by Avril Sabine
Why did Ronan know about Dragon Mages when Kade didn’t? “How old are you?”
He shrugged. “Five, six centuries. Maybe more. Who pays attention to time when that much passes?”
Amber barely managed to control her shock. Dragons could live that long? All dragons? She didn’t have enough information to deal with Ronan. She was floundering. “Why would I want to help you?”
Ronan sniffed the air. “It was strange of you to choose a cat for your animal. Most mages are more practical. Hawk, owl, falcon. Something they can turn into if they should lose their seat. Why a cat?”
Choose. Amber was intrigued. Was it because of the cat hairs? Could she have picked something else instead? How? Would she be able to change what animal she could change into? There were so many questions she wanted answered. But she didn’t trust Ronan. “Quit trying to come close to me. Do you think I’m going to want to listen to anything you have to say when you’re doing that?”
Ronan stood still. “I’ll give you my heir. He has no mate. When I have my lands back, they’ll be his one day.”
Mail order groom? Not in this lifetime. But she couldn’t tell Ronan that. “I’m not patient enough to wait for your death.”
Ronan laughed. “A couple of centuries and I’ll be too old for battles. I’ll retire then.”
“I don’t like to share. Not interested.”
“I’ll help you take your own lands. Gold. Jewels. Name your price.”
She frantically tried to think of a way to escape. Nothing came to mind other than to keep him talking. “How did you lose your lands?”
“Treachery.” He shrugged. “It wasn’t the first time. But this time I haven’t been able to take them back. Which clan do you belong to?”
Clan! Amber bit back the hysterical laugh that wanted to escape. She felt like she was trying to find her way through an oil slick. She didn’t know how much longer she could stay on her feet. “I have all I need. I’m not interested in any of your offers.” Didn’t trust them, was more accurate.
“Are you saying there isn’t a single thing in all the worlds that you want?”
Worlds! She had to keep him talking. She was learning more by the second. Intriguing scraps of information. She wasn’t certain how they fit together, but it would give her more things to ask Kade about. “I have simple wants.”
“That I don’t believe. I can see from here the quality of leather used for your clothes. They wouldn’t have been cheap. Unless you’re from one of the clans who make them.”
“They were a gift from a friend.”
“You’re not the only one with powerful friends. I will have you. Join me willingly and life will be much better for you.”
“Amber! Where are you? What happened to waiting in the car?”
Amber felt a wave of relief at Kade’s angry words. She sent a picture of where she was, Ronan standing in front of her.
Kade swore. “Get away from him. He’s a renegade.”
“What caused you to become a renegade?” Amber asked.
“I don’t see myself as one. Besides, I’ll be accepted once I have my lands again.” Ronan shrugged. “We’re a practical race.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“Amber! Get away from him now.”
“Because cannibalism has been outlawed. They say we live long enough without needing to eat the hearts of our enemies. I was eating them long before they brought in their stupid law. I couldn’t stop without losing all the benefits I’d gained. A couple of centuries are nothing compared to how long it’s possible to live by eating them. What would you have done?”
Certainly not eat someone’s heart, but she wasn’t about to tell Ronan that. “Who knows? I haven’t been faced with that choice.”
“I’ll bring you the heart of the next dragon I slay. Then we’ll see what choice you make.”
Kade landed beside Amber. Brann and Maira dropped down behind him. They became human the moment they touched the ground. “Stay away from her.”
“You’re Kiani’s boy. I see her look in you. Who’s your sire?”
“Bredon.”
“Erilan Clan?”
When Kade nodded, Ronan looked at Amber. “You keep high company. Is he your Gold Warrior or is it one of his parents?”
“What’s going on?” Kade didn’t take his eyes off Ronan. “And get rid of that fire in your hands.”
Amber closed her hands, extinguishing the fire. “It doesn’t matter who my dragon is, I’m not interested in your offer. You’ll have to find someone else to help you get your lands back. I have other things keeping me busy.”
“Who are Erilan Clan going to war with? How many Dragon Mages do they have? When will it happen?” Ronan looked from Amber to Kade.
“That isn’t any of your business. Leave us alone. Go and help your people. They aren’t doing too well. My clan knows you’ve met with us. I wouldn’t do anything or you’ll have the entire clan after you. Think they’ll be willing to give up their mage?” Kade smiled mockingly.
Ronan stared at him a moment longer. “This isn’t over. I’d watch your backs if I were you.” He became a dragon and shot into the sky.
Kade turned to Amber. “What the hell were you thinking? Are you mad? He’s even eaten the heart of one of his sons. Do you think someone like that is sane?”
“You wear the skin of dragons. What’s the difference?”
“Would you eat a dragon heart if he brought it to you?”
Amber shook her head, taking a step back from Kade. She’d never seen him so angry. Or look so dangerous. “I didn’t know how to answer him. I’m not crazy. I was trying to stay alive.”
“You were grilling him for information.”
“Maybe.” It wasn’t like he told her anything.
“Get back in the car.”
“He threw the keys.”
“Go and find them.”
Amber glared at Kade. “You find them.” She spun, striding across the paddock. There was a slight tremor in her limbs as fear gave way to relief. Her eyes watered and she blinked. “Damn night air,” she muttered.
“Amber-”
“Leave me alone, Kade.”
Kade grabbed her arm, pulling her roughly against him. He pressed her head to his chest. “I was terrified I wouldn’t get to you in time.”
Chapter Fourteen
Amber’s nose was filled with the smell of blood. She pulled away from Kade, her eyes scanning his body. “You’re hurt?”
“A scratch.”
“Where?”
“Amber-”
“Where?”
Kade turned. “A scratch.”
Amber gasped at the gash that went from one shoulder to the opposite hip. Blood seeped from it. “You have to-”
Kade faced her again. “Forget it. If I let Maira stitch me I won’t be able to transform again tonight. Not with that many stitches. Come on. We have to get out of here before Ronan comes back.”
“At least let someone clean it up.”
“Fine. There’s a first aid kit in the car.”
They strode to the car in silence. Maira had the kit sitting on the bonnet when they arrived back, Brann’s leather backpack open beside it. She quickly wiped the blood away and frowned as she inspected the wounds.
“What are you doing?” Amber asked when Maira removed the belt from her pants.
“Hold the edges of this deepest section together. The belt should stop it from gaping too much when he transforms.”
Amber pressed her hands against Kade’s skin and then moved them together so the jagged edges of his wound met. It looked worse now the blood had been wiped away. A trickle of blood seeped from the lower part of the wound. Amber pressed her hand against the spot, trying to hold it together as best she could so it’d stop bleeding. It felt like a shock from static electricity.
Kade swore, pulling away from her. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Maira inspected Kade’s back.
“Whatever it was, do it again.”
“Not likely!” Kade rounded on Maira.
“It’s sealed,” Amber gasped.
“What?” Kade reached behind him, gingerly touching where Amber had placed her hand against his wound. He met Amber’s eyes. “Do it again.”
“I don’t know what I did. I was worried about the blood still coming from your wound. I placed my hand on it and tried to stop it from bleeding.”
“Found the keys.” Brann strode towards them holding the keys up. He looked at each of them. “What’s going on?”
“Our mage is healing Kade.” Maira took the keys from Brann.
“No I’m not. And don’t call me that. I’m not a mage.”
“Ronan is one of our oldest people. If he says you’re a Dragon Mage, then that’s more than likely what you are. Now heal my back so I can get up there and we can put some distance between us and Ronan.” Kade gestured towards the star studded sky.
Amber sighed heavily. “Sometimes I really hate you,” she muttered as she placed her hand on his back.
“No you don’t. Now stop sulking and figure out what you did last time. We’re out of here in five minutes, wound or not.”
Amber emptied her mind, mimicking her actions from before. Nothing. She concentrated on the blood. The smell of it filled her senses and her mouth watered. She frowned in disgust as she pushed the panther away. Electricity. That’s what it had felt like. As if she’d welded it together. Energy instead of heat in her hands. She yelped as the energy flowed between them.
Kade turned, throwing his arms around her. He grinned. “I knew you could do it.” He kissed her quickly. “You can finish it later. That was the worst of it.” He pulled away, leaping into the sky and becoming a dragon before Amber even had a chance to think let alone speak.
Maira straightened from brushing the glass off the driver’s seat. “Everyone in. Let’s see how fast this car can move. Kade says it’s all clear ahead.”
“All clear?” Amber sat in the back of the car. She stared at the blood on her hands.
Brann threw her a damp cloth from where he sat in the front passenger seat. “No police, speed cameras or other drivers in the way.”
Maira grinned. “Better buckle up.”
Amber wiped her hands and quickly pulled the seatbelt on. She glanced at the speedo and looked away as the needle kept moving even though it had reached a hundred kilometres. Did she really want to know how fast they were going? Wind rushed in at her from the broken window. Scents bombarded her. But she couldn’t smell any strange dragons. Only Kade was out there. She hoped it stayed that way. She looked down at her hands. Her hands that could kill and heal. What other surprises would they have for her? She closed her eyes, and her mind. No more thinking. Life was far too complicated. She felt like throwing something and screaming. She didn’t want this. None of it. Got a life, like it, going back. Yeah, right! She was beginning to think that was an impossibility.
An image of Ronan standing in front of her staring at her with his pale blue eyes came to mind. He’d called her a Dragon Mage. She had no idea what that meant, but had a bad feeling it would only bring more problems.
* * *
The school bell rang. Students hurriedly gathered their books and rushed towards the door. Amber continued to sit. Even her teacher left without a backwards glance. Last class Friday. Who’d be crazy enough to sit in an empty classroom when the weekend was calling?
Amber dropped her head onto the book that was still open on her desk. Obviously she was. Three weeks she’d been stuck in Hicksville. Three long weeks. And the past week had been the worst. She couldn’t sleep, couldn’t focus in class and dreaded the training sessions Kade forced her to endure. He was determined to find out the exact extent of her abilities. He’d picked apart every word Ronan had spoken to her. He even had a friend researching Dragon Mages in the library of his clan. Actually, he called the person a cousin. But it didn’t mean the same as it would when she called someone cousin. It meant they were part of his clan. And that was why Maira called him cousin. She was from his clan. Brann was from another clan. Kade had chosen Brann at Maria’s request. They’d been together for over a year before Maira had joined Kade.
The scrape of a chair on the floor brought Amber’s head up. She watched as Kade sat at the desk next to her, his chair turned to face her. “I can’t do this anymore. I’m exhausted.”
“Come camping with us?”
Amber frowned. “What?”
“Tents, sleeping bags, campfire. What do you say?”
“No lessons?”
“No lessons.” Kade grinned. “Camping and hunting.”
“I’m not eating raw meat.”
Kade shrugged. “You can cook your kill if you want.”
“You expect me to catch my own food?”
Kade laughed. “No need to look so outraged.” He leaned close. “Let your panther out and see what she wants to do. A wild animal shouldn’t be caged all the time. They’ll try and break free if they are.”
Amber felt her skin tighten. Heat and energy rushed through her hands. The thought of hunting for her own meals was far more tempting than she liked. “I’ll ask my mum and see what she says. Don’t hold your breath though.”
“You’ll figure it out if you really want to go.” Kade rose to his feet, holding out his hand.
Amber took it, letting him pull her to her feet. She looked up at him, a shiver going through her at the expression on his face. His gaze was hotter than the fire she could hold in her hands. Amber draped her arms around his neck and smiled up at him in anticipation. She didn’t have long to wait.
Minutes passed before Kade pulled back to gaze down at her. His voice was husky. “Gather up your gear and I’ll give you a lift home. We’ll leave this arve if you can.”
“Okay. How are we getting there?”
Kade grinned. “Flying.”
“I’m not sitting in that harness for hours on end.”
“You won’t have to. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Amber grabbed her books. “What?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
They walked towards the door. “That’s so unfair. You know I hate surprises.”
“No you don’t. You just hate having to wait for them.”
Chapter Fifteen
Amber slammed her bedroom door behind her. She locked it and looked towards her bed where she’d planned to sulk. Kade was lying in the middle, hands behind his head, waiting for her.
“When did you get in here?”
“About the time you screamed at your mother that she was unrealistic, wanted to lock you away in a nunnery and didn’t trust you.”
“Move over.” She dropped onto the bed next to him. “I told you she probably wouldn’t let me go.”
Kade leaned up on an elbow to stare down at her. “Are you going to let that stop you?”
“What are you saying?” Amber looked at him suspiciously. “Are you asking me to run away for the weekend?”
“What’s the worst she’s going to do?”
“Ground me for life.” Amber laughed. “As if that’s going to be much of a loss in this town.” She sat up. “Besides, I’ll be seventeen in a month and a half. Nearly an adult. I’m sick of her treating me like a kid.”
“Are you walking out the front door or sneaking out the balcony?”
Amber grabbed a small cloth backpack, threw a change of leather clothes in it, grabbed her toiletries, brush and a towel. “I’m not sure.” She paused and frowned. “I haven’t got a sleeping bag.”
“You can share mine.”
“Think again.”
Kade laughed. “We have a spare one you can use. Maira said they’d be out the front in about fifteen minutes. Is that fine or do you want her to park down the road?”
Finished packing, Amber stared at Kade thoughtfully. She smiled slightly and moved away to turn her laptop on.
“What are you thinking of?”
Amber shook her head. She quickly typed a message for Crystal, Angela and Jasper then emailed it. When Kade laughed, she looked up at him. “Will you stop reading my emails over my shoulder all the time?” She turned off the laptop and took it to the bathroom.
“Now what are you doing?”
“Hiding my laptop so she can’t take it off me.” She pointed to the manhole in the ceiling. “Do you think you can help me get it up there?”
“Hop on my shoulders.” Kade bent down.
Seated on Kade’s shoulders, Amber pushed the manhole cover aside and slid her laptop and power cord in to rest on the beams. She manoeuvred the cover back into place. As soon as she was on her feet again, Amber closed her eyes. She pictured her mother and grandmother in her mind and tried to figure out where they were. She thought her mother was in her bedroom, her grandmother in the kitchen. Not good. Not completely bad either.
“What are you doing?”
Amber opened her eyes. “I think my mum’s in her bedroom and Grandma is in the kitchen.”
“You can sense that?”
“Maybe. It might be wishful thinking. Well, not the part about Grandma in the kitchen.”
Kade grinned. “Maira’s pulling up out the front. Why don’t we go down and see?”
“You can go out the balcony. I’m not having them check on me in my room all the time. I’ll meet you out the front.” She handed her backpack to him and grabbed her handbag. “Come rescue me if I take too long?”
“Definitely.” He kissed her quickly then strode towards the French doors, disappearing behind the curtains.
Amber checked where her family were. Still in the same places. Maybe. She quietly opened her door and moved silently down the stairs. She wished there was another way out other than through the kitchen. Having both the front and back doors in the lounge room wasn’t the best idea. What if there was ever a fire in there? How were they meant to get out?
“Where do you think you’re going?” Helen demanded when Amber stepped into the kitchen.