Soultrade

by Arizona Tape

  “It’s true though. It happens about nine months after the egg’s been birthed. To thank the gods for a good birth, and hope for a good hatching.”

  “Convoluted.”

  “And our mating ritual wasn’t?”

  “You may have a point there,” I conceded. “Are all dragon ceremonies like that?”

  “All thirty-six of them.”

  “Thirty-six?” He must be joking. No way was I going through thirty-six of those farces.

  “Don’t ask me to name them all, I can’t. But you’ve missed two already, and performed another one. And you’re female, so the coming of age ceremony doesn’t apply...”

  “Yes, because coming of age in female dragon speak means getting pregnant,” I muttered. Really, he probably should have told me that in advance. I rested my hand on my egg bump. I wasn’t sure I really cared that he hadn’t.

  “Sorry.”

  “No, you’re not,” I responded, only just holding back from tweaking him on the nose. I didn’t think he’d appreciate that. I knew I wouldn’t.

  “Not really. I’ve wanted a family for so long, and now it’s finally happening.”

  “If by finally you mean in another eighteen months, then sure.”

  He laughed at me. “That’s really not that long for a dragon.”

  “Yes, I know, supernatural longevity and all that. I just want to meet our child, Devon.” I smoothed my hand over my bump, and could almost swear I felt it move.

  But, no. It couldn’t do that, right?

  “Dev—”

  I was cut off by Sian’s door opening, and her climbing into the front seat.

  “Right, Devon, your turn to drive.” She threw him the keys, which he caught with practiced ease.

  Devon sighed, and moved away from the seat next to me, pulling a little whimper from my lips.

  “I’m not going far, Ayra.”

  I nodded. I liked how he was saying my name so much. As if he was reminding himself that I was me. Or maybe it was more practical than that. Maybe he was checking that it was still me and not Tate. She struck me as the knee-in-the-balls type if a guy got her name wrong.

  “You’re going to have to direct me until we’re back where I know,” he said to Sian as he fastened his seat belt. I leaned forward and touched his shoulder over the seat between us. It wasn’t much, but it was something, and I wanted to remind him I was here. Even if I couldn’t do anything.

  Tate strapped herself in beside me, and offered me a weak smile. She looked pale. Almost as pale as my current body was, which definitely wasn’t right. The vampire body’s skin was a shade or two darker. Just not at the moment.

  “You okay?” I whispered. She nodded curtly. Definitely not okay then. “We can switch if it makes it easier?”

  In the front, Devon growled low in his throat, and Sian twisted in her seat to glare at me. I was sure Devon would be doing the same if he hadn’t already pulled out of the lay-by.

  “No touching.” She wagged her finger between the two of us, as if we were naughty school children and she was the teacher. Oh wait...

  “But if it helps,” I started to protest.

  “No, Ayra. All it will end up in is Tate in pain, and you struggling with blood cravings. Tell me how that helps?”

  “If it helps lessen Tate’s thirst...”

  “It won’t help,” Tate interrupted softly. “I feel it no matter which body I’m in. It’s just more frustrating in yours.”

  “Oh.”

  “Only blood will help it.”

  “No,” Sian said instantly. Oops, maybe my story to her earlier had scared her a little too much. I didn’t want it to get between her and Tate.

  “I know. You made that perfectly clear.”

  “With good reason.”

  I looked down at my hands, twiddling my thumbs and trying to pretend that I wasn’t caught in the middle of a highly personal conversation. There were some things I shouldn’t be privy to.

  Devon stared very intently at the road. Clearly he was in the same position as I was then. Not wanting to intrude, but being forced to.

  Fun times.

  “I’m sorry,” Tate said softly, and I could tell from her voice that she really meant it.

  “It’s okay. I know it’s getting to you,” Sian responded. “But you really can’t have blood yet.”

  “When can I?” Tate looked up from under her lashes, and as much as I tried not to watch, I couldn’t help it. I was fascinated by the dynamics between them. Sian’s entire face had softened, and I could see the love shining in her eyes.

  I was sure she’d never looked at me quite like that before. Then again, Devon probably hadn’t looked at Tate like that either. So swings and roundabouts, there was enough love for everyone.

  “Erm...” Sian looked at me, questions written all over her face.

  “I’m not the right person to ask.”

  “Even with your Uncle?”

  I shook my head. “I didn’t have anything to do with him. He didn’t even live with us. My best guess is once the shakes wear off?”

  “Or she’s about to pass out,” Devon said from the driver’s seat. That settled that then.

  “You’ve treated vampires before?” Sian asked, sitting back around and staring at my husband in surprise.

  “No, but it makes sense. If someone’s about to pass out, give them something to stop it.”

  I snorted. “Very technical.”

  “I’m a dragon,” Devon responded lightly, and even Tate gave a small giggle. “We haven’t exactly done a lot of studies on vampire anatomy.”

  “Maybe you can when Ayra’s in this vampire body?” Tate suggested instantly.

  “Eww, no.” Two sets of eyes fixed on me in response to my reaction. While I was pretty sure Devon was smiling to himself. Though without being able to see his face, it was difficult to tell.

  “It’s your body still,” Sian pointed out.

  “Is it though? That’s now Tate’s body. This is my body. Devon shouldn’t be touching Tate’s body, even when I’m in it...”

  “And I shouldn’t be touching yours,” Sian finished for me. I nodded my agreement.

  “Exactly. The vampire body isn’t mine anymore. It doesn’t react to me like it does to Tate, so I have no right to it.” I put my hands on my egg bump protectively.

  “I suppose you have a point.” Sian pulled a face.

  “But...” I prompted.

  Next to me, Tate bent over and put her head between her legs. She really wasn’t taking the withdrawal symptoms very well. Maybe we should just give her some blood? It’d help with everything she was going through.

  “I don’t like the idea of not being able to...” She looked away. It didn’t matter, I knew what she was going to say still. She didn’t like the fact she wouldn’t be able to touch Tate properly when she was in my body.

  I would admit to not being enamoured with the idea of not being able to kiss Devon when I was in Tate’s. But that was how our life was until we made the swap permanent. And I tried as much as I could not to think about the fact it could go wrong permanently. I didn’t know what I’d do if I ended up stuck as a vampire for the rest of my life. I’d have to drink blood, or die. Great choices there. Then again, if I couldn’t be with Devon, would I want to live?

  Really, the permanent swap going wrong would be a disaster all around. Best if I didn’t think about it.

  “I know, Sian,” I whispered eventually. “Let’s just hope the lake holds some of the answers. If it doesn’t...”

  “Then all four of us are going to be in a bit of a mess.”

  “We’ll figure it out.”

  We were interrupted by a loud moan from Tate, and both of our attentions turned to her. She’d taken on an ugly green tinge. That couldn’t be healthy, at all.

  “Devon, what do we do?” I asked, my voice sounding frantic.

  “You know I said before she passed out?”

  “Uh-huh.”

 
“Now would probably be a good time.” He still didn’t take his eyes off the road, and I knew that was to do with the baby and I. Which must be warring with the doctor in him that wanted to tend to a patient, as well as discover what blood deprivation did to a vampire. He was still a scientist at the end of the day.

  “Where did you put the blood?” I asked Sian.

  “Here.” She handed me a cool bag that had been perched between her legs, and I unzipped it hastily, before groaning.

  “Let’s guess, you didn’t pack any scissors?” I looked away from the pouch of blood I’d picked up, already a little nauseated, but less so than when I’d been in my vampire body. Which was a start I guess.

  “No, sorry.”

  “The things I do for you guys,” I said, before placing the bag between my teeth and ripping. I pulled the bag back as soon as I could, and somehow managed to avoid getting any blood in my mouth. If I wasn’t so worried about Tate, then I’d have taken a moment to celebrate.

  Ignoring the knowledge we probably shouldn’t be touching, I thrust the bag towards Tate’s mouth. It took her a few moments, but she soon started sucking. Her colour didn’t get any better though, which was still concerning, but at least we were doing something about it.

  I just hoped it worked.

  Chapter 7

  Blood. The moment the silky liquid hit my tongue, relief crashed through my chest. The sweet tang of metal danced on my pallet and I felt some of my strength return to me.

  Hungrily, greedily, I snatched the bag away from Ayra and practically poured it down my throat. I never realised how much I craved it. That the dull zing in my ears came from not feeding for a while.

  “Better?” Sian asked, concern colouring her face. The car wobbled as Devon drove it over the cobbled road and the blood sloshed inside the bag. Anxious not to spill one drop, I gulped it down as fast as I could. The blood left a dull burn in the back of my throat, but I didn’t care. I loved it, I needed it, I wanted more.

  “Is there more?” I asked, tilting my head to give Sian my cutest eyes. For a moment, she softened under my look. I licked my lips, flicking my tongue over my canines. Now I understood why we got them. If there weren’t handy bags around, I could still my craving another way. Straight from the source.

  “I brought more, but you can’t have them. I’m sorry, it’s my fault that you’re going through this. I should’ve paid more attention to your dose.”

  “My dose is fine, I just need more because Ayra doesn’t feed when she’s in this body,” I countered, shooting Ayra a mixed look. Maybe it was a good thing she didn’t drink, then I got to do it twice.

  “I just don’t like the taste,” Ayra spoke softly, pulling her nose up in disgust over the blood. How she could be repulsed, I’d never understand. The blood was the best part of being a vampire.

  “Suit yourself.” I turned back to Sian, the thought of her having more blood consuming every other thought. “Just a little sip?”

  “No, you’ve fed enough. It’ll kick in any moment,” she said, using her stern teacher voice. Usually, it turned me on. Now it just annoyed me. Why was she handling me like a child? I was perfectly capable of rationing myself and I was the only one who knew what this body needed.

  I shot a sideway glance at Ayra. Well, she also used this body, she probably had a good idea of what we needed. Then again… No, she didn’t. She’d been refusing to feed properly for as long as she inhabited my body. My body, as she pointed out earlier.

  “Sian—”

  “No.”

  I ground my teeth down, savouring the metallic taste lingering in my mouth. Fine. If she didn’t want to give it to me, I just needed to pretend I was over this ‘blood addiction’ or whatever they called it. Then they’d stop micromanaging me.

  I still didn’t get what the problem was or where it came from. Sian never mentioned anything about me feeding too much. She used to encourage it even. And now all of a sudden, I was ‘addicted’ and I needed to lower my intake. How weird. I didn’t understand, but I did trust her. Maybe she was on to something that I couldn’t see yet. She had been a vampire for much longer than I was.

  Yes, she had my best interests at heart. Of course, she had. This was Sian, my beautiful girlfriend. She would never do something to harm me.

  The hum gradually disappeared from my ears and allowed rational thoughts to flood back into my head.

  “Sorry,” I muttered to Sian, shooting her an apologetic glance. I didn’t plan to make things so intense and awkward, especially not with Devon and Ayra in the car. I turned to the left, at my former body. “Sorry.”

  Ayra and Sian exchanged a look of relief and smiled at me.

  “Don’t mention it.” Ayra pointed at the empty bag I was holding. “Could you please discard that in the trash can though?”

  “Oh yes, sorry.” Strangely reluctant, I let go of the pouch. She let out a sigh of relief and I saw the tension flow out of her body. Gently, she patted her swollen stomach and a loving smile appeared on her face. She had the same look on her face as almost every dragon mother I’d seen. The moment they knew an egg was growing in their belly, they fell in love with their child. The Elders said my mother used to have the same look when I was still an egg. That she’d hum lullabies to me, even before I hatched. Right up until they realised I wasn’t a normal dragon and didn’t possess the power to shift. Mother’s eyes hardened whenever she looked at me and that steel gaze hadn’t softened ever since.

  I bit the inadequacy away as I stared at Sian. It hadn’t been my fault that I couldn’t shift. I was never meant to be a dragon, I was just born to the wrong family, to the wrong parents, in the wrong body.

  Now that I knew, it all made so much more sense. And I couldn’t wait to leave my dragon form behind and be with Sian and only with her. I was sure Ayra and Devon would be much happier without me jumping in and out of their relationship.

  The two exchanged a glance through the mirror and I caught a smirk on his lips that I’d never seen before. He was happy. They both were.

  “How far till the lake?” Ayra asked, checking the watch around her wrist. Hah, so she did find it handy.

  “Oh, we’re not even close. You can’t reach it by car.”

  Sian turned her head towards Devon and frowned. “We can’t?”

  Ayra snorted. “What, are we going there by foot? Another silly tradition?”

  Devon glanced backwards and chuckled. “By foot? No, we’re dragons, we don’t walk.”

  My body twin let out a sigh of relief and I couldn’t blame her. I knew my dragon form wasn’t very fit. No surprise there, I didn’t really exercise or take proper care of it. Junk food and gaming weren’t exactly the healthiest lifestyle.

  “No, we’re flying there.”

  “What?” Sian uttered, surprised.

  “We are?” I asked in confusion, wondering what Devon was on about. He realised I couldn’t fly, right? Not in my dragon form and not in this vampire body.

  “Yes!” Ayra shouted, pumping her fist in the air. She quickly shot me an apologetic glance and lowered her voice. “Sorry, that was inconsiderate of me. I know you had a hard time not being able to shift.”

  I waved her concern away. “Not your fault,” I smiled, studying the excitement on her face. “I’m glad you were able to.”

  “I’m sorry you can’t. It’s really amazing.”

  “Oh, it’ll be the first time I see my body in dragon form. Well, your body. Our body?”

  She laughed and touched her egg bump again. “I suppose until the swap is permanent, it’s our body. Ish?” she answered a little solemn, wistfully rubbing her belly. For a moment, she looked so sad, I wanted to hug her. But that probably wouldn’t be a good idea. Saddened I couldn’t comfort my new friend, I refrained from touching her and I just pointed at her stomach.

  “Yes, I know we have to share bodies and it’s unfortunate. But this? This is your baby, no matter what body you’re in.”

  Ayra shot me grat
eful look and nodded. “Thanks, Tate. That means a lot.”

  “I don’t know you very well, but you’ll be a great mother.”

  A scoff left her lips. “Yeah, in eighteen freaking months..”

  A guilty look appeared on Devon’s face and he blushed red. How endearing, in all the years with Devon, I’d never seen him blush.

  “Did you not tell her beforehand?” I asked, laughing at his reaction. He really was whipped, but in the best kind of way.

  He shook his head, suddenly very focused on the road. “I didn’t realise it was so uncommon.”

  “And that’s not the worst part. Apparently, I can’t even keep my egg with me at home. It has to be in some sort of nest at the lake? What if it gets cold? Or stolen? Or someone breaks it?” Ayra cried, cradling her stomach protectively. “This is my egg.”

  “Nobody is going to steal it. The lake is a sacred place and the Elders will watch over it.”

  She pouted. “Why can’t I keep it at home?”

  “The egg needs to be in the sacred water.”

  “It will be underwater? So I can’t even hold it?” Ayra shouted, hugging her belly tighter.

  “You’re a dragon, you can shift,” I pointed out, amused and touched by her devotion. She really would make a great mother, the kind of mother Devon deserved for his child.

  “Still… I don’t want to leave my egg.” She prodded Devon’s shoulder. “You should’ve told me!”

  “Yes, Devon. You should’ve,” I joked, siding with Ayra.

  “I can’t believe you two are ganging up on me,” he muttered, shifting uncomfortable in his chair. I laughed out loud and quickly, Ayra joined in. Even with our identical bodies, our laughs were different, but they seemed to diffuse the tension easily. Sian chuckled and even Devon cracked a grin.

  I nodded in acknowledgement to Ayra and she nodded right back. Yes, she was alright.

  A new silence settled over us, but unlike the one before, this one was comfortable. The faint sunlight glinted through the car windows as endless rows of trees passed us by. We were moving further and further away from the city, deeper into uninhabited territories. I’d never been to the Sacred Shrine, but Devon seemed to know exactly where to go and I trusted him. He would figure something out, he always did.