I can’t shift. The knife resists my attempt to tug it free. I can’t access my magic—I grope for it, but it dances away from me, slipping out of my reach. How much beer did I drink, and why is it affecting me this badly?
Cold darkness is everywhere, seeping into my mind and my body, and there’s nothing I can do to counter it.
Use the ring’s magic.
I make one desperate attempt to yank power from the gold band around my finger. There’s a faint whisper there, just enough for me to cast one final, frantic spell to slow the blood seeping from my body.
I have to find the others. Because the longer the knife is inside me, the more harm it causes. And soon, it’ll be too late to do anything about it.
9
Aria
Jetlag is bullshit. Once again, I wake up late. By the time I shower and get dressed, it’s one-forty-five in the afternoon.
Frau Ziegler must think I’m the laziest person in the world. Way to make a good impression, Aria.
I talked to Silas yesterday, and even though I’ve only been in Germany for a couple of days, it was still great to hear from him. “I’m not racking up long distance charges, am I?” I’d asked the dragons at dinner.
They’d burst into laughter. “I own your cell phone provider,” Bastian had admitted. “River Comm has been part of Jaeger Holdings for the last five years. Make all the calls you want, mausez?hnchen.”
One of these days, I’m going to get used to how rich they are. I keep telling myself that. So far, it isn’t working. Still, it’s nice to be able to pick up the phone and call people without worrying about outrageous cell phone bills.
I do some math in my head. It’s almost nine in the morning in New York. Bea should be awake. Grinning in pleasure at the idea of talking to my best friend, I dial her number. It rings, and rings, and rings some more. Finally, she picks up.
“The world had better be on fire,” my best friend grumbles into the phone.
“Good morning, sunshine.”
“Why do you hate me?” she whines. “I thought you loved me.”
“Oh stop it, you know I do.”
“Then why in the name of all that is holy are you calling me at… Holy crap it’s eight forty-five!”
I hold the phone away from my ear as her screech of horror fills the room, and I snicker at her reaction. “Yes. I called my best friend thinking she would be on the train heading to work. I figured it would be the perfect time to call so that I didn’t risk interrupting any sexy fun times with Jesse...”
“Good call,” Bea deadpans. “Son of a crack nut, I’m going to be so late. Again.”
“Again?”
Bea laughs and my heart twinges at the sound. It’s only less than three days since the dragons whisked me away to Germany, but it feels like it’s been forever. A wave of homesickness washes over me. I miss Bea and Silas. I miss New York. As much as I love hanging out with my dragons, I also miss home.
“Let’s just say that I’ve had my muffin buttered, jellied, frosted, glazed, and sugar-coated within an inch of its life,” she replies. “Things like work schedules and sleep are just not priorities when the greatness that is Jesse’s man-meat is on the menu.”
“Oh my God, Bea…” I laugh. “I’ve missed your sass.”
“Miss your face too, girly. So, how’s everything in Dragonland?”
Let’s see. A powerful dragon mage who died five hundred years ago visited me our first night here. I found out I’m half-Bloodstone. I’m sucking balls at doing magic. I keep getting lost in this massive castle. About the only lessons that are going well are my fighting classes, thanks to Silas and his love of swords.
Instead of any of the many things that are on my mind, I simply say, “It’s great.”
If Bea hears the conflict in my voice, she doesn’t comment, for which I’m eternally grateful.
“How’s New York?” I ask her.
Bea snorts. “Colder than a witch’s titty in a brass bra. Oh man, that reminds me. You should have seen the look on Brooke’s face when she realized you weren’t coming in for your shift at Trendz yesterday.”
I cringe. Fuckity fuckity fuck. I completely forgot about Trendz. Being here with my dragons is a lot like living in a bubble. The real world feels very far away. “Shit,” I groan. “I totally meant to call her. I can’t believe I forgot.”
Bea laughs. “Oh honey, it was epic. It made it worth putting up with shitty customers all day.”
“I should probably apologize…” I trail off. I really don’t want to talk to my bitchy manager. Although, to be fair, this one’s totally on me.
“I’m fairly sure you don’t have a job to come back to at this point,” Bea replies. “So unless you’re super keen on getting your ass handed to you, I’d continue radio silence. Besides, it would be my pleasure to break the news to Brooke. Lord knows I’ll need another pick me up. It’s going to be bedlam today. Some idiot in the head office decided it would be a good idea to have a rack sale. Half the store is marked forty percent off. Kill me now.”
She sighs wearily. I know how much she hates her job. I need to figure out how to set up that scholarship for her beauty school. Not sometime soon, but right away. The future isn’t a guarantee, and I want to make sure that Bea is taken care of, in case… Just in case.
“Well, I would hate to deny you such joy. By all means, pass my sincere regrets to Brooke.” I almost say it with a straight face, but I can’t do it. The two of us burst into fits of giggles.
“No worries, sweet cheeks,” she says when she’s stopped laughing. “I’ll take care of the she-bitch for you. I’ll consider it an early birthday present.”
“Thanks. You’re the best.”
“Duh,” she says. “Ugh, sorry to cut this short, chickadee, but if I don’t get my ass in gear, I’ll be sleeping under the bridge with the trolls after I get fired, and we both know that won’t end well for those poor trolls.”
Ah, Bea. “Man, I miss you,” I say again.
“Of course you do,” she replies cheerfully. “I’m the best. Text ya later. Bye!”
The line goes dead, and I feel wistful. Life used to be so simple.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself, I tell myself firmly. Time to track down Casius and see about setting up that scholarship for my best friend. Of all the dragons, he’s the one most likely to know how to do what I need done.
I find Casius in the library, his hair disheveled like he’s been running his fingers through it. He’s pouring over a manuscript, his laptop next to him.
I knock on the door frame to get his attention, and he looks up at me from over his reading glasses. A smile curves his lips when he sees me. “Is it time for your magic lesson already?”
“No,” I reply, flushing when I remember yesterday’s extremely pleasurable training session. “Could you help me with something?”
“Anything you need,” he replies easily.
“My friend Bea is a whiz at hair and make-up,” I tell him, pulling up a chair next to Casius. “She’s always wanted to go to cosmetology school, but she works a minimum-wage job at the mall.”
“And you want to help her,” Casius guesses.
I nod. “I’d like to set up a scholarship for her,” I tell him. “Something that will cover tuition and living expenses.”
“That should be easy enough,” he replies.
“And I want to use the money from Raedwulf,” I clarify. “Not your money.”
“Our money is your money,” he replies immediately.
I cross my arms over my chest and give him a death glare. Instead of looking intimidated, Casius looks amused. He shakes his head and mumbles something about stubborn mates, but the playful look in his eyes takes away any heat from the comment. Pulling his laptop toward him, he starts typing. “I’m assuming you’ll want the donation to be anonymous.”
“Yeah. Bea won’t take the money if she knows it comes from me.”
“Annoying, isn’t it?” he replies blandly. “Especially when you have more than enough treasure for the rest of your life, and all you want to do is see your mate happy.”
“This is not the same situation.”