Taken: The Pteron Chronicles

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

  She held her head up, but she was straining. “Life isn’t worth living if you allow fear to control you.”

  “Yet you are trembling.” Mort rested his chin on his fisted hand.

  “You just said I wasn’t afraid.”

  “You aren’t mentally, but your body is. No matter how strong you are of mind, your body senses the truth.”

  “So be it. If this is the end, at least I will die knowing I’ve done everything I can to help those I love.” Her lip quivered.

  “Too bad you are human.” Mort made a swatting motion with his hand.

  “Why too bad?”

  “Because I wish you could have had a longer life.”

  “I’d still be in trouble now.”

  “That is true. Although maybe you would have taken a different path.” Mort seemed to be studying her again. I wasn’t the only demon to find her interesting.

  “Which is why it is good I’m human. I own up to my flaws as best I can. I understand I have weaknesses. I’ve always known death is a possibility. You live your life differently when you understand that each day may be your last.”

  “You think you’ll find your husband here.” Mort didn’t make his comment sound like a question.

  Georgina gave another slight shrug. “It’s been far too long since I’ve heard from him.”

  “Doesn’t mean he’s here.” Mort took a step toward her. I moved closer to her as well. I didn’t trust him.

  “He would have passed through here considering how much he’s done,” she continued.

  “But it is not him who you seek right now. It is another.” Mort didn’t move further.

  “Exactly.” She nodded.

  “She’s here,” Mort said in barely a whisper.

  “Perfect.” Georgina smiled. “I knew she would be.”

  “I can take you there,” Mort held out his hand.

  “I can manage on my own, but thank you for the offer.”

  “She already has me for that.” I arched my back.

  “Why are you still here, Glendale?” Georgina looked at me.

  “Because I am.”

  She gave the slightest of smiles. “It’s nice that you aren’t making excuses.”

  “Life is too short for that.”

  “Not your life.”

  “I’m here for the time being.” I rubbed against her legs. Maybe that would help?

  “I really don’t mind continuing this search alone.” Georgina blinked a few times as if struggling to keep her eyes open. “Very nice to meet you, Mort.” She turned and continued in the direction we’d been headed to start with. I nodded a goodbye to Mort and hurried to catch up. Despite her declining energy, she was moving rather quickly.

  “Be careful, Glendale,” Mort called after.

  “Aren’t I always?”

  “More like never,” he murmured as Georgina and I lumbered on.

  12

  Wyatt

  I waited in the dark tunnel for something to happen. Galloway had disappeared down another corridor and insisted I wait for her. I didn’t particularly like the feeling of being a sitting duck, but I was already putting all my eggs in her basket so to speak. I’d give her a few minutes to prove to me she knew what she was doing.

  I needed transport. But more specifically I needed untraceable transport. The ways of managing that were few and far between. I wasn’t entirely sure what method Galloway was going to come up with.

  “I hope he is paying you well,” a vaguely familiar voice spoke from a ways off.

  I strained to listen.

  “I don’t care about payment. The fate of life as we know it is in the balance. This is a chance to prove myself independently of my father.” Galloway’s voice was easy to identify.

  “Still you are going to have to pay me.”

  “And I will. But we haven’t negotiated terms quite yet.”

  “A little advice, honey. Negotiate the terms up front.”

  I saw two figures approaching in the darkness. One was Galloway no question. The other was a cheetah.

  “Wyatt. It is really you.” The cheetah approached me, strutting in a way that made it crystal clear—if one hadn’t already heard her talk— she definitely wasn’t a regular Cheetah.

  I tried to pull up a memory of the cheetah, or her voice. “Yes. I’m sorry but I can’t place your voice.”

  “Because that isn’t offensive.” She turned away.

  “I thought being honest was the best course of action.”

  The cheetah turned her head back toward me. “Why’d you think that?”

  “Delilah?” Recognition hit me. “Is that you?”

  “In the flesh. Or this flesh.” She stretched out to show off her thick, groomed, fur.

  “Last time I saw you, you were in a humanoid form.” She’d been using it to get what she wanted from human men. I’d stepped in when things got a bit out of control, and hopefully she didn’t still hold a grudge.

  “Yeah, I got tired of lumbering around. I went with something sleeker for the last fifty years or so.” If she was angry, she didn’t show it. Although that didn’t mean she wouldn’t show it later.

  “I understand. Always nice to see my favorite Helzin Demon.” Laying it on thick couldn’t hurt. Especially when dealing with a demon with this size ego. She was even worse than Glendale. But then again you usually knew what you were getting with Delilah. Glendale was far more of a mystery, which made him worse.

  “Oh?” She turned her head to the side. “I’m your favorite now? A few seconds ago you couldn’t even figure out who I was.”

  “But now that I know I am reminded of your abilities.” I made direct eye contact. She’d take that as a sign of respect.

  “I am good at everything.”

  I didn’t blink. “You are.”

  “I take it you two know each other.” Galloway smoothed out her hair before returning her hat to her head. “Funny how you are just now telling me you know him, Delilah.”

  Delilah lifted one shoulder in a cheetah equivalent of a shrug. “I thought you were maybe talking about someone else.”

  “Another Drago named Wyatt?” Galloway narrowed her eyes.

  “Okay, okay, I knew. I thought it would be more fun to surprise you.”

  “You have an interesting idea about what is fun.”

  “So do you if I remember correctly.” Delilah grinned. It looked rather frightening with her large teeth barred.

  “Delilah,” Galloway snapped. “Let’s not go there.”

  “Wait. What is she talking about?” Maybe it was none of my business, but they had my attention.

  “Nothing.” Galloway’s expression darkened.

  I wasn’t going to push it. I had a feeling it had nothing to do with her work.

  “Oh… keeping secrets.” Delilah laughed.

  “It’s not a secret. Don’t be so dramatic.” Galloway crossed her arms.

  “Drop it. Pretend I didn’t ask.” Great. My question had pulled us down a detour. That certainly hadn’t been my intention.

  “Fine. But you are no fun.” Delilah sighed before turning to me. “I heard you need to find someone.”

  “More than someone, but we’ll start with one.”

  “An Allure I hear… still hanging around with that sort?”

  “Not usually, but in this case I need her help.” Allures had a bad rep among supernatural creatures. They often deserved it.

  “Yeah, I heard.” Delilah took a step toward me. “I didn’t tell Galloway this because I thought it would be better if you heard it from me.”

  “Heard what?”

  “I can take you to Violet. I can do anything.” She was waiting for me to compliment her. I remembered her well enough to realize that.

  “Yes. I understand that. I have no doubt in your ability.”

  “But you might want to rethink using her for help.”

  “Why?” Asking questions might slow us down, but this one seemed particularly important. />
  “Because she’s compromised.”

  “Compromised?” I couldn’t say I was shocked to hear that. But I still wouldn’t take it as fact without more of an explanation.

  “Yes. Rumor on the street is that she’s in the Elders' pockets. They own her.”

  “You’ve never been one to listen to rumors.” Nor was I. But one could never be too careful.

  “These are pretty serious ones.”

  “I need her help.” And I hated being backed into a corner. Yet there I was.

  “Even if finding her is a trap?” Delilah’s ran her paw over her whiskers.

  “We’ll just have to be really, really careful.”

  “Do you know how to be careful? Have you really changed that much?”

  She had a point, but so did I. “This is important. Yes.”

  “If you say so. But don’t blame me if you end up dead.”

  “I won’t blame you. But I also know you’ll be able to get me out of there. You’re unstoppable.”

  “And now you’re kissing up.” She licked the fur on her leg.

  “Is that a problem?”

  “No. Not at all. I love praise.”

  “There’s lots more to come if you help me pull this off.”

  “And I’ll be with you to help too,” Galloway jumped in.

  “I assumed as much. I guess I should be saying we.” Then something dawned on me. “Unless hearing that news changes anything, and you’d rather not come.” I wasn’t forcing anyone to get involved.

  “Oh, I’m coming.” She stamped her booted foot. “I knew this was dangerous.”

  “Good. You never know when you are going to need a Twister.”

  “Way more often than you think.”

  “So where is she? Glendale said he last saw her at Angel Oak.” But I knew she was only using that tree as a portal. My guess is she went back home, but one never knew.

  “Glendale?” Delilah growled. “Why are you spending time with another Helzin?”

  “I didn’t know I had to be exclusive.”

  “Where is he if that’s who you prefer to work with?”

  “I like to work with both of you—although he’s not exactly for hire.”

  “Oh. He’s been helping you out of the goodness of his heart?” Delilah spat.

  “Not at all.” I shook my head. “He seems to think our interests align.”

  “And what happens when they don’t align anymore? Ever think of that?”

  “Of course I’ve thought of that. Many, many times. But he’s helped us out of some pretty tight spots. Plus he cares about Hailey whether he admits it or not.”

  “Hailey?” Delilah watched me.

  “Yes. My soon to be mate.”

  “Oh. That Hailey. I was wondering when she’d end up on the scene.”

  That Hailey? What other one would I have been talking about? “She’d have rather never been on the scene, but life comes at you from all different angles.”

  Delilah stretched. “All right. Enough chit-chat. We need to go.”

  I resisted the urge to throw back at her that actually she was the one doing all the chit-chat. But she wouldn’t take well to that. It’s not as though I was excited about seeing Violet. Our relationship was a muddled one, but if she could help me protect Owen and Daisy it would be completely worth it.

  “Hold on tight. It’s going to be a bumpy ride,” Delilah warned.

  There was a moment of weightlessness, my stomach turned upside down, and then we were standing in a meadow. I was going to have to have a little talk with Glendale. This transport had been far easier than the ones he’d been delivering lately. I was suspicious that wasn’t accidental. But none of that mattered now.

  I took in the surroundings. The moon was high in the sky, insects chirped in song, and we were a few feet away from a large pond.

  I walked closer to the edge of the water. The only creature I sensed was hidden in those depths.

  Violet surfaced. Her wet black hair blending in with the dark water. “Wyatt. What a pleasant surprise.”

  “Unfortunately my reason for this visit isn’t very pleasant.” I didn’t mince words. Violet was an Allure—she felt nearly no emotions of her own. Her only joy, or pain, came from manipulating the emotions of others—especially humans.

  “Of course It’s not. Would you come to see me unless you had to?” Violet stepped out of the pond, squeezing water out of her hair. I kept my eyes fixed on her face.

  “You don’t have to be so prudish, Wyatt.” She smiled. “You’ve seen me naked plenty of times. I am glad you’ve found a partner, but don’t let her change you too much. Some of us like you just the way you are. Or were.” She pulled on a purple robe that was hanging on a tree branch.

  “And I happen to like myself now.” I wasn’t going to let her pull me into a worthless conversation about losing who I really was. Since the last time I’d seen her I’d been through a lot—she likely didn’t know I turned fully into a dragon now.

  “Well, then.” She tied the robe. “What can I do for you?”

  “We need your help.”

  She seemed to finally notice Galloway and Delilah. “Oh. I see you didn’t come alone.”

  “You knew I didn’t.” I had no patience for her games. Delilah’s warning rang through my head. Was Violet stalling? Was this part of a trap? I looked over at Delilah. She was still there. If trouble was near she’d for sure have left. Self-preservation was a tough instinct to overcome for demons, even more than the rest of us.

  “I did. It was fun to pretend you were my only visitor though.” Violet looked at the others. “No offense.” Her tone didn’t say no offense. It said get lost. She turned back to me. “Where’s Hailey? I can’t imagine she’d be happy about the company you are keeping.”

  “Hailey knows exactly where I am.” I didn’t give any other information. Not until I knew for sure what was going on.

  “She knows you are with her?” Violet nodded toward Galloway.

  “What aren’t you saying?” There was no question these two knew each other, and Violet wasn’t exactly a fan. I didn’t have time for any extra drama. “We don’t have time for a catfight or whatever the hell this is.”

  “Catfight?” Violet made a tsking noise. “That’s not very forward thinking of you. What would Hailey say?”

  “Hailey would say shut up and help me.”

  “If there is a catfight, you all know I’ll win.” Delilah swished her tail back and forth.

  Violet turned her back to Delilah and focused her attention back on me. “Fine. You want my help?”

  “You knew that.”

  “I still had hopes this might be a social visit. ”

  “A social visit with Galloway and Delilah. Yes, I’m sure that’s exactly what you thought. Not to mention you already told me you knew I would only come because I had to.”

  She gave up the charade. “I assume this relates to the incident.”

  “The incident?” I waited for her to continue.

  “Yes. At the headquarters. I was sorry to hear about it.” She didn’t sound sorry at all.

  “Do you know more about it?”

  “I know it was your fire that caused it. True dragon fire… interesting how a Drago managed that.” Her words were weighted. She knew far more than she was telling.

  “I did what I had to do.” I was getting tired of explaining myself over and over again.

  “Including turn into a dragon?” So she did know more.

  “That wasn’t by choice.” My anger at Veronica and Randolph knew no end. I would get my revenge when this was all said and done.

  She grinned. “So you do admit it. How unlike you.”

  “I admit to my weaknesses.” Otherwise, you cannot rise to your strengths.

  “But do you? Because I seem to recall you continually failing to do so.”

  This had gone on long enough. “What have I done to you lately, Violet?”

  “It’s not you.” She
sighed.

  “Then what is it?”

  “It’s everything. It’s a feeling of being out of sorts. Of losing myself.”

  “Sounds like a mid-life crisis,” Galloway mumbled.

  “I’m not at the mid-life point yet. I have centuries before that.” Violet frowned at her. “Not that you’d understand any of that. You are still an infant.”

  Here we go again. “Will you help me or not?”

  “Depends on what I’m helping with.”

  “I thought you fully understood all of this, that you knew why I was here?” She couldn’t have it both ways. All knowing and blissfully unaware.

  “I knew it had to tie in with the fire, but that doesn’t mean I understand why specifically my skills are needed.”

  I decided to go with what I knew she’d care about. “Daisy is in danger.”

  “Real danger?” Violet’s eyes widened.

  “Yes. I figured that would get your attention.”

  “And is it true?” Her expression remained unchanged. She couldn’t feel emotion the way others could, so the very idea she’d feel anything about my news spoke volumes.

  “Unfortunately yes. And you know very well why.”

  “That baby she’s about to have.”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “I can’t really believe he got her pregnant so quickly.”

  On some level I could understand. Now that I was with Hailey I felt the urge to start a family. “I’m not here to discuss that. I’m here because I need your help. We have to protect them.”

  “Aren’t they hidden?” Violet gave me a pointed look.

  “You know as well as I do that no one can stay hidden forever.”

  “No. They can’t.” Violet looked down at the ground.

  “Then you’ll help protect them?” I tried to meet her eyes, but she avoided mine. Something was wrong. She was hiding something.

  “What do I need to do exactly?”

  Galloway touched my arm. I met her gaze and nodded. She was worried too. “Your abilities will come in handy.”

  “You want to hide them amongst humans. Don’t you?” Violet asked.

  She’d figured out the plan already, which meant it wasn’t a very good one. “We can’t keep them on an isolated plane.”

  “No. You can’t. And Daisy is an Allure, whether she wants to admit it or not. Being able to feed off emotions will be good for her.”