Logan rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “I know. I’m sorry, but I’m glad you’re here now. We needyou.”
Danny spun then, as if sensing my presence. He looked me up and down from behind his black hipster-frame glasses. Now that I was close enough, I checked him out. He had a quaff of black shiny hair that made me jealous, and a rockabilly style that made him and Nadine look like twins. He grinned. “Girl, you are fierce. Last female dragon alive. I’m not gonna lie, I totally freaked out when I heard.” All trace of anger was gone, as it seemed he only reserved that for Logan andKeegan.
Ilaughed.
“You didn’t freak out when you learned I was the last male dragon alive?” Logan asked with his armscrossed.
Danny shot him a glare. “Eh, not somuch.”
I smiled, stepping forward and extending my hand. “I’mSloane.”
Danny took my hand and his eyes flashed copper for the slightest second. “You’re a hybrid,” he stated tohimself.
Logan nodded. “That’s why you’re here. She’s half sorcerer, so I need someone who can control her powers if things go awry. Also so that you can cloak us if she sends out some kind of druidbeacon.”
Danny still had my hand in his grasp; he looked me up and down under a pinched gaze that gave me anxiety. “Half sorcerer you say?” he askedLogan.
Logan walked to the far wall and opened a cabinet. “Well, yeah—there isn’t muchelse.”
Danny must have seen the terror on my face, because he dropped my hand and nodded. “Right. Makes sense.” I could tell from his tone of voice, and the way he looked at me with a tinge of fear mixed with curiosity, that he waslying.
Shit.Everything within me wanted to run, but Danny simply turned his back to me and started doing some kind of chanting as he looked at the wall of the barn. Maybe he was going to wait until later and bring this up toKeegan.
Logan walked over to me with two daggers, bringing my attention back to the present. They both glowed green in his hands, but when he dropped one at my feet it ceasedglowing.
Danny began to walk around the barn chanting and throwing some kind of white powder at the walls, which now had some transparent shimmer going on. It must have been some type of spelled protection. Socool.
“First of all,” Logan began. “You need to start convincing your dragon she is safe. She will shift less often in dangerous or scary situations. How we convince her is by training to become abadass.”
I smiled. “Sounds easier than it will be, I’msure.”
Logan indicated the two glowing blades in hishands.
“These are dragon tools,” Logan informed me. “Stick one deep enough and long enough in a druid and they are dead. It will also release any dragon power they have stolen and give it back to us. This is the only weapon you will need tomaster.”
Sweet! I could do that. One weapon was a goodidea.
“Let’s start small. Pick it up,” Logansaid.
I reached down to pick up the blade, and as my fingers wrapped around the metallic base it shocked my skin and singed me, sending a bolt of pain from my wrist to myelbow.
“Ow!” I chucked it on the ground, and then brought my hand up to my mouth to blow on it. An intricate red burn swirled on my palm as I tried to cool it off. The carvings on the dagger had been burned into mypalm!
Danny looked over his shoulder at me but didn’t say a word. Logan, however, stood there with his mouth open, gaping at me like I was an alien. Then he started talking to himself, mumbling low: “That doesn’t make sense. Well, only a dragon shifter can touch them, and if she’s half sorcerer I guess it does. But … she’s part dragon so…” I cleared my throat and Logan ceased hischattering.
“Alright. That’s okay. I’ll think on that.” He picked up the knife and put it back in the closet. Then he came to stand in front of me, rubbing the scruff along his jaw for what seemed like forever. Not speaking. Not moving. After standing there staring at me for a lifetime, Danny spokeup.
“May I make a suggestion?” Danny asked from his place in the corner of theroom.
Logan snapped out of his transfixion. “Yes …please.”
Danny smiled. “Teach her how to disarm someone, take someone to the ground. Basic skills she will need if a druid tries to grabher.”
Logan looked relieved to be given the suggestion. He nodded. “Yes, of course. We can do the magic stufflater.”
“Or never.” I rubbed my palm, which thankfully seemed to be healing. A jolt of surprise ran through me then. It was healing! “I can heal.” Imumbled.
Logan crossed the room and glanced at my pale hand, once seared red with the markings of the knife. “Well, that’s one good thing we have going for us. Your little purple magic display with the neighboring shifters must have ignited your powers morefully.”
