Me and My Shadow (39 page)

He was gone with a dramatic flourish that would have done a Shakespearean actor proud.

Nora had been silent during the entire conversation, but she looked thoughtfully at the door now, and said, “I'm afraid to ask, but why is he so angry at the demon lord Sally?”

“Probably because I told him Sally was behind everything, including convincing us to banish him.”

She regarded me from behind her red-framed glasses, her eyes unreadable. “But that is not the truth.”

“No, but it gives him a focus for his wrath.”

She looked slightly puzzled. “You said that you consider Sally your friend.”

“We do.”

“And yet you would set Magoth on her?”

“Not really, no. We told him she was in LA. She's not. She said something earlier about going to Germany.”

“But won't he simply realize she's not there and turn elsewhere to find her?”

“I highly doubt if he'll even think about her once he hits LA. He really is the biggest ham at heart. He'll get out there, be smitten all over again with all the Holly-wood glitz and glamour, and will fling himself back into the world of acting. He really did love his years there, you know. I have every expectation that in a few years we'll see him back on the silver screen.”

It took her a moment, but at last she smiled. “That was very smart of you. Congratulations on both your freedom and your upcoming nuptials. If you have no further need for me, I believe I will go see if Aisling needs anything. She's a bit lonely now that Jim is in Paris with Cecile for a few days, and I must reassure her that it was quite happy when I delivered it there.”

“Life,” I told Gabriel after she left, kissing his nose to emphasize my point, “could not be better.”

Chapter Twenty-one

“Did you see the little ones?” René asked several hours later when I entered the now-tidy sitting room. “I aided Aisling to birth them, and I can tell you that, with the exception of my own, they are the two most perfect
bébés
in the world.”

“I haven't seen them yet. My appointment is for”—I glanced at the card that István had given me—“half an hour from now. Don't you think it's a little odd that Drake made up an appointment schedule to see the babies? Is that normal?”

“Eh.” René shrugged. “He is a new papa and very protective. To him, it makes sense.”

“But to go so far as to don surgical garb when visiting them? My card says I have to be outside Aisling's room five minutes early so I can pick up sterile clothing.”

“He is a little overprotective.”

“And then there's the baby-holding training class he made us take after lunch. I thought that instructor was rather rude implying that just because Cyrene and Kostya and Gabriel and Nora and I didn't have children, we wouldn't know how to hold a newborn.”

René couldn't really argue with that, especially since Drake had made him, the father of seven, attend the class, as well. “He is
very
overprotective,” René finally said.

“And the blood tests and retinal scans to verify our identities?”

“He is doing blood tests?” René asked, interested. “I did not have a blood test.”

“You will. Pál is wandering around the house jabbing everyone like some sort of bizarre dragon-vampire hybrid.”

“But what is the test for?”

“No idea, but honestly, retina scans? Does Drake seriously believe someone is going to go to the trouble of trying to pretend they're any of us just to go in and see his children?”

René sighed, and gave a short little laugh. “He will learn, I think. Aisling will not allow her children to grow up coddled in the wool of cotton. You must give Drake a little time. And you, how do you fare now that you have found yourself?”

“I wasn't aware that I had been lost,” I said carefully.

“Ah. Then I am mistaken.”

Silence fell for about a minute. René softly hummed to himself and looked out the window at the workmen who were busily rebuilding the front entryway.

“You're talking about the dragon heart, aren't you?” I asked, unable to keep quiet any longer.

He smiled. Just smiled.

“You fates can be very annoying sometimes,” I said, softening the insult with a smile of my own. “As it happens, yes, I found myself.”

“Did you tell your Gabriel?”

“Yes.” I thought for a moment. “But he didn't believe me. Or, rather, didn't understand.”

“That is the way with dragons,” René said sagely. “But you will show him,
hein
?”

I lifted my hand and watched as the fingers curved and elongated into scarlet claws, the skin shimmering into silver scales that swept up my arm. I smiled. “Yes, when the time's right, I'll show him.”

“He will be happy. But will you?”

“Yes, I think I will be. I realize now why the dragon shard chose me,” I said, letting the scales slide back into human flesh. I flexed my fingers. “It wanted me to stop being a shadow of someone else, and start being myself.”

“And that can only be a good thing.” René glanced at the clock and
tsk
ed. “But I am making you late for your baby visit. I will be quiet now, and let you go see the adorable little ones. I must pick my wife up from the train station in a short while. She has come to see the
bébés
, as well.”

I said nothing more as he bustled out of the room, and followed more slowly as I savored the feeling of relief. I was free from Magoth at last. Nothing would ever take me from Gabriel again, and I was happy with who I was—not strictly a doppelganger, not strictly a dragon, but something in between, something unique.

Gabriel emerged from Drake's study, giving Maata approval on the house she found for us to rent. “Tell them we will take a lease for a year, but only upon May's approval,” he said before catching sight of me. He gave me a rueful smile as I moved automatically to his side, his fingers immediately seeking mine. “Are you ready for the foolishness?”

“Not really, but I do want to see Aisling and the babies. Did you have the blood test?”

He sighed, our fingers entwined as we mounted the stairs. “I would say Drake had lost all his reason, but it is common for male dragons to be very protective of their spawn. Drake is most likely overreacting because of all the people in the house.”

“No doubt. We've been so busy with Magoth, it's totally slipped my mind, but what will happen with Thala?”

He shot me a curious look. “I do not know, little bird. Kostya has claimed her as a prisoner of war, but whether Drake will release her to him is in question. She must answer many questions to the weyr.”

“Baltic will be back for her.”

“Possibly. But I do not think he will find it so easy to free her,” Gabriel said dryly as we arrived at the room that had been given over to racks of sterile surgical wear. We quickly changed our clothing, and presented ourselves and our appointment cards to István, who stood guard outside Drake's bedroom.

“We haven't seen the last of him, you know,” I said in a whisper when István went in to check if Drake would clear us for the visit.

“No. The weyr will meet to discuss the issue he presents. We cannot let him continue destroying dragons. He will have to be stopped.”

“Do you think he'll seek revenge for us keeping the dragon heart out of his reach?”

“It is possible, but you know I will always keep you safe. Do not fear, Mayling—you are my mate, and my heart. Nothing and no one can change that,” Gabriel said, kissing me as the door opened up and István bowed us into the room.

Drake hurried over to us as we entered. He gave Gabriel a suspicious look before eyeing us quickly to make sure we met with his standards. “Do not mention the appointment cards or the security measures,” he said quickly in a low voice. “I will not have Aisling upset by trivialities.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing, noting that Gabriel's dimples were fighting to come out.

“May! Gabriel! I thought you'd never come to see my babies. What on earth are you wearing? Drake! I told you to stop making people dress in those silly outfits.” Aisling was propped up on a huge bed, her color high, her face a bit drawn, but radiating pride and happiness. Two beautifully carved wooden cradles stood next to her, draped in pristine lace.

“Until we know the children's immunities are strong, I will not allow germs near them,” Drake said sternly.

Aisling rolled her eyes. “No one is going to endanger them. May, would you like to hold Ilona? Gabriel, what do you think of them? Aren't they the most beautiful babies you've ever seen? I know all mothers say that, but you have to admit, these two really are outstandingly gorgeous.”

I looked down at the blotchy-skinned, red-faced, pointy-headed babies, and said with absolute conviction, “They are completely and utterly adorable, Aisling. I'm sure they're going to grow up to be just as beautiful as you and Drake.”

Gabriel duly admired the babies, then gave Drake a long look before grinning and punching him in the shoulder. “You have fine children, my friend. They will grow up strong and wise.”

Drake returned the compliment by socking Gabriel in the arm; then the two men embraced.

“They are beyond fine. They are extraordinary,” Drake said, looking with obvious pride at his babies. “But I expected nothing less from Aisling.”

“That's not what you said when I threatened to pull your scrotum over your head so you could share the experience of natural childbirth with me,” she said with a grin.

He cleared his throat, adjusted a blanket infinitesimally, then waved us to chairs. “You were in pain. Much can be forgiven when a woman is in the throes of childbirth.”

We sat with them for a half hour before Aisling began looking tired, and left her with a promise to return the next day.

Drake tucked her in, checked the babies, then accompanied us out of the room. “The mortals have a custom to celebrate with whisky and cigars. You will join me?” he asked.

“Of course. May?”

“I'll pass on the cigars, but a little shot of whisky would go a long way right now,” I said.

Dr. Kostich was waiting for us when we reached Drake's study. He glowered at us for a moment before saying to Gabriel, “One of my apprentices, Tully, is unwell.”

“I will see to her, naturally. And you? Tipene has tended to your arm?”

“He has. The silver dragons well deserve their reputation for healing abilities,” Kostich said stiffly.

Gabriel smiled at the grudging compliment, and went off to the sitting room to check on the apprentice.

“I wish to speak with you,” Dr. Kostich told me.

Drake murmured something about being in his study when I was free, and retreated to that room.

Dr. Kostich considered me for a moment before saying, “I begin to regret my leniency with regards to you.”

“I have done everything you asked of me,” I pointed out.

“You misled me.”

“Misled you how?”

“You withheld information from me about the dragon lord Baltic, information that was vital for our success. And because you saw fit to withhold it, I have neither the light blade of Antonia von Endres nor the dragon himself, who I assure you will answer to the acts of violence he has perpetrated upon my person, and those of my apprentices.”

“There's also a little matter of more than sixty blue dragons who were brutally slaughtered, but I guess you don't care about that,” I said, annoyed that he could make so light of that atrocity.

Dr. Kostich's expression did not change. “Crimes against dragonkin are beyond the authority of the L'au-delà.”

I acknowledged that it was so. “I merely wish to point out that although we have all suffered at the hands of Baltic, there are those who have suffered far more.”

“You did not tell me that the dragon in question could access the beyond,” Dr. Kostich accused, his gaze once again pinning me down.

“No, I didn't. I didn't think it was pertinent, and to be honest, I'm not sure why you think it is.”

He almost sighed, but caught himself in time. “Dragonkin cannot enter the beyond. It is a well-known fact that only by extraordinary means can one do so, and yet this one appeared to enter it with ease, and without any assistance from one who has routine access. This dragon is clearly something . . . unusual.”

“But you knew that. You knew he had the ability to cast arcane spells, and to use the light sword.”

“Yes, but I did not know he could also enter the beyond. A dragon who understands and harnesses arcane power is extraordinary, but it might possibly be explained. But one who can enter the beyond—that is truly miraculous, and I do not like miracles.” He bit off the last few words as if they left a nasty taste in his mouth.

“I'm sorry. I didn't know. He's sought refuge in the beyond so many times, I didn't think about just how unusual it was. What difference it could have made to today's events is, pun aside, beyond me.”

“He has escaped us!” Dr. Kostich said, his voice icy. “Had I know he could use the beyond as a way to avoid capture, I would have put precautions into place to ensure he could not simply vanish just as we were about to take him.”

I wondered how he could arrange for that, but figured mages must have abilities in the shadow world that were far greater than mine. “I'm sorry, but I just didn't think to tell you. But if you are worried that we have seen the last of Baltic, you can rest your mind. He isn't the sort of dragon to let a little thing like defeat stop him for long. I have every expectation that he'll be back raising hell soon. We might have stopped him from getting the dragon heart or shards, but I have no doubt he'll continue to be a thorn in our side, and sooner or later, the weyr will have to do something about him.”