“It’s unnatural.” I couldn’t give them more of an answer without breaking down, and I didn’t want to do that in a crowded restaurant.
“To live forever”—Cassandra flipped her hair over her shoulder—“might be unnatural, but it would be awesome.”
Cody set his roll on his plate. “Drop it.” His voice was hard. He wiped his hand over his mouth. “Please.”
They looked at me with pinched eyebrows and tilted heads but said no more.
By the time we finished eating and went outside, at least another four inches of snow had fallen. The wind picked it up and flung it across the parking lot, spinning it up into snow devils. They whirled into the trees, then dropped to the ground.
“This isn’t good.” I clasped my hood around my face, trying to keep the snow and wind from pelting it.
Cash looked out at the road and rubbed his chin. “Drive to the edge of town. We’ll take it from there.”
“Sure.” Cody unlocked my truck and opened the door for me. He climbed in behind the wheel and waited while Cash evaporated the snow.
The roads were covered, and few cars had made tracks through it. Cody drove slowly with Dan following behind him. As soon as we reached the edge of town, I felt something land in my truck’s bed. Then we were stretched out and pushed in. When I felt like myself again, the truck was on the road right outside of campus. Cody drove it into the lots between the dorms, and Cash and Val jumped out.
Cody opened the door. “Thanks. Woulda been a long drive.”
“That was wicked!” Bryce held his hand out to Cassandra.
She was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. “Yeah, it was.”
“Can you do that?” Bryce helped Cassandra across the parking lot.
“I’ve never tried with a truck”—I yanked my hood up—“but I do it a lot.”
Cassandra shuffled her feet. “That would be wicked. I’d never walk outside in this.”
“I have to be careful about using my powers.” It was tempting to teleport to my room right now, but I didn’t know how many people might be looking out their windows. “I can’t let people see me use them.”
“It’d still be sweet,” Bryce said.
When we got inside, Cassandra turned to me. “Thanks for letting us hang out with you. Things haven’t been the same with Vanessa and Alvin since everything that happened in our first semester. We’ve just been drifting further apart.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I’d enjoyed hanging out with them today, but I meant it. I’d lost friends when they decided I was weird.
Bryce unzipped his coat. “They seemed to enjoy the cruelty. It’s become part of them.”
“Oh.” Samantha stuffed her gloves into her pockets. “That’s not good.”
Cassandra stared straight ahead, not looking at anyone. “No, it’s not. Sometimes I wonder why he chose us.”
“I wonder the same about myself.”
Chapter 35
Making Plans
I flipped the lights on, and my heart jumped like a scared cat. Malcolm sat on the couch. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, staring at nothing. Lines etched his forehead.
“Nothing?” I pulled my gloves off and shoved them in my pockets. My friends followed me into the room.
He shook his head. “Not even a whiff.”
I hung up my coat. With my back turned to Malcolm, I said, “I might as well take you there. That’s what’s going to happen in the end.”
“I have one more day.” Malcolm’s voice was a low growl. “I won’t put you in danger unless there’s no other choice.”
I took my boots off and set them on a rug beside the door. “I know you won’t, but it wouldn’t be my life if I wasn’t in danger.”
“Have a little faith.” Cody hung his coat beside mine and took my hand, leading me to Cookie Monster. He sat down and pulled me onto his lap.
I snuggled against him. “I actually have a lot of faith, but I also know how this will play out. I’ve done it a few times.”
“I’m not the only one looking for him,” Malcolm said. “The elders and Aurelia are also searching.”
Samantha offered the couch to the other dragons. When they all shook their heads, she and Dan sat down. “So how many elder dragons are there?”
“Thirteen sit on the council.” Arianna sat on the floor and brushed the snow out of her cropped hair. Her eyes were just slightly darker than the carpet. “So, twelve now. They will have to find a replacement for Argentum.” She patted the ground next to her, and Val sat down. He put his head on her shoulder.
I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to his mother when he was captured and if Arianna had filled that place for Val even when they were under Draconian’s control.
Russ leaned against the doorframe, folding his arms over his chest. “It will most likely be Aurelia.”
“Would they really make her one when I know her true name?” I looked over my shoulder at him.
He nodded. “I believe they will.”
“Will we see her again if they do?” Samantha asked.
Arianna smiled. “They’ll keep her busy, but I’m sure she’ll make time for you.”
D
Malcolm watched me stretch. “No nightmares last night?” It was still dark in the room, but his eyes glowed like a cat’s.
“No.” I rolled my neck. “Without Mavros here, I really haven’t had many.” I pulled my hand through my hair. “Just the one where … you know.”
He stood up and glowered at me. “I’m not going to die. Not yet. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck.”
He disappeared.
“He’s gonna find him.” Cody rubbed my back.
I dropped my head into my hands. “I want him to. I really do, but I don’t think he will. My dream—” I looked out the window, not seeing anything “—it felt like a premonition. I know it’s going to happen. I just hope I can keep Malcolm alive when it does.”
I felt Cody sit up behind me. He wrapped
