by Sophie Stern
“I talked to Lee,” I tell her. There’s no point in beating around the bush. Peggy instantly starts wringing her hands.
“What did he say? Is it going to help?”
“We don’t know anything yet, and we won’t for awhile. Peggy, you didn’t do anything wrong. You did the right thing, in fact. As soon as you realized you had the number, you turned it in to me. You could have tossed it and pretended you didn’t have it. You could have hidden it or called it or done any number of things, but you didn’t. You trusted me, and now I’m trusting Lee to do the right thing.”
“I just…I can’t stop thinking, Cameron. What if I had told you that first day? At the stone tower? What if we’d called it and we’d gotten information and we’d somehow been able to get David out of there safely?”
“They didn’t kill David because we rescued him, love. They killed him because he jumped in front of me when they tried to kill me. Knowing what’s at the end of this phone number might help, but it won’t bring him back, and it wouldn’t have saved him. I need you to forgive yourself, baby.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking me,” she whispers.
“I do know. I know because every day I live with guilt, too, princess. I live with the knowledge that my brother-in-law is dead and that’s why I’m alive. I live with the knowledge that my sister is without a mate and that my niece is growing up without a father.”
“I’m sorry,” she shakes her head. “I know. It must be so hard for you, and I didn’t even ask you if you’ve been doing okay.”
“We’re new mates, Peggy. Our relationship doesn’t have to be perfect, and it won’t be. It’s normal for us to struggle and misunderstand each other and mis-communicate.”
She wraps her arms around me and leans her head against my chest. For awhile, I just hold her, wishing I could take away her pain, wishing I could make everything right. For awhile, I wish that the clan was whole again. I wish for David. I wish for Trey. I wish for things to be the way they used to be: simple.
“I have to go,” I tell her. “I have to go get Natalie.”
She looks up at me. “Do you think she found him? The man she’s looking for, I mean. Do you think she was able to locate him?”
I should lie and say yes.
I should say Natalie definitely found him, convinced him to come back, and that everything is going to be okay.
I should tell her that everything’s going to be just fine and that she doesn’t need to worry.
I look into my mate’s eyes, though, and I realize that I can’t. I can’t lie to her. I can’t trick her. I can’t promise her that things are going to be fine when I don’t know if they are.
“Peggy,” I start, and she reaches for my face and kisses me before I can finish.
“Don’t answer me,” she says. “Just let me come with you.”
“You want to come along?”
“Let me come with you,” she says. “I know we can’t talk when you’re in your dragon form, but let me ride you. At least this way, you won’t have to be alone for a little while.”
Despite knowing it’s probably not the best idea, I find myself nodding slowly, agreeing to let her come with me. Together, we head outside and I wordlessly strip out of my clothes. I move to the center of the yard and close my eyes, shifting into my true form. I’m comfortable as a human, but when I’m a dragon, I feel free. It’s in this form that I’m strong and brave and whole, and nothing can take that away from me.
Peggy climbs onto my back and holds tightly. Once I’m certain she’s in a good position and that she isn’t going to fall, I begin to fly. I notice that as I fly, she hums quietly and rubs my scales. It’s a nice feeling. I’ve had girls ride on me before, but it’s never been quite like this before. Even the times Peggy has ridden on me in my dragon form, she hasn’t touched me so gently, and I like it.
It’s a long flight, but I find myself growing calmer as we near the pick-up point instead of more tense. Eventually, we reach the place where I left Natalie and where she’ll be waiting for us. She didn’t come home last night with Donald, so I’m guessing she didn’t find him.
A fresh blanket of snow covers the mountain pass, and I wonder if Natalie got caught in the storm. I take a deep breath before I can freak out, though. She might be human, but she’s basically a dragon in every way that matters. She was raised in the clan and she knows how to take care of herself. She knows how to be strong. She knows how to be brave and she knows how to find shelter when there’s a storm.
Storm Dawn isn’t too far, anyway, so she may have simply sought shelter there.
I don’t see Natalie right away, but I land just the same. Peggy slips off me and rubs her shoulders.
“It’s cold,” she says. “Are you okay?” She motions to my bare feet in the snow.
“Not really,” I tell her honestly. “But it’s just for a minute. She should be here. Natalie?”
“Natalie!” Peggy calls out. “Are you here?”
“Natalie isn’t here,” a voice says. We turn in unison to see a tall, gangly-looking teenager step out from behind some trees. He’s obviously human. He’s got long, shaggy brown hair and he’s wearing a coat that’s much too big for him. I’m not sure if he’s wearing it to make himself look bigger and scarier than he is.
“Oh?” I raise an eyebrow. Peggy tenses, but I reach for her hand and give it a squeeze. This kid isn’t a threat. I’m not sure who he is or why he’s here, but he doesn’t exactly have “I’m an evil murderer” scratched on his forehead. Besides, Natalie can hold her own. Yes, even against someone like this. “Where is she?”
“Not here,” he shrugs. “But she and that guy gave me a message to give you.”
“What guy?” Peggy asks, and she can’t hide the hopefulness in her voice. I swallow hard because I, too, suddenly feel something churning in my heart: the stirrings of something strong, something that makes me wonder if maybe, just maybe, Natalie pulled through.
Maybe coming here wasn’t a terrible idea.
Maybe she was really onto something.
“His name is Donald,” the boy says. “They told me you’d know what that meant.”
“She found him,” Peggy whispers.
“She fucking did it,” I agree.
“Yeah, so…the thing is, they had to go somewhere,” the boy says.
“What? Where?”
“An island?”
“Which island?” I ask, trying to get more information, but the boy shrugs.
“They didn’t tell me that. They just wanted you to know that they’re going to an island to get something they need, and then they’ll be home.”
“Did they say when?”
“Nope,” the boy shakes his head. “Just as soon as possible.”
“Thank you for the message,” Peggy says. “You were waiting out here all alone in the cold? I don’t know how we can repay you.”
“Don’t worry about it,” the boy says. “Donald made it worth my while,” he chuckles. Then he looks at me, nodding toward my feet. “You should probably get going, though. Dragons can still get frostbite, you know.”
With that, the boy turns and leaves, heading up the path. Peggy looks at me.
“What did he mean when he said Donald made it worth his while?”
I chuckle. “Donald likes treasure,” I tell her.
“Isn’t that kind of a stereotype? That dragons love treasure?”
“Not with Donald. He’s a hoarder, love, and he hoards gold.”
“You think he gave him gold to wait for us?”
“I think he made sure we got the message. All right, love. Fablestone awaits. Are you ready?”
Peggy offers me a kiss and then smiles up at me, again filling my heart with contentment.
“Ready,” she says.
Then we’re off.
Chapter Thirteen
Natalie
“What the hell is this?” The man says, storming into the office. Donald and I arrived aroun
d eight in the morning and spoke with a kind receptionist who assured us that we could wait in the clan leader’s office. I know without a doubt that the man yelling right now is the leader himself.
It might just be me, but he seems like kind of a dick.
“Good morning, Emerson,” Donald stands and holds his hand out.
Emerson looks at it for a second, and then back at Donald.
“Don’t be stupid,” he says, but just as Donald lowers his hand, Emerson grabs him and pulls him in for a hug. “It’s been a long time, buddy.”
“Too long,” Donald agrees hugging him.
“And who is this beauty?” Emerson asks, turning to me. I blush at the compliment. “Are you mates?”
“No,” I say at the same time Donald says, “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” I squeak out, looking at him.
Now Donald blushes.
Emerson just chuckles.
“I’ll let you kids work that one out later,” he says. He holds his hand out to me. “Emerson,” he says. “And you are?”
“Natalie,” I tell him. “From the Fablestone Clan.”
He cocks his head. “But you’re human.”
“I was raised by dragons, sir.”
“We have a couple of humans here, as well,” Emerson says. “Happy to have you.” He moves confidently in the small office and props himself against the side of the desk. I’m not sure how he does that without the entire desk breaking, to be honest. He’s a big man: one of the biggest I’ve ever seen, and that desk is quite small in comparison to his body.
Emerson looks at both of us in turn, and then he speaks again.
“I think it’s fairly obvious this isn’t a social call, Donald. What can I do for you? My security team tells me you skipped boating in from Nellenston Harbor and instead flew directly over the waters to the island. That was a bold move on your part. You know there are poachers around here from time to time.”
Emerson seems concerned.
“I know, but we didn’t have time to explain anything at the docks.” Apparently, when people visit Dragon Isle, they’re supposed to check in at the Nellenston Harbor and then charter a boat over. This prevents shifters from just flying directly to the island. It enables there to be a sort of screening process that protects the dragons who live on the island. It also protects shifters from being shot at over the waters, which has happened before, apparently.
Living in the middle of a forest clan, we haven’t dealt with random poaching. Our clan is fairly well protected and hidden away. Unless you know what you’re looking for, you aren’t going to find Fablestone on a whim. That’s one of the most wonderful things about our secret home. It’s private. Isolated. Ours.
Emerson’s eyes soften. “What is it you need, brother?
“This,” Donald reaches into the bag he’s carrying. During the flight, I wore my own backpack, along with the shoulder bag that has all of our supplies. Once we arrived, he offered to carry all of the bags, but I insisted on keeping my backpack. I’m not really sure why except that it’s the last thing I have that’s “mine.” I’m wearing borrowed clothing he rustled up for me and everything kind of feels like a whirlwind right now. Nothing feels normal. Everything feels fast and important.
In addition to the herbs and mixtures he needs for the cure for the illness at Fablestone, Donald also brought a set of clothing, which he’s now wearing, and a book. That’s what he reaches for first in the bag: the book. It’s heavy and has this thick, decorated cover. It looks very, very old, and to be honest, I’m a little scared to touch it. The pages look weathered, like they could fall apart at any moment. Donald picks it up easily and flips to a page with a plant. The name of said plant is ridiculously long.
“What is it?” Emerson asks, scrunching up his nose in confusion.
“Our clan is in trouble,” he says. “We’ve encountered a sickness and we need this plant to create a cure.”
“How can I help you find it?” Emerson asks, instantly at alert, and I realize this is one of my favorite things about shifters. There are no questions asked right now. There’s nothing except compassion and acceptance and a willingness to help.
“It’s in the center of the island,” Donald explains. “It’s native to Dragon Isle.”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“It’s quite rare and unless you’re making this particular potion, it’s a useless plant.”
“You can help yourself to as much as you need,” Emerson tells him.
“Thank you,” Donald says. “We can find it on our own. We don’t need any assistance.”
“You shouldn’t encounter any trouble,” Emerson says carefully. “But I’m going to send Anthony with you as a precaution.”
“Anthony?”
“He’s one of my best,” Emerson explains. “He’ll help you with anything you need, and he’s very familiar with the center part of the island. He’s got a place out there, so he may be able to locate this plan faster than if you go on your own.”
“Thank you,” I tell Emerson.
“Anything for a fellow clan,” he says.
“For your trouble,” Donald pulls out the vase and hands it to Emerson. The dragon’s eyes light up. For a brief second, I think he’s going to say it’s too much, that he can’t accept the gift, but he does no such thing. Instead, Emerson simply nods and smiles.
“Thank you, my friend.”
We all hug once more and then Emerson calls Anthony, who agrees to meet us outside the office in five minutes. We wait in silence, choosing to be quiet for a few minutes. It’s now that I finally allow my mind to wander. I’ve been so focused on completing each task put ahead of me that I haven’t had time to worry about my dad or my mom or my life in general.
I haven’t had time to worry about Donald or that kiss we shared.
I’ve been too busy trying to hang onto our belongings, too busy trying to make sure we find the island.
Now, though, all I have is time, and as I sneak a quick glance at Donald, I wonder what’s going through that brain of his.
Chapter Fourteen
Donald
Anthony arrives and after brief introductions, we’re off. He doesn’t recognize the plant, but he seems to know the way to the center of the isle, so I follow him with Natalie planted firmly on my back. It takes about twenty minutes. We pass mountains and trees and creeks and lakes on the way. Finally, we land in a clearing and after shifting, we look around for a moment.
“Have you ever used this plant before?” He asks.
“Once,” I tell him. “Long ago. I wasn’t the one who acquired it from the island. If I had, I’d be able to give us a better idea of where to look.”
One of the physicians who taught me how to use everything around me used to carry it. He’d grown up on Dragon Isle and had discovered the book I’m now carrying with me. He’d found it in the basement of some dusty mansion and had read it cover-to-cover. When he realized there was a plant that could help with extreme viral illnesses, he immediately started carrying it with him.
“What’s the book say?” Natalie asks, nodding toward the volume. “Does it say if it grows like, near the water? At the base of trees?”
“It’s got dark blue leaves,” I tell her. “And a bright pink flower at the center. The leaves are what we want.”
“Blue leaves?” She raises an eyebrow. “That shouldn’t be too hard to spot.”
“You might be surprised, little human,” Anthony chuckles. “There are many colorful plants in this part of the jungle. Identify blue leaves when they’re next to blue flowers or dark green leaves can be tricky. We shouldn’t waste time talking about it, though,” he says. Let’s go.
So we go.
*
We walk for hours in the heat of the jungle. Dragon Isle is known for its beautiful plants, luscious beaches, and extreme privacy. It’s also hot as fuck, and I’m more than pleased when Anthony suggests we stop for a break. We didn’t pack a lot of food with us, but
we each have a couple of pieces of fruit to munch on. The three of us find a spot beside the creek, take off our shoes, and dip our feet in the water.
“So how long have you been on Dragon Isle?” Natalie asks Anthony.
“Forever, it seems like.” He smiles at her. He’s still naked after his shift, save for the boots he brought with him. It should be silly, but somehow, it just seems like a normal part of shifter life. Personally, I brought along my clothes because I’m not really in the mood to wander naked through the jungle. You never know what kind of bugs or creatures there are crawling around, and I don’t feel like getting bitten. Not right not.
Somehow, our clothing or lack thereof doesn’t bother anyone, and I realize that I like this about Natalie. Many human women would be uncomfortable with the nudity that often comes in shifter communities, but she just takes it at face value. Some people wear clothes and some don’t. It doesn’t bother her either way, and that makes me feel more comfortable.
As a physician, I’m used to seeing people naked at all stages of life. While I haven’t thought much about finding a mate, I know I’ll need someone who doesn’t get easily jealous or upset about this. I’ve met doctors across the globe who have struggles in their marriages and relationships because one person has jealous tendencies and the other isn’t sure how to be supportive and reassuring.
“What do you do on the island?” Natalie asks. “I mean, what’s your job?”
“I run a dungeon.”
I turn to the dragon. He’s watching Natalie carefully and his eyes are twinkling. Ah, yes. He’s a troublemaker. Typical fucking dragon. He likes to tease and play, just like the rest of us, but I’m too curious about Natalie’s reaction to say anything at all.
To my surprise, she doesn’t seem shocked or appalled. She just smiles.
“Like a sex dungeon?”
“Like a sex dungeon.”
“That sounds like a very interesting job, Anthony. Or,” she wiggles her eyebrows. “Should I call you ‘Master Anthony’?”