Nina smiled. “Okay. You don’t have to beg.”
“Never hurts,” he said, grinning.
Eli rolled his eyes uncharacteristically. “When are we doing this?”
“As soon as possible,” Nina said. She looked at her watch. “It’s likely he’s over at the center now, actually. What do you say?”
There was a long silence as everyone looked at each other.
“Well?” Nina repeated.
Pryce spoke up first. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked. “Are you sure you trust Joey? What if he’s a plant and he attacks you? He’s older, so he has an advantage, training-wise. He could do a lot of damage, to all of you.”
“Joey wouldn’t hurt us,” Nina insisted. “He’s always talked about how much violence against other dragons disgusts him, and besides, he helped me so much.” She felt a rush of gratitude thinking about how much she’d grown under his leadership. He was so much like the fatherly dragon archetype that she’d felt close to him immediately. He even seemed worried for her the day before her reading. “I trust Joey. Eli says he’s not likely a spy. And besides, we have no other leads.”
“We could wait a few days,” Pryce said. “I could get in touch with some of my fellow Outcasts, track down someone who can get into the system for us. Or track down those people who are trying to hide from the world and make them tell us about the original prophecy.”
Nina tried to hide the shudder that ran through her at the idea of putting her faith in a bunch of Outcasts. She knew the Greater Horde had misled them about their true nature, and she knew that Pryce wasn’t bad, but something was still stopping her from seeing them as true dragons. They were still painted in negativity for her, though she was ashamed to admit it. We need real dragons, she thought. Not rejects.
“No,” she said to Pryce. “I trust Joey. He checks out. Let’s start there.”
Rachel and Pryce exchanged a look so quickly Nina couldn’t read it.
“What?” Nina asked, annoyed. “What are you two thinking?”
Rachel shook her head. “Nina, I admire how trusting you are. I could never be so open with my emotions.”
Pryce smiled, but it was bitter, and Nina wondered why.
It didn’t occur to her until after they were all in the car that Rachel hadn’t really answered her question.
***
“Wait.”
Eli stopped outside the building where Nina’s ceremony prep class was held, holding an arm out to stop her from moving further.
Nina looked at him quizzically, watching him fiddle with the topmost button on his crisp white button-down.
“What’s up?”
“Before we go in,” he began, “I need to do something.”
“What?” Nina asked. “Do you need me to point you to the bathroom?”
He was silent at first. His dark blue eyes held hers in an intense gaze, and she felt the air between them shimmer with energy. She couldn’t tell what he was feeling, because he seemed to be trying hard to cloak his essence. For a moment, she thought he was going to run away, but then he grabbed her waist and pulled her against him for a kiss.
Nina melted into his embrace, realizing, for the first time, that she’d missed his touch. She wondered how that could be possible when they’d only made love twice and she’d known him for less than a week; then she pushed the thought away in favor of cradling the back of his head and gently separating her lips to invite his darting tongue into her mouth. His lips felt like they were made to mold to hers, and he was holding her so tightly she knew he’d missed her touch, as well. Impossible, she thought. He just misses being inside you.
Eli pulled away to plant hot kisses on her neck, murmuring in her ear as he laid a trail from her collarbone to her jaw. “I don’t know what I would have done if that explosion had taken you, Nina. I can’t stand the thought of being away from you.”
How’s that for possible?
She didn’t know what to say. Thankfully, he started to kiss her again, and she let herself drift back into the blissful hold of his lips.
Again, she felt her essence stir beneath her skin, and this time she felt his essence straining for release as well. Eli’s hands curved around to her backside and squeezed the cleft of her cheeks, prompting a moan of surprise from Nina as she pressed her body more tightly against his. She could feel his own desire waking, his shaft hardening beneath his dark slacks; without even trying, she pictured them fully nude, writhing together on her bed as they covered each other in kisses. The image was so vivid that she could almost feel him plunging between her legs, his rigid shaft penetrating her swiftly and sending lightning bolts of ecstasy streaking through her supple body. Nina’s moan wasn’t surprised this time—it was lustful, and more than a little frustrated.
Eli broke away, breathing as heavily as Nina was.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his dark green eyes glittering brightly. “Nina, I just—I need you to know, in case something happens... things have gone more wrong here than with any other dragon I’ve been assigned to.” He paused. “But I wouldn’t trade this time with you for anything. Not a single thing.”
Nina felt her heart swell with tenderness. She thought of how secure she felt with him, and the pride that coursed through her when she considered his talent and accomplishments. He was exactly the kind of dragon she’d always pictured herself with, she realized; intelligent, noble, and dedicated to their people.
“Eli... I feel the same way.”
A breathtaking grin lit up his face, and Nina felt herself smiling too. “Really?”
“Really,” she whispered, craning her neck to kiss him again. “Now let’s go before I start tearing your clothes off, huh?”
A lone student was leaving Joey’s room as Eli and Nina approached. Nina caught the door before it closed and slipped in to find Joey sitting at his desk, computer screen reflected in the lenses of his large glasses. The familiar room felt incredibly different, and Joey even looked a little different. Nina assumed it was because she thought she’d never be there with him again. He didn’t look up until she and Eli were abreast of his desk; he yelped as his eyes met Nina’s, then he covered his mouth with one hand, embarrassed.
“Nina,” he said in a hushed voice. “I heard your apartment exploded! Oh my God, is your sister okay?”
Nina smiled at his concern. “Yes, Joey, she’s fine.”
“What’s going on?” he asked as he got to his feet. “Was it a gas explosion? Were you there? Did you get hurt at all? I heard that the apartment next to yours wasn’t damaged, though.”
Nina held up her hands. “It’s all fine! They’re still investigating, I think.”
Joey looked relieved. “Good.” He smiled and turned to Eli, his smile widening. “And I know a High Horde member when I see one! Who might you be?”
“Eli Nelson, Level Gold Reader,” he said, sticking his hand out for Joey to shake. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“Joseph Campbell,” Joey said, beaming. “Horde leader. What can I do for you both?”
Eli took the lead. “I’ve already sent back my Reading equipment, but Nina here insists on one more look at her prophecy.” He smiled affably. “I remembered that Horde leaders have records. I hate to bother you, but—”
“Of course!” Joey broke in. “Trust me, I understand. I was the same way with my prophecy. I wrote it down so that I could read it over and over. My mom went crazy hearing me read that thing aloud.” He bent over his computer and typed something in, bringing up a dark grey box before typing in something else. Finally, the screen was taken up by a photo of Nina and a wall of black text. “Here you go. I’ll just finish gathering my things.”
Eli sat down in Joey’s chair and focused his eyes on the screen. Nina could barely feel the flux in his energy as he tried to worm his way into the computer system. He’d told her he’d done it before, but that the computers at the Council headquarters were different, so it was going to be a little harder with normal c
omputers.
“Well?” Nina asked after a moment, eyeing Joey across the room.
Eli sighed. “I don’t think it’s going to work, Nina, we need another approach.”
“Try again,” she hissed. “Come on. Maybe it needed a push.”
Eli focused, and again Nina felt the gentle ruffle of energy as he lashed out at the system again. He waited for thirty seconds, then exhaled again, a bead of sweat appearing on his forehead.
“No,” he said firmly. “It won’t work. I’m sorry.”
Nina nodded. “That’s why we have a backup.”
Eli smiled as Joey turned around and started heading toward them, satchel slung over his shoulder. “You’re right.”
“All set?” Joey asked amiably.
“Yeah,” Nina said, straightening up. “We’ll walk out with you.”
Nina and Eli followed Joey out of the room. “Where are you headed?”
“Home,” Joey said. “My wife is making her famous meatloaf, and if I don’t get there soon, my in-laws are going to make sure I don’t eat tonight.”
“Then we won’t keep you,” Eli said.
Joey walked toward his little red Ford Fiesta and Nina and Eli curved away toward his Porsche. They got in slowly, watching Joey back out of the parking lot and head down the street before unbuckling their seatbelts and hurrying back toward the classroom.
Rachel, who had been waiting by the back door, was already at Joey’s computer when Nina and Eli slipped back in through the front. Pryce was standing next to her, his arms crossed, looking solemn as he watched her work.
“Are you in?” Nina asked eagerly.
“Not yet,” Rachel muttered, holding her hand over the computer’s tower. “Its security system is really sensitive. I want to circumvent it, not trigger it and disarm it. Even a short alarm would alert the owner that something happened. He might not see it until he gets back, but I don’t want to tip him off at all.” Rachel looked over at Nina briefly. “I still don’t get why we can’t just get one of those gem finders.”
“The Heart could be anywhere,” Eli said as he bent over Rachel’s shoulder. “We wouldn’t know where to start.”
“And you think the original prophecy would tell you?”
“It might,” Nina said shortly. “Like I said, we don’t have any other options.”
She ignored the look Pryce was giving her; she didn’t think telling him she didn’t trust Outcasts would go well.
Rachel’s hand began to vibrate in its position above the tower. “I think we’re getting somewhere! Yeah, I’m almost in. I can feel that we’re near the older files, the ones that have been erased from the main interface.”
“What does that feel like?” Eli asked curiously. “Is it just like sensing energy for you?”
“Not exactly,” Rachel said. “It’s like feeding my energy through a series of mazes that may lead me nowhere. I try not to crash into the walls because I could break them, I try not to cross over my own energy too many times... it’s a little like a game.” She laughed dryly. “It’s not as fun when the stakes are so high, though.”
Eli looked impressed. Pryce moved away from the computer and started to look around the classroom.
“Why isn’t this place enchanted?” he asked with a frown. “It seems like most gathering places are, even temporary ones. It stops non-magical dragons from wandering by and catching a whiff of what’s going on.”
Nina looked up sharply. “What? Of course it’s enchanted.” Then she looked around, sending her energy out into the room until it reached the boundaries. She found no resistance, no answering push of energy telling her that the walls were insulated against her power. “It was definitely enchanted the last time I came in here.”
Pryce narrowed his eyes. “Hey, guys? Maybe we should leave.”
“No!” Nina said. “We’re so close!”
A low pitched buzzing noise started to sound through the computer’s speakers. Rachel’s eyes widened in fear. “Guys, something is wrong. I think I pushed it too far.”
Pryce and Nina rushed over to the screen. A red box was superimposed over the desktop, flashing black block letters as the buzz droned on.
LOCKED FILES, TURN BACK
LOCKED FILES, TURN BACK
LOCKED FILES, TURN BACK
Rachel pulled her hand back, her face as white as a sheet. She looked sick.
“It hit me with some kind of energy,” she whispered, pressing a hand to her stomach. “I don’t feel so hot.”
“What happened?” Nina said, panicked. “Rachel, are you okay? How could the computer hit you with energy?”
“It was programmed that way,” a soft voice said behind them.
Nina spun around to find Joey standing in the doorway again, eyeing them all with a mixture of disbelief and sadness.
“J-Joey!” Nina stammered. “We were just—we were—”
“Breaking into the computer systems to find your original prophecy,” he answered, taking a few steps toward them. “I know. Someone headed me off, and I didn’t buy it, but I knew it was true when you walked in. Why do you think I lifted the enchantment?”
Nina felt her stomach drop. Pryce was right. “So you could sense our energy from outside,” she said dismally.
“Yes. And there’s quite a bit of energy in this room,” he said coolly, looking at Rachel and the three dragons. “A witch, two dragons, and an Outcast.” He laughed, and it was wild and unhinged. “I didn’t believe it when they told me a Reader was going to be helping you, but I definitely wouldn’t have believed that you’d ever join up with an Outcast.” Joey shook his head. “Nina, don’t you know what you’ve gotten yourself into?”
Fear flooded her veins. “Who’s they, Joey?”
Joey’s smile slipped. “Don’t you know?”
Rachel started to moan in pain behind her, but Nina felt too afraid to look away. “No, Joey, they haven’t introduced themselves yet.”
He laughed again. “You always were clever, Nina.” His voice softened and became sickeningly paternal. “You know, you were always my favorite. I knew that you were special, and I was hoping you would be like a protégée to me. But now that you’ve gone down this path…” He trailed off, his voice laden with sadness. “I’m going to have to stop you. All of you.”
Pryce moved in front of Nina. “The fuck you are, traitor.”
Joey’s eyes widened so much they looked like they were about to jump out of his skull. “Me? Are you serious, Outcast? You’re calling me a traitor?”
“Yes,” Pryce snarled. “Your duty is to help and protect your students.”
“My duty is to my superiors,” Joey countered. “And the people I’ve made a deal with.”
Nina tried to move Pryce, but he was far harder to budge than she anticipated. “Who is it, Joey? Tell us. Tell us before you try to kill us.”
“Try,” Joey repeated. “You seem very sure of yourself for an unbonded dragon.”
“You seem sure of yourself for a traitorous piece of shit!”
His expression was angry now. “I won’t have you call me a traitor, Nina. You’re the traitor. You’re breaking into my computer for information that isn’t yours.”
“It is mine!” she screamed, trying to dash out from behind Pryce. “It’s my fucking prophecy, you wacko!”
“It was changed for a reason!” Joey shouted back, voice growing hysterical. “You weren’t meant to hear it! You weren’t meant to know about it at all!” He took a step back, then appeared to steel himself, his face wiping itself of emotion so quickly it was like seeing him become a different person. “Listen, I have to do this, Nina. I’m sorry. Besides, knowing who’s after you won’t help you any. You’re about to die. You were going to die anyway.”
“How are you going to kill all of us at once?” Pryce snarled.
Joey was backing away again, and before he reached the door, he flung his hand out and sent power zooming around the room. The enchantments sprang back up, lining
the room with its old magical boundary. Then he reached into the pocket of his satchel and pulled out a small silver ball.
“Fairy bomb,” he said grimly. “I’m sure you know how effective these are.”
“No!” Nina screamed. “You guys, attack him, do something—”
“I’ve pulled the pin,” Joey said. “If you hit me, we all go. Just sit there quietly, and it will go off a few seconds after I shut the door. You won’t move fast enough to get out the back door.” He looked at them for a moment. “Not all of you, anyway.”
Nina was shaking with rage and disbelief. “Joey, please! Don’t do this! Let us go, report us to the Council, call the cops, anything but this!”
Joey made eye contact with her as she was trying to move Pryce’s body from in front of her. His eyes were filled with sorrow—real sorrow, it seemed. How can he do this? How can he do this to us?
“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I have orders.”
Then he threw the ball into the room, slipped past the frame, and closed the door behind him.
Nina stared at the ball, feeling like it was rolling to the center of the room in slow motion. Stop, she thought desperately. A storm of energy was whirling around inside her, a cluster of emotions she couldn’t name or direct anywhere useful. Please stop, don’t let it go off, let it be a dud, whatever, just stop this! She didn’t know if she was begging God or appealing to the fates, but Nina couldn’t sit and do nothing in the last moments of her life. Please stop this. Please.
When there was no answer from God or fate, Nina closed her eyes and pressed her face against Pryce’s broad back. His arms reached behind him automatically and wrapped around her waist, holding her to him as tenderly as he could. It was unbelievably comforting. She inhaled, breathing in his scent, and she felt a dizzying mixture of nostalgia and yearning as her lungs were filled with his aroma. Where do I know that scent?
Suddenly, it occurred to her that more than a few seconds had passed. She raised her face and peered around Pryce’s shoulders. The silver bomb was in the center of the floor, sitting there as innocently as a child’s marble.
“Why didn’t it explode?” she asked the silent room.
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