“Maybe I am.” I folded my arms over his. “We’ll find out when Malcolm comes back tonight.”
He kissed just under my ear, and I leaned into it. “What’re we doing today?”
“Studying.” My voice sounded breathless.
“You sure?” He kissed me again, and I turned, wrapping my legs around his waist.
I ran my finger down his nose, then pressed my hands to his bare chest. “What did you have in mind?”
His hair was tousled, and his eyes looked mischievous. “Could just stay here all day.” He tugged me closer and kissed my chin. “Keep your mind off things.” He trailed his lips down my neck.
I closed my eyes and clutched his back. A soft moan escaped from me. I bit my lip and pulled away from him. “Dragons are always watching.”
You could shut us out, Cash said. You shouldn’t, though.
“I know.”
Cody tilted his head. “You know what?”
“I was answering Cash.” I kissed the tip of his nose.
He leaned back. “So, we’re studying.”
I lifted one shoulder. “We’ll never be alone. We might feel like we are, but someone will always be watching me.” I scooted onto the couch beside him. “Is this what you want out of life?”
He slid his hand over mine. “Just want you. I’ll take the rest.”
“You deserve better.”
He traced his fingers along my cheek. “You’re the best thing that’s happened to me, Dacia. You’re amazing, and I will take everything else as long as I get you.”
I squeezed his hand. “Thanks, Cody.”
He spent the day studying on the couch, and I sat at the desk. By the time Malcolm came back, my eyes were so blurry I could barely read the words in front of me.
“I’m sorry, Dacia.” Malcolm sat on the couch with his head bowed over his lap. “I can keep looking. We don’t have to give up yet. I’ll search for another week. Then if I don’t find him, you can take us to him.”
“No.” I got up and sat between him and Cody. “I don’t think we should wait.” I put my hand on Malcolm’s arm. “I know you don’t want to put me in danger. I don’t want you in danger either. I think you should stay behind when I go.”
His bronze eyes narrowed and became more dragon-like. “I won’t put your life in danger while sparing mine.”
“I didn’t think you would.” I tugged my hand through my hair and tried to figure out a way everybody could get out of this alive. “I guess we need to get everybody together and come up with a plan.”
L
My room was too small for six dragons and six humans, but we all squeezed in anyway. Bryce, Cassandra, Samantha, and Dan crammed together on the couch. Cody stood by the window. Aurelia sat in Cookie Monster, and Malcolm sat at the desk. Val sat next to Arianna on the floor. Russ and Cash each leaned against the door. I paced.
“Dacia”—Aurelia’s voice was soft—“are you sure this is what you want?” She looked at Bryce and Cassandra.
I stopped pacing for a minute and looked at everyone gathered in the room. As little as a month ago, I wouldn’t have pictured us as friends, but now, I couldn’t imagine my life without them. “Yes.” I walked three steps to Cody and turned around.
“We have not been able to locate Argentum.” Aurelia’s gold skin shimmered like it did before she transformed into her dragon form. “The elders pride themselves on keeping secrets. They have been doing it for so long that they know no other way. None of them know where Argentum’s lair is.”
Malcolm watched me pace. “I’ve been searching for Dacia’s scent, but he’s not within a thousand miles of here.”
“So, is Dacia going to have to go into hiding again?” Cassandra tugged on her sleeves, pulling them to her wrists. The blue of her sweater made her eyes even more striking than normal.
“No.” I stopped moving. “I’m going to have to lead them to him.” My voice sounded hollow. Even though I never wanted to see Argentum again, I was more afraid of guiding the other dragons to him.
Bryce leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “How?”
“I’ve been in his lair”—I lifted a shoulder toward my ear—“so I can picture it in my head and teleport back there again.”
Cassandra tilted her head to the side and asked, “So why haven’t you done that already?”
Cody’s voice was a low growl. “He wants to eat her.”
“Oh.” She lifted her hand to her mouth. “Oh.”
Bryce’s mouth opened, then closed. He stared at me for a minute before he said, “And you’re going back?”
“I’ve got to.” I slid down the wall and sat on the floor. “I think it needs to be in the next couple of days. I don’t think we should wait any longer than that.”
“If you’re sure this is what you want—” Malcolm rubbed his hands together “—we’ll surround you when you teleport in. We can each lend you some of our strength.” He looked at each of the other dragons, and they all nodded. “At the first sign of trouble, you can teleport out of there.”
“And, what about you?” I stared at him pointedly.
He gazed back. The expression on his face was indecipherable. “I’m not going to die.”
“Will you leave?” I stood up. “If things go bad, will you leave with me?”
His eyes softened. “For you, I can make that promise.”
Aurelia’s golden gaze flicked between the two of us, and I realized he must not have said anything to her about my dream. Her eyes settled on me. “The council wishes for us to return Argentum to them alive. However, if the choice is between saving somebody in this room or saving him, all of us will put your lives first.”
Chapter 36
Another Sleepless Night
