I don’t know. I wanted to trust him, but if Mavros was right, one of the dragons had betrayed me. He’s always scared me a little.
Malcolm strode toward him. “Look at me, Cash.”
Cash locked eyes with Malcolm, and Malcolm opened his thoughts to me. I saw Cash being beaten by Draconian. I saw myself setting him free and heard his vow to never be controlled again. I saw his animosity toward mankind. I felt his fear at me knowing his name and his determination to keep me from using it against him. Then I felt his concern at my disappearance, his failure for not keeping me safe, and his desire to help me.
I stepped forward, making myself visible to him. Cash looked from Malcolm to me. “I swear to you, Acacia”—I hoped he would understand why I said his true name and not his human one—“I will never use your name to control you. However, I will use your name to help you if I can.”
He bowed to me, and his features became human once again. “I am pleased to see that you’re safe.”
“Thanks.” I looked toward the passage. “I need to get Cody.” I ignited my flames and followed them to where I’d left him.
He stood and brushed the dirt off his shorts. “What’s going on?”
“It looks like we have another protector.”
“Who?” He motioned for me to go in front of him.
“Believe it or not … Cash.”
“Hmph.”
Cody and I led the way into our chamber. Malcolm had stocked it with a bunch of necessities, and most of the floor was covered by black and dark gray cushions. We sat away from the sleeping area, and after I soundproofed the grotto and set up the illusions, I waved my hand at the room. “Thank you for getting all of this for us.”
He shrugged. “If I hadn’t, you would’ve.”
“Yeah.” I played with the tassels of the black cushion I was sitting on.
Cash crinkled his nose and breathed through his mouth.
“What?” Cody asked.
His lip curled. “The two of you need to bathe.”
“I found a lake, but the water is freezing.” I hoped my cheeks weren’t as red as they felt. “I thought about warming it up, but I don’t want to hurt the creatures that live in it.”
“Where?” Cash asked.
Cody told him where it was, and Cash ducked out of the crack.
“This isn’t easy for him.” Malcolm leaned back against the cushions he’d piled around himself. “He didn’t want to like you—” he smiled at me, showing his fangs “—but with your honorable intentions, it’s hard not to. Ever since the day you told the Nephilim they should have helped us, he’s been thawing.”
The floor of the cavern shook. “What in the world?” I pressed my hands down, bracing myself.
“I’d say he’s building you a bathtub.” Malcolm laughed. Then he sobered. “It is good that he knows about you. We can trade off bringing you supplies. The Nephilim might think I’d harbor you, but Cash is the last dragon they’d expect.”
“You shouldn’t talk about me when I’m not here,” Cash said from the shadows.
Malcolm sat up. “Do you really think I didn’t hear you squeeze through that tiny hole?”
Cash flashed him a smile. “You can bathe now. I didn’t warm the water for you, though. I don’t know how much heat your fragile bodies can handle.”
I thought about flames until my hand became them. “Mine can handle as much as yours.” I stood up. “Cody’s … not so much.” I gathered spare clothes and toiletries and turned toward Cody. “You coming?”
His cheeks turned bright red. “Uh …”
“You need the water heated and fire so you can see, and I’ll need to soundproof the area in case somebody else comes wandering in here.” I turned toward Cash. “How did you find this place anyway?”
He shrugged. “Luck. I was flying overhead and caught your scent.”
“Some way to remove it?” Cody searched through his duffle bag for clothes.
“It’s already been done.” Cash looked at Malcolm. “Didn’t think I noticed, did you?”
The firelight was reflected in Malcolm’s eyes. “I thought I was being sneaky enough.”
“Maybe with anybody else’s scent, but not with hers.” Cash pointed at me.
I tugged my hand through my hair. Near my scalp, it was still wet with sweat. “Why? What do I smell like?”
Malcolm and Cash looked at each other. Malcolm said, “Like a lightning storm but more powerful.”
Cash nodded. “Like strength, desire, and power.”
“Just to dragons?” Cody shoved his stuff into my duffle bag and took it out of my hand.
“I doubt it.” Cash sat on the cushions. “We just have a better sense of smell than most creatures you’ve come across thus far.”
Malcolm said, “Ask your demon?”
“He’s not my demon.” The dragons’ laughter followed us out of the room. I set a ball of fire in the air in front of Cody and me. It was a silent trek to the underground lake.
Cash had created a pool behind several stalagmites. It was nearly big enough for him to bathe in while in his dragon form. I soundproofed the area and created an illusion so my fire couldn’t be seen by anyone passing by. Then I stuck my fingers in it to gauge the water.
Cody stood off to the side, watching me. “So, uh”—his voice was husky and sent a pang of desire through me—“what’s your plan?”
“For you to get in and tell me if the water’s warm enough.”
He kicked his shoes off, wiggling his toes as he pulled off his socks. I watched him tug his shirt over his head and admired his physique. When he reached for his shorts, I turned away.
“You can look, Dacia.” His voice was soft. “I’m not shy.”
I shook my head. “Now’s not the time.” My heart beat faster than I could ever remember. I felt it in my chest, my throat, and my temples. Warmth flooded through my body, and I pressed my eyes shut to avoid
