Try! He sounds desperate. I can’t fight much longer.
I call on my powers. Ice begins to spread from my fingertips along the back of my hand and up my arm. Tears wet my eyes as a lightness settles over me.
Use it, Dacia. There’s an urgency to his voice that startles me. Hit me in the chest.
I reach out, and flames spring up where the ice had been. It dances across my skin, flaring up as it climbs higher.
Mavros stares at me as I fight my own magic. Someone else is controlling it. How?
The flames leap onto my neck. I lean my head back, delaying the inevitable. The fire ascends, blocking my nose and mouth, stealing my oxygen. I gasp, sucking in flames. They burn my throat and lungs.
I popped up, wheezing for air. It took several breaths before my lungs accepted any oxygen into them.
Cody sat propped up beside me, rubbing my arm. When my breathing regulated, he said, “You okay?”
I nodded.
“Bloody.” He pointed at me. “Shirt’s shredded.”
I went to the sink. While it filled, I grabbed a washrag and towel. Then I slipped my shirt off and washed away the blood. Wrapping the towel around my body, I went to the closet and got a new shirt. I knew Cody and most likely a dragon or two were watching me, but I didn’t have the energy to care. I let the towel fall to the floor and pulled the shirt over my head as I went back to the couch.
Cody slid against the back, making room for me. “Wanna talk?”
I lay down beside him, pressed my hand to my neck, willing him to understand that I couldn’t, and shook my head. My throat ached like flames still smoldered in it.
Cody traced circles on my arm until he fell asleep.
D
Cody’s body was warm. I pulled myself against him, snuggling closer. I wasn’t ready to open my eyes and face a new day. Whoever controlled Mavros had no qualms with sending him after me in highly populated areas, so the only safe places were mine and Cody’s rooms. They’d both been blessed to keep Mavros out.
The dragons hadn’t been too pleased with me when I’d returned with Cody last night. I’d refused to tell them where I’d taken him. Sometimes we needed privacy, and they needed to realize that whether it thrilled them or not.
I sensed Samantha, Dan, and Russ a moment before the door opened. Samantha looked terrific. Without my nightmares keeping her up all hours of the night, she was probably getting way more sleep than she had since becoming my roommate. When we’d first met, her hair had fallen just below her shoulders. It now went to the middle of her back. She’d curled the ends this morning and had makeup on, so I knew she had plans.
“Hey, guys.” I sat up. “What’s going on?”
Russ waved from the hallway as Dan shut the door.
“We were thinking Althea for lunch.” Samantha waited for Dan to sit in Big Bird, then positioned herself on his lap. “Then the homecoming game.”
Cody grabbed his shirt from last night off the back of the couch and pulled it on. “Have fun.”
“You’re … you’re not coming?” Samantha’s shoulders slumped, and she looked down at the lavender carpet. “We never hang out anymore.”
I massaged my temples. “It’s not that I don’t want to.”
“Then what?” Dan asked.
I walked to the window and looked outside. The sky was bright blue with white puffy clouds dotting it. “Whoever is controlling Mavros doesn’t seem to care about collateral damage. I can’t be responsible for that many people.”
“How ‘bout lunch?” Cody stood behind me, rubbing my shoulders. “We’ll have guards.”
I nodded. “Sure.”
“Lunch is better than nothing.” Samantha bounced up, and I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. I had missed seeing so much of them, but I’d assumed they were enjoying time alone together.
I gathered my clothes and gave Cody a quick peck on the cheek. “Be careful.” Malcolm and Cash met me in the hallway. The Nephilim watched us walk to the bathroom, and I wondered if they ever slept.
As soon as I got back from my shower, Samantha walked over to me and held my wrist. “I noticed the pajamas in the trash.” She flicked a glance at them. “How bad have your dreams been?”
I tried to smile at her. “That’s the first injury I’ve had this time around.” I tugged my hand through my hair. “Mostly they’ve just been me losing control of my powers and doing myself in.”
“So”—Dan waved his hand toward the trash can—“what kind of monster is it this time? Should we be staying here, or are we safe with Russ and Arianna watching us?”
“Yeah, spill.” Cody sat on the couch and patted the seat next to him. “I wanna know why you were healed when you woke up.” He was wearing jeans and a Phlox Phoenixes sweatshirt.
“You don’t know?” Samantha’s eyebrows lifted.
I pulled my hand through my wet hair, then fluffed it up so I wouldn’t end up with ringlets when it finally dried. “I couldn’t talk last night. My fire burned my throat.”
“What else?” Cody stretched his legs out in front of him.
I sat next to him and leaned forward, holding my head in my hands. They weren’t going to like what I had to say. They would think I was falling for Mavros’ lies again, that he had me under some sort of spell.
Looking up, I gazed into each of their eyes for a moment before moving to the next, soft brown eyes, hazel eyes that were mostly green today, and finally, blue eyes that meant everything to me. “I don’t want to fight. I don’t want a lecture.” I squeezed Cody’s leg. “Mavros attacked me. Then he healed me. I don’t know why, but I believe he didn’t want to hurt me in the first place.”
Cody’s body tensed. His jaw clenched, and I knew he wanted to argue about
