Page 28 of Red Dragon’s Flame

Her face grew shuttered, and she chewed slowly and swallowed. Finally she said, “They’re called Allohim.”

“And… what do they want? What’s their purpose?”

“I don’t know.”

Not helpful. “Well, how long have they been after you?”

“All my life.”

Fuck. That made no sense, considering how close she’d come to dying tonight. How had she not already been killed?

She dipped her cheese toast again, took a bite, looked up and saw him watching her. Apparently she could read the doubt on his face, because she said, “I had protection. Used to.”

He could see the ache of loss in her eyes, feel it as if it were his own. Suddenly he understood. “But the person who protected you died.”

She didn’t answer directly, just dropped her gaze and said softly, “Now I have to protect myself.”

“No, you don’t. Not alone.”

She looked up quickly, startled, and apparently saw the truth in his eyes—the promise that he hadn’t set out to make. The same thing that had shimmered in the air between them earlier sprang to life again.

“Why?” she asked. “Why are you helping me? Why did you come for me?”

How to answer that? Because I couldn’t not come? Because I have a stupid crush on your avatar? Because I’m bored with my life and wanted adventure?

He settled for, “Because we’re friends. And you asked me to.”

It was more than that. Much more, but he couldn’t say that now. He didn’t even know how to untangle whatever it was between them, this sudden leap from virtual to real.

She was nibbling on her toast, a worried frown on her face. Finally she said again, “I can’t stay here. They’ll come back.”

Devon could tell by the look on his face that she’d been too abrupt. Again. Here was someone who liked her, who’d risked his life for her, even if it wasn’t on purpose because how could he possibly have anticipated what would happen?

She owed him some kind of explanation, even if he wouldn’t believe it.

“I didn’t mean—” She gestured helplessly with her toast. “I meant, everyone here is in danger as long as I’m here. Everyone in this whole building. The Allohim are deadly.”

“It’s okay,” Mikah said. “The creatures did attack, on the roof, but we drove them off and Cazbek—my brother, who lives here—activated wards over the building. We’re fine for the moment.”

She stared at him, stunned. “Wards? Your brother is a sorcerer? Are you one too?”

“Only as a sideline.”

He was messing with her. “Sideline to what?” she asked acerbically. “Being an accountant?” She couldn’t believe she’d imagined him in a polo shirt with a calculator in his pocket.

“That part’s true—although it’s only part of what I do. I’m Chief Steward for Emon Lael, King of the Al-Maddeiri Draken clan.”

Her mind reeled. Draken? Was that like…

He seemed to read her next question right out of her mind, because he confirmed it before she asked. “I’m a dragon.”

She just gaped at him, mouth open, no words. Dragons were real? And they could take human form? He had to still be messing with her. Only…

The fire.

He was telling the truth. Her own fire had had depleted itself defending her, and somehow, he’d revived it with his. Dragon fire. She looked down at her hands, opening and closing one fist. He’d replenished the fire inside her. He really was a dragon, and he’d saved her life.

She looked up and saw him watching her. He reached for her, and out of habit she flinched back. Hurt flashed across his face.