Nebulous: A Reverse Harem Urban Fantasy (Dragon's Creed Book 2) Page 6

  “Scarlett, how nice to see you. Here for a little family reunion? How lovely.” She glanced between my aunt and me. “Lila must be so happy to have some family again.”

  “I’m going to kill you if you touch him, Tara!” I shrieked, my sword flailing uselessly.

  “Shut up, Lila,” my aunt said without emotion. “Tara, you need to leave immediately. According to the Dragon Creed—”

  “Why, yes,” she said, cutting my aunt off. “It’s nice of you to mention the creed. I was just about to bring it up. Section twenty-eight. The law on territories who have lost their wardens.” Her cold gaze settled levelly on my aunt.

  “This territory has a warden,” my aunt retorted. “Lila is warden.”

  “This territory did have a warden. Until today.” When the confidence on my aunt’s face waned, Tara smiled. “Oh, you must not have heard. Lila lost the lighthouse. And a warden who cannot claim their beacon is not officially recognized in the creed. You know the law as well as I do, Scarlett.”

  My aunt’s jaw hung open. She turned to me as Ki lowered me to the ground. I straightened my jacket and readied my sword, but my aunt was at my side in an instant.

  Her worried eyes searched mine. “Is this true? Did you lose the lighthouse?”

  “I didn’t lose it, but yeah, they took it from me. Mr. Webb, Jimmy… I missed the interview. But only by a half an hour. If they had waited…” My words trailed off as what I was saying broke over her face.

  “Lila, no. Oh no.” She gripped my arm so hard it hurt.

  “I’m sorry I—”

  Tara’s voice booming over the beach drew our attention. “All who hear me, listen and listen well. You are no longer welcome. Deeploch has rightfully claimed the beacon, and we’re no longer under any obligation to welcome other dens in our territory. This island is ours. Any who trespass will be dealt with. Harshly.”

  At this, the red dragon shot a plume of fire into the air, sending scorching heat over us. Cringing, we covered our heads until the flame subsided.

  When I looked up, the red dragon’s slitted eye was leveled right at me. When he opened his jaws, I could tell he’d love to fit me between those rows of jagged teeth.

  “Furthermore,” Tara said, addressing the other dragons, “all the protections Lila has received as warden under the creed will be null and void in forty-eight hours, at which time she will be turned over to me. Any dragon who is found giving aid or harboring the former warden after the forty-eight hours are up will be subject to immediate execution.”

  When she was done speaking, she rested her gaze on each of us in turn, daring us to cross her.

  Her words rolled over me like icy cold waves. No longer warden? Protections? Death? How could any of this be true?

  I glanced at my aunt, hoping to see an answer in her face, but nothing about her expression calmed me.

  The Scarlet Warden stepped forward, clearing her throat in an apparent attempt to get her confidence back. “Just because you and your lawless thugs will have the beacon soon doesn’t mean you can go around killing humans. Lila is my niece, and I will not allow anything to happen to her.”

  “Then you will die with her,” Tara said coldly. “Your choice.”

  “That would mean war with the Frostfire Den.”

  “Mikel and his crew?” she scoffed. “I’ve been in talks with them, and we’ve come to an understanding.” Tara’s face said she’d thought of everything.

  My aunt had nothing to say.

  Tom stepped forward, his human form clad in hastily thrown-on shorts. “Mother, don’t do this!”

  Tara’s head snapped in his direction, regarding her son with emotionless eyes. “Who are you to call me mother? You are no more mine than she is.” Her chin jutted toward me.

  “I won’t let you kill her,” Tom shot back.

  Tara stared at her son, anger twitching behind the carefully crafted calm exterior. “The time of wardens is through. Join me or perish.”

  She turned her back on him. On all of us. “Forty-eight hours,” she said, not sparing us another glance.

  Her dragon form exploded into being. Five deafening roars shattered the world as all her dragons pushed off with powerful wings. Buffeted, I threw my arm up, trying to keep my eyes on Tara as she hurled herself into the night sky.

  Chapter Eight

  Everyone stood speechless, watching Tara Palmer and her evil clutch disappear through the membrane that protected Mirror Island. The fire that burned in the forest was still intense, but it seemed to inexplicably be growing smaller rather than larger. I stared in confusion.

  Seeing my puzzlement, my aunt said, “The island is mostly magical. Peng and Franco’s creation. They can get this under control.”

  I eyed Ki and Santiago’s fathers, but they didn’t seem to be doing anything special to contain the flames. In fact, they weren’t even facing the forest. Instead, they had turned to their families and seemed to be communicating telepathically with them.

  Concentrating, I tried to pick up on their conversation, but I got nothing. I sidled next to Tom—the only one in human form—and asked, “What’s going on?”

  He put a hand up, indicating I should wait. I let my gaze travel around the group, disturbed by the silence. If they were human, there would be raised voices, cursing, and disagreement, but this was nothing like that. Or maybe it was, and I just couldn’t hear it.

  There was a total of twelve dragons present, including my dragons. Santiago’s father, mother, and sister were part of the group, and the rest were from the Longtail den, all related to Ki and Fang—cousins and uncles I hadn’t had the chance to get to know.

  After the longest silence of my life, the dragons took to the skies one by one and flew away from Mirror Island.

  “Will someone tell me what’s going on?” I demanded.

  “I think they’re going back home,” Tom said. Apparently, he wasn’t privy to their message either.

  Concerned, I took him in. His blond hair fell across his forehead, obscuring the blue of his eyes, so I couldn’t read his opinion on the decision.

  “They’re giving up, just like that?” I couldn’t believe it.

  Tom shook his head. “You don’t understand how important the Dragon’s Creed is. It’s what stopped endless wars between dens in the past. And it’s what keeps us alive and safe from humans.”

  I was about to tell him what I thought of their idiotic creed but—next to me—Santiago trembled and shifted, his golden mass of scales shrinking, transforming into a gorgeous boy with sun-kissed skin and wild brown curls. I averted my eyes from the sight of his perfect—naked—butt.

  “Ya te dije que me quedo aquí,” Santiago yelled at his father. “No voy a huir como un cobarde.” He took a step behind me, shooting death rays at Mr. Alcon.

  I wasn’t sure exactly what he said, but from the little bit I could make out, it seemed he’d informed his father he was staying. If I wasn’t mistaken, he’d also implied his dad was a coward. I winced, knowing that wouldn’t go over well.

  Next, it was Ki and Fang’s turn to shift and take their positions at my back. I looked around, baffled by the fact I seemed to have become the center of some conflict—one where I was surrounded by hot naked guys.

  “I’m staying, too,” Ki said. “I’m not abandoning Lila.”

  Mr. Liang, in his brown dragon form, shook his head and stomped a massive foot on the ground, displacing sand and burying his claws a few inches.

  “If you care about the creed so much,” Fang said, “then remember we’re all over eighteen. We are free to decide for ourselves as long as we don’t endanger our den.”

  Mr. Liang shook his head violently this time. Smoke, and even a bit of fire, jetted out of his nostrils.

  “You can’t make us, Fùqīn.” Ki’s brown eyes were scared, but he stood his ground.

  His father’s head whipped to one side, swiveling on a long, scaly neck. The gesture seemed to say, Have it your way.

  Woul
d he disown them the way Tara had Tom? Because of me? I couldn’t have that.

  “You guys should go with your families,” I said. “I’ll be all right.”

  Ki took my hand, his gaze reaching deep into mine. “We’re staying.”

  “He’ll disown you,” I said on the brink of tears. I’d lost my father by force. I could not imagine giving him up willingly.

  Ki shook his head. “He’s angry, but he would never do that.” He interlaced his finger with mine while I blindly gazed at the stars, determined not to cry.

  Furious, Mr. Liang and Mr. Alcon marched away from us, shook their wings, and took to the skies without a backward glance. In shock, I watched them vanish into the night. Their sons had gone against them for me. It was too much to handle. If I didn’t distract myself somehow, I would start bawling.

  Letting go of Ki’s hand, I stepped hesitantly up to my aunt. She was observing the dwindling fire that had burned the wood cabin to the ground, now just piles of ash and crumbling boards. A frown etched her forehead while strands of silver hair blew around her worried face.

  “This is all your fault, Lila,” my aunt said, her voice cold as ice.

  As if I didn’t know it and my gut wasn’t already twisting with guilt. “What do I do?” I asked, unsure whether she would offer any suggestions at this point. I hated to ask for guidance, but I was scared.

  She faced me. “Try not to screw anything else up. At least the ring and sword can’t help you cause any more trouble.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, panic sparking in my chest.

  “They aren’t much without the beacon.” My aunt shook her head as if saying I was hopeless and didn’t know top from bottom.

  Biting my lower lip, I took a step back. No help would come from her tonight. I clenched my teeth, holding back angry words. She didn’t owe me anything. She’d left me to my fate before, why not now, too?

  “I’ll leave Tara’s territory,” I said.

  “I doubt that’ll make a difference. She seems to be spreading her message far and wide. If she’s already got Frostfire on her side, there’s no telling who else has joined her. At this point, there may be no safe place to hide.”

  Fear coiled around my heart. Tara Palmer had put a wanted poster out for me, and Deeploch hated wardens so much they didn’t even need to put a price on my head. They would kill me for free.

  “I have to go and assemble the Warden Council. It would be… unwise to bring you along,” she said. “I’m sorry but for now, you’re on your own. I wish you the best.”

  The Scarlet Warden threw her silver tresses over her shoulder, then strode toward one of the boats that sat on the beach.

  I wanted to say something scornful, something that would hurt her the way she’d just hurt me, but I had no idea what that could be. The woman was made of ice, and nothing seemed to penetrate her.

  Santiago stepped next to me. “Hey, Little Red Riding Warden,” he called. “In case you haven’t noticed, she’s not on her own. She’s got us.”

  My aunt kept going without looking back. With more strength than I’d ever seen in a woman her age, she pushed the boat across the sand and into the water, then hopped inside. She sat in the middle and began to row in firm, solid strokes that quickly took her past the fog that surrounded the island.

  Despite the boys’ presence and support, I couldn’t help but feel alone. My own aunt had abandoned me. My father was still missing. I had no place to live. A death sentence hung over my head.

  I collapsed on the sand, coming unhinged like a marionette. The tears that had threatened to make an appearance moments ago were gone, chased away by a sharp coldness in the center of my chest. It seemed to spread from my core, injecting my veins with ice water and chilling my entire body.

  At first, I thought it was just pain at being rejected, but when a shiver raked down my back and made my teeth chatter, I figured it must be shock.

  Ki knelt next to me. “What’s wrong?”

  I blinked at him, but all I saw was a blur. Had I inhaled too much smoke?

  “Lila, you’re cold,” he said after pressing a hand against my cheek.

  “Is she all right?” Fang asked.

  Tom and Santiago appeared next, staring at me as well. I blinked to clear my eyes. They were all dressed, apparently having found some of the clothes they’d stashed along the beach.

  Ki put a finger under my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. He spoke a gentle question into my mind.

  I swallowed thickly before I answered. “I’m okay. Just low blood sugar, I think.” I felt clammy and dizzy, so that was the safest bet.

  “She needs some fries or something,” Santiago said, sounding a bit panicked. “Let’s get back. Everything here burned to a crisp.”

  “I—I don’t think I can fly,” I said, feeling nauseous at the thought.

  “A boat ride would be worse, Lila,” Tom said.

  I nearly threw up imagining rocking back and forth in the choppy lake waters.

  In the end, I rode on top of Ki, resting my head on his long neck and focusing on his deep breaths. The breeze that blew from the north made my shivering worse, but it also seemed to clear my head. By the time Ki alighted next to the lighthouse, I felt more like myself.

  Leaving the guys behind so they could re-dress, I went into the house, snatched a protein bar from the pantry, and headed upstairs to my room.

  I stopped at the threshold, my eyes roving around my messy possessions. The thought of packing everything so Jimmy Foster could move in made me furious. Let him do all the work. I had no use for music posters, dresses, or makeup. I would only take what could fit in the trunk of my Mustang. No more.

  When Ki came upstairs ten minutes later, he found me staring at the two plastic bins I’d packed.

  “We didn’t want to bother you, but we started to worry.” Shyly, he entered the room, hands in his pockets.

  “I was just packing. That’s all I need,” I said, gesturing toward the bins.

  He sat next to me on the bed. “We also travel lightly,” he said with a twinkle in his deep brown eyes.

  I chuckled for Ki’s sake, then remembered something I’d been wanting to ask. “Mr. Alcon—that day he healed Santiago and Tom—he had scales going down his legs, like pants. How come you guys can’t do that?”

  “We can’t control the shift to that level of detail yet,” Ki said, blushing a little. “It comes with age and experience, like fire.”

  “That’s cool,” I said.

  Ki shrugged. “Not cool sometimes. My uncle, Chao, thinks it’s funny to walk around with horns sprouting from his forehead.” He pressed his forefinger to his temples, then wiggled them around.

  “That is funny.” I chuckled again, this time for real. It was good to feel something other than terrible grief for once.

  “Not after the nth time.”

  We laughed, then were quiet for a moment. After a few beats, Ki took my hand.

  “We’re with you. All the way,” he said.

  I focused on him, thanking my lucky stars. I wasn’t alone, and I had no right feeling like it.

  “Why did you disobey your father?” The question felt intimate, but it was out before I could stop it.

  “Because you need us, and we need you.” He averted his eyes as if ashamed.

  I needed them, but… why would they need me? I was a terrible warden, a weak human. I had nothing to offer. And they were risking their lives for me? It didn’t make sense.

  “You should go,” I said. “You’re not safe with me. Tara will kill you for helping me.”

  “Let her try,” Santiago said from the door.

  Tom and Fang stood next to him, their expressions determined. They were with me all the way, and nothing else mattered.

  Chapter Nine

  As I drove up to the Palmer’s long driveway, the knot in my stomach twisted into a ballpark-sized pretzel. This was Tara Palmer’s property, my sworn enemy. The person who’d just issued a hit out on
my life. What was I doing shacking up in her house?

  I pulled the car to the shoulder, gravel grumbling under my tires. Ki, Fang and Santiago, who were riding in Fang’s truck, slowed behind us. I shot them a “hold on” telepathic message while I turned to Tom in the passenger seat. The question I’d been asking myself since we came up with this hairbrained idea must have been spelled out on my face because he preempted it.

  “For the last time, Lila, it’s fine. I promise my house is safe.” Tom rubbed a hand over his tired eyes, then pushed his wind-tousled hair back.

  We were all exhausted from the events of the day, packing up my things, and securing the warden’s lair as best we could. My mother’s faded drawings were now at the bottom of the tote in my trunk, along with a few things from Dad. Pickles mewled helplessly from his cage in the back of my car, as miserable as the rest of us. But just because we were bone tired didn’t mean we should make a terrible decision.

  “We could stay in a hotel,” I said, drumming my hands nervously. “I have some money.”

  “We wouldn’t be safe there. Anyone could come in. My house has both dragon magic and human surveillance technology. We won’t find better at some cheap, flea-infested motel.”

  I bit my lip. “Dragon magic your mom created. What would stop her from letting herself back in?”

  “I’ve done some tweaking since she left.” His blue eyes flashed with something like pride for the first time in a while. “I can’t guarantee it’ll keep her out, but we’ll definitely know if a dragon comes anywhere near the property, which extends eight miles on either side of the house.”

  “Eight miles is not a lot,” I mumbled.

  “It’s better than zero miles,” he retorted. “Plus, I have a computer and the internet. That can help us come up with a plan. What in your life hasn’t been solved by googling it?”

  The joke he offered made his face light up. I liked seeing him happy. It was almost as if agreeing to come live with him had flipped a switch inside Tom. He’d gone from sullen to damn-near perky on the ride here. I wondered how lonely he had been in the last two weeks in his big house. I’d felt lonely myself, and I’d had Pickles at least.