by Debra Dunbar
Someone who was fairly fire-proof, and who didn’t mind visiting a grumpy, territorial dragon right in his own lair.
Sam.
“Thanks Nyalla,” I said into the phone.
“Anytime. And Amber? Can the bridesmaid dresses be blue or green, or maybe blue-green? G—I mean, my boyfriend really likes sea colors and I want him to think I’m beautiful in the dress.”
Tears stung my eyes. “Girl, you’d be beautiful in a dime-store dress. But I’ll make sure whatever we pick out knocks that angel’s socks off.”
“You owe me big time,” Sam announced the second I picked up the phone.
“What, more bean dip? Maybe I can bring you a designer purse or scarf? A Hermès?”
“What the fuck am I supposed to do with a scarf?” she retorted. “Oh wait, yeah, bring me a scarf. Or two. One for Candy and one for Michelle. That’s two Christmas presents I don’t need to worry about now. Crossing those suckers off my list.”
It was a small price to pay to have Sam teleport to London and brave the lair of the dragon for me. Besides, Irix had stolen a dozen of those scarves while I was busy banging the shopkeeper in Bellagio. It wasn’t like I was going to wear them all, and I only had so many of my friends to give them to.
“Okay, you’re on speaker phone right now. Here’s Sparky. Sparky, this is Amber. She’s a half-elf/half-succubus, and she thinks she’s found some of your relatives down in Italy.”
“Well, not relatives exactly,” I chimed in hastily, worried that I might offend the ancient dragon and he’d either refuse to talk to me or try to eat Sam. “There are some dragons down here that shapeshift into human form.”
“Maybe they’re humans who shapeshift into dragon form,” the voice rumbled. “I can imagine that humans might desperately employ any sort of magical means to attempt a copy of one of us. Anything to try to improve their puny, stupid bodies and lives.”
I winced. “They act like dragons, though. They hold territory and have treasures, and eat any human who tries to take anything of theirs. When they turn into dragons, they shoot fire out of their mouths that melts stone. There are two families who are feuding down here, but from what I can see, they’re all black dragons with green eyes.”
“Black dragons? They were all killed a thousand years ago in a war. Nasty creatures. They don’t really get along with anyone, even members of their immediate family.”
Did any dragons get along with members of their family?
“I’m wondering if a few escaped here, assumed human form to blend in with the humans so they wouldn’t get killed. And I think they’re interbreeding with the humans, because there aren’t very many of them in each family, they pretty much threaten to kill each other on sight, and I haven’t seen any hint of incest.”
“It’s possible, but how humiliating for them. They should have just died fighting the humans, or died in our homeland. What a horrible, degrading existence.”
I was pretty sure the original dragons had died, and that the descendants didn’t find this existence so horrible, but I wasn’t sure.
“Black, white, green, and gray dragons all have the ability to change form, although I cannot recall them ever doing so. Why would they want to be anything but dragon?”
“Because when they came here, the humans would have killed them had they been in their dragon form. And now it’s been so long, and they’ve interbred with humans that human has become their primary form.”
Sparky made a noise that sounded an awful lot like “ick”.
“So what do I do? These two families have a blood feud. One was murdered for encroaching on another’s territory. Then a young dragon from their family was caught with a young male from the other in the male’s territory, and now her family is here, burning everything down.”
“Well, as for the first one, getting killed is always a risk when you cross borders into what someone calls their own. Did the other family declare war in retaliation?”
“No.”
“Hmm, well there you go. The trespasser was in the wrong. His family knew it, and is refusing to avenge his murder.”
I remembered the conversation I’d overheard between Marcus and Catarina. They hadn’t moved to avenge Guido. But the odd thing was no one was insisting Bianca sell the villa and stay away. She was the heiress. Didn’t her grandmother worry that she’d be killed as well?
“How about a child? A young dragon of eighteen years inherited the property of the murdered dragon by human law, but the other family still calls it their territory. Would they kill her?”
“Not until she reached adulthood, which for us is at the human equivalent of thirty years old. But the family will probably take drastic measures to drive her away. They won’t easily tolerate her presence, although we don’t kill young.”
Here was the big question. “It seems this young dragon girl and a young dragon boy from the other family have fallen in love and were sneaking out to see each other. She was injured when they caught her here. And although she was trying to hide her wounds from her family, I think they may have found out.”
The dragon sighed. “Stupid black dragons. Normally alliances such as these are what put an end to long-running feuds. We often mate our young to heal factions and to resolve disputes in regard to territory or treasure. The fact that these two young ones are in love would make it all the easier. But black dragons are stubborn and they hold a grudge like no other. I doubt even a marriage between them will allow either side to forgive and forget.”
“So what do I do? Neither young dragon wants to leave their destined treasure behind, but I think they’re going to elope. The elders, on the other hand, are burning everything on this side of the lake. What do I do?”
“Get out of the way? Unless you’re fireproof, that is. Black dragons will never budge. Never.”
Then all hope was lost. These families would fight and destroy each other. Sergio and Bianca would have to reject each other, remaining unbonded and childless their whole lives. And this would be worse for Bianca, who would most likely need to leave behind the treasure her uncle had willed her, or face harassment and eventual death at the hands of the Sommarivas.
“Of course,” Sparky mused. “They are not really black dragons anymore, are they? They have diluted their blood with that of filthy humans for many generations.”
He was right. And instead of being insulted, his words gave me hope. Because unlike black dragons, humans were sentimental. And most humans had the incredible capacity to forgive and forget.
Chapter 20
The air smelled scorched even at six o’clock in the morning. The humans at the café across the street were somber, and afraid. I couldn’t understand a word they said, but I knew that nothing like this had ever happened to them. The dragons had never before let their feud grow to the point where they rained fire down on the towns and buildings. One woman explained in heavily accented English that the Sommarivas had ensured they were safe during World Wars I and II, during all the various skirmishes the area had seen through the centuries.
The dragons had protected their treasure, and that meant they’d protected the humans and their holdings as well. The humans blamed the Montenegros, but they admitted that the Sommarivas were not completely innocent in all of this, that events had been escalating to where this sort of war was probably inevitable.
I stared out over the lake, wondering how Bianca was doing. If she knew about what had happened. The fighting last night had to have upset her terribly. Her relatives were avenging her injuries, but their retaliation put any hope of reconciliation even farther into the future—if not smashed it entirely.
I heard a chair scrape and looked up to see Daniela lowering herself into the chair across from me. I barely recognized her. Her eyes were swollen and her skin blotchy as if she’d cried for hours. Her hands shook. And an angry red burn extended from one of her ears down across her neck and the upper part of her chest. I remembered her father’s hand and face, and knew
she’d forever carry that scar.
“I’ve come to beg your forgiveness.” Her voice broke, and she took a few ragged breaths before continuing. “I told Gianna to let you and Irix know that you were both safe here. This isn’t your fight, and I’m so sorry you were in the middle of what happened in Bellagio. None of our family will harm you. And even if you had continued to shelter the girl, we would not have fought you or invaded the villa to get her.”
“No, you would have waited outside to pounce the moment either Irix or I left, or when she went out of the villa,” I replied coldly. “You threatened a young woman in a public area, endangered the humans and everyone else who was there. You hurt her, and you came very close to hurting, or possibly even killing me.”
She clasped her hands in an effort to control the shaking. “I never meant to endanger you last night. I was so angry, and I truly didn’t see or recognize you there. All I saw was her, and I knew at once that Sergio was lost to that creature, that he’d been ensnared. I lost my temper, but I promise you that I will not do that again.”
“You would have killed an eighteen-year-old girl,” I retorted. “You would have killed the young woman your son had pledged his heart to, his soul mate. You claim he’s the most important part of your treasure, but it would have destroyed him if you’d killed Bianca.”
She flinched. “You don’t understand. Our families have been feuding for thousands of years. If Sergio had been found in their territory, with their daughter, his body would have been thrown on my doorstep.”
I stood, throwing down some money for my espresso. “That doesn’t excuse your actions. You hurt Bianca. You threatened to kill her. I don’t accept your apology.”
“I couldn’t catch up to him last night and he never came home. I don’t know where he is. They might have him. They might be torturing him or waiting to use him as leverage. I need…” She looked down at her hands on the top of the table. “You know the girl. Can you ask her if he is safe? Ask her where he is? I beg this of you as a mother who fears for her son’s life.”
That I couldn’t deny her. “Okay. I’ll ask Bianca. But I’m not asking where he is, only if he’s safe and not being kept prisoner somewhere. If he’s gone off to Switzerland or something, then I don’t really blame him. He’ll either be back when he’s ready, or not, but I won’t give him up to you. Not after what you did.”
She nodded. “Thank you. There is one more thing I want to ask of you.”
I wanted to tell her no, but curiosity got the best of me. “What?”
“I need your help. I beg of you to please help us.” She stood and reached out a hand, as if she were going to stop me from leaving, then quickly jerked it back. “Please. I saw what you did to the ivy and the plants last night and…I don’t know if you can help us or not, but I hope you can. Please. I’ll do anything. I’ll promise anything. I desperately need your help.”
I wasn’t inclined to help her, but I was intrigued. And honestly, my anger at her was diffusing to see her in such pain and so very upset. I wouldn’t easily forgive what she’d done last night, but I’d been raised as a human, and I did forgive.
She was part human as well. And if I could leverage whatever she wanted of me into something that could benefit Bianca and Sergio, it was worth helping her.
“What do you need me to do?”
Her breath hitched as she inhaled and I realized she was on the verge of crying. “Can you come to the villa? I need you to see it. Last night we were attacked. I’m sure you heard the fighting.” She looked around. “Everyone heard the fighting. They got through to the villa. They…it’s our treasure. They destroyed some of our treasure. Father is devastated, and I’m barely holding together. I’m sure that Sergio is suffering as well—not just from what happened last night with that Montenegro girl, but because he’s bonded to the family holdings. These treasures are to be his, and the damage to them injures and scars us worse than any physical wound.”
My mind immediately went to the gardens. Those beautiful gardens that I’d admired, that I’d fallen in love with had been damaged or destroyed. Now I was the one choking back sobs at the thought.
I guess I could sympathize with these dragons and their obsessions over treasure. I was the same about plants. I’d been gutted every time those demons had damaged the grapevines in Napa Valley, I’d been physically ill at the thought of magic harming the plants and trees in the bayous and city of New Orleans, and I’d nearly killed myself trying to heal that pineapple grove in Maui. The dragons had their treasures. I had plants.
“I’ve got a seminar at ten in Bergamo,” I told her. “That only gives me two hours before I have to leave.”
“If you could just look at them and let me know if you can help…?” She waved her hands in a helpless gesture. “If you could even heal one plant, I would be forever grateful. And so would Father. He is so distraught. I fear that this damage to his treasure might hasten his end.”
I might be mad at Daniela, but the thought of Mr. Sommariva suffering did sway me. Plus, I couldn’t stand the thought of what might have happened to those beautiful gardens.
“I need to let Irix know where I’m going,” I told her, well aware that he’d completely lose his shit if he woke up this morning and found me gone and not in the café as the note I’d left said.
Daniela nodded. “I need to get back. Can you meet me there? If there’s anything you can do, our whole family will be forever in your debt.”
And that’s what I was hoping. “I’ll be there right away.”
Irix was awake and in the shower when I came in. I was so tempted to strip down and join him, to make love with the hot spray of water on us and let all these problems wash down the drain, but instead I stood at the shower door and admired his body, waiting for him to rinse the shampoo out of his dark hair.
He smiled at me, and heat pooled down between my legs. Damn. Stupid dragons. I should be screwing my fiancé in the shower, not trying to settle an ancient family feud and help two young lovers have their happily-ever-after.
“Take off your clothes and join me,” he purred.
Oh, I so wanted to do just that.
“I can’t. Daniela came to see me over at the café to apologize for last night.”
His lip curled in a sneer. “Did you tell her to go fuck herself?”
“No, because she was begging me and telling me she and her family would be forever in my debt if I helped her with something.”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t like this Amber. What does she want you to do?”
“The Montenegros attacked their villa last night and from what she said, I think they may have destroyed some of the gardens.”
Irix caught his breath. “Oh, Amber. I’m so sorry. I know how that must make you feel. You loved those gardens.”
I did. And I loved how he knew me so well that he realized how much the loss of any of those plants would hurt me.
“I think she’s hoping I can heal a few of them or regrow some. I won’t know until I get there. But if I can, and I do this for her and her father, they’ll be in my debt.”
“Amber, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll overlook a relationship between Sergio and Bianca, or be willing to let go of the fact that their rival clan attacked them last night.”
“They attacked because Daniela hurt Bianca,” I argued. “And remember what Gianna said? They hold true to their word. I think they’re like demons when it comes to vows. And if that’s the case, then I can leverage this. I’ll heal what I can, get in their good graces, have them owing me a significant debt, then hopefully be able to negotiate something.”
“You’d need to do the same to the Montenegros,” he warned. “And they don’t have a burned-up garden for you to heal. The Sommarivas killed Guido. They hurt Bianca, even though she was technically trespassing here. And there are probably centuries of injuries that we don’t even know about. Growing a bunch of plants isn’t going to solve this problem.”
“But I have to try.”
He reached out and cupped my face in his wet palm. “I know you do. And you’d go there to heal those plants even if she hadn’t promised you a favor in return, because you can’t stand the thought of those beautiful gardens being ruined. Do you have enough energy? Do you need more?”
I loved how he was so willing to share his energy with me to heal a bunch of plants he really didn’t give a flying fig about. “I think I’ll be okay. If I have to, I’ll heal what I can, get more energy, then come back to do more repairs later.”
It didn’t escape me that a huge amount of energy I was carrying right now was given to me by Irix, and gained by him from Ilaria Montenegro. How ironic that I’d be healing Sommariva treasure using energy from one of their mortal enemies.
Irix turned off the water from the shower and I handed him a towel.
“Do you want me to go with you? Will you be safe?”
Again, I appreciated how he trusted that I could take care of myself. How far we had come that, even though he was worried, he’d let me head into the dragons’ lair on my own.
“No, I want to go alone. You’re a big scary powerful demon and I don’t think they’d be as open if you were there. I’m a less scary half-demon who doesn’t turn into a big carnivorous predatory pterodactyl, and who only seems to be able to speed-grow plants.”
He wrapped the towel around his hips. “Be back in an hour or I’m storming the castle. Okay?”
I had a vision of that scene from The Princess Bride, and laughed. “Okay.”
It could have been worse. That’s what I kept repeating to myself as I walked past the melted stone and blackened hedges of Villa Sommariva. Humans were out in force with heavy equipment to demolish what couldn’t be saved and haul it away. Others scraped and polished, trimmed and treated. They all looked devastated, from the man who let me in through the gates to the one retying broken citrus trees on a newly repaired arbor.
I reached out to the lemon tree and touched it, feeling the ache of torn limbs and burned leaves. Irix was right. I didn’t have enough energy to fix this. I wasn’t sure I’d ever have enough energy to bring every plant in this garden back to glowing health, but I could try.
