That somehow made the gesture more meaningful.
Clarissa cleared her throat. I jumped and tore my gaze away from Nox. “Sawyer here will take your bags to your rooms.” She nodded to a guard who approached from the side. “Come on. The others are waiting.”
“There he is!”a familiar female voice rang out from the drawing room.
“I was wondering when he was going to show up.”
A booming chuckle followed. “The famousdragon Shifter. Now the real party can start.”
“Quiet, Chaz. Nobody else knows he’s a dragon.”
I didn’t recognize the owners of the second voices, but the first two, Rose and Leo, stood to greet Nox as he followed Clarissa into the room. I stood back with Mia still sitting at my feet, watching while Nox hugged his friends. A faint smile spread across my lips at seeing him in his element. I knew he and Rose were close—the beautiful green-eyed, dark-haired Alchemist and her partner had spent a lot of time with him when we were all in Mysthelm. I only hoped she’d be able to help us with Scarven’s mysterious Alchemy.
Rose caught my eye as she stepped back from Nox. Her grin faltered slightly, but she nodded at me. “Devora. We weren’t sure if you’d come.”
At her words, six pairs of eyes turned on me.
This wasn’t awkward at all.
A brown-skinned woman I’d never met before wheeled herself toward me in a large wheelchair. Black locks fell down one side of her full chest, and a blanket rested in her lap.
She stared at me with a curious look. “Is this her?” She spared one glance at Nox. “The infamous Shadow Wielder?”
Nox flashed her a smirk. “That’s her.”
The woman appraised me with sharp, discerning eyes. “Thecae wasquiteimpressed with you. And it takes a lot to impress that man.”
My eyes widened at the mention of the Shadow Wielder trainer. “You know Thecae?”
“Who do you think told Nox to take you there?”
“Devora,” Nox said, holding an arm out to the woman. “Meet Lark Everest.”
I remembered how Nox said a friend recommended Thecae teach me how to figure out my shadows. I shook her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you,” I said. “I guess I should be thanking you. Without Thecae, I would’ve never learned about my magic or where I came from. He’s incredible, truly.”
“He is. And he’s often a good judge of character.” She still eyed me with that guarded look, sizing me up. “I hope you’ve been using the shadows well.”
I could tell these people were fiercely loyal and protective of Clarissa. I didn’t blame them for being so wary. But they hadn’t kicked me out yet, so that was a good sign.
A very large, muscular man with a trimmed black beard and three daggers attached to his belt stepped forward, feet thundering and dark eyes piercing. His imposing form towered over me, arms crossed over his chest as he stopped barely a foot in front of me. I held his stare and lifted my chin, despite my shadows trying to dart out from my fingertips.
“So you’re the one who crossed my empress?” he asked, his voice deep and gruff. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nox straighten and step toward me, but I held out a hand to stop him.
“Yes,” I said simply.
“You put that fox in the fire? You ratted her out and almost got her hanged?”
I bit down on the inside of my cheek before responding, “Yes.”
He paused. “Do you regret it?”
That one didn’t take any thought. “Every second of every day.”
He hitched his thumb toward Nox. “And now pretty dragon boy over here has you working against Scarven?”
“That’s right.”
To my surprise, his scowl shifted into a bright smile. It transformed his entire face, taking him from burly, aggressive guard to friendly and playful in the blink of an eye. “Great. I hate that guy.” He stuck out his hand, and I blinked twice before realizing I was supposed to shake it.
