Eight
Humans love routine. Disrupt it just enough to keep them rattled. It’s good for their circulation.
-Humaning for Beginners: A Dragon’s Tale of Human Management
Icalled Adelaide to the suite. Though I’d said nothing about Taron’s shirtless state, she arrived with a fitted white tee.
“To replace your bloodstained one.” She tossed the garment at him. “No need to thank me.”
“Wasn’t going to,” Taron muttered as he caught and donned the offering. He made sure to tuck the ring and its chain beneath the neck, then gripped it from underneath the fabric for several seconds.
What did it mean to him?
He sat on the couch to organize the weapons in his pack. Daggers, grenades, something that looked suspiciously like a twelve-inch fang carved into a blade.
Focus.My guest didn’t even pretend not to listen as I told my sister about the trip while packing my own bag. Ahealing tonic, a cashmere scarf and a retractable spear topped my list of essentials.
“Don’t forget this,” she said, handing me a small box for my soundpods. “Just in case another episode ofGravely Curiousdrops.”
“I think the words you’re looking for are, ‘Thank you, dear sister, for addicting me to a fun murder mystery podcast.’”
She nodded with a smile, then her face grew serious. “You’re sure this isn’t a trap? A gingerbread trail of Professor Hottie’s own design?”
Scorch it all! I should’ve thought of that. He might’ve lied about not wanting to kill me anymore. But still… “It’s worth the risk.” Honestly, I would rather die than end up like my father. “He’s found all but three items on the list. They are stored?—”
“In a secret room inside my home,” he admitted.
Sigh. Back to the United States then. “Malachi will demand my head on a platter.” Whatever. “We’ll pick those up then?—”
“Let your sister pick up what I’ve already located.” Taron motioned to Adelaide. “Aren’t there rules about stepping foot on each other’s territory? A war between the dragon queen and griffin king will complicate matters. And it should still count as quote-unquote gathering together if it’s all here when we return.” He wrote his address on a piece of paper and passed it to my sister. “This is where I’ve stored everything.”
“Right. Because this totally isn’t a trap,” she muttered, but accepted the paper anyway. “You happened to collect the things we need?”
“I knew I would bond with Olyssa if I failed to kill her during round one, and I expected to break the connection after her death, wanting no remaining link,” he mutteredback. “It was supposed to be a just in case step. If I’d known how drastically this would affect me, I would’ve collected the other ingredients as well.”
I huffed. “Or maybe not activated the bond at all.”
My sister glanced at the address before shoving the paper in her pocket. “Maybe I’ll pop into Emerald City Clucks in Ozworld, Kansas while I’m breaking centuries of treaties, truces and laws. They make the wickedest chicken sammies. Unlike you, sister dear, Malachi won’t know I’ve been there.”
“Thank you,” I said, giving her arm a squeeze. “If it’s a gingerbread trail, I promise I’ll make Taron pay for it.” And what if he’d laid a trail for me, too?
The “him” in question said nothing.
“Good.” Her thumbs danced over the screen of her phone as she spoke. “I’ll inform everyone you’re holed up with your new firebrand, knowing each other, wink wink, and you’re not to be disturbed. That should keep visitors at bay. Though you should be on alert, playing pants optional Olympics supposedly cements the Yrnblade’s power, making its thread unbreakable. So maybe don’t do that.”
I gulped as tremors rocked me. “Getting naked isn’t on the table.”
“Getting naked isn’t even in the room,” he muttered.
My sister rolled her eyes before glaring at Taron. “Obviously, I expect occasional proof of life. If ever I suspect foul play, I’ll unleash my wrath upon your mortal.” Then back to typing.
“He’s not my firebrand. And don’t you dare harm?—”
Too late. She was already out the door.
I sighed and tossed my phone into the bag. “If you sent my sister into a trap–”
“I didn’t. I’m sending her to my treasury, and I’mrisking everything I’ve spent my life collecting to get this done.” Taron stood, slinging his pack over his shoulder. His frozen honey irises projected a storm a thousand degrees colder than before. “Ready?”
