by Avril Sabine
Kade sat beside her. “Things tend to get that way around you.”
“What next?”
“We need to find out if you having your own warrior means you can’t help clean out a wyvern nest with us.”
“Oh, you’d just love that, wouldn’t you?” Amber looked from Rian to Kade. “This wasn’t something you hatched between you, was it?”
“I will contact them and assure them I will only be at your side to protect you due to assassination attempts. I will not interfere in the test in any way,” Rian said. “If helping clean out the wyvern nest is what you wish to do I will do everything possible other than leave you unprotected to ensure you can have your wish.” He turned to Kade. “Will you be able to watch over Amber while I look into the matter?”
Kade nodded and Rian left the room. Amber stared after him frowning. “Why do I feel like I just missed something?”
“You know how you complain about how Maira and Brann have to follow my every wish?” When Amber nodded, Kade grinned. “Well, that’s exactly what you now have with Rian.”
“No.”
Kade’s grin became a laugh.
“Oh shut up. This is terrible. I don’t want that kind of blind obedience.”
“It won’t be completely blind. He just finished telling you the only time he’d ignore your wishes is when they put you at risk.”
Amber shook her head. “I didn’t hear that.”
Before Kade could explain, Crystal burst into her room and threw her arms around her. “Thank god you’re okay. When they brought you in last night covered in blood I nearly had a heart attack. So did your brother.” Crystal pulled back to look Amber over. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re not hurt?”
“It was all Rian’s blood.”
“That’s what they said, but,” Crystal smiled wryly. “You know me. I couldn’t stop thinking of all the most terrible things possible. It was worse than a horror movie.”
“I’m good. The only thing wrong with me is I’m starving.”
“Then let’s get you something to eat.” Crystal dragged Amber off the bed.
Amber looked down at herself with a grimace. “After I’ve had a wash.”
Crystal wrinkled her nose. “That’d probably be best. You’re a mess.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Crystal grinned. “Any time.”
Chapter Six
Amber slid out of the saddle Kade wore. She started to remove it so he could turn back to human form, but Rian beat her to the job. She still felt slightly queasy from slipping through the Void, with the help of some Gold Warriors, to reach the dragon lands so she didn’t argue with him that she could do it. Instead, she turned to stare at the castle that rose above them, set in an impossibly green land. This was a little castle? She couldn’t imagine how much space a big one would take up.
Crystal came to stand beside her, linking her arm through hers. “We’re going to stay there?”
Amber could only nod as she stared in awe at the stone building that towered over them, turrets at each corner.
“This is going to kill me not to be able to brag about it when I go back to school.”
“Hey.” They both turned to face Maira who snapped their twin expressions of disbelief. She grinned. “Brag away. Just tell them it was in Europe.”
“Don’t you dare show anyone that photo. I must look a mess.” Crystal marched over to Maira and tried to take the phone from her.
Rian stopped in front of Amber, her luggage in his hands. “I will put your things in your room if you stay with Kade.”
Amber nodded. She’d felt awkward with Rian since accepting him as her warrior yesterday. It just didn’t feel right. Her eyes sought out Kade and she watched as he strode towards her, a grin on his face.
“What do you think?”
Amber shrugged, trying to look unimpressed. “Who normally lives here?”
Kade slung an arm around her shoulders. “This is where I was raised.”
“Your family live here?”
Kade shook his head. “No. When I was a few years old my parents sent me to live here. They were in the middle of a war and thought it was safer to leave me in a place no one would find me.”
“Who looked after you?”
“The place was full of people. There were plenty to look after me.”
“Didn’t you miss your family?”
“They visited often.” Kade grinned. “Quit frowning. I’m not emotionally scarred from my childhood. I loved living here.”
Maira joined them. “In other words, he had a castle full of servants at his beck and call whose only thought was to cater to his every wish.”
Amber shook her head, still trying to grasp the idea of growing up in a castle. “It’s so big.”
Kade linked his fingers through hers. “Come and I’ll show you around. There are also some people I want you to meet.”
By the time Kade had shown her the main rooms, introduced her to some of the staff who’d been there since he was a toddler and left her in her room, which was next to his, Amber felt lost and confused. Rian stood by the door, guarding her as usual and she guessed that somewhere two Gold Dragons took turns to hide in the Void and watch her every move. She could only think that they must be extremely bored.
Glancing around the bedroom, her eyes were drawn to the four poster bed with dark red velvet drapes. The curtains at the windows matched the bed and the armchairs in one corner of the room were also covered with the same fabric. All the furniture looked antique, with a dark timber duchess, a small table with the group of armchairs and a wardrobe making up the rest of the furniture. As luxurious as it all was, Amber wanted to go home. This place wasn’t her.
Crystal burst into her room. “Isn’t it insane? I swear I’m never leaving this place. I feel like a princess.”
Amber tried to return Crystal’s smile.
“Uh oh.” Crystal grinned even more. “Too many changes, huh?”
Amber laughed. Crystal knew her too well.
“Well, I love it here. And I want one.”
“You and every Gold Dragon,” Rian said.
Crystal frowned. “But I thought it was land they wanted.”
“And to protect your lands you need some kind of fortification on it.”
Crystal stared at Rian. “You mean that when we talk about getting Ronan’s lands back for him we’re actually talking about getting him a castle?”
Rian nodded.
“Ohh! How unfair. I want my own castle too.”
“That is one of the tests for Gold Dragons.”
Crystal grinned at Rian’s words. “I’ve got to find Flinn. I want to know how long before we get our castle.”
Amber laughed as Crystal rushed out of the room. She felt a little better, but not much.
“Do you want your own castle too?”
She turned towards Rian, thinking about his question. She eventually shook her head. “I just want to be left in peace. I think a castle would have even more people after us.”
“There is no peace in our lands. We are perpetually at war with each other. Allies one day, could be enemies who stab you in the back the next day.”
“Do you say that because you’ve been raised by Ronan?”
Rian shook his head. “We are all like that. Ronan is fairly typical of our people. A little more harsh than some.”
“And you?”
“I was raised on war.” He paused. “War, deceit and loyalty to only one man. But eventually, like his other sons, I have learned the only loyalty Ronan has is to himself.”
“I’m sorry.”
Rian shrugged. “Our world is different. And Ronan came from an even harsher time in our history. We learn to adapt and most of us thrive on the way things are.”
“You don’t?”
“Peace is a dream for dragons who have long gone grey and are nearing the end. Death is the only true peace to be found in our lands.”
Amber shivered at his word
s. She wanted to go home more than ever. But where was home? Her grandmother’s place? The house she was raised in? She was starting to think she didn’t fit in either of those places. She spun as the door opened again and her racing heart slowed when she saw it was Kade.
“You’re safe here.” Kade reached out and took her hand.
“Am I? What about the one passing information?”
“He’s being watched and we’ll track him back to those he’s dealing with.”
Amber pulled away from Kade, wandering across the room to look out the narrow window. The land looked beautiful, but she wondered how much blood had been spilled so Kade’s family could own it. After witnessing the fight two nights ago, it had become clear to her exactly what taking Ronan’s lands back would involve. She felt Kade behind her.
“What’s bothering you, Amber?”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Do you expect me to kill when we help Ronan get his lands back?”
Kade wrapped his arms around her. “I expect only what you’re capable of. But remember, you are part of the agreement. If you refuse to help him get his lands, things will be back to the way they started.”
“Ronan would be worse than an assassin after you,” Rian said softly.
Amber guessed he’d know since he’d been raised by the man. She turned in Kade’s arms. “What should I do?”
“Let’s figure out who’s trying to kill you and deal with the wyvern nest. We can worry about Ronan later.”
“Ronan often says, keep your friends close and your enemies even closer,” Rian said to Amber alone.
“Is he my enemy?” She turned so she could see Rian’s face. As usual it was expressionless.
“He has no friends.”
Amber felt a sense of dread at Rian’s words. She couldn’t afford more enemies. She had to do something. And offending him yesterday probably hadn’t been a good idea. Nor throwing a fireball at him the day before. Amber sighed. What could she do? How was she going to deal with this world of war and deceit when she only wanted peace? Well, she didn’t expect total peace, but she certainly didn’t want an assassin hiding behind every bush. There had to be a way to get what she wanted. She couldn’t live the rest of her life hunted.
“How about lunch? Forget everything for now and come and eat. My people have prepared a feast.”
Amber nodded. Although she did wonder how it would be possible to eat with all the knots in her stomach.
* * *
Amber paced back and forth in her room. She stopped and stared at her phone, for probably the hundredth time. After a glance at Rian in the corner, she began to pace again. This was getting her nowhere. She had to make up her mind. And fast. Too long and it’d look like she was running scared. She might be, but she didn’t want anyone else to know. A decision had to be made and from all she’d learned during lunch, it was just like in her own world. The clan with the most power and biggest army was left alone by those weaker. The aim was to be at the top of the ladder.
There was one thing she could be certain of. Ronan kept his word. If she kept hers, then he’d be the one ally she could be certain of. Which was a rare thing amongst dragons. Dropping onto her bed, she dialled Ronan’s number before she could talk herself out of ringing.
“What do you want?”
His tone didn’t promise a pleasant conversation. She needed to find a way to change that. “Why good evening, Ronan. Yes, it is lovely weather we’re having.”
“Oh, so we’re using manners tonight are we?”
Amber smiled, knowing he’d hear it in her voice. That hadn’t worked as well as she’d hoped. “Well, it’s so lovely here I just can’t help but be in a good mood.”
“Was there a reason for your call?”
“Of course there was. All the drama while I was visiting you completely made me forget. I turn seventeen in ten days.” She tried not to think about what had happened during her visit, but the sight of a dagger stuck in Rian was still clear in her mind.
“Good for you. Ring me then and I’ll try and remember to wish you a happy birthday.”
Amber laughed, trying to keep her worries from colouring the tone of her voice. “I was actually hoping you’d come to my party.” Her smile grew wider when there was silence on the other end of the phone. Maybe he was thinking about it.
“Why?”
Her heart plummeted. Obviously he wasn’t. “What do you mean why?” She struggled to think of a logical reason other than she was terrified that she’d turned him into an enemy. None came to mind.
“Why would you invite me to your party?”
“I’ve invited all my friends. Well, the non-human ones anyway.”
“Try again, Amber. Why are you inviting me to your party?”
Still no answer came to mind. “Because you’re actually kind of likeable when you’re not being a bastard.”
“I thought I was one all the time.”
“Oh, you have your fleeting moments where you either forget or you actually let your nice side out to play.”
Ronan snorted in disbelief. “I don’t have a nice side. Why don’t you ask Rian?”
“I’ve already talked to Rian about you.” Maybe sidetracking him would make him forget he wanted to know why she’d invited him. Or at least give her time to come up with a reason. She hadn’t expected him to demand why.
“And what did he have to say?”
“That you’re extremely loyal.”
“Try again. I’m not buying that one either.”
Amber laughed, still playing for time. “To yourself.”
“Much better.”
“So, are you going to come to my party?”
“What are you planning?”
“Food, music, dancing.”
“And what else?”
“Ronan, I’m not planning anything to harm you. Why would I?”
“But you are after something. Don’t tell me you’re hoping to be friends.” The last word was said like it was poison. “Not after you stole my son.”
“Of course not. I was told you don’t have friends. So maybe we can just be sociable enemies.”
“I will get to the bottom of this. I’ll ring you back shortly.”
Amber stared at the phone in her hand and wondered what he planned to do. She looked over to Rian.
“He is going to ring his Gold Dragons to see what they have to say.”
Amber nodded. She guessed they’d report everything to Ronan. Her phone rang and she nearly dropped it. She took a deep breath when she saw Ronan’s name on the display.
“That was quick. Did they have anything interesting to tell you?” There was no way she was going to let him know how worried she was.
“I won’t let you out of the deal. You will help me get my lands back or you and yours will die.”
It took all her willpower to keep her tone even and not beg him to leave her friends and family alone. “That part isn’t the problem. It just hit me earlier that I wouldn’t be able to kill anyone so I wondered how much use I’d be.”
“What’s your game?”
“Honestly?”
“That would be a change.”
It was probably too soon to tell him that he was the only ally she was certain of. A pity she’d failed at coming up with a valid reason. “I have no idea. But it didn’t seem right you were the only one who hadn’t been invited.” When the silence stretched out, Amber asked, “Are you still there?”
“Unity. You’re right. I do need to be there. People need to see me linked with you. There might be hope for you after all.”
“God forbid.” Amber smiled as she said the words, relieved he’d created a plausible reason for her.
“Give it a century and you might even be able to compete with me, but I doubt it.”
She shuddered at the thought of living that long and quickly put it from her mind. It was too much to cope with. “I’ll see you at my party.” She looked up as Kade entered the room.
&nbs
p; “Send me an invite.” Ronan disconnected.
“What have you done now, Amber?”
She smiled at Kade as she rose to her feet. She was actually feeling a little more in control of her life after that call. “Send Ronan an invite.”
Kade stared at her. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
She held her smile in place, refusing to answer since she didn’t know how many listened in. She wondered what Rian told Kade when he glanced in that direction and nodded. What did it matter? She could find out later. Right now she had other matters to deal with. Her smile disappeared. “What’s with the separate rooms?”
“What?”
“Why did you put me in a room next to yours?”
Kade looked confused. “You want to share my room? Don’t you always complain that you never have enough space?”
Amber shrugged. “I’ve kind of gotten used to you there each night.” When Kade smiled, Amber jabbed a finger at his chest. “But don’t go getting any ideas.”
Kade laughed. “Too late. I’ve been having ideas for months.”
Amber bit back a smile as she pushed past him. “Then make sure you continue to keep them to yourself.” She strode to Kade’s room and flung open the door. It was very similar to the room she’d been given except it was done in navy velvet. It wasn’t home, but it would do. For now.
Chapter Seven
Amber was woken by whispering at the door. She stretched and realised the bed was empty. Well, other than her of course. Leaning up on an elbow, she tried to look past Rian to see who was at the door. When that failed, she strained to hear. “Let her in,” she mumbled and then drew a pillow over her face. It had taken her ages to fall asleep last night. Too many worries and a completely different environment. She held on tight to her pillow as someone tried to pull it away from her.
“Come on, Amber. I’m starving. Let’s go have breakfast,” Crystal pleaded.
“Sleeping.”
“Then why did you let me into your room?”
“To tell you to go away.” She rolled over onto her stomach when Crystal succeeded in taking the pillow from her.