by Avril Sabine
Ronan smiled, a highly predatory smile. “Then you can go off on your wyvern hunt while I see what the assassin knows. Two of my Golds will take turns to shadow you while you’re there.”
She couldn’t help thinking that Ronan’s smile didn’t bode well for the assassin. “And if the assassin knows nothing?”
“Then we keep going until we find one that does.”
“And what about when the school holidays are over? What then?”
“What about them?” Ronan looked towards Rian for clarification. He smiled at what Rian must have told him in his mind. “Then Rian will return you to your grandmother’s home. That is what you wanted?”
Amber nodded.
“My Golds will return with you. But tell me something.” Ronan rose to his feet and stopped in front of her to place a hand on each arm of her chair. “Why haven’t you involved Kiani?”
Amber forced herself not to draw back from him. “What’s your price for your help?”
“I need you to stay alive until my castle is captured.”
Amber smiled, trying to remain calm even though her senses screamed at her to run from Ronan and his piercing gaze. “I can afford to pay that.”
“What did Kiani want?”
“Why would I pay any price that’s higher than the one you ask?”
Ronan moved even closer. “You have years to go before you have the experience to try and bluff me. What’s her price for helping?”
Amber winced as Kade broadcast her name. Ronan pushed away from her and strode to the open area of his rooftop garden. Six dragons and two hawks flew down to land in front of him, all quickly becoming human. Amber forced herself to remain in her seat, trying to appear relaxed. They couldn’t make her go to the castle, and they couldn’t keep her there. She glanced at Rian who moved to stand just behind her. For some reason, that action helped her to actually relax a little. She waited in her seat, watching as Kade strode towards her.
“What did you think you were doing?”
“I’m not some pigeon to be locked away in a cage.” Amber rose to her feet, sick of everyone towering over her.
“Then what? You throw your life away? That isn’t acceptable.”
“I wasn’t trying to.” Amber saw Flinn prevent Crystal from joining them, a whispered argument followed that her brother joined.
“Don’t you understand? With the current price of gold, the bounty is worth nearly three million dollars.”
Amber ignored the thread of fear that curled through her. “Then I guess they better hurry up and get the job done in case the market falls.”
“I’m trying to keep you safe.”
“I’m not your responsibility.”
“Jay said-”
“I’m not his either. You can’t plan my life for me.” Amber glared at Kade.
He finally nodded. “I’ll include you in the plans.”
“No. You’ll make suggestions and I’ll decide on the plan.”
“That isn’t-”
“My life. Remember?”
Kade sighed, then nodded. “We’ll give it a try. But I’m not going to stand back and let you do something stupid.”
Amber grinned wryly. “If you ask my parents, that’s all I ever do.”
Kade’s lips slowly curved into an answering smile. “Does this mean we can kiss and make up now?”
Amber glanced at the group of people who quietly watched them and probably listened. “I’ll think about it.” She started to move past Kade but he reached out to stop her, still smiling.
His lips were close to her ear, his words quieter than a whisper. “I had plans for tonight. Did you want me to suggest them to you now so you can decide if you like them.”
Amber ignored the heat his words generated. “I have a plan to run by you.” She looked towards Ronan and then back at Kade.
“And I guess I’m not going to like this plan.”
Amber grinned. “Probably not since it doesn’t involve me being locked away in a castle. Which according to Ronan isn’t all that safe anyway.”
Kade turned towards Ronan who had started to walk over to them when Amber had looked his way. “Who is it?”
“Deri. My people have seen him pass along information to three different clans. I have both photos and recordings if you need proof.” Ronan held out a flash drive.
Kade took the device and slid it into a pocket of his jacket. “Why are you watching my people?”
“Keeping an eye on my investment.” Ronan glanced towards Amber. He spun suddenly when someone entered the rooftop from the house. “What?”
“Dinner has been served.” The woman bowed her head.
“Everyone make yourself at home. Please do not leave by the doors. As far as I know this place is unknown to my enemies, but why risk ruining our plans? If you need anything, see my staff.” Ronan gestured towards the woman. “There are plenty of rooms if any of you wish to stay the night. It’d probably be the safest option.”
“And where will you be?” Kade asked.
“Why sending missives off in every direction to try and track down Amber as I wish to meet with her tomorrow evening.” Ronan grinned. “Annoying girl. She’s so hard to find sometimes.”
Crystal joined Amber when Ronan took to the sky. “What are you planning? Can I help?”
Amber linked arms with Crystal. “I’ll tell you during dinner. I’m starving.”
After dinner and numerous arguments regarding Ronan’s plan, Amber and Crystal lay on one of the guest beds, looking at the pictures on Crystal’s laptop.
“It took me ages to figure out what kind of hawk those feathers were from. I was looking at pictures of adult birds.” Crystal clicked on the next photo. “See. The adult goshawk isn’t as pretty looking as a juvenile. Which is what we are. Getting old sucks.”
Amber laughed. “My grandmother often says that.”
Crystal shuddered theatrically. “Please! I’m nothing like her.”
Amber became serious. “How’s life with Flinn?”
“Okay. He has no sense of humour. Well, he doesn’t understand mine anyway. And he’s so bossy. His warriors are expected to ‘know their place’ and I get in trouble if I’m friendly towards them. It’s like they’re only an extension of Flinn. No, actually they’re more like property.” Crystal shook her head. “I’m surprised they stay with him.”
“I’ve figured out Gold Dragons are a bit like our movie stars.”
“Yeah well, I think some of them need a good dose of reality.” Crystal giggled. “But I wouldn’t tell him that.” She reached out to clasp Amber’s hand. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
“Nope. But when has that ever stopped me?”
“This is life and death. It’s not like wearing the wrong clothes to a party.”
“I know. But this is my life. What kind of life would it be if I spent all of it hidden away?” She wasn’t about to let anyone turn her into a prisoner. No matter what the reason.
“She will be protected,” Rian said from the corner of the room.
Crystal pressed her hand to her heart. “I keep forgetting you’re there. Make some noise occasionally, will you?”
Amber laughed. “He’s got the whole unobtrusive bodyguard thing down really well, hasn’t he?”
Crystal stared at Rian. “I thought you were only a bit older than us.”
He nodded. “Twenty.”
“Then how come you’re trusted to be a bodyguard?”
“Because I’ve been training to be a warrior almost since birth.”
Crystal turned to Amber. “You know it kind of reminded me of that time in late primary school when I slept over at your place and your brother hid under your bed.”
Amber grinned. “And we didn’t know he was there until we turned the lights out and he grabbed you by the ankle. I swear I’m still deaf from how loud you screamed.”
“I blame him for why I can never watch a horror movie without having nightmares.”
Crystal closed down her laptop, rolling onto her back to look up at the ceiling. “Are you worried about tomorrow night?”
Amber rolled over to lay beside her, putting her hands behind her head. “I’d be crazy not to be.”
“Do you think it’ll work?” Crystal’s words were so quiet Amber had to strain to hear them.
“Ronan likes to win.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
They fell silent, both lost in their own thoughts until they fell asleep. Amber’s eyes opened when Rian turned the lamp off, Crystal’s laptop under his arm. She smiled in thanks, surprised he smiled back at her in the dark before she closed her eyes and returned to sleep.
Chapter Five
Amber tried to ignore the sounds she could hear around her. It was difficult though. Ronan and four Gold Warriors were hidden in the Void, keeping an eye on her as she made her way through a construction site, Rian at her heels. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. Kade wasn’t even close by. Since he couldn’t enter the Void, he wouldn’t have been able to hide his presence. But he could be there in less than five minutes. Along with Brann and Maira. Flinn had refused to be involved.
They could have called on Shannon, the Gold Dragon who would help them with the wyvern nest and who trained Jasper, but Kade didn’t want to be in her debt. As it was, she was currently in his. The dragon world was so confusing sometimes, but at least thinking about it took Amber’s mind off her problems. For a few seconds.
She glanced around again. As much as she dreaded meeting an assassin, she was beginning to wish one would hurry up. Just so she could complain, Amber grumbled, “Why can’t Ronan ever be on time?”
“He likes to make people wait,” Rian said.
“Well, it’s annoying. Especially in winter. I’ve got better things to do than wait around here all night freezing to death.”
“Patience. He will eventually arrive.” Rian glanced at the watch on his arm, the band was made from dragon-leather. “About ten minutes I would say.”
As if that was a cue, a man stepped out of the Void, a dagger aimed at Amber’s heart. A hand grasped her arm when she tried to twist away. The next few seconds were a blur. People seemed to come from everywhere. Rian lay at her feet, the dagger protruding from his ribs as blood stained the dirt at Amber’s feet. She tried to reach out to Rian but someone dragged her away from him.
Spinning with a ball of fire in her hand, she saw Ronan. “Let me go.”
“We have to leave. There’s more than one assassin.”
“Rian-”
“Forget him. He’s dying. No one can help him now. I taught him how to fight better than that.” Ronan tried to grab hold of her arm again, disappointment in his voice.
Amber pulled away and threw the ball of fire at Ronan as she did. She ignored his swearing and turned to Rian, dropping to her knees in the dirt.
His hands were pressed about the knife, his skin was ghostly pale and he finally had an expression on his face. That of pain. “Run.” His word was a blood flecked whisper.
“No.” Amber pulled the knife from the wound and winced at his groan of pain. All around her she heard sounds of fighting and the swoop of dragon wings. She ignored it all to press her hands against the wound the blood poured from.
“Too late,” Rian murmured.
“Amber!” Ronan roared from behind her, caught in the fight.
She cleared her mind of all distractions. She’d never healed such a bad wound before, but she wasn’t going to let that stop her. Rian wasn’t going to die because of a knife meant for her. She felt the power pool in her hands and she concentrated on bringing to mind the books she’d read about human anatomy. She had to fix Rian before he turned dragon. She didn’t know much about their anatomy. The flow of blood lessened and she felt the skin begin to knit together. Rian was barely conscious. She didn’t stop healing Rian until she nearly passed out from the amount of energy she’d used.
“Amber!” Kade’s voice sounded in her mind and she looked up as he flew in fast.
She guessed it had only been a few minutes she’d been working on Rian. It had seemed much longer. “Take Rian. I can fly.” She hoped. She rose unsteadily to her feet, ignoring the blood that covered her hands and legs. A deep breath and she focused on becoming a goshawk. She was barely able to make the change and flew unsteadily upwards. A glance back showed Kade was grabbing Rian while Brann and Maira protected him from attacks. They soon joined her.
Maira swooped in front of her. “Follow me. There’s a vehicle waiting for you.”
For once Amber didn’t argue. She only hoped it wouldn’t be far. Two streets over Maira swooped over a black four-wheel-drive before she landed and turned human. Amber crashed into the ground, having no clue how to become human, or even how she was going to manage the couple of metres she needed to cross to the vehicle. Her problem was solved when Kade dropped Rian on the ground, became human and picked her up.
“You’re an idiot,” Kade said fondly as they all piled into the vehicle, Brann laying Rian in the back.
Amber unexpectedly turned human to find herself sprawled over Kade’s lap, sticky blood coating her skin. “Did they get one?”
“Two.”
“Anyone else hurt?” It took so much effort to stay awake, but she needed to know everyone was safe.
“One assassin died. Only minor injuries to Ronan’s men. But he wants to see you. Immediately.”
Relief hit as exhaustion swamped her. “Not now,” Amber murmured as she snuggled against Kade’s chest and fell asleep.
* * *
Amber woke to Ronan standing over her, glaring. She looked behind him and recognised the walls of the bedroom in his house.
“You didn’t stick to the plan.”
“If the plan was to let Rian die, it sucked.”
“You agreed to it. The plan was to keep you safe at all costs.”
“I didn’t think you’d leave Rian there.” Amber struggled to sit up and waved Ronan back when he held out a hand to her. “How many sons have you got that you can throw their lives away like that?”
“I can have more. Hopefully ones that won’t fail me. You should have told me you could heal.”
“Where’s Rian?” Amber looked to the corner Ronan pointed in. She frowned. “Should you be up and about? You almost died last night.”
“I am well enough to guard you.”
“Didn’t you tell me healing wasn’t one of your abilities?”
Amber turned back to Ronan. “Didn’t you tell me it could take years for all my abilities to develop?”
“Are you expecting me to believe you didn’t have that power when I asked you?”
Amber swung her legs out of the bed and grimaced. The sheets were stained from her blood streaked pants. Only her hands and arms had been cleaned. “I don’t care what you believe.” Her legs buckled as she slid out of bed and she was grateful Rian moved forward to support her. He stepped back into his corner as soon as she was steady.
Ronan’s eyes narrowed as he looked from Amber to Rian. “I believe it’s time for you to go home, boy. Hound can take over your duties here. You failed last night.”
“No he didn’t. He saved my life. What else was he meant to do? Die?”
“He put you at risk by getting injured. You wouldn’t leave like you were supposed to and he nearly caused me to break my word. That is unforgivable.”
Rian came out of the corner he stood in and knelt at Amber’s feet, pressing his arms and upper body against the carpeted floor.
“Get up!” Ronan roared. “Get up you traitor.”
When Ronan started towards Rian, Amber stepped up to him, forcing herself to meet his angry gaze. She reached out with her mind for Kade and called him to her. “Leave Rian alone.”
“He isn’t yours. He’s mine and I can do what I want with him.”
Amber looked down at Rian who watched her. “I don’t understand what you’re asking me.”
“He swore not to harm you or yours.”
Amber looked back into Ronan’s pale blue eyes. “No, he’s mine.”
“You can’t afford to keep a warrior. Do you have fifty thousand a year to give him, plus bonuses for any battles he fights on your behalf?”
Kade stepped inside the room. “She earns more than that a year as my mage.”
She did? Amber tried not to show her surprise. She certainly wasn’t going to argue it right this minute. “He’s mine.” She continued to meet Ronan’s eyes.
“You’ll regret this.”
“No I won’t. Because after you calm down, I’m sure you’ll come up with some convoluted reason why I owe you for this.”
“Amber, be careful. He’s not a good man to owe.” Kade came to her side. “And touch Rian on the shoulder so he can rise and know you’ve accepted his services.”
Amber did as Kade directed and Rian rose to stand at her back. “I think you’re taking this the wrong way.”
“You’ve stolen one of my warriors. What other way can I take it?”
Rian spoke before Amber could think of a reply. “I owe her a life. As your warrior, that debt would be yours.”
“I gave you life long before she ever did.” Ronan glared at his son.
“And last night you discarded it. Amber chose to pick it up and save it. I owe her a life debt. Did you wish to pay it?”
Silence filled the room until Ronan growled. “I always said you’d never amount to anything. All you’ve ever done is cause me problems.” He turned to Amber. “And I will collect the debt you owe me for this.”
“It is only a small debt,” Rian said.
Ronan once again stared at Rian before he gave a sharp nod and left the room.
With a deep breath of relief Amber sank onto the bed and stared up at Rian. “What am I meant to do with you?”
Rian grinned fleetingly. “Nothing. I am meant to serve you.”
“This is too complicated.”
