“Okay, start from the beginning, please.”
“My beginning or yours?”
It was my turn to laugh. “You’re pretty clever yourself. Tell me what’s relevant at this juncture.”
“Very well. You are a Sárkány. Riley activated your genes, accidentally, when she crossed into the world of your people. We will need to keep a very close eye on anyone of your bloodline until we can determine your heredity and trace your lineage.”
“And what part do you play in this Unseen world?”
“I’m the elected leader of the Junta. I’m the closest thing to a president the Unseen population has.”
I gave a mock curtsy from my spot on the couch. “Your highness.”
He smirked at me. “Indeed.”
“What happened to Roan?”
“He went to update the family of the two Supay men that are helping Riley, and to see if there’s been any luck finding them.”
I pushed the chair back and let it lean. It was expensive, not much risk of falling backwards out of it. Slowly spinning, I contemplated the events of the previous days. Bubbling joy filled my gut. Despite my treatment in the cell, the embarrassment of no bathroom privacy, and being left to stew in my own stink. Despite the shock of changing into a different species suddenly—after almost dying. Actually, not despite changing,becauseof changing. I couldn’t believe my good luck. The supernatural beings and magics I’d read about for years were real. I pinched my thigh to make sure I was awake and not in the middle of a fantastic dream.
“So what do you know about what I am?”
“Not much.” He repositioned on the couch, crossing his knees. Somehow the position, typically feminine, was entirely masculine on him.
Without bothering to reply, I let my head loll back and twirled the chair until I was looking at him sort of backwards and upside down, a total slouch to his rigidity and formality. “Would you care to expand on that?”
“There are legends about beings that walked the Earth ages ago, but none have been seen for so long that it became just that, a legend. The stories say that once upon a time there were dragon shifters.”
“Oh, that’s cool. I’m okay with being a dragon. I mean, if you’d given me my choice I probably would’ve been a witch or a vampire, but I’ll take dragon shifter.” I stretched and preened, thrilled with the change of my path in life.
“Not a fairy?”
I laughed. “Maybe. I’ve read about so many different legends about what constitutes fairy or Fae. Everything from regal elves to leprechauns.” I wouldn’t have minded being an elf.
“You like to read?” He looked skeptical.
“You don’t?”
He pointed behind his back at the bookshelves. “Those are mine.”
“Not my first choice of reading material.” They made a nice decoration, but I preferred more modern works that I could jump in and out of without feeling like my mind was being ripped from the pages.
“We can get you whatever you want.”
“Why would you need to get me any books?”
He cocked his head. “I’m sorry, I thought I was clear. You’llhaveto stay here for a while. We need to know if you’re safe from the people chasing your cousin before we let you go traipsing about the world.”
“What choice do I have in this matter?” I’d beupsetif I was going to be kept prisoner, even if it was in his lavish home.
“Every choice in the world. You aren’t a prisoner. But you wouldn’t be confined to the house if you choose to stay. You are alone in a world that has just changed dramatically. You can find safety here.”
That posed a very interesting question. Where in the world were we? I jumped from the chair and hurried to look out the window to see if I could tell without asking. I had to wonder why I felt so comfortable and safe with him. “Did you put some sort of spell on me?” I asked as I looked out the window on to a lush green countryside, darkening in the evening light. We were several floors off the ground.
“We did not. We considered it, but decided to let you come to terms with your new life on your own.”
“Smart decision.” I looked down at what could only be described as a castle. “We’re in Ireland?”
