both very driven people. We want to be the best at what we do, and we want to protect the town we live in and love.”
Abby rolled her eyes. “Everyone says they’re driven, but not many people actually are.”
“What if I told you I was the top of my class at the Shifter Protector Academy?”
Abby looked at him in shock, unable to hide the fact that she was impressed. “You went to the Shifter Protector Academy? And were the top of your class?”
Stan nodded. Abby hadn’t expected that. She had thought Stan was just one of the many dragon shifter refugees who had been wandering around aimlessly after the war and had ended up in Torch Lake, since Torch Lake was so actively trying to recruit dragons. The Shifter Protector Academy was one of the most prestigious schools for shifters, and trained them how to become Shifter Protectors, who worked tirelessly to keep shifters safe. The Academy was about as difficult as Harvard to get into, and to be at the top of your class there was quite a feat. Stan must be pretty smart. But still, something didn’t add up here.
“If you were the top of your class at the Protector Academy, why aren’t you working as a protector? Why are you here in Torch Lake, doing whatever odd jobs the High Council throws at you?”
Stan sighed, and stared down at his beer for several long moments before answering. “It’s complicated,” he finally said. “But, in a nutshell, I wanted to be part of a clan. Shifter protectors don’t really settle down in clans. They travel all over the place, doing whatever jobs the Lead Protectors need them to do. It’s a nomadic life. I wanted to be part of a…family.”
“Humph,” Abby said. It was the only reply she could think of. She wasn’t a big fan of family. Hers had let her down, after all. Her father in particular. Besides, now her whole family was dead, casualties of the Great Dark War. You could never count on family to be there for you, so structuring your life around them seemed silly. If Stan wanted to give up his chance at a dream career just to be part of a clan and family, then he could hardly claim that he was “driven.”
As though he could read her mind, he leaned back and smiled. “You know, my education prepared me for more than just being a shifter protector. Of course, the classes were all focused on that specifically, but the skills it taught me are useful for a wide variety of careers. There’s no better place to learn fighting and defense. I came to Torch Lake because there are a lot of opportunities here. A lot of chances for me to make a difference. My last clan wasn’t like that. But here, I can grow. It wasn’t easy to start over yet again. But I did it, and I know I can have a successful career in Torch Lake. If you think you’re the only one around here with big dreams, you’re wrong.”
Abby frowned. “Look, I’m not saying I’m the only one with big dreams. But I am saying that my big dreams don’t include anyone else. I can handle things on my own. And every time I’ve depended on anyone for anything, they’ve let me down. Just stay out of my way, alright? If we have to work together this summer then so be it, but I don’t want to become besties or anything. You do your thing and I’ll do mine.”
She didn’t add that she thought “her thing” was a lot more important than his. She was the one chasing big dreams here. He had let his shifter protector education go to waste, if all he was doing was taking jobs as a glorified bodyguard.
Stan sighed again. “We don’t have to be besties, but shouldn’t we at least try to get to know each other a bit? We are going to be spending the whole summer together.”
“Then we’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other later. We don’t have to hang out at the bar. I came here to drink in peace, not to be harassed by my unwanted bodyguard.”
“Oh come on. I’m not that annoying am I? Why don’t you come play darts with me?”
Abby narrowed her eyes at him. “You really can’t take a hint, can you?”
“You’re just scared you’d lose.”
Abby chewed her lower lip. She knew what he was doing. He couldn’t have been more obvious about the fact that he was trying to lure her into playing darts by teasing her about losing. And yet, even though she knew what he was doing, she found the invitation hard to resist. She was sure that she could beat him at darts, and it was hard to pass up the chance to put him in his place.
“Fine,” she said. “I’ll play. But you have to promise that when I beat you you’ll leave me alone for the rest of the night.”
Stan threw back his head and laughed. “When you beat me? Not if?”
Abby gave him a confident smile. “Yes, when.”
“And what if you don’t beat me?”
“Oh, I will.”
Stan grinned. “Well, if by some miracle I manage to beat you, then you agree to come sit with me at my table for the rest of the night.”
Abby rolled her eyes. She wasn’t worried. “Fine. Whatever. Let’s get this game started.”
Stan grinned and grabbed his glass, then headed for the wall on the left side of the bar where all the dartboards were set up. Abby grabbed her glass and followed him. The chalkboard by the dartboard Stan chose was set up for a game of cricket, so that’s what they agreed to play.
“Best of three games?” Stan asked. Abby nodded. She figured they wouldn’t even play the third game.
But she figured wrong. Stan managed to beat her soundly on the first round. She tried not to let her surprise show, but she was worried. How had he done that? No one had beaten her at darts for years. Luckily, she won the next game, but she still felt anxious. She’d talked such a big game. She couldn’t let Stan beat her now. The third game was close, though. She thought she might be eating her words and sitting at his table for the rest of the night, but then, as he took what could have been the winning shot, someone called his name out from across the room. The sound distracted him enough that he missed. Abby looked to see that Jasper, another of the dragon shifters, was standing across the room and waving at Stan, calling him over. Stan cursed when he realized that the tiny distraction had cost him the game.
“Guess you have to leave me alone now,” Abby said, smirking at him. It was easy to be sassy once again, now that she wasn’t in danger of losing the game and her pride.
He sighed and slammed down his glass in frustration. “Damn it, Jasper. That man is always butting in at the worst moment.”
“Shouldn’t have let him break your concentration,” Abby said.
“No, I shouldn’t have. I’ll leave you alone for now, Abby, but this isn’t the end of this. I’m going to figure out a way to make you see me as more than just a dragon bodyguard.”
Stan turned to leave, and Abby stood there with a triumphant expression on her face. But strangely, even though she’d won, she felt anything but triumphant.
Tonight had left her with the distinct feeling that there was more to Stan than met the eye. Anyone who’d made it through shifter protector school and graduated at the top of his class had to be talented. Was she being a fool by pushing him away?
Abby sighed and went to go pay her tab. She didn’t feel like hanging out at this bar any longer. She didn’t like the way she couldn’t stop looking in Stan’s direction. She had a feeling that he had noticed her constant glances, and she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of thinking that he had gotten under her skin.
She was Abigail Fullmer, top of her class at the Academy of Ancient Magic. She didn’t need anyone, least of all a dragon shifter. Silly games of darts didn’t prove anything, one way or another. She was still the best hope Torch Lake had for its future, and she could take care of herself.
This summer, Stan was going to get a firsthand glimpse at just how capable Abby could be.
Chapter Five
That night, Abby finally slept. With no final exams to worry about, and no missions about to happen, she had nothing to keep her up worrying. She might have slept in until noon, if it hadn’t been for he
r phone ringing at eight-thirty a.m. that morning.
Bleary-eyed, she sat up and squinted at the caller I.D., wondering why someone was calling her so early in the morning during summer vacation. Not that she was actually on vacation. She had a few days off before her internship officially started. Two days from now, she’d be expected to report to the High Council building on a daily basis. If there were no missions for her, she would work in the offices there, learning how Torch Lake’s government functioned, and practicing her magical defense skills with the wizard masters. Of course, she was on call already. At any moment, the High Council might request her assistance with something, regardless of the fact that it was her “day off.”
And when Abby finally focused on the number on her screen, she realized that the High Council was indeed calling her in on her day off. Even though she didn’t recognize the number directly, it looked like it was coming from the High Council building. She bolted out of bed, dropping the phone as she tried to answer it.
“Damn it,” she said as the phone tumbled underneath her bed. By the time she grabbed the phone, the call had gone to voicemail. She tried to call back the number on the caller I.D., but that only took her to the main High Council Building information line. By the time she realized that, her phone had buzzed to indicate she had a voicemail. She hit play on the voicemail, and put her phone on speaker so she could set the phone down and get dressed while she listened. She had a feeling that her presence was wanted down at the High Council Building, and she wasn’t going to waste any time getting there.
“Hello, Abigail, this is Janet, Head Councilor Morgan’s assistant. I’m sorry to bother you so early in the morning, but Councilor Morgan is requesting that you and Stan get down to the Council Building as soon as possible. He would like for you to come ready to leave on a wilderness mission, with three days’ worth of supplies packed. If you need the list of standard mission supplies, check your email. I just sent it to you. And if you—BEEP.”
Abby glanced down at the phone as she put her Torch Lake uniform pants on. There was an incoming call showing up on call waiting, and it was from Stan. She groaned. He must have been notified of the mission, too, and no doubt he wanted to talk to her about it. Abby didn’t want to talk to him. There was nothing to say, really. They didn’t know anything yet, except that it seemed to be a three day mission. But as much as Abby wanted to ignore Stan’s call, she knew she should talk to her mission partner when he called. Reluctantly, she switched the call over to him.
“Hello?”
“Abby! I’m glad you’re awake. Janet told me she missed you and was worried your phone was on silent. Did you get her message yet? The High Council wants us to leave on a mission today. It’s—”
“I got the message,” Abby said curtly. “I’m packing a supply bag now and I’ll see you down at Council Headquarters.”
There was a short silence, and Abby figured Stan must be recovering from her sharp tone. But she didn’t regret using it. She wanted him to know that she was on top of things. She didn’t need him calling to double check that she was awake and packing for a mission.
“Ok,” he finally said. “I’ll see you soon, then. Just make sure you pack emergency supplies. This mission sounds like it’ll be longer, so there will be more things that could possibly go wrong.”
Abby rolled her eyes. Here he went again with his paranoid over-preparedness. “I’ll be fine. I know how to pack a mission bag.”
She hung up on Stan then, and finished pulling on her Torch Lake uniform. She put her hair up in a tight bun, then washed her face and brushed her teeth. She didn’t bother with makeup. She wasn’t a big fan of makeup anyway, and she didn’t need to worry about looking glamorous if she was being asked to pack for a three day wilderness mission. It sounded like she’d be in the woods before this day was over, which was just fine with her. She got her huge hiking pack out and filled it with her tent, sleeping bag, food supplies, extra clothes, and emergency first aid kit. She filled her water bottles and grabbed her water purifying tablets, then double checked to make sure her broomstick was in good flying condition. Stan could make fun of her all he wanted to but she knew how to pack a mission bag.
She stepped outside into the early morning air, breathing deeply for a moment to enjoy the freshness. The city was already buzzing, as morning commuters made their way to work. The shifters were all in cars, but many of the wizards were zooming through the air on their broomsticks. Abby joined them, zooming high into the sky on her broomstick. She flew as fast as she dared. She didn’t want to get pulled over by the wizard broomstick police right now, but she was eager to get to the High Council building as quickly as possible. She was hoping to beat Stan.
When she was ushered into the High Council’s plush conference room, though, Stan was already seated there. He gave Abby a friendly wave and patted the seat next to him, inviting her to come sit down. She didn’t want to sit by him, but she didn’t want to act petty in front of the whole High Council, so she reluctantly made her way to the opposite side of the table and sat by him, leaving her giant backpack by the door. As she glanced around the room, she was surprised to see that several other VIPs were here already. Jake Palmer, the people’s governor of Torch Lake, was here, as were several of the other dragon shifters. And Barnabas and Sunny were there as well.
“Abby, thank you for joining us on such short notice,” Councilor Morgan said. Abby nodded politely, but she felt her cheeks turning pink as she looked around the room and realized that she was the last one here. How had everyone else managed to beat her? She’d barely missed the call, and she’d packed her mission pack with lightning speed. Yet she’d arrived after everyone else, which made her look a tad bit irresponsible. She held her head high anyway. It didn’t matter if she was the last one in the room. If there was an important mission at stake, she was one of the most important people in the room. She would not be intimated by anyone here, no matter their rank or position.
To her surprise, Stan patted her knee under the table as she sat down. “Looks like the fun’s about to begin,” he whispered.
She looked at him with wide eyes, surprised that he’d been brazen enough to pat her knee, and also surprised that there seemed to be no hint of animosity in his voice. Abby had been a little bit of a jerk yesterday at the bar, she knew. It had been on purpose, because she wanted to push Stan away. But apparently he hadn’t been affected by her disdainful attitude toward him. His eyes were full of a look she recognized well, because she’d seen it in her own eyes many times: the spark of adventure. Stan wasn’t sitting here worrying about what Abby or anyone else thought about him. He was sitting here feeling excited about the fact that he was about to be set loose on the world to work on a mission for the clan he loved—likely a dangerous mission.
Abby turned away from him, not liking the way her heart beat faster when it saw that spark of adventure in his eyes. And she really didn’t like the way her stomach had fluttered when his hand touched her knee. He was handsome, yes, but he was also the one who was serving as her forced babysitter. He was the bane of her existence right now.
Wasn’t he?
Abby pushed away all of her confusing thoughts regarding Stan, and looked up at Councilor Morgan as he continued to speak.
“Stan and Abby, we were not expecting to send you on a mission so soon, but it appears that the Dark Warriors are not waiting until summer is in full swing to start causing trouble. We’re going to need your help right away.”
Abby sat up straighter. This was good news as far as she was concerned. She would much rather spend her summer on missions, chasing down the Dark Warriors, than sitting in an office at the High Council building.
“Last night, we received a distress call from somewhere in Black Pines Forest. It was not far from a site that is a popular camping site for students. We sent a team of soldiers to investigate, but when they got to the campsite, there was no one there, and no sign of anyone having been there for quite some time.”
Abby frowned. “Are you sure the distress call was legitimate?”
Councilor Morgan nodded. “We double checked the transmission several times, and had our emergency communication specialists check it for any signs that it might have been fraudulent. There is no reason to believe that this was faked. In addition, a group of university students that had gone camping to celebrate the end of the spring semester has gone missing. None of their cell phones can be traced, and no one has heard from them since they left.”
Stan was sitting up straighter now, too. “Do you think the Dark Warriors kidnapped them?”
“We do. We aren’t sure why they went after these students in particular, but we believe that the Dark Warriors are behind their disappearance. Traces of magical spells were found at the campsite. They were faint, but our experts believe they are indicative of dark magic. Barnabas and Sunny believe that the spells they were using are of the type that would be easily overcome by ancient magic. We have a team of soldiers combing the forest already, looking for any signs of the missing students. But Abby, we want you and Stan to go search the campsite. See if you can use ancient magic to discover what kind of spells were used there. This might help us figure out where the students were taken, or why they were taken.”
“Should we follow their trail, if we find it?” Abby asked. She was furiously scribbling notes as Councilor Morgan spoke, and she was rather annoyed that Stan was still just staring at the Head Councilor without actually writing down any of the instructions that were being given.
“No, if you find their trail, then let us know. We’ll give you further instructions at that point, but it’s likely we’ll want to have our soldiers take it from there.”
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