“What?!” White scales covered Arianna’s arms. Her face elongated, and smoke rolled out of her nostrils.
“He believes my power will sustain him forever.” My legs wobbled like a newborn foal’s. I staggered to the couch and sat next to Samantha.
Cody stared at me from Cookie Monster. His unreadable mask was in place. If it wasn’t for the bulging tendons in his neck, I wouldn’t be able to tell how angry he was. “I liked Tye.” His voice was dull.
One side of my mouth pulled up. “So did I. He said he acted like my friend because if he’d acted like Cash I would’ve been leery of him.”
Cash dropped his chin to his chest.
“He said that since he was nice to me, it never occurred to me to read his memories, and Taipan is not his true name.”
Val knelt down in front of me and nuzzled his head against my uninjured hand. “Read my aura, Dacia. Trust me.”
I looked in his azure eyes. Images of Val as a juvenile dragon being beaten by Draconian flashed through my mind. Then I saw him whipped as an adult. I felt his desire to be wanted and loved and his devotion to me. If Draconian would have shown him just one ounce of tenderness, Val would’ve been loyal to him forever. I blinked, and the images of his torture disappeared. “Thank you, Val.”
He petted the back of my hand as he stood up. “Thank you for being kind.”
Swallowing over the lump in my throat, I nodded at him. Arianna looked at the others, then took her place in front of me. “You saved my friends,” I said. “I trusted you before any of the others.”
She bowed her head slightly. “I appreciate your faith in me, but I want you to know for sure.”
Looking into her lilac eyes, I saw a mother’s joy when her egg hatched. Horrified, I watched as she was captured by Draconian. I felt her fear for her son and her relief when he wasn’t taken. When I freed her, I felt her desire to flee, to find her son, but her need to repay me overrode that urge. I felt her strength, her gratitude, and her devotion.
“Thank you for staying and helping my friends.” I leaned back. “Did you find your son?”
She stepped away. “Yes, he remained safe. He is grateful to you for freeing all of us. Val was the same age as my son when he was taken. If Draconian would’ve taken him, I might have been able to resist orders as Mavros did for you.” She stepped away from me and looked at Cash.
He held his hands up. “Been there. Done that. She knows she can trust me.”
Arianna lifted her brows and looked at me. I nodded. “I’ve read all of your auras and Aurelia’s. I don’t know anything about the unseen dragons, but they helped me when I needed it.”
“Did anybody ever find out who Argentum screened?” Samantha seemed so small in a room full of dragons. “Obviously, Tye must’ve been one, but did he check anybody else?”
Russ rubbed his chin. “I don’t know if Aurelia found out, but I’ll ask her.” He closed his eyes and lowered his head.
We all watched him, wondering what the answer would be or if he would even be given one. While we waited, I walked behind Cookie Monster and rubbed Cody’s shoulders. “When Tye found out what Argentum wanted, he quit helping him. They’d been working together to take my powers from me. Without Tye, Argentum would’ve eaten me.”
“Still betrayed you.” Cody clenched the arms of the chair.
I shrugged. “He did, but I think he just wanted me to be taken by the Nephilim so that I couldn’t control him. It seems to be something most of the dragons fear.”
Chapter 33
Searching
“Tye was the only dragon that Argentum screened.” Russ shook his head. “I still can’t believe one of the elders would do something like this. All our lives, we’re told that they are the best of us, the wisest, the strongest, the bravest. We all endeavor to be like them. How could he do this?”
Arianna rubbed his arm. “Maybe the elders should be scrutinized after this.”
“They should’ve been after Dacia freed us.” Cash clenched his jaw. “They never lifted a finger to help.”
“They were scared.” Arianna’s voice was soft and soothing.
Cash stood rigid, his hands fisted at his sides. “If they’d have all gone in at once, they could’ve overcome him, but they were safe. As long as they stayed hidden, they had nothing to fear.”
“At least the others know about his deception.” I pulled my hand through my hair, forgetting about the cut on my palm. A strand caught on the scab, ripping it off. Blood pooled.
The dragons all turned toward me, and Cody stood up. “Out. Now!”
They all disappeared, and Cody dug out the first aid kit Nancy had stocked for me after learning about my nightmares. He rubbed antiseptic cream on the cut, then carefully wrapped it with a bandage. “Need to be more careful.” He taped the end. “They’re friends, but your blood does something to them.”
“Yeah.” I flexed my hand to see how bad the bandage impaired it. “Why didn’t it affect Aurelia like that?”
“That’s a good question.” Dan stood up and stretched his arms over his head.
Cody sat down in Cookie Monster and held his head in his hands. “Malcolm was the only one with a problem last time. He’s tasted her blood.”
“So has Argentum.” Samantha curled her legs under her, pressing herself into the corner of the red couch.
“Val liked the smell of it, but luckily, he didn’t taste it.” I walked over to the window and looked outside. The sun had set, but the campus was illuminated all the time. Snow blew into huge drifts. “It looks
