Let There Be Dragons (The Children of Ankh Book 3)

by Kim Cormack

  Frost leapt off the bed, chased her out the door and caught her right outside of Lexy and Grey’s room. He backed her against it and playfully kissed her lips, while turning the door knob behind her. The door opened and he remained standing while she fell backwards onto the carpet with an ungraceful thud. He knit his brow and sighed, “Brighton’s been hitting the sauce already. I hope this isn’t becoming a thing?” He grinned at her and casually wandered away.

  She sat on the floor plotting her revenge for a moment before scrambling to her feet and explaining her predicament, “He opened the door without warning me. That’s hilarious Frost.”

  A grinning Lexy passed Kayn her styrofoam containers full of food and whispered, “Wait a second.” Lexy began to straighten her up a bit and pat down her hair. “I hate it when I accidentlly fall down and end up with naughty hair.” She winked before sitting back down next to Grey, who was also grinning from ear to bloody ear. Astrid and Dean were sitting on the floor by the window. They also appeared to find Kayn’s state rather humorous.

  They were all freaking hilarious. A room full of damn comedians. She wandered over and sat in the empty chair beside Frost. Kayn opened her meal. They’d forgotten the hot sauce. Before she even had a chance to pout, Frost jumped up and returned with a bottle of hot sauce. Brownie points for Frost.

  He placed it in front of her, leaned over kissed cheek and teased, “If that sexy behind of yours is still sore later, let me know and I’ll kiss it better.”

  Kayn felt her cheeks heat up as they turned a couple of shades darker.

  Frost passed her a wrapped-up straw for her drink and said, “Nobody in this room can judge. Especially those two.”

  Grey scowled and questioned, “What do you mean by that?”

  Lexy rolled her eyes and sighed, “Just eat your damn burger Greydon.”

  Where was Zach? She glanced towards the window and Lexy seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. “Zach was already here. He grabbed Haley’s stuff too. They must be having something to eat in your room.”

  Kayn shrugged as she dumped a disgusting amount of hot sauce on her bun and put it back together. She took a bite of her seriously messy chicken burger and it dripped down her chin. Frost handed her a napkin. She gobbled up the whole thing in under a minute. When she took a moment to breathe she noticed that everyone was staring at her. She inhaled the side salad and a full container of onion rings before Frost managed to eat his burger.

  Lexy stood up, walked over to Kayn and suggested, “Take some of my energy. We’ll leave Zach and Haley alone. I have a feeling if you take some of Frost’s, we’ll all be stuck here for days.”

  Frost grinned at Lexy and baited, “Party pooper.”

  Lexy glared at Frost as she gave him a little speech, “We’ll be at the next stop for a whole week. I’m sure I could be convinced to look the other way for a day, if someone was being super nice to me instead of being a pain in my ass.”

  “Point taken,” Frost politely answered.

  Kayn reached for Lexy’s hand as she explained, “I thought I was hungry for food this time.” Well, and something we don’t have time for. As she peered over at Frost she was almost certain he’d heard her naughty inner dialogue.

  Lexy smiled and declared, “My ability can be tricky. I overload too. Sometimes, I need to injure myself so I can heal and feel normal again. So, you taking some of mine occasionally might actually help me out.”

  Grey chuckled as he raised his pop into the air and declared, “True story.”

  Kayn glanced over at Dean and Astrid. They were watching them from their rather odd choice of seating on the floor. Who chooses to eat on the floor? She took Lexy’s hands and felt hers immediately begin to warm. The energy travelled up both of her arms and heated her chest.

  Lexy yanked her arms away, grinned and shook her head as she walked away while thinking, “That is quite the ability.”

  Kayn heard her and smiled, she’d just keep that to herself.

  Astrid stood up, looked at Frost and asked, “How long do we have before we have to leave?”

  Frost was up collecting the garbage as he replied, “Well, nothing would make me happier than staying here for another night but we’re on a bit of a tight schedule. So, right now.” Astrid helped him clean up the room. The others finished eating and tossed their garbage away. He added, “Go grab your bags and make your way out to the parking lot in the back. Dean, you can come with me. We’ll drive the cars back there and meet up with you guys.”

  It was time to collect their belongings and ditch the vehicles in lieu of their truck and RV. Kayn stood up and offered, “I’ll go get Haley and Zach.” She snuck into Frost’s room and burst through the adjoining door trying to catch them doing something but they were just innocently sitting at the doodle covered table chatting. She walked in and announced, “We’re leaving. Grab your bags. We’re supposed to meet at the motorhome. It’s parked out back.”

  They began to clean up. Haley said, “I need to go grab my things, I’ll see you guys in a few.” She rather unceremoniously left the room.

  Kayn grabbed her backpack, looked at Zach and asked, “Are you ready?”

  He flung his bag over his shoulder as he responded, “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

  They strolled out together and quickly descended the stairs. Kayn was honestly a little bit excited to get back into the RV. Grey was already there when they arrived. He was creatively shoving the plastic bags from the vehicles into the cupboards. They had junk food galore. She watched him for a while. He must have been good at Tetris. As he shut the last cupboard, he appeared to be quite pleased with himself.

  Grey glanced back and answered her inner commentary, “I kind of miss Tetris.”

  Kayn was still grinning about Grey missing Tetris as she slid her backpack in the tight-fitting compartment under the bunkbeds. Zach chose to take the first shift driving the RV. Grey and Lexy were planning to take turns driving the truck.

  Kayn wandered back to the front. She sat beside Zach for a minute and said, “Mind if I go to the washroom first?”

  “Take your time,” he teased.

  He knew exactly where she was going. She smiled at him and sang, “I owe you one.”

  Kayn strolled to the back, finding a sexy once again shirtless Frost sprawled out on the bunk she usually slept on. “Changing bunks?” She asked.

  He grinned and teased, “You’re supposed to be up there with Zach.”

  “I happen to be on my way to the bathroom,” she replied.

  Frost reached out and grabbed her arm before she could leave and whispered, “I hope somebody grabbed that bag with the Twinkies. I have big plans for those.”

  She smiled, knowing what he meant. Kayn pretended she didn’t as she answered, “Grey shoved it into the cupboard by the microwave. If you have big plans, you should grab some and hide them, before they’re gone.” His hand slid down her arm to her wrist as she tried to step away. Frost began seductively moving his thumb in a circular motion. She yanked her hand away and gave him a dirty look. He started to laugh.

  “Kayn!” Zach hollered. “Can you put coffee on before you come back up here?”

  “Sure, I’ll just be a minute,” she yelled back. Kayn sat on the bunk, kissed his lips and whispered, “Have a nap. I’ll make sure I’m the one that comes to wake you up when it’s your turn to drive.” She shimmied off the bunk, walked back to the tiny kitchen and put on a pot of coffee. Then she quickly scooted to the bathroom. When she came back, she filled a couple travel cups full of coffee. She had to put whitener in it because the milk was outdated. Kayn carefully carried them to the front, handed one to Zach and scooted into the seat beside him.

  “Did you get a chance to tuck Frost in?” He teased.

  She smiled and countered, “I did.”

  He chuckled, “So, what was that whole bursting through Frost’s room thing? Were you trying to catch us doing something?”

  She grinned as she admitted, “
Maybe a little. I’m surprised you didn’t come busting into Frost’s room looking for me when you got out of the shower?”

  Zach laughed before replying, “I’ve already done that once this week. I think once is probably enough. I’m your Handler not your stalker.”

  Kayn took a giant gulp of her coffee and smiled. Not so long ago she’d accused Frost of stalking her.

  Zach grimaced as he took a drink of his coffee and bitched, “This is powdered creamer.”

  She knew he’d catch that. “Would you have preferred some sour milk in it?” She countered as she stared at the road ahead.

  After a few minutes of silence Kayn remarked, “I’d always pictured immortals living a classier life. You know with big mansions and fancy cars.”

  Zach took another drink from his cup as he replied, “That’s probably just Vampires.”

  “Do you think we’ll ever have to deal with any Vampires? I wonder if they’re really like they are in the movies?” They heard the group gathering at the table behind them and Kayn said, “Cards or Monopoly?”

  “Scrabble,” Zach chuckled.

  Astrid leaned over Kayn’s chair and announced, “Zach wins!”

  He did a fake cheer and enquired, “What do I win?”

  Astrid turned around and playfully teased, “Oh Haley…What does Zach win for guessing which game we’re playing?”

  They heard a chorus of laughter coming from the table but Dean’s laugh really stood out.

  Haley yelled her response, “Tell him, I’ll stay awake and drive with him next time.”

  Kayn glanced at Zach and quietly teased, “Oh, I don’t think you should try to drive while you’re doing that. That can’t be safe.”

  Zach grinned at her and whispered, “I can almost guarantee that’s not what she meant.”

  “Move over a bit,” Astrid urged. “I’m going to sit up here with you guys. Your commentary is always far more entertaining than a silly game of Scrabble.”

  Yes, their commentary was rather magnificent. Kayn shimmied her butt over and said, “Come on up. Our boring four-hour long party is just getting started.” They spent the next four hours chain drinking coffee and joking around. It was in these moments that Kayn felt like she was living a somewhat normal life as they talked about superficial random things. It was almost seven thirty pm when Zach pulled into a roadside diner. She stood up as they slowed down.

  Astrid suggested, “You should go wake Frost up.”

  Kayn rather ineptly attempted to maneuver her way to the bunks as they cruised into the bumpy gravel parking lot. He was fast asleep, facing away from her. She sat on the mattress, rubbed his shoulder lovingly and whispered, “It’s time to get up. We’re stopping to eat before the next four-hour stint of driving.”

  Frost rolled over and smiled at her, with sleepy eyes. He stretched and said, “Look at you, being true to your word.” He yanked her towards him and held her in his arms cuddled up against him.

  She giggled as she whispered in his ear, “I’ll always keep my word.”

  He pulled away, cupped both of her cheeks in his warm hands, stared deep into her eyes and replied, “I know you will.”

  Her heart leapt. It felt so good to be with him like this. There was no more pretence and their burgeoning feelings were out in the open. It felt like she was finally moving on. She was looking forward to every step they’d take together. When Kayn stepped out of the RV and took a deep breath of the evening air she felt peaceful. Soon they’d be up north and she couldn’t wait to go for a trail run. They’d been working since they’d come out of the Testing. It had been so long since she’d felt the exhilaration of a good run. A run with nobody in pursuit of her or no one she was attempting to catch. She’d found similar feelings in various acts over the last couple of months but knew she was far past due for some real soul recovery time.

  Frost approached her from behind, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him, “Go for that run. I’ll order you some dinner. You can sit up front and keep me company while you eat it.”

  Kayn smiled and turned to face him, without speaking, she set the timer on her cell for fifteen minutes. She’d run for fifteen minutes in one direction, then turn around and sprint back to the diner. She wouldn’t be holding anyone up if she only used half an hour of time. Kayn took an elastic band off her wrist, pulled her hair back in a ponytail and took off through the gravel parking lot towards the highway. Once her running shoes hit the pavement she was blessed with the euphoric sensation she’d been longing for. It felt like only five minutes had passed when her cell phone began to beep. She turned around and sprinted back to the roadside diner. Her brow was slick with perspiration as she returned to the gravel parking lot. That was exactly what she’d needed. Kayn shoved on the door and entered the diner to the sound of dual high pitched beeps instead of jingling bells. She noticed her group right away. Haley’s neon pink hair signalled her to the table like a beacon. Haley’s hair looked cute with just pink tips at the banquet. She missed the makeup job they’d done on her. Perhaps, she should try stepping out of her box, versus attempting to put her friend back in one? She wasn’t going to be the one to mention the hair. Kayn wandered over to their double sized booth and everyone on one side shifted over to make room for her. Clearly, only one of her butt cheeks was going to fit on the seat. Kayn perched on the edge without saying a word about her rather humorous predicament. Zach handed her the container with her meal. She politely refused him, with a logical explanation, “I should wait a few minutes before eating anything after that run. I might puke. I’ll eat it once we’re back on the road.” Zach smiled at her as he grabbed a clean napkin and wiped her cheek. He didn’t say anything he just lifted the napkin to show her the streak of mud. How did she always manage to get mud on her face? She looked around the table feeling tension from somewhere and it was wrecking her happy place. Grey appeared to be seriously perturbed about something. Lexy and Grey were sitting quite far away from each other. Was this still about the Summit? It had been months and they’d appeared to be over that drama.

  Kayn met Grey’s hostile expression with a giant grin and decided to bring it up, “Do you have some kind of issue?” He was just sitting in the corner boiling rabbits with his eyes.

  “Ask Lexy,” he hissed.

  Lexy didn’t even look up from her food when she heard him say her name. She popped a fry into her mouth, chewed it and then took a drink of her pop. She was being far too casual about it, making it more than obvious that she was ignoring him on purpose.

  Grey was visibly furious. He cleared his throat and stated, “I need to get out of here. Can you guys please let me out?”

  Everyone shimmied off the bench and released him from his corner. He strode away without looking back as Lexy continued to eat without even looking up from her plate.

  Frost followed Grey away from the table, leaving his food behind. That was awkward.

  Everyone finished eating rather quickly after the drama and left the table. Kayn stayed behind with Lexy.

  When the waitress showed up to clean the table Lexy politely asked, “Can we please have those two meals wrapped up?”

  The waitress took them with her and Kayn took that opportunity to ask, “What was that about?”

  Lexy glanced at her and began her little speech, “I know I’ve said this to you before, but don’t ever sleep with your Handler. In the morning, he’s been spelled to forget about it and your heart’s thumped out repeatedly. If you’re super lucky, he’ll want to spend four hours talking about a girl he wants to sleep with the next day. Some days I can take it like a champ and on others, I just want to grab his head and smash it into the damn steering wheel a thousand times. I can shut down my emotions for everything and everyone but him. I end up retaliating by telling him little tidbits of information I know will hurt him. Which is what I did today, just so I could shut him up.”

  Kayn smiled and said, “What did you say?”

  Her fellow Dragon
smiled at her and replied, “I told him I agreed to give Tiberius what he’s always wanted from me if he helped me with something during the Summit.”

  Lexy had made a deal with the devil to save her. That’s why Tiberius was there. The waitress appeared with the boys take out containers. They thanked her, took all three containers and left the restaurant. Kayn stopped her before they walked out of the door and asked, “Are you really going to do it?”

  Lexy smiled at her as she quietly replied, “Let’s just say I saw another side of him during half time while we were fighting together at the Summit. I don’t want to be with him but I definitely wouldn’t kick him out my bed for eating crackers.”

  Kayn strolled beside her fellow Dragon with an enormous grin on her face. She knew the feeling. It was funny how their friendship was beginning to evolve. They walked out of the beeping door together and made their way back to the RV. The engine was already running.

  Lexy grabbed Grey’s container and climbed the couple steps at the entrance as she said, “Good talk. Hopefully Frost had enough time to talk him down. He’s always had a way with those greater good speeches. He’s probably in the back room pouting but he’ll be happy I saved his food.”

  She followed Lexy up the steps and parted ways inside as she went up front to bring Frost his dinner and eat her own. He was sitting there waiting for her with a smile on his face. She handed him his container and he quickly scarfed the rest of his burger down before they pulled out of the gravel parking lot and onto the highway. She ate her cold meal. At least it was a chicken caesar wrap and it didn’t matter if it was cold. They sat there watching the small patch of highway lit up by the headlights until her eyes began to grow heavy.

  Frost slipped his hand over hers, squeezed it and whispered, “You should go get some sleep. You’ve got seven hours before Zach will be needing his copilot again. I’m alright. Go and get some rest. I’ll wake you up when it’s your turn with Zach.”

  She didn’t kiss him before she left because she’d just eaten a chicken caesar salad wrap. Kayn maneuvered her way to the bathroom while the motion of the road jostled her around. She grabbed her backpack so she could brush her teeth and wash up. She even used a spritz of somebody’s body spray. She put on some yoga pants and a t-shirt. Then she staggered to her bunk and climbed under the covers. The pillow smelled like him. His scent was heavenly. That was her final thought as she drifted off into a dream.