“Because I’m a Dragon?”she said, feeling Archer’s hand squeeze in warning.
“I don’t advocate the joining of Caido with any other being.”
“So you prefer they remain like monks?”she asked.
“Rather than being with a Dragon, yes.”
Archer took over the conversation.“I have heard that you are capable of changing the orientation of a fetus from, say, Dragon to Caido.”
His eyes narrowed.“Who told you this?”
“Jeremy Grant.”
Silva’s mouth twitched but otherwise he gave nothing away.“I must have a word with this Jeremy for spreading insinuations.I cannot change a fetus.”He shook his head.“Sad, that.So few of us, so many of them.”He deigned to glance at her.
“That’s not why we’re here,” Archer said.He tugged her closer.“Can you change an adult’s essence?”
His eyebrows rose at that.“Change her from Dragon to Caido?”
Archer nodded.“She doesn’t want to be Dragon anymore.”
Silva’s smile was acidic.“Because she’s in love with you.And you with her.How fucking romantic.”He speared her with a harsh look.“You would deny your Dragon?Give it up forlove?”
She nodded, feeling her Dragon shake.She pulled her ache, her need to save Archer from his pain, to the surface for Silva to feel.He had obviously picked up her feelings for Archer.No, she would never give up her Dragon, even if it were possible.It was too much a part of her.
“Say the words, girl.”
“I …” She looked at Archer, afraid to trigger something she couldn’t stop.But no, Silva wouldn’t do anything without extracting a price first.“I want to become Caido.”Her hand went to her tattoo, reassuring her Dragon with a stroke of her fingers.
“No, you don’t.I feel the falseness of your statement.”He looked at Archer.“She would not give up her essence for you.Do you see the folly of falling for someone other than Caido?Go, I am done with you.”
Silva walked out, and the minion stepped into the open doorway.“You will follow me.”He looked pleased, probably having heard everything.He wouldn’t look so pleased in about thirty seconds if they were following their plan.
Lyra leaned to the right so she could watch Silva.He walked farther back into the house, the echo of his shoes on the marble fading.
Archer paused in front of a garish painting, pretending to read the signature.“Isn’t this Palente?Looks like his work.”
He was buying time for Silva to get out of earshot.
“Sir,” the man said, impatience clear in the grit of his voice.
Archer did a great job of looking clueless.He started to follow but grabbed the guy’s hair and jerked him back into the parlor.He slammed his hand against the minion’s forehead, and a bright flash of Light seared his skin.His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.
Lyra watched the doorway to make sure no one came in.All clear.Archer dragged his body behind the sofa.Then he crept back out to the foyer.He must be headed toward where he’d sensed someone.The word ‘Pop’ wanted to burst out of her mouth.
He led them up the grand staircase, where a balcony stretched across the width of the foyer.A wide hallway down the center led to a veranda that opened to the Biscayne Bay.On either side of the hallway were doors.
“Hey, who are you?”A young, fresh-faced Caido stood by an open door he’d obviously just opened.Curiosity morphed to alarm.He started to yell something, but Archer was faster.He blasted him with Light that sent him flying backward into the room from which he’d come.Archer caught him before he hit the floor and eased him quietly down.
They looked around, clearly in a bedroom suite.She searched the bathroom and closet but found no sign of their missing people.
When they stepped out of the room, Silva stood at the top of the stairs, cold fury on his face.A beam of Light shot from Silva’s hand, aimed right at them.Archer grabbed her as he fell back into the room.They had no more landed on the thick carpet when he kicked the door closed.
They both jumped to their feet, and Archer locked the door.Lyra pointed to where shadows slid beneath the door.Wraiths!Her Dragon took over, whipping its tail at the wraith coming at her.With the oversized furniture here, there was no room to fight.Archer’s wings tore through his back, doubling him over.She swiped at the wraiths who would take advantage of those few seconds of vulnerability.One bit into her hand, and she clamped her claws over it, making it screech.She flung it against the dresser, then kicked another one after it.
Two more slipped beneath the door.How many did Silva have?How many lost souls had become his ghostly slaves?Archer cut across them with a beam of Light like a sword.The top halves of their “bodies” toppled over.He kept cutting, slicing them to bits until they disintegrated.
Something grabbed her from behind, sharp talons tearing into her throat.Another one yanked her tail and pulled her off balance.Her fall dislodged the wraith at her throat.
