I spent the rest of the day in my room, taking the food the guards left outside the door and eating alone. I’d lied to the others in that kitchen. The priests hadn’t done those rituals on anyone else, but I sensed the way those two witches looked at me that they knew something or thought they did until I lied to throw them off the trail.
Then I lied to Mason. Again.
I lied to all of them. The truth would come out at some point, but then again maybe it wouldn’t. After Mason told me there was nothing to find at the Fell Gates, I questioned everything about the last year of my life. Not like anything from before was coming back to me. Where I’d come from, who else I could be but the daughter of Radnak. I would’ve sworn on my life I’d been at the Fell Gates, but that didn’t seem to be possible. Where was I then? Warren and the others, what had they been trying to do? Maybe that wraith wasn’t Radnak. Mason said there was a chance my mind twisted around what I saw. He could be right. The priests could be real, and they were just trying to bring someone else back. Or changing another dragon into Radnak? No, that didn’t make sense either.
I paced around my room at the inn, around and around, waiting for my mind to give me a hand and let me remember. It didn’t, and all I could see were those red glowing eyes, hear that growling voice in my ear, whispering for me to come home. Home. I couldn’t even remember where home was, and it was infuriating. I didn’t want to be crazy anymore.
I wanted to be normal, a simple dragon who was not the daughter of a psychopath. I paused mid-step as another thought struck me, one that made me grin, then giggle madly. If what I saw wasn’t real, then did that mean I wasn’t his daughter?
I waited for the burn on my left arm to hurt, but nothing happened. I listened intently, waiting to hear the growling I’d heard constantly since coming here. But there was no sound except the two guards murmuring voices outside in the hall and ticking of a clock. I giggled again. I was worried for nothing. Yeah, someone was after me, but maybe… maybe it had nothing to do with Radnak.
And I wasn’t his daughter.
I told myself that same sentence over and over, waiting for something—anything—to happen. Only it never did. I fell into bed that night with a smile on my face. I might not remember everything, and I might’ve been tortured and kept in a cage for over a year, but the rest of it wasn’t real. Mason was real, however, and tomorrow, I planned on finding out everything I could about this Traveler dragon who’d stumbled into my life. There were still so many questions, but now there was hope, and nothing was going to take that from me.
I left my room at the inn after I ate a quick breakfast. I was going to ask the guards if they knew where Mason was, but now that my head was a bit clearer and a weight had lifted from my shoulders, it was much easier to sense him. I exited the inn and though I had no idea where I was going, walked on. The guards didn’t ask me or seem too worried about my hurting anyone and backed off a bit as I wandered around the town.
After a couple of minutes, I recognized where I was going. The park was at the end of this road. Not many people were out this early in the morning, but Mason was. I stopped when I saw him standing alone.
He shook out his hands, and at first, I wasn’t sure what he was trying to do. Then he hunched his shoulders. When nothing happened, he growled loudly and cursed. I tilted my head, curious.
One of the guards behind me said, “He’s trying to shift.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize he was having trouble.”
“As far as we know, he hasn’t done it since coming back here,” the other guard informed me.
“He hasn’t.” Landon joined my protective detail with a smile that didn’t last long as he turned back to face Mason. “He’s been at it since dawn. Didn’t even let us get breakfast first.”
“Why can’t he shift?”
“Dunno. Could be a lot of reasons. I wouldn’t worry about it, though.”
I crossed my arms, watching as Mason tried again and again, but failed each time. He’d helped me more than I could possibly repay him. The least I could do was help him in return. I walked over just as he was cursing again and he spun around, his mouth clamping shut.
“Morning,” he said brusquely, his cheeks reddening.
I grinned up at him and was granted a smile. “Morning.”
“You look a lot better today. How are you feeling?”
“Good, actually. I mean my head’s still a bit foggy and I can’t remember anything before I was thrown into a cage, but yeah, I feel better than I have in a while.”
He shoved his hands in his front pockets. “That’s good, I’m glad to hear it.”
“So, you having some troubles?”
“What? No, of course not. I’m just, you know, out getting some fresh air. That’s all.”
“Mason, it’s okay if you can’t shift easily.”
He blew out a frustrated breath and shot a glare over my head probably toward Landon. “No, it’s not. I said I’d be here to protect you, but I can’t do that very well if I can’t shift. The first time, I couldn’t even hold the form for very long.”
I reached for his hand and squeezed it. “You’re just thinking about it all wrong. And you’re thinking too hard. Come on.” I dragged him away from the guards and told him to clear his mind.
“You sure you’re good? You don’t have to do this.”
The desire to tell him the truth of why I was so happy was right there, but I held back. Today was about Mason, not me. That and though I now believed I was not Radnak’s daughter as my crazy mind had convinced me, telling him I thought I was in the first place sounded like a terrible idea.
“I am doing this because it’s the least I can do. Now, clear your mind and close your eyes.”
He did as I asked. “Now what?”
“Is your mind clear?”
“Define clear.”
I sighed. “What are you thinking about?”
He shifted on his feet and whispered, “You.”
A fluttering started in my chest, and it took a second for me to get back on track. “Well, I’m not going anywhere for the moment.”
“What if thinking about you helps?” he suggested.
I nibbled my bottom lip as he peeked open one eye and his smile widened. Then he shut it again. Mason was certainly trouble in a good way. “If it really helps then I guess that’s fine. Now, breathe in deeply and let it out. You need to relax your whole body. You need to relax and don’t think about shifting.”
His brow wrinkled. “Not think about shifting? That’s what I’m trying to do.”
“Yes, but if you think about it, you won’t do it. Do you trust me?”
His eyes opened and my breath caught at the answer in those vibrant eyes. “I do.”
“Good. That’s good,” I mumbled.
He closed his eyes again, lips curling into a grin.
“Then trust me now. Just relax and don’t think about what you’re going to do. Just let your body do it.”
I might not remember anything about my life before, but I’d never felt so clearheaded, standing there talking to Mason. As the air changed around him, crackling with his power, I slowly stepped back and watched.
A shudder rushed over him starting at his head and surging all the way to his boots. His head dropped back, and a roar fell from his mouth as he transformed into the dragon that saved me. He landed on his front legs, those large eyes staring back at me. He stretched his wings to the side, and the guards behind us applauded. He shook out his massive head then lowered it so I could rest my hands against his snout.
“Told you.”
He huffed then straightened, turning around to look at his dragon form. He pumped his wings then took off into the sky. I considered joining him, but the last time I shifted here, I scared quite a few people. I wasn’t sure how stable my mind really was, so I held off and satisfied myself with watching Mason soar above the town.
He landed gracefully, shifted, and rushed to me. He hugged me, picking me up off my feet as I laughed. He spun me around then set me back down. When he kissed my cheek, my stomach somersaulted.
“Thank you.”
“You just needed a bit of guidance. That’s all.”
“And you could use a day of fun. Come on.” He placed my hand in the crook of his elbow.
“What are we going to do?”
“We are going to have a day of fun. No thinking about whatever you saw. No trying to remember. No worrying about anything. We are going to relax, and I am going to show you a day on the town.”
When was the last time I had fun? Nothing came to mind, and I held onto Mason’s arm, unable to stop smiling and laughing at the prospect of a day without any worries.
“Run, Emry!”
I laughed hysterically as I clutched the football to my chest and took off across the grass. Ted gained on me, but I slipped out of his reach. The endzone was in sight. I was almost there when two strong arms lifted me off my feet and spun me around.
“No fair,” I said through my laughter as Mason stopped me from scoring.
“What? Can’t let the girls win.” He kissed my cheek as I squealed with laughter when he tickled my sides.
I playfully shoved at him and tossed the ball to Jenny. She, Everest, and Amelie made up the girl team while Mason, Ted, Roger, and Tank made up the guy team. Slade and Landon stood on the sidelines cheering us on. Next to them were Mason’s parents along with two other dragons I thought were Preston and Davis. Little Amelia and Pierce shouted, cheering Everest on. It was adorable and I became lost in the moment.
The whole day had been perfect. Beyond perfect, really. I kept waiting to wake up and find myself back in that cage. Each time I sensed myself drifting away, Mason’s hand would find mine, and I’d find myself grounded again. It was like he knew exactly where my mind was headed. All it took was one touch to bring me back to reality. This reality.
We’d visited every shop in town, eating fresh muffins from the bakery, then ducking into the candy store afterward. Mason introduced me to his friends, and we went to the arcade, the bowling alley, had lunch at the diner he worked at before he set off for college. My cheeks were going to be sore tomorrow from so much smiling, but that was something I could live with.
Everyone in town treated me like one of their own. No one ran away from me screaming or looked at me like I was about to bring doom down on their heads. These people were loving and caring. Once or twice I’d had to wipe away tears. Mason had hugged when I did, not saying a word. He made me happier than I’d ever been in my life. Somehow, I’d have to let him know how much all of this meant to me.
Black Diamonds were still after me, and there was the mystery to unravel of why I’d gone through so much pain. But those were worries for another day.
“Ready?” Everest yelled
Roger ran off the field as Slade took his place, right in front of her.
Everest smiled at the challenge. “Oh, really? You think you’re going to salvage this game for the boys?”
“Don’t I know it. We playing or are you scared?” Slade’s brow rose.
Everest barked a laugh. “Bring it on, buttercup.”
She yelled hike and Slade counted off the seconds until he could tackle her. I sprinted forward, trying to dodge around Mason who was blocking me. I was about to slip away from him when he picked me up again and slung me over his shoulder.
“Cheater!” I laughed as he held me there, with no chance of getting the ball.
Tank was busy wrapping Amelie up in his arms, and it was down to Everest or Jenny to make a move. Jenny was open but then Preston, the dragon I believed was her husband, rushed the field and captured her in his arms, kissing her cheek as she protested through her laughter, too. Everest tucked the ball into the crook of her arm, and just as Slade made his move, she gracefully leapt over his head and sprinted for the endzone. She made it, tossing the ball into the air as she threw her hands up in celebration. Slade walked toward her as she mocked him, but then he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss that had Tank whistling loudly and a couple of the other guys catcalling.
Mason finally set me back on my feet, grinning smugly.
“Not sure what you’re smiling at. We still one,” I pointed out.
“No, I won,” he whispered then leaned down. His lips met mine, and my arms found their way around his neck. The swirling of emotions inside me was confusing, but I didn’t stop to think about any of them. I liked Mason. He liked me. There was nothing else to think about. The kiss was warm and made my toes curl in my boots. I was more than happy to kiss him again, but the whistling grew louder, and I opened my eyes to catch everyone looking at us.
Face burning, I backed away but didn’t regret it for a second. Mason beamed down at me as he held my hand and we hustled over to join the others.
“Rematch,” Slade was saying.
Everest rolled her eyes but shrugged. “Why not? If you’re up for losing twice tonight.”
They continued to banter until a dragon sprinted across the field, yelling for Amelie. The happy bubble I’d found myself in all day popped at the sight of the dragon’s pale face. He reached Amelie and whispered in her ear. Tank who stood right beside her appeared to hear the news, too. He cursed.
“What’s wrong?” Mason asked as the two of them started to leave with the dragon.
“A healer has fallen ill,” Amelie told us. “And several Hunters.”
“Ill? What do you mean ill?”
Amelie glanced from Mason to me, and my heart sank, a foreboding growing inside me. “Very high fevers and they appear to be hallucinating. I have to go tend to them now. I’m sure it’s nothing. Don’t let me ruin the night.”
Once she was gone, the rest of us stood around. Slade and Everest whispered quietly amongst themselves. They picked up Amelia and Pierce from Everest and Mason’s parents and announced they were heading home for the night. We all started to leave the park.
“Want to grab a late-night bite to eat?” Mason asked. “Diner’s still open.”
“No, I’m good. Exhausted.” I stretched and yawned, trying to cover up the worry coursing through me.
Mason saw right through it and pulled us to a stop. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop it.”
“Was anyone sick before I came here?” I whispered, not wanting the guards to overhear me.
“No,” he said slowly. “Emry, this has nothing to do with you coming here.”
I started to reach for my left arm but stopped myself. Mason caught the motion anyway, and I didn’t wait for him to say something about it. I beat him to it. “I’m just worried is all. Hard not to be when everything seemed so perfect for you all, and then I show up and ruin it.”
“You didn’t ruin it. Amelie will figure out what’s wrong and heal them. She’s very good at what she does. Trust me.”
As we walked together to the inn so I could turn in for the night, all my good feelings for the day started to slip away. By the time Mason and I stood outside my door, and he left me with a goodnight kiss, I was torn. I shut the door behind me and leaned against it. What was I doing?
A growling sounded in my ear, and I sank to the floor, horrified, clutching my knees to my chest. This wasn’t happening. I was not at the Fell Gates. Radnak was not back. And I was not his daughter.
But you are, his voice whispered in my mind and tears seeped from my eyes. Did you truly believe you could hide from me?
My left arm burned so badly I gasped in pain. I tugged my sleeve up. The skin was red and irritated, but there was still no mark. I rubbed at it, waiting for it to stop, but it only grew worse. I bit my lip to stop from crying out, not wanting to alert the guards just down the hall from my room.
I warned you what would happen. Come back to me now, and this will all stop.
“Never,” I whispered on a pained breath.
So be it. I hope you are not too fond of your new friends. Or Mason. Are you ready to see him die?
“You can’t kill them all. I won’t let you.”
Who said I was going to be the one to do it?
I pushed off the floor, unable to sit still as my arm continued to burn. I had to stop him from hurting anyone else. From hurting Mason. There was no way I was telling Mason who I was. I had to get back to the Fell Gates, but I wasn’t strong enough to stop Radnak. If I went, he’d have what he wanted.
And if I stayed, I was putting all these innocents at risk. Mason and his family.
I walked from one side of the room to the other, the ticking of the clock growing louder and louder in my ears as if counting down the minutes until we were all screwed.