by Tully Belle
“Check his breathing,” said Mac. His voice was edged with concern and worry.
Someone put something cold against his chest. He wanted to move to see what they were doing, but he couldn't risk his head searing in pain again. The cold moved over his skin and he realized it was metal, something round and small. He whimpered, the cold penetrating his body and chilling his bones. Yet his head was hot, burning up.
There were more voices but he couldn’t make out who was saying what now. They said something about time.
He didn’t have time. He had to get to . . . somewhere . . . Because of . . . something. What did he have to do again? It hurt to think. It hurt to breath. If he could just stop breathing for a second, then his brain would work again. He held his breath, but it didn’t work. If anything it made it worse.
A low loud bellowing startled him, and he realized it was coming from his mouth. He must be sick. The thing he drank, what was it? Was it medicine? Then he needed more.
More voices around him.
Elle. He heard her name and lifted his head to see where she was. She must be here. She would look after him. She would make him feel better.
The searing pain again. It was no use, he had to stay still and wait for her to find him. She would find him. She knew where he was, and she would come and find him and they could escape and be together.
A light was shining in one eye. Bright and he tried to move his head away, but he had no energy left. He let the person, whoever it was, hold open his eyelid, then the other one.
So tired. He could sleep it off. He’d feel better after he’d had a rest. Yes, that sounded like a brilliant idea. Then he’d have his strength back and he could . . . something.
37
The convoy of dark sedans crept their way through the roads and highways. It would still be another hour before they reached Greenslopes County and then longer still to find the right mountain. Elle was sure she knew the way, she’d studied every tree, every building. But now that she was here, nothing looked familiar by night.
She stayed in the backseat of the front sedan, navigating to the driver as best she could. The road signs indicated the way though, which meant she didn't need to rely on her memory so much.
“You’re doing the right thing.” Tessa sat in the passenger seat next to the driver. She threw a triumphant grin over her shoulder before returning her attention to the road in front of them, pointing ahead so the driver wouldn’t miss the next sign.
Elle had only talked to the driver a few times at Princess. She didn't care about her name. Didn't care about anyone anymore. People sucked. Every last one of them. She was the only one that mattered.
Lyson hadn't left her thoughts though and it was driving her insane. The closer they got to where he was, the more the last few days with him played over and over in her head. Every word that he’d said to her, every touch, every smile. She hated that a small part of her still clung to the hope that he meant what he'd said and this was all a big mistake. She knew it couldn’t be though, everything pointed to him betraying her.
Yet . . .
She looked out of the window, the hilt of the dagger in her hand. He'd had every chance to attack her. Every chance to go through with his plans, yet the surveillance equipment remained in her pack. He had so many chances to install it, so why didn’t he? It wasn't as if she would have been able to stop him.
Her bottom lip quivered and she bit down on it, chiding herself for scrambling to understand what his motives where. Nothing made sense anymore. He’d fled, yes, but he was being chased, Princess were after him. But the note he'd left was still so cruel and mocking. No, he had played her. Hadn't he?
“When we get to that god forsaken town, we need to regroup,” said Tessa. “We’ll stop somewhere out of town and make a plan from there. I don’t want us going up there together, we’ll keep some behind as backup. Elle? Are you listening?”
“Yes. Regroup. Good.” It wouldn’t matter. They had enough poison to take out a thousand dragons. “They’ll be expecting us.”
“I’m counting on it,” said Tessa, rubbing her hands. “I want all the brothers as dragons. It won’t work as well if they're human.”
“What if they haven't changed?” asked Elle.
“Well, Lyson will still be a dragon, we know that. And if they’re expecting a fight, then they’ll change. Trust me, I know they will.”
“So, we're still going to attack them even if they’re not dragons?”
Tessa turned. “Of course, why wouldn’t we?”
“Because they’re people.” She couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth. As much as she hated him, she didn't want him dead.
Tessa scoffed. “They aren’t people, not like you and me. They’re dangerous.”
“Did you mean to shoot Ash?”
“What? What are you talking about? Of course I meant to shoot him. I want them gone.”
Elle played with the tip of the knife, testing its sharpness. A small tinge of blood pooled where it cut. “That isn’t what Princess is about. We save people, we kill dragons.”
“Are you crazy? Those men are not people.”
But they were people. At least most of the time. Just because they could shift, didn’t that make killing them murder?
“Elle.” Tessa’s voice was clipped with a tinge of anger. “If you are not with me, you don’t belong here. I’m tired of this. I’ve been patient, now make a decision. Are you a true Princess member? Do your loyalties lie with me?”
She wasn’t about to tell Tessa that they didn’t, that they never did, not one hundred percent anyway. Elle Wilde wasn’t loyal to anyone except herself. She couldn’t trust anyone. Not Tessa, not Lyson, not her mother.
“Answer me,” demanded Tessa. “Are you loyal?”
How could she answer that?
“Stop the car.” The driver screeched the brakes and the car slid to the grassed curb before stopping. “Get out.”
Elle looked out the window. They were still miles from town in the middle of nowhere. “Sure, I’m loyal,” she said dully. But not to you, she neglected to add.
“Get. Out.” Venom dripped from Tessa's tongue as she spat the words at her. Elle had never seen Tessa look at her this way. With true hatred in her eyes.
Elle glared at her as she opened the door, keeping the knife at her side. She took a few steps away from the car. There was an empty field to her left. It was dark and she couldn’t see where she stepped.
Tessa got out and advanced. She grabbed Elle around the throat, squeezing her fingers tighter and tighter. “I should have known you’d be weak. Just like Caran. One look from a good looking man and you’ve forgotten everything you ever believed in. I took you in when you had nothing. You were nothing, and I made you into something. You're a killer, Elle. That's all you'll ever be. Get used to being alone, because you'll be alone for the rest of your life.”
Elle bought the knife up to Tessa’s cheek. “I suggest you take your hand from my throat,” she hissed.
Tessa dropped her. Elle faltered backwards, the knife still held up and pointed at Tessa. “You’re pathetic. You aren’t Princess and you never were. You’re nothing, Elle. Your mother discarded you because you’re nothing. Just like Lyson, and now me.”
Tessa was wrong. Elle was someone. She stood up, dusting the dirt away from her clothes. “You won’t find them without me. I haven’t told you where they’re located.”
Tessa laughed. “I don’t need to know where they are. I just need them to find me. And if that idiot, Lyson, thinks you’re with me, then he’ll come running. We’ll be ready, Elle. They’ll all die. Mac, Ash, and yes, Lyson.” Tessa got back into the car. "Love makes you weak." She slammed the door and the car screeched off.
Love? There was no love. She didn’t love Lyson and he didn’t love her. But the way Tessa had spoken about him, about how Lyson would come looking for her. Why would he do that? He fled and left her alone.
The car drove off,
leaving Elle alone. Why did Tessa think that Lyson cared for her enough that he would come find her? He'd got what he wanted.
It didn’t make sense.
Yet, if she got this wrong, she knew one thing. Tessa was right and she would be alone forever. And how was that working for her?
If she gave up now, without out finding out the truth, then she was doomed to never find love or trust another person. Tessa had lied to her, that much was clear now, but what about Lyson?
She needed to hear it from his own lips. She had to know the truth about how he felt about her and whether this was a betrayal or a misunderstanding.
Elle threw back her shoulders. It would be a long walk into town, but she knew the way. She also knew where the Dragonspark facility was, and Tessa didn’t. That would buy her time. Because that’s the only thing she did have now.
Time and a small inking of hope that perhaps Lyson did care for her. Because despite trying to hate him she knew that she couldn't. And she knew that if she didn’t at least tell him that, then she was an even bigger fool and deserved to be alone.
38
A cool compress pressed against his forehead. Lyson opened his eyes and turned his head. He was in his bed and Caran was sitting next to him on a chair. He jolted upright, looking at his hands. Human hands. He touched his face, his hair. Yep, he was back.
“How long have I been out?” he asked.
Caran smiled and looked across at her phone. “I’d say a good ten hours.”
“Ten hours?” Shit. He moved to get out of the bed.
“Hold on, we still don’t know the full effects of the serum. It worked to bring you back, but it has side effects that I need to work on.”
“No shit.” He pushed the sheets away and jumped out of bed. There was no drowsiness or residual headache. Even though he thought he was dying, now he felt fine. He looked down to see he was naked. He quickly covered his genitals. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she shrugged. “Doctor. Seen it before.” She gave an embarrassed smile that said that even though she might have seen penises professionally, seeing her boyfriend’s brother’s dick wasn’t quite the same thing.
“Where’s Mac? Ash?”
“They’re resting. We didn’t know how long you’d be out so we are taking turns watching you.”
“Get them.” He hurried to his closet and threw on a tee and track pants.
Caran hurried out. Lyson went straight to his computer, searching to see if there was any sign of Tessa or the other Princess members but so far everything looked normal. It didn’t mean it was though. If he’d been out for ten hours, plus the extra time it took to fly here, it could mean that they were close by. They’d have to be careful.
“I’m not paranoid,” said Lyson.
Ash’s arms folded across his chest. “It’ll be daylight soon, nothing’s happened, no-one’s here.”
“Elle knows where we are,” he said. “Tessa could have forced it out of her and she could be hurt.”
Mac glanced across at Ash. “Or, she didn’t tell them. Perhaps you’re right and she’ll keep our secret. You said that you and her had something. Are you saying that she’ll give you up so easily?”
“Not willingly, but she might have no choice.”
Mac sighed. “What is it with us and falling for damn Princess women.” He looked across to Caran. “No offence.”
“None taken,” she said. “But Lyson is right, I know Tessa. If she feels she’s close, she’s going to come here. Since you know where Princess is located now, she’ll want to strike first.”
“We only strike if Elle is safe,” said Lyson. “Not before.”
“And how will we know that?”
“I don’t know,” said Lyson, “But I’m not risking her life.”
“But you’d risk ours?” Mac sneered. “You’ve known her five minutes. You don’t know anything about her. What if she’s played you? What if this big sob story is an act designed to get you to like her so she can strike you down when you’re most vulnerable.” Mac stalked over to Lyson and pointed his finger into his chest. “She had a goddamn knife at your throat.”
“I’m still here, aren’t I? She could have used it. If she was so hell bent on taking us down she could have done it a hundred times since she escaped. There were opportunities and she didn’t take them. She’s not who you think she is.”
“And you’re so sure she’s who you think she is.”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Lyson. “It’s not about who I think she is, it’s how I feel about her.” He pushed back against Mac. “I will not have her hurt. Not for Tessa, and certainly not for you.”
Mac’s face reddened, his hands clenched into fists. If it wasn’t for Ash stepping between them, Lyson was sure he would have hit him. He sneered and turned his back. “Fine. She doesn’t get hurt, but I do not trust her. I doubt she'll prove that she can ever be trusted.”
“You didn’t trust me either,” said Caran. “Not at first.”
Ash moved to stand next to Caran, his hand linking with hers for support.
Mac grunted. “Okay. Full defense then. The only way in is through the front entrance. No one is getting through. Alert everyone.”
39
Light peeked over the top of the mountain tips, hazing the early morning in softness. Elle could see the town now. Her legs hurt, her back hurt. She’d ran for some of it, walked for the rest. There had been no sign of Tessa or the other Princess crew.
There were also no signs that a fight had or was about to break out. That meant she hadn’t missed anything. She hurried then, hope spurring her forward to reach a phone, someone, something that she could use to get help.
Where was Tessa? If she found Tessa then she could see what kind of attack they had planned and warn Lyson and his brothers. It seemed impossible not knowing what was going on.
She puffed as she pulled into a slow jog. She would rest later, now though, she had more important things to do. If she could only get a break.
Elle reached the main road and took a moment to catch her breath. She leaned forward, holding onto her waist as she gulped in large mouthfuls of oxygen. The storefronts were closed, as she knew they would be. Only a little bit farther to go.
Elle rounded the corner ignoring the blisters on her feet that stung and pinched with every step. The hospital was at the far end. As she headed in that direction, her thoughts returned to Mrs. Crochett, the patient in the room she'd used to gain access last time. She wondered what she was doing now, if she was still in the hospital, still giving the nurses grief. One day she'd visit that old lady.
The Greenslopes County Hospital sign came into view. Elle picked up her pace, hurrying the rest of the way until she made it to the emergency entrance. She burst through the doors and headed straight for the nurse on duty.
“Hurry, I need help," she panted.
“What’s your emergency?”
“What? No, it’s not me.” She bent over, pulling in gulps of air.
The nurse looked behind her. “Has there been an accident?”
“Caran Rivers. Can you get a message to her?”
“Doctor Rivers.”
“Yes, it’s urgent.”
“Are you hurt?” The nurse glanced at the dried blood on her hand. “I’ll fetch a doctor.”
Elle reached for the nurse who stepped away. “No, please. I need to get a message to Doctor Caran Rivers. It’s about her boyfriend, Ash Dragonspark. All the Dragonspark brothers. There’s going to be an attack, I need to warn her.”
“Sit down. You're distressed.”
“You don’t understand, I need to get a message to her. Can you page her or something? What’s the protocol on that.” Elle shook her head in frustration. “It doesn’t matter. Someone here got a message to her last time, I need to do that again.”
“You need to calm down.”
“Shit.” She was getting nowhere. There had to be something else she could do. “Tell Caran to call me on th
is number.” She scribbled down her phone number onto a piece of paper.
Without waiting for a reply she hurried out. Perhaps she could make it to the mountain somehow. She could take a car. Damn, why didn’t they have personal drivers in this part of town. Another reason why she preferred the city.
Elle switched her phone on. She didn’t have much charge left, but she needed it on so Caran could call her, if she ever got the message that is.
Now she needed to find Tessa. It wouldn’t be hard. Tessa didn’t know this town like she did. She’d spent a good week here. Tessa would be hiding somewhere in ambush, waiting for one of the Dragonspark brothers to show up. But they wouldn’t. Lyson was still a dragon, and Mac and Ash weren’t stupid enough to fall for Tessa’s unthought out plan.
Just as she turned the corner she felt a punch to the face and fell backwards.
“We’re going to need you to use as bait,” said Tessa. “You took your time getting here.”
Elle groaned. Her nose running, blood dripping into her mouth.
“Tie her up,” ordered Tessa. “She’s the key to getting the dragon brothers right into our trap.”
40
“Her location came online.” Lyson stared at the screen. “She’s outside town. They've stopped and it looks like they're waiting for something..” He looked up. “They’re using her as bait.”
“Then we don’t play,” said Mac. “We stay put.”
“I need to know she’s okay.”
“Call her,” said Caran. “If you are sure you know her, then you’ll be able to tell if she’s safe or being coerced by her voice."
Lyson dialed the number on the screen and put the call on speaker. Tessa answered. “Mac?”
“Wrong. It’s Lyson.”
“Wow, that was a quick stint as the beast. Or have you acquired the ability to talk and answer phones now?”
“Where’s Elle?”