Malcolm tried several more times to seize control of my magic. He was never able to snatch it away from me again. When we left Sarah’s office, I felt pretty good about myself.
Nephilim surrounded us as soon as we stepped outside. Diana stood in front of us with her feet spread wide and her arms folded over her chest. “We have wasted enough time here. Give us the girl. Let us go home.”
“You want to go home?” I couldn’t believe she said that. “You want to put me in one of your sanctuaries and never allow me to go home again, and you’re complaining because you’ve been here a coupla weeks.”
The dark-haired Nephilim stepped forward. “We are trying to save the world from the choices you will make all too soon.”
“You have no idea what I’ll do, Olivia.” I jabbed my finger toward her, and she flinched.
Her eyes widened. “How do you know my name?”
“I learned it in a dream.” I rolled my eyes. “Just like I learned I’ll never be happy or complete in one of your sanctuaries.”
Several of the Nephilim whispered amongst themselves. “She has the gift of prophecy.” “Is she one of us?” “Does she speak the truth?” “What else has she seen?”
“Enough!” Diana yelled, and the other Nephilim quieted.
“So, you aren’t allowed to speak your minds?” I spun around, looking at as many of them as I could. “Are you trapped, too?” I think we can teleport out of here without anybody but the Nephilim noticing.
Not yet. Malcolm stepped closer to me, reaching for my hand. “My people and your people are negotiating Dacia’s status. Are you going to take her and widen the rift between our species?”
Diana laughed. “Have you spoken with Aurelia? The negotiations ended. Your people decided my people were right.” She stepped closer. “Hand her over, dragon.”
He angled his body between us. “I made a vow to protect Dacia. That vow is sacred, and until I hear from my own kind that I am released from it, I will protect her with my life.”
“You have until tomorrow morning.” Diana stepped back and smirked at me. “We will take her by any means necessary after that.”
The Nephilim opened up a pathway between them. Malcolm wrapped his arm around my waist and positioned me slightly ahead of him. We walked through the leering crowd.
Once we were beyond them, Malcolm pressed his hand to my back, and we jogged to the dormitory. Instead of going to my room, Malcolm took me to Aurelia’s. Her room had fewer plants in it than before, but with six dragons staying here, it probably got a little crowded.
Seven dragons stood in the room with me. Aurelia’s skin shimmered more than normal, and when I stepped closer to her, I realized why. Gold scales glistened along her arms, neck, and face. Tears dampened her eyes. “They have decided not to protect you any longer.”
“Why?” I sank down onto her couch. “I’ve done everything that’s been asked of me.”
She sat beside me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. “They fear the Nephilim will go to war if you remain free.” I believe one of the elders has been compromised.
Who? Malcolm’s thought was filled with rage.
The image of a silver dragon flashed through my mind. It was nearly twice as big as Aurelia with broken horns and rheumy eyes.
Malcolm growled. Whose memories did he scan?
I do not know. Aurelia sucked in a quick breath.
The other dragons stared at us like they knew we were having a silent conversation. “What am I supposed to do? I can’t go with them.”
“For now, you must.” Aurelia’s eyes flashed with rage, though she tried to control it. “We are not allowed to protect you. If we do, the elders will renounce us. The only way we can help you is to work with them to change their minds.”
Malcolm stared into my eyes. I will fight by your side if that is what you wish. I will take whatever punishment the elders deem to dole out.
Thank you. I pulled my hand through my hair. “I’ll pack a bag tonight.” But, I don’t know if I’ll go with them.
Malcolm and I went to my room. Cody, Dan, and Samantha were already there. They no longer paused their activities when one of the dragons came in with me. They’d accepted them into our group. I had no doubt they would still fear them in dragon form, but they no longer thought of them as blood-thirsty beasts. They saw them as people.
“How’d it go?” Cody stood up and came over to me. “Not good?”
Samantha was curled against Dan’s side on the couch. They both looked up at me over the back of it.
Malcolm held his finger over his mouth. He tilted his head. After a moment, he said, “Aurelia has soundproofed her room, and I did this one. You may talk freely now.”
I shook my head and walked over to the window. “I can’t.” I stared outside at nothing. “I can’t believe they would do that to me.”
Malcolm told my friends about the Nephilim and the dragons. I tried to tune him out. I didn’t want to hear about their betrayal. I didn’t want to believe it could be true. I had no idea if I should stay and fight for my freedom or if I should go peacefully.
Cody stood next to me, and I buried my head in his chest. Tears came unbidden to my eyes. My shoulders shook, and he held me tighter, kissing the top of my head, rubbing my back.
Malcolm growled. The sound made me shiver. I jerked away from Cody and saw Mavros standing behind the couch.
“The hell do you want?” Cody’s fingers tightened into a fist.
Mavros didn’t pay any attention to Cody. “You brought my blood in here.”
