by Rinelle Grey
But now his clan wasn’t his only responsibility. Somehow, he’d accepted responsibility for Rylee and her son as well. And he could no more walk away from them than he could from his clan.
Rylee had followed him here and walked out on her father and any stability she had, in his defence. He owed it to her to help her, to make sure she was settled. More than that, he wanted to help her.
And besides, she and Rowan couldn’t get up and down from the lair by themselves, he could hardly fly out looking for his clan while they were here alone. What if one of them hurt themselves?
The thought made his heart stop for a second. No, he needed to stay until they found somewhere safer to live. Somewhere that was more suited to human needs. While this lair had been his home, it wasn’t suitable for Rylee and Calrian to live here long term.
That thought made him sad. But wallowing in pity achieved nothing. That was the reality he was living in, so he might as well accept it. If he found his clan, maybe it could change, but right now, it was what it was.
He needed to look after the people in front of him who needed him right now. He had been asleep for three hundred years. Finding his clan could wait a few days. His brothers and sisters weren’t going anywhere.
His mind made up, Calrian said, “I could take a few days off searching to help you and Rowan settle in. It’s a difficult transition for you.”
Rylee’s face brightened at his words, instantly warming his heart. “Are you sure?” she asked uncertainly. “I know finding your family is important to you.”
He didn’t hesitate, nodding immediately. “I’m sure,” he said firmly. “My family aren’t here. You are, and you and Rowan need my help.”
Her smile cut straight to his heart. “Thank you,” she said softly. “That would be nice.”
Calrian let himself enjoy the look they shared, the connection that passed between them. It helped him push away the fact that he had no family, no clan. It let him feel the first glimmer of hope he’d felt since waking. It helped him accept that if he couldn’t find his clan, then life would go on.
Maybe there was even a chance he could be happy.
He was sure he could be happy with Rylee. Even just seeing her smile made him feel better. Being around her healed a little of the pain from his clan’s disappearance.
Unfortunately, it also reminded him of it, because every time he started to think—no, to hope—that maybe this would fill the hole in his heart, he realised that he couldn’t just give up on his family. Even putting off searching for a few days felt like he was failing them.
But Rylee and Rowan needed him. And it wasn’t as if he’d been achieving anything flying around randomly and calling anyway. If his family had moved, there was no reason to assume that their new lair was even anywhere near here. They could be anywhere. They could even have returned to England for all he knew.
It could all be a colossal waste of time.
If only he knew, one way or another.
The feeling of being pulled in two opposite directions was killing him. He almost wondered if it would be easier to split in two.
Why had his clan not left him some sort of clue, some hint as to where they had gone? Or even that they were still alive? He didn’t want to consider the possibility that they hadn’t left a clue because they were all dead.
He didn’t want to face that possibility. There were many reasons why they might have moved without leaving a clue. The reality was, any clue they left could also be found by their enemies. An even more damning reason was that it would not have even occurred to them that he could wake without their assistance. That possibility hadn’t even been conceived of when he’d entered the Mesmer.
No. Clues, if there were any, weren’t going to be here at the lair.
Which lead him back to his earlier idea. Was there any chance he’d missed something in the human newspapers? They recorded so much, surely if his clan was in the area, there would be some hint? He’d only skimmed the information available. There could have been something he had missed.
And going back to look again would at least be something he could do without leaving Rylee alone at the lair. He was sure she’d have business to take care of in town, and maybe that would give him time to look through the records more thoroughly.
As if guessing what he was thinking, Rylee said, “If there’s anything I can do, anything at all, let me know.”
Calrian’s heart warmed. Of course Rylee would help him. He knew he could count on her. And he’d tell hear about his plans. Tomorrow.
Tonight, he wanted to focus on making her and Rowan feel at home.
With that aim in mind, he smiled and said a brief, “Thank you,” before turning his attention to blowing up the air mattress Rylee had brought.
It was a slow job, even with both of them taking turns, but Calrian didn’t mind. He was with Rylee, and somehow, that never felt like a waste of time.
They didn’t say much, saving most of their breath for blowing, until the mattress was finally ready, and Calrian placed it down in the middle of the main room. It looked very small in that huge cave. There probably wasn’t room for both of them to sleep on it anyway, even if Calrian wasn’t determined to do the honourable thing and sleep on the floor.
Rylee was staring at it too, and her thoughts must have been following a similar trail, because she turned to him and said, “There’s room for both of us.”
Calrian couldn’t help giving a grin. “I’m sure there would be room for two of us in your size, but I’m a pretty big dragon, remember?” he teased.
Rylee tilted her head to one side. “You don’t have any wings or scales. I think you’ll fit.”
She seemed serious. Calrian looked back at the bed, then back to her, and raised an eyebrow.
Rylee’s cheeks turned pink. “We might have to lie rather close together, but it’s better than sleeping on the floor, isn’t it?”
On the surface, her question seemed straightforward enough, but Calrian didn’t miss the look in her eyes, one that set his heart thumping. She wasn’t just asking about the bed. There was an undertone to her words he couldn’t ignore.
It was the question both of them were thinking. And it wasn’t going to just go away.
He took a deep breath. “Sleeping close to you is better than anywhere else in the world,” he said seriously, reaching out to take her hands. “The bed makes no difference. But… Rylee… I can’t offer you anything right now. My clan…” he let the sentence hang, not even sure what he was trying to say.
He couldn’t put it into words, but the sadness in her eyes said she understood. “You have to find them,” she said. “I know that. I don’t want to get in the way of that. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be… friends… does it? I mean, we can support each other without taking things further, can’t we?”
Calrian gave a wry grin. “I’m not sure. When I’m around you, I’m very… tempted.”
From her blush, he could tell she felt the same, but the look she gave him was serious. “I know. I’m tempted too. But I know how important finding your family is to you. I won’t risk that, and I know you won’t either.”
When she put it that way, it seemed so simple. Calrian knew he couldn’t risk getting distracted from his quest right now, and if Rylee understood that too, then nothing would happen, would it?
He took a step closer, feeling the heat from her body. “I just need you to understand that my distance isn’t a lack of desire.” The words came out lower and hotter than he’d intended, and her sharp intake of breath indicated she’d heard it too.
But her voice, when she replied, was sure and strong. “We can do this.”
For the first time, Calrian believed he just might be able to.
Chapter 4
For some reason, when she drove into Mungaloo the next morning, Rylee felt different. The town somehow seemed smaller, less important. The sidelong glances people gave her were meaningless.
As she dropped Rowan o
ff at school and then drove Calrian down to the library, everything had an almost rosy glow. Nothing could go wrong when she was feeling like this.
She kept the glow while she settled Calrian in at the library. It was only once she’d left him to his research and stepped out the door away from him that it started to fade. Suddenly the town seemed more hostile, and the sideways glances felt more antagonistic when she was on her own.
Maybe she should have stayed in the library with Calrian, but she hadn’t wanted to distract him. She’d come out with the intention of sticking to her promise not to get in the way of him finding his clan, but she hadn’t stopped to think what she would do.
For a moment, she thought she might just go home and wait for Calrian there. She could organise some of the stuff she’d brought with her, and maybe, while the lair was empty, she could even have a dip in the bathing pool Calrian had shown her. She almost felt positive about that possibility, until she remembered.
She couldn’t return to the lair on her own, she couldn’t fly up there.
That fact left her feeling vaguely uncomfortable. After Eric, she’d sworn she wouldn’t be dependent on anyone for anything. This wasn’t quite the same, of course. Calrian wasn’t trying to control her. It wasn’t his fault she wasn’t a dragon and couldn’t fly.
Besides, he’d relied on her for the last week when he’d had nowhere to stay. She could handle relying on him for a little while. She just needed to find something to occupy herself while Calrian worked. So she walked up the street with a determined step, even if it was a little directionless.
Ahead of her she saw the second-hand shop, and since she had nowhere better to go, she headed in that direction. At least there wouldn’t be as many stares there.
“Hello, Rylee,” Martha said cheerfully. She put on her glasses and peered behind Rylee. “Where’s your friend?” Martha’s friendly look turned stern. “You aren’t letting your father convince you to give that hottie up, are you?”
Rylee felt her cheeks heat. That was the problem with small towns, everyone knew everyone else’s business. She was tempted to walk straight back out again, but at least Martha seemed to be on her side. That was more than she could say for anyone else.
“No, he’s at the library. I just thought I’d come in for a couple more jumpers.” Calrian’s cave was colder than she was used to, and though she’d been glad to have an excuse to snuggle up to him last night, it had been a bit chilly when she’d woken up Rowan to get ready for school.
“Over against the back wall.” Martha nodded in that direction. She paused, then added, “Did you find somewhere to stay?”
How was Rylee supposed to answer that? She certainly couldn’t tell Martha she was staying in a dragon lair. A cave wouldn’t be much better. It would look like she was after sympathy, when in actual fact, that was the last thing on her mind.
She tried being evasive. “Oh, we found somewhere.”
Martha just raised an eyebrow.
Rylee shrugged uncomfortably. It had been a mistake to come here. She could have sat and read a book in a corner of the library and not disturbed Calrian.
The old woman’s face turned sympathetic. “I heard your dad bullied the real estate into not offering you any places. I never did like that man.” Her lips tightened.
Rylee didn’t know how to respond. She wanted to retreat, to pretend everything was fine, and that she and her dad didn’t have issues, that they were really just one big happily family.
That was what she’d always done, first at home, then with Eric.
But where had that ever gotten her? She’d lost all her friends, and that was the reason she had no one to help her now.
Maybe it was time to change.
“Yeah, it was pretty awful,” she managed, her voice shaking at the admission. That was another reason she’d never talked to anyone about any of it. She always became so emotional.
“I’ll bet,” Martha said sympathetically. She hesitated, then said, “Look, it’s not a house, but I have an old caravan in my backyard you could use till you get back on your feet again. It’ll need a bit of a clean, but it doesn’t have any leaks. And it is roadworthy. Maybe you could take a holiday by the beach.”
Rylee was so shocked she just stared at Martha for a few moments, her mind working overtime.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like Calrian’s lair. It had been really nice seeing it, and snuggling with him last night had been awesome. But the air mattress really was a little small, and it had a leak. And not being able to get in and out on her own was crimping Calrian’s search.
He wouldn’t feel bad if she found them somewhere else to live, would he?
She hesitated, torn between wanting to have a slightly more normal living space and not wanting to hurt Calrian’s feelings. “Really? I wouldn’t want to be any trouble.”
Martha smiled. “It’s no trouble at all. I’ll finish up my shift at four this afternoon. Why don’t you come by then and check it out?”
Rylee hesitated, but it wasn’t like she was agreeing to live there. She was just checking it out. She could talk to Calrian before she made the final decision.
And talk to Rowan. Her son would be disappointed to leave the lair, but she suspected the lack of television would dull the appeal in a couple more days anyway.
“Thanks, that would be great,” she agreed.
And when she walked back outside into the sunshine, things suddenly seemed rosy again. Many in the town may have issues with her, but not all of them. Even having just one friend amongst them made things different.
And if she’d found somewhere for them to live, maybe she’d manage to find a job next.
Chapter 5
Calrian read through each paper slowly, starting with the most recent this time. He didn’t skim, didn’t flick through the pages. He looked carefully at each one, certain there must be a clue there somewhere.
He hoped there was, because if there wasn’t, he didn’t know what he’d do.
Even as he read, it was hard not to be distracted. He probably didn’t need to read the articles about investments and new companies, but every time he was tempted to skip them, he reminded himself that he didn’t know where he might find a clue.
It was slow going, but he was determined.
Something had to give eventually. There had to be an answer in here somewhere.
If only he could find it.
But after a few hours, he still had nothing, and he hadn’t even made it through a year of the newspapers. This search was as fruitless as his flying searches had been.
Calrian leaned back in his chair, staring at the pages of the open newspaper in front of him, but not really seeing them. There had to be some other way to find out what had happened to his clan.
Was it possible that they had been wiped out by the Trima clan? If they had left, surely they would not have gone far, they wouldn’t have abandoned him and his brothers and sisters in their Mesmer chambers, would they? But if they were nearby, why hadn’t he found them by now?
Calrian didn’t want to face the possibility that they were gone, but he couldn’t afford to ignore it either. If only he knew, one way or the other. If they still existed, he’d search until he found them.
But the reality was, it was entirely possible that Ultrima had killed them all. That he and his brothers and sisters were all that were left of Rian clan.
What if this was all pointless and he was giving up his time with Rylee for nothing? He slumped back in his chair, unable to stand the indecision. If only there was a way to know for sure.
An idea occurred to him, one so risky he drew in his breath sharply. It was dangerous, bold, so completely unexpected he had to consider it for a while.
His brother, Taurian, would call him a traitor. His sister Lyrian would think he was crazy. And Warrian would outright forbid it. Sarian probably would too, and he’d have to listen to her since she was the eldest.
But none of them were here, and they mi
ght never be again if Calrian didn’t solve this. He needed to know if there was any chance, any reason to keep searching.
And there was only one way he could think of to find out for sure.
Really, it shouldn’t be that risky. It had been hundreds of years. Ultrima would be dead by now. Yes, the Trima dragons still guarded the lairs, but maybe that was just a habit. Maybe… Maybe Calrian could even talk them into stopping. Then he could wake his brothers and sisters, even if they had no clan to wake to.
That thought eased a little of the constriction around his heart. Not a fear of the Trima clan, but of the risk of finding out his entire clan was gone.
It was an angle he hadn’t even considered until now. One he wouldn’t normally consider. He was loyal to his clan, and Trima was his enemy.
But he’d never expected to find himself alone in this world, or that it would have changed so much.
Maybe Trima clan had changed too?
Could he risk it? Did he dare?
Could he not?
Calrian stared off into space, going back and forth on whether his plan was a good idea or not, when the door slid open, and suddenly Rylee was there. Her eyes shone, and she had a wide smile on her face. “I have a surprise,” she announced.
Calrian was momentarily distracted by her appearance, but while he managed to smile and genuinely appreciate her presence, his mind wouldn’t leave his problem. “I do too,” he said slowly. “I think I’ve figured out a way to find out if my clan is alive or dead.”
Rylee’s eyes widened, and she took a step forwards, taking his hands in hers. “How?”
He hesitated then. She’d probably think the idea was as bad as his brothers and sisters would have. She’d be afraid for his safety. Maybe she’d even ask him not to do it. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if she did. He didn’t want to reject her, but he also knew, deep down, he needed to do this.
There was no other way to know for sure.
Her eyes searched his face, nothing but hope and excitement in them.
Calrian took a deep breath. “I need to go ask Trima clan. They will know, one way or another.”