by Ophelia Bell
Javin sat and leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “It sounds like you have a plan all figured out. Care to share?”
Astra’s skin prickled with excitement, and despite her earlier aversion to Simon, her attention drifted back to him as he settled into a seat across from her. He met her eyes, clenched his jaw as if it hurt him to look at her, then darted his gaze away again.
Astra’s lips twitched. Maybe she’d been too big a bitch to him. She didn’t even know his story. All she knew was what the media had reported, that he’d sold out his partner to avoid going to jail.
“She’s just confirmed what we already figured out,” Simon said. “The drug comes from Earth. But you know more, don’t you, Gerri? Can you help us pinpoint where to go?”
The older shifter said, “I can, but I need an assurance from you first. This operation will require the skills of all three of you to work. My contact is a client who is in similar straits, who sought me out several weeks ago to find a mate, though what he desires most is tied to the drug, the same as you. To get to the bottom of this, I need you to agree to work together. I can’t tell you more, except that you need to trust me that this is the best way to get what you need.”
“Who is this person? Another champion?” Astra asked.
“Not exactly, but he is the only person who can help. If you agree to this, I’ll set up a meeting on Earth in a few days’ time.”
“If you’re just a matchmaker, why are you interested in doing this?” Simon asked.
Gerri gave him a sly smile. “Who told you I was just a matchmaker?”
10
Astra
The trip to Earth had both exhausted and invigorated Astra. Traveling with two men she was only barely on speaking terms with was the exhausting part. Every so often, she’d receive a glimmer of awareness from her dragon. Just enough to remind her she wasn’t hopeless yet, but to highlight how off her game she was. But with those glimmers came the most acute pangs of longing—double what she remembered feeling with Javin during the encounters they’d had over the years before Talon had been killed.
When they subsided, she was left with an even darker despair. She hated the fact that she was actually grateful for the damaged link to her dragon for once. She couldn’t let herself get distracted by these two men. She needed to focus on this mission Gerri was sending them on. While Astra may not be completely in sync with her animal, she was still a highly trained champion, and they were traveling to Earth. Even in her weakened state, Gerri had assured her she was still far more powerful a creature than any of Earth’s shifters and more than capable of carrying out whatever tasks would be required for this mission.
Because that’s exactly what it was starting to feel like, which was the exhilarating part. She was done feeling helpless and weak, and Gerri had been instrumental in restoring her hope and sense of purpose. She needed to be able to fight, to find the source of this drug that had killed her brother. She didn’t really give a crap whether Javin or Simon had equally valid reasons for going—she would have gladly gone alone given the opportunity—but Gerri had insisted that it be all three of them.
The Nova Aurora Arena League had agreed to finance their trip after a brief call from Javin to the league’s board to explain he had a lead. The league didn’t have a huge presence on Earth, but it kept a few houses as bases of operation near the city when officials traveled to the other planet on scouting trips. It was rare, but the occasional Earth shifter showed signs of athletic prowess on the level of some of the native Nova Aurora shifters, and the league wasn’t about to waste the opportunity to capitalize on that.
Astra had no idea what to expect though. Everything on Earth was vastly different from Nova Aurora, from the scents to the colors of the sky and trees to the vehicle she found herself riding in shortly after arriving through the gate from the wormhole they’d traveled through. The limousine was comfortable and spacious, unlike the little speedy two-seater transports most residents of Nova Aurora owned.
The strange landscape passed by in a blur and she stared out the window, marveling at all the green.
“It’s different, I’ll say that,” Simon said, his good-natured comment a pleasant rumble at her side. Her skin tingled and she shifted closer to the window, irritated by her reaction to him every time he spoke to her.
“How long do you think we’ll be here?” she asked, directing her question at Javin, who sat across the way from her, sipping an icy drink.
“Hopefully not long. If we can find the source, we can shut down production and ensure the stuff is no longer being shipped to our planet. That will take some investigating, of course, but hopefully this person Gerri is introducing us to has connections and can help with that side of things. I also want to make sure we get an ample supply of the stuff to formulate a counteragent from. One that will actually work for both of you.”
As they drove down the main street of a small town, residents stared and pointed, and Astra shifted back into the shadows, stretching out her legs. She winced when her thigh twinged, but when Javin reached for his medical bag, she waved him off.
“It’s fine. I’ll let you know if anything feels wrong.” She gave him a halfhearted smile, silently wishing things could be different. That he would see her as someone other than Talon’s little sister or a patient he had to fix.
He pressed his lips into a tight line but nodded and sat back, picking up his drink again.
“It’s only been a few days,” Simon said.
Astra stared at him in confusion. “A few days for what?”
“Since you were injured. I know it feels hopeless now but we’ll fix this and you’ll be back in the arena before you know it. You’ll look back and it’ll be like any other injury you’ve had to heal from. They all make you feel like your career could be over. There’s always that worry, but when you get your dragon back, you’ll heal up good as new. You’ll see.”
She gave him a tight smile. “I hope so,” she said, then watched him thoughtfully. “You’ve been out this entire time, haven’t you? That must be hard.”
Simon’s gaze grew distant as he stared out the window and sighed. “This definitely wasn’t part of my career plan. I fucked up, letting Gunther get into my head about winning at all costs.”
“Would you come back if you could?” she asked.
“In a heartbeat. But I don’t think it’s in the cards for me. You have a chance still, and I’m just glad I get to be a part of making sure you get your career back. Mine is probably a lost cause.”
She turned toward him at the sound of hopelessness in his voice. “The league council has reinstated champions before, you know. The year Talon started competing there was a shifter who went a little rogue during a trio match. His teammates reported him and he was kicked out for unsportsmanlike behavior. It turned out he had a rare, genetic mental disorder. He got help, and when he proved to the league council he was better, they let him back in.”
“I remember him. The difference was that he didn’t break any laws. Nobody died.”
“Don’t give up. That’s all I’m saying.” She glanced at Javin, perplexed by his deep frown. He seemed deep in thought but wasn’t sharing, as usual.
“Do you have any idea why Gerri wants all three of us?” she asked. Javin’s expression softened and he shook his head.
“Not a clue. I imagine I’m on the list because of my medical background. As for the two of you, I suppose it remains to be seen. Looks like we’re almost at the house, so let’s settle in for the night and talk more tomorrow.”
The car turned off the road and crunched over gravel for several minutes, taking them deeper into a forest of those strange green trees. Astra’s home on Nova Aurora was in a similar forest, but the trees there had purple leaves, so this would take some getting used to. Good thing Astra liked the color green. Finally they came to a stop and the driver got out, opening the doors for them.
Astra stepped out and gasped at the gorgeous, sprawling house
they’d arrived at. It reminded her a bit of Bryer and Ignazio’s place on the lake, only this one was about half the size, with a wide, wraparound porch and high windows that went up three stories. At the top sat a railing and a sturdy platform that jutted out several feet over the slope of the roof. This place was definitely designed with dragon shifters in mind.
Her heart sank though. Without her connection to her dragon, shifting had become practically impossible. When would she get to fly again?
A portly, gray-haired woman came to the top of the porch steps and waved. “Hi there! My name’s Stella. You must be Astra! And let me guess . . .” She eyed the guys and pointed at each in turn. “Javin and Simon, right?”
“In the flesh,” Simon said, reaching out to shake her hand.
“Wonderful! Welcome to the Northlight House. I’ve got the kitchen stocked, the beds made up, and the closets all filled with appropriate clothing in your sizes. I want you all to feel at home while you’re on Earth, so eating and dressing the part is important. I’ll be serving dinner in an hour. That should give you time to settle in and unwind. Come, come. Follow me to your rooms!”
They paused in the foyer of the house as the driver and another man carried in their bags and headed up the stairs. They didn’t have much luggage since they’d been told Earth-appropriate clothing would be provided, so Astra had only packed the bare essentials: her toiletries, her training gear, and her favorite pajamas. She’d never been to Earth, but her glance out the window on the way through the town hadn’t shown her anything outrageous at least.
“That should be the last of it,” the driver said, pausing at the front door and touching the brim of his hat. “I’ll be in the carriage house if you need to head into town for anything. Just ask.” He shot a beaming smile at Stella before dipping to kiss her on the cheek as he headed out the door.
Stella’s eyelids fluttered and her cheeks went pink. “Don’t mind Bruce. He’s an old softie. Let me show you to your rooms then.”
Astra smiled to herself as she followed Stella upstairs. They headed down a hallway into one room with a large four-poster bed in rich brown wood and a balcony that looked out over the purple twilight descending over the forest that surrounded them.
“This is your room, Javin,” Stella said. “Bruce thought you might like the view from this side best.” She pushed open the french doors that led to the balcony and beckoned. The three of them followed. “Such a lovely view, isn’t it?” She exhaled a deep sigh.
“It’s gorgeous,” Javin said.
Stella raised a finger. “And if you wish for a late-night run, you have private access.” She waddled over to the edge and flipped a light switch, illuminating a set of steps that descended down to the ground.
They parted ways with Javin, Stella leading them farther down the hall to another room. “And here’s your room, Simon.” The room was similarly appointed as the first, with sturdy furniture and a wide balcony, but it lacked ground access.
“No escape route for me, huh?” Simon teased.
Stella scoffed and waved her hand. “No, but you do have easy access to the kitchen.” Her brown eyes sparkled as she led them back out and opened the next door down the hall. A narrow stairwell led both up and down, and from the floor below wafted the delicious scent of roasted meat.
Astra laughed at the look of utter adoration Simon gave the woman.
“I think Bruce may have a rival,” Astra said.
Stella chuckled. “Oh, sweetie, no one can replace my Bruce. Come, your room is next. Simon, you can head down but I warn you, the chef might put you to work.”
Simon’s head was already disappearing down the stairwell. “It’ll be worth it!” he called back.
Rather than returning to the hallway, Stella began to climb higher.
“Is our supper safe?” Astra joked.
“Oh, there’s more than enough. When I heard we’d be hosting a dragon, I made sure to stock up. The kitchen’s equipped with a full walk-in cooler and a full-time chef. You’re not the first champions we’ve had as guests, you know. The chef is also fully trained and consults regularly with Pomona Maurin on recipes. Chances are, he’ll put Simon to work out in the garden instead of letting him get underfoot. You are in very good hands, I promise.”
“Pomona’s recipes?” Astra asked. “I love her recipes. She and Nessa Baxter are friends of mine.” Any regrets she had about missing her chance to be a houseguest at the Hot Wings mansion disappeared.
“All the top champions follow the Maurin-Baxter diet nowadays,” Stella said with a nod. “It’s even catching on among Earth shifters who want to follow a healthier, more athletic lifestyle.”
Stella reached the landing and pointed up. “Keep going and you’ll reach the widow’s walk. If you have a mind to fly, it’s all yours. Just try to restrict your flights to the evenings. Locals are shifter friendly, but we don’t get many dragons on Earth, so it’s best to avoid startling them.”
“Thanks. I’ll remember that,” Astra said in a subdued voice. She’d have loved to fly but wasn’t sure when that would happen, if ever. Maybe if the food was as good as she hoped, she’d heal her link to her dragon enough to be able to shift again.
Stella pulled open the door and stepped straight into a quaint room nestled among the eaves of the house. The large bed filled the entire alcove of one dormer, and the sounds of the trees rustling in the wind drifted in through the open window above it.
“Oh, this is lovely,” Astra said, spinning around in the center of the room.
“Not as spacious as the downstairs rooms, but I thought you might like a little nest. The bathroom makes up for it. It has a full-sized Jacuzzi tub and shower.”
“I don’t mind a bit,” Astra said. “I only plan to sleep here anyway.” She wandered through the door into the bathroom, which took up another corner of the top floor. This dormer, however, featured a luxurious tub that was easily the size of the bed in the other room. Opposite the tub was a tiled shower stall big enough to stretch her wings inside if she had the inclination to, and she stepped back out of the bathroom, realizing that it took up fully half of the entire upper floor.
Stella smiled indulgently. “You like it?”
“It is the perfect dragon retreat. I love it!”
“Wonderful. Well, then I will leave you alone to settle in. As I said, supper will be ready in about an hour.”
The woman retreated back out the door, shutting it gently behind her.
Astra took a deep breath, a strange feeling of excitement spreading through her limbs. Her dragon’s awareness flared to life, perking up the slightest bit.
“We like this place, don’t we?” Astra asked, hoping that talking to her animal might make a difference. Maybe it was being away from the constant reminders of the arena that helped most, but for the first time she had a sense that healing might actually be possible in a place like this.
She grabbed her toiletries and headed into the big bathroom. Stripping out of her clothes, she eyed the tub for a moment, pondering whether or not she had time for a bath. She finally decided that food was the priority and stepped into the shower instead.
Standing beneath the hot spray, she could almost forget about her injury, but upon returning to the bedroom, the full-length mirror on the door of the wardrobe dashed that fantasy to pieces. Simply facing the bandage on her inner thigh made the thing throb with an unwelcome reminder of how broken she still was, not to mention how dependent on Javin’s help.
She pulled the wardrobe door open, flipping through the garments until she found something she liked. The clothing was all in soft fabrics that would have been enticing to slip into, but many were dresses that would leave her all too conscious of the bandage on her leg. But the undergarments were all silky or lacy bits of prettiness that she couldn’t resist trying on, the sexy frills a pleasing visual distraction from her wound. She chose a set of black lace bra and panties before donning a pair of black denim jeans and a form-fitting violet b
louse that dipped low between her breasts. Then she slipped into a pair of boots from the assortment of footwear.
Finally she closed the door and stared in the mirror again, scrutinizing herself for any hint of weakness. Smoothing gel in her hands, she ran it through her short blond hair, pulling the strands up into spikes. She wasn’t about to let herself look soft, despite how utterly raw she felt inside every moment.
She finished off her look with her typical deep indigo battle paint. When she was done, dark, glittery shadow rimmed her eyes, fading to violet at the edges, and the last touch was the matching lipstick in the same dusky hue.
She was a warrior, not a victim, but even the strongest warriors still needed good armor before heading into battle. She didn’t trust her reactions around the two men and wouldn’t risk letting her guard down for a second.
11
Astra
Astra’s heart pounded as she made her way down the small staircase, emerging into a busy kitchen, but Simon was nowhere in sight. The chef only spared her a cursory glance, nodding toward the exit. Astra thanked him with a smile and pushed through the swinging door into a large dining room with a table set for three. She immediately stalked toward a credenza where she spied a crystal decanter filled with pale liquid. Taking a sniff, she was pleased to recognize the scent of Sidaii wine and poured herself a generous glass.
“How’s your wound?”
Javin’s voice made her jerk. He’d snuck up behind her, which made her grit her teeth in annoyance. She should have sensed him there. She was better than that. “It’s fine.”
“Don’t forget we need to take care of your injection before you go to bed tonight. Keeping the toxin from spreading too swiftly beyond the wound is important.”
