Page 112 of Dragon’s Rebel

Chapter 48

Rebel faced Mr. Johnson, the man who had stolen her life.

“You bloody fucking asshole.” She advanced on him, not even caring that he was holding a gun. All the fury she’d held inside since her parents died rose up and spilled over.

“You separated me and my sister,” she spat. “You erased our past. You put Tempest in that hellhole—”

“Ah ah ah,” he said, moving the pistol in warning. “None of that. Just hand over that artifact you have there, and forget you ever saw me.”

She stopped. “That’s a ‘hell no’ on both counts.”

“You should have forgotten me the first time,” he said.

“Too bad you suck at mind magic.”

His gaze was flat and unruffled. “You’re lucky I was there at all. You and your little sister would both be dead if it weren’t for me and my tender heart.”

This man did not look at all like he had a tender heart. He looked like he would shoot her without a second thought.

She scanned the garden with her peripheral vision. The tunnel was collapsed, and he was in front of the gate. The only way out was over the wall. Or through him.

Either way, she’d have to be fast.

Rebel took another step forward, trying to distract him with her anger. “You fucked with my sister’s memory. She doesn’t even remember our parents, for God’s sake.”

“It’s better that way.”

“Says you. You don’t know what it’s like to have no past.”

Surprisingly, he laughed at that, though the humor didn’t reach his eyes. “You’d be surprised. Now hand over the artifact.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll shoot you to get it. Which would be a shame, considering all the trouble I went to protecting you all those years ago.”

“Was it our parents you were trying to make us forget? Or were you just covering your own ass?”

“You don’t need to know my reasons. But you need to disappear again. If you give me the artifact, you’re free to go.”

The gunfire was louder now, interspersed with shouting and the baying of hellhounds. There was an explosion that sounded like a grenade detonating.

“Hear that?” Mr. Johnson said. “There’s a battle going on—my men against the sorcerers who kidnapped you. Both sides want what you have in your hands, but neither of them is particularly worried about you. I’m the only one who can get you out.” His voice was soft and persuasive. His face began to fill Rebel’s whole vision.

“I can get you out safely, help you disappear again. There are still those that believe your mother’s and father’s bloodlines should never have been joined. That the powers you and your sister hold are dangerous abominations and should be eliminated—by eliminating the two of you.”

Rebel jerked her mind back. Damn him. She could feel the energy net the fucker was weaving around her.

Trying to mess with her mind again. Like Corwyn and D’Amboise, he kept underestimating her.

He was still talking in that soothing, hypnotic tone. “All you have to do is give me the illegal dragon artifact, and you’ll be safe.”

Yeah… no.

Rebel let his influence ripple off her, just like she had when she was twelve years old. Only now she was better at it.

“Nice try,” she said. “Still doesn’t work on me. And you’re getting this Seal over my dead body.” She felt a rumbling in the ground underneath her. The bracelet began vibrating.

It was about time. Thorne?