dragons breath 02 - dancing with flames (29 page)

“You what?” He glared at her.

She shrugged. “He had information we needed.”

“I’m beginning to like her,” Conrad said, standing over by the back of the truck where he could keep a healthy distance from Aidan.

The shape-shifter glanced at him and then at me. “What is he doing here?”

“It’s a long story, and if we could go inside, we’ll tell you all about it.” I grabbed his arm, and he reluctantly followed along with me. “So how did the peace treaty thing work out?”

“It is done,” he said, speaking through gritted teeth.

I smiled at him. “Good. I knew you could do it.”

He worked his jaw. “Thank you.”

We entered the house and everyone took a seat in the living room. I let Phoebe tell her side of the story first, revealing the news about the killer and why I’d had to come with her. He listened to her finish without interrupting once.

“So not only is Ember a murderer, but she has also betrayed our clan,” Phoebe said, shaking her head in anger.

“We will deal with her as soon as we return to the fortress,” Aidan reassured his sister, then turned his attention to me. “And you made a deal with the sorcerer as well?”

I lifted my chin. “The dragons needed to be killed anyway. It wasn’t that big of a deal to collect the scales if it meant I could get the location of the children.”

“And you got it?” he asked. There was something deadly quiet about his tone.

“Yes.”

His gaze ran over to my shoulder. “Was it worth risking your life?”

I unconsciously rubbed my arm. “What are you talking about? It’s just a flesh wound.”

“You walked stiffly when we came into the house, you’ve hardly moved that arm, and the skin is permanently scarred. I suspect you were hurt days ago, and that a dragon must have sunk his teeth into you for it not to heal completely.” He shot a look at his sister. “How bad was she hurt?”

Phoebe spread her hands in innocence. “I have no idea. I didn’t see her until yesterday, and all I know about is her shoulder.”

“Tell me, Bailey,” Aidan commanded.

“I’m fine.” Good grief, he was acting more protective than usual.

Aidan leaned forward and grabbed my left arm, lifting halfway up until I cried out. He hadn’t moved it in a direction that would have hurt if I hadn’t injured it. He let go, but kept his gaze hard on me. “You have a friend who can heal injuries. I suspect if she did not help you with this one, it is either because it was beyond her abilities, or she was too busy healing other parts of you.”

Conrad cleared his throat. “Actually, it was both.”

I gave him an incredulous look, which he ignored.

Aidan directed his gaze on the younger man. “Tell me”

“Her shoulder was bitten and crushed by dragon teeth. Danae couldn’t do anything for that. She just healed Bailey’s cracked skull, broken leg, and busted ribs—which was from falling off a three-story building. I don’t even know how she survived all that.”

“You traitor,” I bit out.

Conrad shrugged a shoulder. “You don’t want to listen to anybody else, but I figure you might listen to him. I told you not to push yourself so hard.”

“She was already tired when this occurred?” Aidan asked.

“Yep. I tried talking her into taking a break, but she just wanted to get those scales.”

I leaped to my feet. “To save the children!”

“Come with me,” Aidan said, taking hold of my right hand.

He dragged me upstairs to the bedroom he used when he stayed at the house. Shutting the door, he spun me around and trapped me against the wall with his arms braced on both sides. For a minute, we stayed like that—close, but not quite touching. The heat from his body warmed my skin, and his breaths tickled my cheeks. I had no idea what to say or do. He’d averted his face, hiding any clue of his thoughts from me.

Finally, he met my gaze. “Don’t put yourself in danger like that again.”

“It’s sort of my job—which you trained me to do.”

He lifted a hesitant hand and cupped my cheek. “Why is it that no matter how hard I try, I cannot help caring about you?”

I put my hand over his. “Sometimes I want to ask you the same question.”

Aidan searched my face. For what, I didn’t know. “If something were to happen to you, I’m not certain what I would do—but it would not be good. Please do not put yourself in unnecessary danger.”

I swallowed. It wasn’t often he let me see this side of himself. “I wouldn’t have if children weren’t involved.”

“Next time, wait for me.” He pulled me into a hug, careful of my shoulder. “If I know I can’t stop you, I will always fight by your side.”

I rested my cheek against his chest and closed my eyes, breathing in the musky scent of him. The only time I ever felt totally relaxed and safe was when I was with Aidan. It seemed like the more we fought our attraction, the stronger it got.

“We’re going to scout the dragon den tomorrow,” I said, opening my eyes and gazing up at him. Aidan was about eight inches taller than me, making it a bit of a stretch.

His lips quirked. “I’ll come with you.”

“It’s easier if Conrad stays here tonight so we can go first thing. Phoebe was already planning to come earlier than you guys usually get up. If you come with her in the morning, we can hopefully get there before any of the Shadowan are awake,” I said.

Aidan scowled. “I don’t like that boy here.”

“You know he’s just a friend, right?” I asked, wanting to get that point cleared up once and for all. Conrad wouldn’t be so defensive all the time if Aidan didn’t make him that way.

“He is with you all the time,” he argued.

I lifted a brow. “Kind of like Donar is with you all the time? Conrad watches my back, he makes me laugh sometimes, and he’s there to pick me up when I fall—literally, sometimes. That is it. There is nothing between us except friendship, and there never will be anything more.”

Aidan was quiet for a moment. “With males and females, such relationships can change.”

He was going to force me to say something I really didn’t want to admit, not even to myself, but maybe it was time to fully clear the air. We’d been dancing around this topic ever since we first kissed, and I could see that he didn’t know for sure where he stood with me. Maybe we couldn’t be together, but at least we could be open about our feelings.

“Aidan.” I took a deep breath. “As long as you’re in my life, I don’t think I can ever look at another man the way I do you. That’s just…that’s just the way it is whether I like it or not. Please don’t worry about Conrad because he is not you, and that’s all there is to it.”

Aidan expelled a breath. “It should not relieve me as much as it does to hear that.”

I grabbed hold of his camrium vest. “So can Conrad stay the night then?”

He worked his jaw. “Yes, but in a different room.”

“You’re impossible.” I shook my head. Not that I planned on sharing a room with Conrad when there were several available in the house, but it still seemed ridiculous that he had to make that a condition.

“Perhaps I am,” he admitted.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and we broke apart.

“I guess you should go catch that murderer,” I said.

He nodded. “My sister and I will return in the morning.”

Our gazes lingered on each other a moment longer, and then he opened the door and walked out.

Chapter 27

Aidan

Aidan and Phoebe flew toward the fortress, sailing through the clear night air. From above, they couldn’t miss the numerous torches lighting the keep and castle. He’d always thought this was the best time to fly. Dragons were most alert when the moon rose, and their senses became more acute.

She’s not as bad as I thought she’d be,
Phoebe said, breaking into Aidan’s thoughts.

He glanced over at his sister.
You mean Bailey?

Yes, who else would I be talking about?

I am surprised you asked for her help.
The last thing he’d expected was to find his sister and the dragon slayer together when he returned. Rather, he’d come to his empty lair and worried something had happened to Bailey. She wasn’t one to stay out late into the evening. If they had not returned minutes after he arrived, he would have gone searching for her. His beast had been in such a panic it only made Aidan’s concern worse.

It was not as if he spent every day with the slayer, but for some reason being so far from her this time bothered him more than normal. He had felt on edge the entire trip. Aidan had told himself he simply wanted the comfort of home, but he’d lied to himself. His beast had somehow sensed something was wrong with Bailey. Considering the extent of her injuries, she could have died, and he had not been there. That bothered him on a deep, primal level that he could not deny. Just because she had grown strong did not mean she never needed help. Even Aidan had strong warriors to assist him including Donar, Falcon, and his sister. Bailey had Conrad—a weak, little human. The young man may try his best to watch over the slayer, but he was no match for a dragon.

Phoebe broke into Aidan’s thoughts.
I put it off, but I couldn’t figure out a way to locate the sorcerer on my own. He is well shielded—even to me. It was not until Bailey led me straight to him that I could see past the guise he’s put up to protect his domain.

What did you make of him?
Aidan didn’t like the idea of his sister anywhere near an unknown sorcerer, but he might have done the same in her position. He only wished he could have gone with them.

Javier is ambitious and greedy, but it is too early to tell if he will become a problem for us. If he does not expand beyond the land he claims now, it would not be such a bad thing. I only worry he might want more—they usually do.

That is what concerns me as well,
Aidan said.

He nudged his sister with his wingtip, and they descended to the open area in front of the fortress gates. Upon landing, they immediately shifted to their human forms. Aidan wanted to deal with Ember as quickly as possible so that he would not miss the midnight meal. He’d been thinking about it ever since returning that evening.

They stopped in front of the gates and Phoebe addressed the guard on the right. “Is Ember within the keep?”

“She has not left the fortress today,” he replied. There was curiosity in the guard’s gaze, but he did not dare ask why she wanted to know.

“Do you have any idea where she is?” Aidan asked. The current guards would have just begun their shift when night fell. It was possible they may have seen Ember around the keep before that.

The guard on the left answered, “I saw her in the great hall for first meal but not since then.”

The other shifter only shook his head. They thanked the guards for their assistance and headed into the keep.

“We’ll check her home first,” Aidan said.

Phoebe stopped and turned to face him. “Her family could be there as well. This might get ugly—whether she’s with them or not.”

That much was true. Ember’s family did not have any notable warriors, but they were known to fight dirty. It was one of the reasons their status within the toriq remained so low.

Aidan eyed the guard headquarters back near the gate. “We will get assistance.”

They managed to find four males who didn’t have any other pressing duties and instructed them to come along. As they made their way through the main thoroughfare, they ran into Ruari. Their older brother eyed them with suspicion.

“What are you two doing?” he asked.

Aidan leveled his gaze on him, unwilling to play their usual game. “Where is Ember?”

“How should I know?” Ruari gave him an offended look. “I do not talk to her anymore.”

Phoebe stepped closer to her elder brother, her expression accusing. “We know you talked to her the day the head guard was murdered. Do not act innocent with us.”

Ruari worked his jaw. “I had nothing to do with that.”

“Then tell us where your
think
Ember might be,” Aidan said.

Comprehension dawned in his brother’s eyes. “You suspect she killed Nanoq.”

Phoebe growled. “Will you tell us or not?”

“I may know where she is at this time of night. There is a little-known tavern you two would never find on your own.” Ruari turned on his feet. “Follow me.”

Aidan took hold of his brother’s shoulder and swung him around. “Just tell us the location. You are not going with us.”

A determined expression came over Ruari’s eyes. “Oh, I am going. Ember has caused me enough trouble, and I will not have my brother and sister believing I had anything to do with Nanoq’s death. If that means I must help you, then I will do it.”

Aidan stepped back, surprised. He hadn’t expected this sort of reaction out of Ruari. When he glanced at Phoebe, she showed the same astonishment. Their elder brother was always up to something, but perhaps he truly didn’t have any part in this.

“Lead the way,” Aidan said.

Ruari took them away from the main thoroughfare and wound through several narrow paths. The farther they went, the filthier the cobblestones became until it seemed only mud, piss, and dung remained beneath their feet. There were many animals kept within the fortress, including goats, chickens, and the occasional milk cow. The shifters who lived in this section of the keep did not clean up after their livestock as well as they should.

Aidan’s nose twitched at the rancid stench. He was about ready to call it off, thinking his brother only wished to torture them, when Ruari stopped at a dead end. He nodded at a well-worn door that did not sit properly on its hinges. There was no sign to mark it. If not for the boisterous noise inside, one wouldn’t have guessed it for a tavern. This was in the seedier section of the keep where Aidan rarely visited, and by the expression on Phoebe’s face, she did not come here often, either.

“Are there any other ways inside?” Aidan asked.