“Brom?”Leo said.“Isn’t he the dude who predicted the island would sink?He was like Noah, told everyone to build boats and saved a bunch of our ancestors.And he was only ten years old or something.Dude’s a legend.”
Cyntag nodded.“Yes, thatdudeis Brom Winston.”
Her grandfather, Brom Winston?Then the rest of what they were saying hit her.The island sank.Our ancestors.Ruby staggered, because she couldn’t deny it any longer.Mon’s fairy tales… weren’t tales.They were indeed meant to prepare her, in the same lame-ass way the Hunter/Prey game he’d engineered was.
Though both men clearly weren’t comfortable around Cyntag, she sensed their deference to him.Or maybe a fearful respect.Either way, the subject of Brom calmed the edge in Jack’s body language.
Cyntag stepped up to her, forcing Jack to move back.“Ruby has to go away for a while.I suggest you take a few days off until we figure out what’s going on.There might be some dangerous visitors looking for her.”
She shook her head.“What?No, I’ve got projects, commitments…” The words died in her throat.Visitors as in demons.This was real.Crazy, insane, but real.The demon killed that man and that poor little creature, and it definitely would have killed her were it not for Cyntag.It might hurt these people.Cyntag met her gaze, nodding as he saw understanding dawn.He’d been real, too, with scales and fangs and deep blue eyes.An honest-to-God Dragon.She turned to Jack.“Take a vacay.”
Jack said, “I can protect you, Miz Ruby.”He nodded to Cyntag.“I mean, you don’t even know this guy, do you?Seems like your protector and teacher should be someone you know.Someone you’re comfortable with.”
Cyntag walked right up to Jack.“You exude some decent power, kid.”A compliment, yet she knew the word “kid” was meant to establish a hierarchy.“But have you been trained to fight?”
“Enough to fend off the occasional punk-ass trying to assert his dominance.”Jack glanced at Ruby.“If you’ll pardon my French.”
She shook her head.“It’s fine.”
Cyntag seemed to be assessing Jack.“But you’ve never Breathed Dragon.”
“No, sir.But I could.”His shoulders widened.“I sure could if I had to.”
“What’s Breathing Dragon?”Ruby asked.
“Later,” Cyntag said.
That didn’t sound good, but she didn’t need to knowmorecrazy stuff at the moment.
He met Jack’s gaze again.“Ever tangled with a Deuce-made entity or demon?”
“Couple of times.Had a feud with a Douche neighbor.”Jack glanced at Leo.“Sorry, Deuce.Nothing that would kill me but a real pain in the ass.Literally.”He patted his butt, then blanched as he looked at Ruby.“If you’ll?—”
She held out her hand.“I can handle curse words.Like holy shit, how thehelldid I get myself into this crazy-assedsituation?”She gave him a forced smile.
Cyntag’s mouth quirked, but he maintained his serious expression as he turned to Jack.“I appreciate your dedication and loyalty, but you’re still in school, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.I’m in my last year, and then I’m joining the Guard.”
If that was meant to impress Cyntag, it didn’t seem to.“You go to the Dragon Academy?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Finish your schooling before you start throwing yourself in battle.If you stick your snout into this, I’ll have them pull your ass from the program.”
Jack’s jaw tensed, obviously taking the threat seriously.“Yes, sir.”
Cyntag gave him a nod.“Let’s clear out, Ruby.”
“Nevin,” she called to her partner, who lingered a short distance away with a worried expression that turned even more apprehensive when he looked at Cyntag.“We’re closing the Yard for a few days.”He wouldn’t mind that part.“And no, I didn’t kill my uncle.But whoever did might come here.I don’t want to take any chances.”
Nevin walked closer.“Wait a minute.Are you saying it was… murder?Have you talked to the police?”
“I can’t tell you everything right now.”Or ever, but she’d have time to come up with some plausible story.Well, she hoped she did.“And we can’t tell the police.Just go home and be safe.”
“But—”
“Go, please.”
