by Kiki Howell
Lila took the can. “It’s going to hurt for a bit. You have a deep wound from the beast’s claw. My brother will be in later tonight to do a healing credence on you now that you’re awake, which will help you get well faster. Though the pain might be cringeworthy for a bit when you walk, there won’t be a gash anymore, more like a scrape.” She smiled.
Dovie took a few deep breaths. Needing to take her mind off the pain, she asked, “Moonstruck?”
“Moonstruck are moon dragons who cannot change back to their human form.”
Dovie laid back against the pillow, sweat popping along her brow. “Talk to me. Why not?” She just needed to focus on Lila’s voice and not the searing ache in her calf.
“It started long before my time, long before the current Ancients too, but a moon dragon wanted to stay in his dragon form longer than twenty-four hours during the monthly new moon. In search of a way to do this, he discovered that consuming pristine dragon scales from himself or others would keep him in his dragon form. But pristine scales are few and far between. A moon dragon might shed one every fifteen shifts. Our scales usually dissolve when we shift back, though every so often one will shed from the body.”
“Ew. They eat each other?” Dovie looked up at Lila. The healer shrugged.
“Just scales, but they have high magical value. And humans use them to make a street drug called sliver. Which is what was running amok in your system when I got to you. It’s highly addictive. It can kill a human the first time they try it, but that doesn’t seem to stop them. It’s nearly out of your system, but you will have some residual side effects. Each person is different but you might have an upset stomach for a while, the shakes or shivers, and occasional confusion.”
Lovely. A cannibal dragon had shot her up with drugs. Dovie didn’t even know how to comprehend the information. “Why don’t you all do something about these moonstruck? Won’t they hurt people? Don’t you have safeguards or something for us humans?” Anger set inside her stomach, washing out the sick feeling. She let it take over the pain.
“Our clan leaders and the Ancients generally keep them from attacking humans. This moonstruck wasn’t after you. Humans aren’t of much use to them. He was after Torren.”
“Was it laced to get Torren addicted to eating scales too?” That didn’t sound like some rabid dog with no thought processes. It sounded premeditated.
“We think the moonstruck was drawn to Torren because his shift was coming on prematurely. We moon dragons don’t immediately shift into our dragon forms. It takes place over the course of about two weeks, during which our scales and such push out from under our skin until we are full dragons during the new moon. Twenty-four hours later, we are human again with no sign of our dragon form on the outside.”
It should have made Dovie feel better about the attack, but her heart sank. This thing wanted him and she’d just gotten in the way. She should be thinking about how to get away from this life, but the truth was all she wanted was Torren to be safe. He’d saved her at great risk to himself. Did he know?
“Enough of our problems. You need to rest. You can go home when you’ve healed more and we are sure the drug is out of your system. For now we had your things brought up. You’ll likely be here another day just to be safe.” Lila walked around the bed, pulled the quilling tools from something on the floor, probably Dovie’s bag, and brought them to her. “Really. Try to relax and work on letting your body heal. You’ll find moving difficult, so if you need something, just ring this bell.” She set a silver bell on the bedside table. “Only sip the water. I’ll bring some lunch here in a bit. We can try some Jell-O, as I’m sure your tummy will not like much else if you can barely hold down water. But still drink, just slow.”
“I really want to see Torren.” She needed to thank him.
“I’ll let him know.” Lila smiled and then left the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
Dovie opened her box with her quilling stuff in it and began pulling her tools and strips of paper out. That’s when it hit her. Lila had said they would send her home. Did that mean Torren and her were officially detached? Tears sprang out of the corners of her eyes and her chest tightened once again. She shouldn’t want more after the attack, but something inside her didn’t feel right without Torren. It wasn’t love, but she had hoped they could grow it into something more. Warm tears fell down her cheeks. She’d been rejected, which should have made her happy. She could go back to work at her store and try and forget about the moon dragon and his sinfully delicious kiss. But her insides were being torn apart. The pain far exceeded that of her leg and she let the tears blur her vision of paper.
Abandoned again.
Chapter Fifteen
TORREN HAD GATHERED his credence materials from his house while Dovie had slept, and brought them to Brooks’ guest house, not far from the main house. The effects of the attachment would be lessened, thanks to the heavy dose of sliver, so he’d chanced it. He had been worried she wouldn’t wake until Lila had knocked on his door earlier to let him know she was asking for him. Probably to tell him she couldn’t do this and wanted the detachment.
He’d face her later.
Maybe.
He kept thinking about his house. So many repairs. The blood all over his bedroom floor staining the brown carpet. Her blood. All the money he had saved to buy his next credence would go to repairs instead, but he still planned to compete the day after tomorrow. He could save more money, but he couldn’t change the memory. Her eyes, the fear in them haunted him throughout the day and assaulted him in his dreams. She had been terrified. He couldn’t unsee the beast pulling her away as she scratched at the floor for purchase. His gut twisted.
The moonstruck didn’t normally get so close. They spent most of their time in dark caves and the forest, away from the clans. They were mad, vicious, and unreasonable. Even though Brooks had mentioned the beast might have sniffed him out, why would its claws have been laced in sliver? The moonstruck or human dealers couldn’t have known he had a human with him, so he had no doubt they had been after him. But why? Brooks had been in conferences several times over the course of yesterday and last night trying to find out more information, to see if other clans had had any issues. The only thing Torren could do to keep his mind off it all was to dive into his magic.
He sat cross-legged, the book open before him. Magic sprouted from the pages in browns and greens as he twisted his illusion together. He’d already figured out how to use the artifact, or at least his interpretation of it. He planned to create a piece even Dovie would love, something that would show her how beautiful dragons could be, even if she never saw it.
A knock came at the door. “Hey, you at a stopping point?” Brooks’ voice came through the door. Torren glanced away from the book to find night had already descended. Time flew when he was absorbed in his creation.
“Come on in.” Torren closed the book, the magic disappearing back into the pages. He stood and set the artifact on the table by his unmade bed. Brooks sauntered in, a grave look in his eyes. “What’s up? Is Dovie okay?” Torren swallowed the fear building in his throat. Earlier she had been fine, but things changed, as he’d learned just by meeting the female. What if she had gone into a coma when she’d taken a nap? What if they couldn’t heal her?
“She’s fine. It’s not about her. It’s about the moonstruck. Seems there have been attacks on the other four clans as well. With laced claws too. This has been orchestrated. The leaders from Auris, Ember, Nighe, and Ocea are getting together with me tonight. But the plan is to up the guards in each dragon city at night.” Brooks rubbed the back of his neck. He stood like the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.
“How do we find out who is doing this?” Torren asked.
“We don’t have very many clues right now, but we will all be working on it. After the Ancients awaken we will have to consult fully with them for a true course of action. Until then we need to keep our kin safe.”
“My house is near the outskirts of town. Do you think that’s why the beast went for me?” Torren wasn’t sure going back home would be an option until the Ancients awoke. He’d have to deal with it after the competition. He’d already made plans for a contractor to come out tomorrow and start cleaning up, as well as prepare an estimate of the cost of repairs.
“Possibly. In Ocea, they had a breach from under the water. A water dragon was laced. He’s in recovery, but his shift surprised everyone. Ember’s fire dragons managed to avoid the attack. The home of the victim was demolished, but no one was there. In Nighe, they saw it coming, but what else would you expect from the shadow clan? Auris was hit the worst with one moon dragon missing and two injured in the attack. Their healing lights helped save the injured before they managed to shift to full dragons. Our clan is the only one with a human casualty. Which makes me believe without a doubt that they are after moon dragons.”
“Will this affect the challenge?” Torren half worried the moonstruck might attack with so many coming to town for the competition. He’d already seen an influx in visitors.
“The challenge is still on for tomorrow and will be unless circumstances become more dire. After you compete, we can perform the detachment. Dovie should be up and raring to go by then. The healers have already done everything they can. She was walking earlier.”
Torren’s heart dropped. He hadn’t realized how alone he was until he’d spent this time with her and half away from her. He’d never feared for anyone the way he had Dovie. He wouldn’t call what he had love, but it could blossom, it could be more. His hopes were dashed though. She wouldn’t want anything to do with a dragon after what had happened to her and he had avoided seeing her already. Part of him was afraid she would reject him, but mostly he didn’t ever want to see that kind of fear in her eyes again, especially when she looked at him. Torren glanced at the scales along his wrist. He was better off practicing for the challenge; at least he still had a shot at that. Deep down though, if she’d have him, he would gladly give their relationship a shot. She was right in one respect; he could always become an Ancient later. “Sounds good. I’m sure she will be thrilled to get back to her safe human home.” Torren ran his hands through his hair, trying to crush the desperate need to go see her, to beg her to try anyways, even though he knew it would do no good. Humans didn’t go through something like a dragon attack and come out unscathed. No, they lashed out at what they didn’t understand.
“Don’t beat yourself up. You still have the challenge to look forward to. So I’ll leave you to it.” Brooks gave him a halfhearted smile and left, closing the door with a soft click behind him.
Torren grabbed the artifact and ran a hand over the leaves covering the outside binding. It seemed forever ago he’d been watching Dovie bend over at her store. She’d wreaked havoc on his world, made him believe he could want a little more than just to be an Ancient, and she would leave his life as fast as she’d entered.
.
Chapter Sixteen
DOVIE SAT STRAIGHT up in bed, a cold sweat sweeping over her body. She shivered, looking around the room. It was the same room she’d been in since she’d woken up after the attack, but that didn’t stop her from scanning the area for any beasts lurking somewhere or waiting by the window. She didn’t dare go look. She flipped on the lamp by the bed. Even though she hadn’t heard anything swoop past the window, her ears still strained for any indication it would come to get her. The creature’s red eyes haunted her dreams as she relived his claws gouging her skin over and over. She could hardly sleep no matter how tired she was, afraid to see the thing in her dreams and afraid to open her eyes.
She’d tried to see Torren yesterday, but he’d refused to see her, claiming he was working on his credence for the challenge that would be happening. . . She looked at her clock. It was early, four in the morning. He would compete today. She didn’t blame him for focusing on his dream. She couldn’t blame him for not seeing her. But she really wished she could thank him face to face. Something must have happened because she hadn’t felt a pull toward him since she’d woken up from the attack. It hurt that he hadn’t asked about her or come to check on her, though what could she truly expect? He hadn’t wanted someone in his life to begin with; she couldn’t expect anything to change just because they’d had a few moments where he’d weakened and allowed her in. The dragon attack had probably showed him just how fragile she was, which wasn’t at all pleasing after how easily he'd lost his mother.
She’d be going home today too, Brooks had let her know yesterday. She had healed really well and her leg barely had a scar. Dragon magic was awesome. She could see the appeal in living in a place like this—and the repulsive, deadly side too. Dragons were much stronger than humans.
She missed her store, all her books, and her best friend. Dovie pulled out her phone and speed-dialed Bex. She’d answer no matter what time it was, and they hadn’t talked since after she’d woken from the attack. The woman had had a fit over the phone and threatened to come up and face the dragons. Of course that was silly, but it had made Dovie feel good. The phone rang three times and then. . .
“Hey, D. Everything all right?” Bex’s familiar, sleepy voice said over the line.
“Nightmares.”
“About the attack?” She yawned into the phone and Dovie heard the covers rustle.
“Yeah. I can’t get those damn red eyes out of my head. And the pain.” Hearing Bex’s voice was just what she needed. Her body relaxed at the sound.
“Give it time. Try to think about something else. How about the sexy Torren? You talk to him yet?”
Leave it to Bex to bring up a man. “He’s been working on his magic thing for the challenge today so he hasn’t seen me. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want to see me. I think it’s over.” Tears sprang up in her eyes. Her chest tightened.
“If you haven’t talked to him and he hasn’t said it, then don’t assume. Go to the event and talk to him.” Bex sounded more awake.
“Are you serious? There’s, like, dragons galore up here! I can’t go to that event.”
“And why the hell not? If you want him, then show him how much. If he really doesn’t want you after his thingy,” Bex giggled, “pun intended, then you’ll know once you actually face him. Don’t be a coward. Show him you’re still there.”
Dovie laughed and then covered her mouth. Leave it to her best friend to lighten the mood. But Bex was right. Dovie couldn’t sit here and hide under the covers and wait for him to come to her because that’s not how things got done. If she wanted something, she needed to go after it with all she had. “You’re a menace.”
“But you love me anyway!”
“I do. Thanks. I needed a pep talk and, well, just to hear my best friend’s voice.” Dovie glanced out the window. The sky was turning colors, brightening from black to morning. She pushed the covers aside.
“That’s what I’m here for. Go out there and get him. Then tell me all about the dirty stuff later.” Bex snickered.
Dovie shook her head. “You know I will. Wish me luck!” She was likely going to need it.
“Luck.” Bex made kiss sounds and they hung up.
She placed her phone on the charger and stepped out of bed. Cool air reached her legs, as she’d only worn a T-shirt. She needed a nice hot shower. She planned to catch his attention. Dovie searched through her bag and finally found a black pencil skirt, lacey bra and panties, and a light pink blouse. She grabbed her makeup kit and clothes and headed out of her room and to the hall bathroom, thankful no one was really awake, or at least ready for a shower. The hot water would be all hers. Dovie smiled as she shut the bathroom door.
This place was amazing. The interior lived up to its extravagant exterior. The bathroom was master sized with real black marble counters and marble tiles along the floor and in the shower. A crystal-clear glass door rounded out the shower stall. In the corner was a whirlpool bath, all white and sparkly clean. Bath balms sat on one si
de of it. While part of her was tempted to take a soak, she didn’t want to overextend her welcome, and so she settled for turning the hot water on in the shower. Once it reached her desired temperature, she took off her sweaty nightclothes and stepped in.
She could make him see her side, or maybe seduce him to her way of thinking. Warm water washed over her, falling into her face. She closed her eyes and relaxed her body into the rain-like drops. The heat felt good along her calf. The healer had done a wonderful job with the wound, but the muscle still ached. She said it would be much better in about ten days. Normal doctor talk. While she remained around a bunch of dragons, many in various stages of shifting with different colored scales on their wrists, temples, and even necks, they didn’t scare her. They seemed normal, like human doctors and such. If the scales weren’t there, she wouldn’t even think about them being dragons.
Dovie soaped up her hair with what was sitting in the shower, which looked to be a guest shampoo, as it was a small bottle and still full. Had Brooks put it here for her? She rubbed down to her roots, enjoying the self massage on her head. She’d doll herself up and have Brooks take her to the challenge. Make it hard for Torren to turn her down. Bex was right. If she wanted to see how things could go, she shouldn’t give up so easily. Torren wouldn’t get away before she knew if he really didn’t want her—not just his words saying no and his body saying yes. Dovie smiled to herself, ready to take on the dragon and win.
.
Chapter Seventeen
TORREN HAD SUCCESSFULLY avoided Dovie, claiming he was concentrating on his credence. Truth was he’d already mastered the illusion he planned to present at the Draconic Challenge. He just couldn’t face that look of fear in her eyes. Knowing the detachment was happening tonight left an empty feeling inside his chest.
He’d stayed within her vicinity to spare her any more pain. Today he had to focus on himself. Perhaps Brooks would find a way to ease her discomfort while they attended the arena. Part of him wished she’d come, but he knew better. Why would she come to such a place and be surrounded by creatures like him?
