by Jayne Hawke
A chill ran down my spine.
SIXTEEN
The rest of the day had been devoted to studying the lore on the dragon. I was finally released from the books at 7:00 pm.
“I can’t believe you were chosen!” Sienna said as she pulled me into a rib-crushing hug.
I hugged her back, albeit far more gently. The news hadn’t really sunk in yet. It was something I’d dreamt of, and yet there it was, happening.
“We’ve been given freedom to celebrate in the city. We don’t have to be back until 7:00 am,” I said.
Sienna squealed and threw her hands in the air.
“I knew I’d have a reason to wear that lacy dress!” she exclaimed as she ran to her small wardrobe.
I lifted the lid on the chest at the bottom of my bed and pulled out my good jeans and a pretty red halterneck top. The jeans were pale blue and hugged my legs, showing off my best assets without getting in the way, should a fight erupt.
Sienna had already claimed the bathroom by the time I’d pulled my clothes out.
Nicole hugged me gently.
“Congratulations, Iona, really. You deserve it. We’re going to miss you, though.”
“I’ll visit when I can, and I’m sure you’ll both be given a chance to prove yourselves soon.”
“Be careful, Emma will probably try and slit your throat,” Nicole said as she turned towards her own chest.
She wasn’t wrong. Emma looked livid when the announcement was made, and I couldn’t blame her. The older woman’s life was being frittered away in training for something she wasn’t being granted the opportunity to do. The sisters were quietly taking bets on how long it would be before she broke her oath and left.
Only one woman had left during my lifetime. She’d never been seen or heard from again. Whispers spread that Sister Analise had killed her to remove the stain from the record of the Sisters of the Hunt. They trained the very best, and none broke their oaths. We were chosen as little girls, it was a great honour, and by the gods we were going to fulfil our duty to the city.
Nicole and I had both opted for jeans with sturdy heeled boots and a pretty shirt. Sienna, however, had brought out her lacy black dress that hugged her curves and barely covered her ass. She strutted in her stilettos. I almost wanted to warn the men she planned on bedding exactly what they were risking.
Our sisters were in the courtyard when we left. The day was still in full bloom with brilliant clear blue skies, not a single puff of cloud in sight. Sienna drew many looks as we walked down the streets towards the bus stop. It was time to leave Brixton and head into Peckham, where a number of up and coming bars were hidden from the tourists.
We’d have to be careful with our money, as we didn’t have much, but I was quite happy to take my time enjoying my drinks and just being out in the city. It had been a year since we’d been given the freedom to go and enjoy the night as normal women.
“We’re going to the Nine Magpies in Peckham, right? I’ve heard there are some delightful fae men there,” Sienna said.
“What happened to your lord being your soulmate?” Nicole asked.
Sienna waved her off.
“That was just idle talk. I want something a bit rougher tonight.”
Nicole and I shared a look.
“You snuck out, screwed him, and he sent you away,” I said.
Sienna sighed melodramatically.
“He just wasn’t enough for me. Sure, he was pretty, and talented, but I would have grown bored of him quickly. I need someone a little rougher around the edges, someone I can sink my claws into.”
I said nothing. If it made her happy to screw her way around the city, so be it. As long as she was happy and safe, it was none of my business.
“What about you?” Nicole said, nudging me with her elbow.
“Yes, tell us everything! You came from your little trip to the bookstore positively glowing,” Sienna said.
“I really like books,” I said with a shrug.
“Don’t give me that bullshit, we’re your best friends. Your sisters. Spill,” Sienna said.
We sat down on the narrow bench by the bus stop. Sienna shifted her weight when her bare skin met the cold metal of the bench.
“Really, it’s just books,” I said.
There was nothing between Evander and me. I didn’t want to seem like a fool. The small fae disk was nestled in the pocket of my jeans begging me to send him a message. I had until 7:00 am. That was plenty of time to meet him somewhere.
Sighing softly, I pushed the thought aside. I knew that a single night of passion wouldn’t be enough. He already occupied too much space in my head. I didn’t want to be a toy that was disposed of in the morning.
“You don’t sigh like that about books!” Sienna said with a laugh.
“They’re really good books...” I said with a grin.
Nicole rolled her eyes.
“He’d better be someone really special,” Sienna said.
Thankfully, our bus arrived before they could push any harder. Sienna was quickly side-tracked by a handsome trio of shifters that had claimed the back seats of the bus.
“We’ll lose her before we make it to the Nine Magpies,” Nicole whispered.
She wasn’t wrong. Sienna curled up in the lap of the largest of the wolf shifters and shooed us away when we told her we’d reached our stop. I stepped off the bus and reminded myself that she could take care of herself.
SEVENTEEN
The Nine Magpies was a trendy little bar hidden away in Peckham. There was an industrial edge to Peckham, but it had been overtaken by an artistic vibe that drew in the young and fashionable. It was rare that we headed into the area, as it was less prone to suffer from attacks than the less trendy areas. The Nine Magpies was perfect for us, though, and thus worth the journey.
The bar was a three-story affair with a rooftop bar that gave views out over the city. Older generations said that the fae had had quite an impact upon that part of the city. Wild parks had sprouted between industrial areas with white-washed walls and exposed red brick. The parks were strictly out of bounds for simple humans. They were a sanctuary for the nymphs, elves, and other woodland-type fae.
Humans, being what we were, had immediately tried to slip between the black bars of the railing that surrounded those small patches of green wilderness nestled into the heart of the ancient city. No one had seen what happened to the bodies. Rumours flew. Some said they had been transported to the fae plane and become the playthings of the lords and ladies that sat in the courts there. Others said they’d been devoured by the nymphs and such living in the woodland.
Personally, I thought they’d been disintegrated.
Nicole hooked her arm around mine, and we both reflexively stood a little taller as we approached the bar. Usually, it was full of humans and part-breed fae like us. There weren’t many places that welcomed those with a drop of fae blood. We weren’t welcome with humans or fae. That night, however, there were a lot of full-blooded fae, and that set my teeth on edge.
We weren’t going to be turned away from our fun night out that easily. Smiling at the broad-shouldered bouncer in a black suit as we approached, we scanned the room before us. The wall was mostly a floor-to-ceiling window with small silver orbs hanging just in front to give the very best lighting. The interior was entirely black and white, the black having a magpie shimmer of emerald and sapphire to it.
I barely came up to the middle of the bouncer’s chest as I passed him by. The sheer amount of muscle on him and the soft musk gave me the impression that he was a bear shifter. It wasn’t that common to see them in the cities. They were less prone to building businesses for themselves the way wolves did, or at least they didn’t lean towards mainstream businesses.
We walked across the brilliant white acrylic floor towards the sweeping black bar that formed a feather shape cutting through the middle of the room. Four bartenders were working with wide smiles and quick hands as they worked their way through t
he waiting patrons. One bartender with straw-blonde hair made a quick show of throwing her shakers up in the air and catching them with a twist and some flare. A sidhe woman pursed her lips in disdain. They weren’t keen on such displays. The humans, however, grinned and appreciated her little show.
I grabbed a menu and looked down it, careful to check the prices as I did so. To my dismay, I saw they were now offering drinks with moon shards, the rougher version of the precious fae moon beams. Moon beams were gathered on the fae planes in the Barrows, whereas shards were taken from the earth plane. Shards didn’t give the same smooth happiness that beams did. They added some happiness to the alcohol, but there was a cold burning sensation accompanying it.
Seeing that the bar was moving into higher-end clientele and full fae made my stomach twist. The bar was a little piece of something that was ours. We were being pushed out of our city again.
The shorter brunette bartender waited for us with his hands on the bar.
“I’ll just get a margarita, thanks,” I said.
It was cheap and enjoyable.
“Give me a blood dawn,” Nicole said.
I raised an eyebrow. That contained fae alcohol that would hit hard. It wasn’t cheap, either.
“We’re celebrating,” she said putting her arm around my shoulders.
“You’re ok for money, right?” I asked.
I didn’t want her spending every penny and coming up short when she really needed it. Sister Analise did not believe in loans.
“I’m fine, you worry too much!” Nicole reassured me.
The bartender made quick work of our orders, and Nicole paid for both drinks. I tried to pay for mine, but she insisted that she was celebrating and that was that.
By some stroke of luck, we managed to find a table with an incredible view over the city. I leaned against the bare red brick and tucked my legs under the black acrylic seat with a warm smile as I began to really relax. Rose tinged the horizon where the sun was setting and night was rising.
Everything I’d worked towards my entire life was coming to fruition. I was going to kill the dragon.
EIGHTEEN
Evander
The ache began deep in my bones and slowly stretched outwards. My teeth and gums itched, my skin felt too tight, and my skull squeezed in around my brain producing a ringing in my ears.
When the curse had first struck, I’d fought it with everything I had. Every night, I watched the moon rise and I tried to control my body, to stop the change. Agony would sear my every nerve ending as I curled up, trying to keep my bones where they belonged.
Every night the change took me.
Now I stood up on the rooftop looking over the city as the shadows stretched and took my bones with them.
NINETEEN
Iona
We had nursed our drinks and talked about everything until the bar closed at sunrise. I swore that I’d seen the hulking shadow of the dragon on the horizon, but I couldn’t be sure. We decided to walk a while before we got on a bus and headed back to Brixton. We had three hours until we needed to be home, and we intended on enjoying them.
A familiar form started walking towards us. The smile spread across my face unbidden. Nicole looked at me and understanding dawned on her face.
“Is that him!?”
I couldn’t deny it. The fluttering in my stomach and the warmth that spread through me. There was no way I could hide my happiness at seeing Evander again.
As he got closer, I saw that he looked dishevelled. My heart sank. Of course he’d been with another woman. He was a beautiful man. He could have anyone he chose. Still I watched as a warm smile curved his lips upwards and he stretched his hands out to take mine.
“Iona, I hadn’t expected to see you tonight,” he said.
Nicole looked between us.
“Nicole, Lord Evander, Evander, Nicole,” I said without moving my hands from Evander’s embrace.
Nicole’s eyes went wide at Evander’s title.
“I’ll give you guys a moment,” she said hurriedly.
I’d have to deal with the interrogation later.
“Is everything ok?” I asked.
Evander glanced at his reflection in the shop window and self-consciously ran his fingers through his hair, leaving my hands empty.
“Ah, yes. Rough night is all.”
He reached back out and rubbed his thumb over the palm of my hand.
“I’d hoped to hear from you...” he said softly.
I wasn’t sure what to say to that. Of course I wanted to see him, to feel him, but he was a lord.
He reached out and caressed my cheek, leaving a soft single in the wake of his touch.
“Let me cook for you.”
My heart thudded in my chest. That was a date. A real date. That wasn’t something you did for someone you planned on discarding after you’d fucked them.
“I’m not sure I can get away...” I said.
Sister Analise would never let me slip away for a date.
“I’m really a very good cook,” he said with a grin.
I laughed.
“I make no promises.”
“But you will be in touch,” he pressed.
“I’ll try.”
I couldn’t commit to anything. It wouldn’t be fair on either of us to do so.
“I’ll let you go to your bed. Until next time, Iona.”
With that, he left me with my stomach tied in knots and an emptiness where I missed his touch.
Nicole practically ran over to me.
“A lord!?”
I shrugged and smiled.
“It’s nothing.”
“Oh, come on! I saw the sparks between you two. There might as well have been a neon sign above your heads.”
I snorted.
“Now you’re being ridiculous.”
“Iona, I’ve known you my entire life, and I have never seen you smile like that.”
TWENTY
Evander
I’m sure that Iona is the one to break my curse now. I felt her presence as the sun rose. The dragon shivered and relinquished my body when the sun had barely crested the horizon. Seeing her on the street gave me hope. To see her smile at me like that every morning would be the greatest blessing.
TWENTY-ONE
Iona
The start to my day came far too early. Rather than giving us the chance to sleep for a couple of hours, Sister Analise pounced on us when we walked in the door.
“Stormchild, change into your study clothes and meet me in the small study room,” she said.
I bit back a sigh and gave her a tight smile. The last thing I wanted to do was sit in that cramped room with the wobbly chair and study things I’d already been over hundreds of times. Nicole huffed and stomped over to her chest and began changing into her leathers. The rest of the huntresses, including Sienna, were already in the courtyard sparring. It certainly took some of the shine off our night out in the city.
My mind casually wandered to Evander and the way his hair was mussed. I could almost feel it beneath my fingers, and his smile spread a warmth through me. Maybe Nicole was right. I hadn’t felt that way about someone before. A cold voice in the back of my mind warned that it was a fae trick, but I pushed that aside. He had been kind and thoughtful thus far. Once I’d killed the dragon, I’d be free to explore the potential that hung between us.
“Good luck,” Nicole said as she squeezed my hand.
The small study room was our version of Hell. The silence felt as though it would crush you in there, and we were always given the most tedious of things to look over. Sister Analise swore it wasn’t a punishment, but it certainly felt like one.
Once I was in my simple linen trousers and shirt, I splashed cold water on my face to chase away the exhaustion and walked down to the dimly lit room. It stood near Sister Analise’s office. I walked through the narrow doorway and tried not to cringe as I saw the single desk in the middle of the square room. There were no windows,
only a single naked lightbulb that flickered occasionally. The walls were lined with shelves covered in old scrolls and leatherbound books that had seen better days. They were filled with discussions on the political relevance of the handful of red caps allowed to work in the Barrows, the evolution of coin manufacture in Augustine Rome, and other such niche and dry topics.
The main study room was bursting with information on the evolution of those we hunted, ancient martial arts, weapons manufacture, and magic. I looked over my shoulder and wished that was where I was spending my day.
It wasn’t Sister Analise who came into the room behind me, but Mr. Anastas. I immediately tensed, and my hand went to where my knife should have been. The corner of his mouth flicked upwards with the thought of a smile.
“Iona, today we will be looking at the details of how to kill the dragon,” he said.
The weight lifted from my shoulders. Perhaps the day wasn’t entirely lost.
The pile of books and scrolls on and around my small desk was almost knee height. It was nearly lunch time, and I had already learnt that the key was to slip a small copper-coated knife between the scales on the dragon’s throat or belly. There had originally been thirteen of the monsters, but only one remained. He was thought to be the leader, the most fearsome of the group.
No one knew where they had come from or why, but everyone was in agreement that they were a danger that needed to be removed. One scroll detailed the attack the dragons waged on an innocent fae territory deep in the Barrows near the Wilds. None had survived. The area had taken nearly a decade to recover from the intense fire that had been used.
I couldn’t understand why a being like that existed. There were no signs of these dragons taking anything for themselves. At first I’d assumed they were like the old myths where they gathered virgins and gold, but they did neither. The more I dug through the scrolls, the more destruction and death I saw surrounding them.