I tilted my head, staring at Malcolm, trying to figure out what looked different about him. He sat down beside me, pulling his legs up to his chest. Dragon earrings sparkled against his earlobes.
“Because of that, he may choose to repay your kindness, but if you allow him to stay on Earth, how will you know if he’s under Argentum’s control or yours?” He grabbed my hand and sent energy streaming into me. I fought the urge to increase the flow between us. “If you return him to the Abyss and he comes back, you’ll know who is pulling the strings.”
Cody came over and lifted my head onto his lap. He traced his fingers along my jaw. “Know how long it took her to cope with sending him back last time?”
Malcolm nodded. “The choice is hers. I’m just letting her know what’s at stake.”
Chapter 29
Tides Of Change
Cash, Aurelia, and Arion teleported into the cavern. Malcolm stood next to me and said, “Dacia has a decision to make, and she would like to hear what everyone has to say first.”
Aurelia nodded. “The Nephilim have taken the fairies’ message back and are deliberating. We will know soon enough if they will leave Dacia alone.” She knelt down and held her hand out to me, offering her strength. “Argentum has disappeared. He is most likely in his lair, but none of us know where it is.”
I shuddered at the thought of him being out there, of knowing what my blood tasted like, and being able to track me for fifty miles. “I know Mavros’ true name.” I clutched Aurelia’s hand, and a burst of energy stormed through me. “I don’t know what I should do with it, though.”
“Send him back to the Abyss.” Arion stamped his hoof on the ground to emphasize his opinion.
Cash rubbed his chin. “He’s been helpful. Should she really send him back?”
“Yeah.” I sat up, and the scabs on my chest pulled tight. Cody wrapped his arm around me, supporting me.
Malcolm waved his arm, indicating that they could make themselves comfortable. Everyone but Arion sat. I tugged a shaky hand through my hair, feeling self-conscious. “Those are the choices. I just don’t know which one is right.”
“Demons are evil.” Aurelia pulled her hand away.
I yanked mine back, wondering if I’d taken too much, but she didn’t seem to be suffering. I wanted to get up and move around. It helped me think, but I knew if I did, I’d have three dragons, a pegasus, and a human telling me to sit down and rest. “He warned me that he could enter my room. He attacked me without using his venom. He let me see his memories and told me it was a dragon that summoned him. He’s warned me so many times and helped me get away from him, so I don’t know what to think.” I dropped my chin to my chest. “I trusted him before, and I was wrong, but I just don’t know.”
Cody ran his hand along my arm. “Hate the bastard, but he helped.”
I looked up toward the ceiling of the cavern. “Take me somewhere where I can summon him.” I stood up, and everyone watched me like I was a fragile China doll. “I don’t imagine you want him here. I’ll take control of him, then figure out where to go from there.”
“She strong enough?” Cody stood next to me.
The dragons all stared at me. Finally, Malcolm said, “I think she should wait one more day.”
“No.” I fisted my hands on my hips and glared at them. “He came to me in my dream and told me I need to use it. I can’t wait. If I do, he’ll end up pulling me out of my dream and killing me.”
Cash stood up. “So, we all go with you and keep you safe.”
“We can lend you our power if you need us to,” Aurelia said.
Arion stepped forward. “I will stay here with Cody. Neither of us needs to be there.”
“Please,” I said before Cody could object.
He sighed and lowered his head. “It’s what you want?”
I nodded, unwilling to give up on this. “If things go wrong, I don’t want him to be able to use you against me.”
Cash held his hand out. “Before we go, take strength from me.”
“Me, too.” Malcolm stepped forward.
Aurelia nodded. “I have plenty to give to you.”
They each took turns holding my hand, and by the time they were done funneling their energy into me, I felt like I could move mountains. Pure energy flowed through my veins and made me feel bullet-proof.
Aurelia held her hand out. “Ready?”
“No.” I walked up to Cody and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’ll come back.”
“Better.” He brought his mouth down on mine, kissing me like he might not ever see me again. His hands moved to my back, pressing our bodies together. Pain surged through my wounds, but I tried not to let it show.
Cash groaned, and I pulled away from Cody. I never looked away from him as I joined the dragons. Aurelia and Malcolm each grabbed one of my hands and teleported the four of us.
Darkness surrounded us. “I got it,” Cash said. A ball of fire lit up across from me in the circle we’d made. Cash’s amethyst eyes widened. “Didn’t think I’d ever see this place again.”
“No.” Malcolm’s voice was a growl.
We stood in the treasure room of Draconian’s castle. Only a handful of riches remained. Gouges marred the gray stone walls. It took me a minute to realize they’d most likely been made by dragon talons.
“Why here?” I asked Aurelia.
Her lip was curled with disgust. “I do not think the Nephilim or Argentum will come here.”
“No.” Cash lit the torches that hung from the walls. “He wouldn’t come to this place, not with what happened here.”
“Mavros has already been summoned to this plane.” Aurelia kicked a
