by Avril Sabine
“Not exactly. I didn’t know who she was.” He stepped forward, holding out a hand to Amber. “Gary Russ.”
Amber ignored his hand. “I thought you were a doctor.”
“A psychiatrist.”
“There was nothing wrong with my head.” She stared defiantly at him.
“Will someone tell me what’s going on?” Donna demanded.
“You have to study general medicine for six years to become a psychiatrist.”
“How much did he pay you?” Amber demanded, ignoring the argument that started between her mother and grandmother.
“He always pays well for out of hours house calls.”
Amber shook her head. “No. To date my mum.”
“Nothing. I didn’t even know,” Gary protested.
At the same time, Donna abruptly stopped arguing with Helen to turn to Amber. “What are you going on about?”
“Bloody interfering dragons.” Amber pulled her phone from her pocket.
Helen pointed at Gary. “Don’t tell me he’s a dragon too.”
“Mum! Will you please stop. Dragon’s aren’t real.”
Amber dialled Ronan’s number, desperately trying to keep the panther from escaping. She didn’t know what would happen if she let it escape, but she doubted it’d be good with how she currently felt. “Stop interfering in my life and leave my mum out of this.”
“You were the one who asked me to interfere. I’ve already told you we can’t leave valuable hostages with our enemies. Although I have no idea what that has to do with your mother.”
“Gary.”
Ronan chuckled. “I know. It surprised me too. I thought she’d have gone for one of the others.”
“What? You paid a heap of men to date her.”
“Who are you talking to, Amber?” Donna demanded.
“It wasn’t like that,” Gary protested.
Amber turned her back on them, trying to focus on staying human. “Well?”
“I didn’t pay anyone. I organised to meet some of my employees at places I knew your mother would be and then I cancelled on them or told them to entertain themselves because I’d be late. Gary was a long shot.”
“Are you sure?” Amber found it hard to believe he was telling her the truth.
Ronan laughed. “Don’t get me wrong, kitten. It was deliberate, but I never paid any of them or let them in on my plan.”
“What is your plan?”
“Think about it. You have to work this one out for yourself.”
Amber growled when Ronan hung up. The sound was far too much like a panther for her liking. She had to get a grip on her anger. Although how she could do that, she had no idea. She faced the other three occupants in the room who all seemed to be talking at once. Rubbing her temples, she considered leaving them to it. “Shut up!”
Donna rounded on her. “Amber!”
She ignored her mother. “This is madness.”
Gary chuckled. “I’ve always thought so.”
“How did you get mixed up with Ronan?” Amber still couldn’t believe her mother was dating this man. He was nothing like her father.
“I was struggling to put myself through university.”
“Who is Ronan?” Donna asked.
“Probably another dragon,” Helen muttered.
“Mum! Stop it. No more talk about dragons,” Donna said.
Amber took a deep breath, pushing the panther back down. Letting it out might solve some problems, but with the mood she was in, it’d probably cause a lot more than it solved. “Okay, I believe you, Gary. Ronan didn’t pay you to date Mum. He was just deliberately, indirectly, responsible.”
“Amber honey, I think it’s time we left. Grab some things. We’re staying at the motel until I can find somewhere else to stay for the year. I thought about going back to Brisbane, but you’ve already shifted schools enough this year.”
Amber shook her head, her gaze going from Gary to Helen, completely ignoring her mother’s words. “I need names and photos. We’re starting negotiations to get our family back.” As soon as she had that information she was going. Before she lost control. Hopefully.
“What’s the catch?” Helen asked.
Amber was tempted to say there was none, but didn’t think her grandmother would believe her. She was also sick of all the lies and shortly she was about to bring a lot of them to an end. “I can’t afford to have them used against me. As far as I know, there are only three Dragon Mages and everyone wants us to work for them. Although a few would prefer us dead.”
Helen nodded. “Whose side are you on?”
“Mine.”
Helen stared at her for a moment, before she nodded slowly. “Maybe you’re not a complete loss after all. At least you’re not as weak as your mother.”
“Mum!” Donna glared at her mother and Gary put an arm around her shoulders.
“I don’t need your approval. I never have.” Amber raised her chin, refusing to look away from her grandmother’s hard look, barely bitting back the words to defend her mother. She didn’t need to get into another argument.
“That’s good, because you’re not about to get it while you’re associating with dragons.”
“If I hear that word one more time…” Donna let her warning hang in the air.
“Donna,” Gary said hesitantly.
“We’re going,” Donna said firmly. “Get your things, Amber.”
Amber finally turned her attention to her mother. “I’m staying with Kade. He can protect me, you can’t.”
“If there’s something wrong we’ll go to the police. They’ll-”
“No!” Amber, Helen and Gary all spoke at the same time.
Donna looked at each of them. “Will someone please tell me what is going on and don’t any of you dare mention the word dragon again or I will call the police.”
Amber reached out for Kade. “Come and keep them safe. I’m going to become a panther and I’m not sure how well I can control it right now.”
“Are you certain this is what you want?”
“I really don’t think you should be the one turning.”
“That wasn’t what I was thinking. What about the goshawk? It might be safer for them.”
She could sense him coming closer to her. “The panther isn’t going to take a backseat tonight. Not with how pissed off I am.”
“Then maybe you should leave it for tonight.”
“No. Mum’s threatening to call the police.”
Kade stepped into the room, giving a general nod of greeting.
Helen’s eyes narrowed at the sight of him and Gary returned his nod.
Donna pointed at Kade. “Is he the reason you really wanted to see your grandmother today?”
Amber shook her head. “No. I’ll see him all night. I don’t need to sneak him into my room to see him.”
“I’ve had enough. You can make do with what you’ve got on you. We’re going.” Donna reached out, grabbing hold of Amber’s wrist.
She pulled away from her mother, taking several steps back. “Kade won’t let me hurt you. Everything that’s crazy is far too real.” Letting the panther escape, she changed in front of everyone, her anger forcing a roar from her.
Chapter Six
Donna screamed and fainted. Gary caught her and Helen screeched, “I knew it. I knew it. Dragon Mage. Traitor!”
Amber’s muscles bunched and she prepared to spring at Helen.
Kade stepped in front of her. “Amber. You don’t really want to do that. Change back.”
Amber snarled, closing the gap between them.
“Amber.” Kade crouched in front of her, reaching out a hand, stopping centimetres away.
She tried to push the panther back, but anger kept her from changing. Anger and the instinct to attack those who threatened her. Moving slightly, her gaze arrowed in on Helen. A menacing growl emerged from her.
“I thought it was a dream. A nightmare.” Sitting on the floor, Donna leaned against Gary.
Donna struggled to her feet. “We’re going back to the city. Immediately.”
Amber snarled, growling at Kade when he moved between her and her mother. No one was forcing her anywhere.
Helen laughed, a bitter, mocking sound. “Too late for that. Nothing can fix her but death. Unless someone kills her, she’ll well and truly see this century out.”
Amber snarled at Helen. She wasn’t about to let anyone kill her, especially not her own grandmother.
Kade moved again, trying to draw her attention away from Helen. “Amber. Change. Please. I can’t change in front of everyone to stop you attacking them.”
She fought against instinct and with one last snarl, changed back, pushing past Kade to face Helen. “How many dragons have you killed?”
“Two.”
“What did they do that you killed them?”
“We found them.”
“So they did nothing.” Her hands curled into fists and she struggled against becoming a panther again.
“They’re dragons.” Helen sounded like she spoke of a mass murderer.
“Dragons aren’t real.” Donna’s tone was pleading.
Amber continued to stare at Helen. “What about Dragon Mages? Have you killed any of them?”
“There’s always a first time for everything.”
Amber wanted to wipe Helen’s smug expression off her face by telling her that both her grandchildren were Dragon Mages. But it wasn’t her secret to tell. “You’d kill your own flesh and blood even though they’d done nothing to you.” Behind her she heard Gary try and calm her mother.
“I can’t believe they’re making mages again. I would have thought that after the last time they wouldn’t have bothered.”
“Last time?” Amber asked.
At the same time, Kade asked Amber, “What is your grandmother talking about?”
“When the Knights convinced the mages that they didn’t need to be ruled by dragons. The mages took it too far. The Knights had to hunt them down and kill them too.”
“When was this?” Amber demanded.
“The witch hunts of the Middle Ages.”
Amber couldn’t stop looking for some sign that her grandmother didn’t mean everything she’d threatened. The hard look in her eyes and the compressed line of her lips made Amber believe she meant every single word. She guessed it wasn’t only dragons that were bloodthirsty. “The Knights killed humans.” Her words were flat, sounding more like a statement, even though she wanted her grandmother to confirm it.
“You’re not human anymore. You’re a Dragon Mage. You’ll always be a Dragon Mage.”
Amber held back the flow of angry words she wanted to spill. Behind her Gary continued to try and calm Donna. Amber barely stopped herself from telling her Mum to shut up. When Kade placed a hand at the small of her back, she glanced towards him. He smiled slightly before he returned his attention to Helen. Remembering Ronan’s orders, Amber decided she was wasting her time trying to change Helen’s mind. It had been made up long ago. Well before she’d even been born. “I need the photos before I go.”
Helen nodded, striding towards her bedroom.
Amber stared after her, turning to her mother when she spoke her name. “What?”
“How did this happen?”
She didn’t know how to explain. Because her mother had brought her to this town? Because her grandmother didn’t have a dishwasher? Because Kade had been distracted? “Random stuff happens. Wrong place at-” she broke off, changing her mind about the words she wanted to speak. “The right time.” She smiled when Kade’s hand brushed up and down her back several times. Some of her anger faded.
“You can’t stay at his home. Not on your own,” Donna said. “You’re too young to move in with your boyfriend. You’re only seventeen.”
Amber started to argue that she wasn’t too young.
Kade interrupted her, his gaze on Donna. “You’re welcome to stay there too.”
Amber looked up at him. “Are you sure? And Gary too?”
Kade nodded. “It’s probably safest that she isn’t left to wander unprotected while we’re trying to get your family back.”
“I don’t know if I want them back. My grandfather’s a killer. What if he tries to kill you?”
Kade grinned. “I’ll try not to hurt him when I subdue him.”
Amber glared at him. “That’s not funny.”
“What isn’t funny?” Donna looked between each of them.
“Nothing,” Amber muttered, ignoring Kade’s chuckle. “I need to grab some clothes.” She also needed to get the book and return it to her grandmother. When no one argued with her, she hurried from the lounge room, heading for her bedroom.
Staring around her room, she tried to recall the first time she’d seen it. That moment felt like years ago, not months. Her eyes fell on the book, still lying on her bed. Picking it up, she skimmed through some of the crimes, stopping when she reached a dragon that had only one crime listed. ‘Suspected of killing Harriet Selton, 1941.’
Amber shook her head when she turned the pages, finding no more crimes for that dragon. Leaving the book open on her bed, she grabbed some clothes, shoved them in a bag and took it, along with the book, back to the lounge room.
“Here.” Helen stepped forward, holding out two photos. “They stopped sending photos of Roger with his letters about twenty years ago.”
Amber put the photos in her bag. She continued to hold onto the closed book, her finger marking the page. “Is everyone in here to be killed on sight?”
“Yes.”
“Even this one.” Amber held the book out, open to the page of the dragon with only one crime.
“All of them.”
She held Helen’s gaze. It never wavered. “What is his crime?”
Helen turned the page. “Exactly what it says here.”
“Suspected.”
“He’s a dragon. Of course he’s guilty.” Helen’s conviction was clear in the tone of her voice.
Amber slammed the book shut, shoving it at her grandmother. “There’s no difference between Knights and dragons.” Ignoring Helen’s arguments, Amber crossed the room to where her mother stood with Gary’s arm around her shoulders. “I’ll meet you at Kade’s.”
“How will you get there?” Donna asked.
“It’s probably better you don’t know.”
Helen pointed a finger at Kade. “He’s a Gold Dragon. They’ll be there in minutes. Once Charles and Roger are safe, he won’t be.”
Amber was across the room in seconds, her hands curling into fists in an effort not to shake Helen. “You will not harm him. You won’t tell anyone he exists.” Her voice was low and there were only centimetres between them.
“Don’t you dare threaten me.”
“Then don’t threaten Kade. Getting my grandfather and uncle away from their enemies doesn’t mean they’ll get to come home. My allies might think it’s better they keep an eye on them.” And maybe that might be the only way to keep everyone safe.
“Traitor.” Helen spat the word out, her gaze sharp.
Kade stepped up behind Amber, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her away from her grandmother. “Time to go.”
Amber tilted her head so she could meet his eyes. She hesitated, but she’d had enough. “Yes.” She closed her eyes as Kade took her into the Void, opening them when he kissed her. They were at his front door, Brann opening it.
“Prepare Orin and Morgan’s old room for Donna and Gary,” Kade said.
“Who’s Gary?”
“Another one of Ronan’s plans,” Amber muttered.
When Brann continued to look confused, Kade said, “Donna’s lover.”
Amber groaned. “Call him her boyfriend. It sounds better.”
Brann started to leave the lounge room, speaking over his shoulder. “Updates from Maira are on the kitchen table.”
“You go an
d look at them, I need to ring Ronan.”
“Do you want me to stay with you?”
Amber shook her head. “No. I’ll be safe.”
“But will you be okay?”
Having no reassurance, she shrugged, pulling out her phone and dropping her bag on the floor near the front door. She watched as Kade nodded and walked towards the kitchen before she dialled Ronan’s number. “I’ve got the information you want,” she said the moment he answered.
“Good.” He disconnected, appearing several minutes later in front of her.
Amber stepped back. “She told me what happened to the last Dragon Mages.”
When Amber remained quiet, Ronan finally spoke. “Are you planning to share that information with me?”
She nodded, wishing she could find a way to convince Ronan to protect Kade for her even if she died. If only she had something valuable to bargain with. But she had nothing and the information she’d gained wasn’t worth much. It’d be better for her to give it to him. While she took the photos from her bag, Amber told him what she’d learned, finishing with the fact that her mother and Gary were on their way.
“I can’t believe she chose him out of all the ones I sent her way. I hope you’ve got better taste than your mother,” Ronan said.
“He’s not that bad.” Amber felt obligated to defend her mother’s choice.
Ronan took the photos, frowning. “This kid looks familiar.”
“He’s not a kid in that photo. He’s twenty-six.”
“A kid.” Ronan tucked the photos into his vest. “I’ll have copies made and return these to you.”
Yawning, Amber nodded.
“And get some sleep. You’re not still having nightmares are you?”
“No.” Although she wouldn’t be surprise if she had one tonight after the day she’d had. Her grandmother definitely wanted to kill her. She’d always known she was a bitter old woman, but she hadn’t suspected she was a murderer.
“Find other warriors to protect your lands and tell Rian to join you here. At least you let him look after you.”
She shook her head. “I don’t trust anyone else to protect them.”
“About time. I might make a dragon of you yet.” Ronan disappeared into the Void before Amber could argue.