Cody breathed softly. He’d been sleeping for an hour or more, but I couldn’t close my eyes. Every time I did, I pictured Argentum killing Malcolm. He was over two thousand years old, but that didn’t mean he’d live forever.
“You need to sleep,” Malcolm whispered from his post in the chair.
Not wanting to wake Cody up, I spoke into Malcolm’s mind. I can’t. I thought about Argentum killing him in my dream and accidentally sent the image to Malcolm.
He winced like I’d slapped him. Not happening. The words were snarled. He composed himself before saying, “I could help you sleep.”
“Not yet,” I whispered.
“You have an hour.”
An hour came and went, but Malcolm didn’t force me to sleep. He continued watching me. Concern softened his features, making him appear more human than I’d seen him before.
I don’t know how long it took, but I finally drifted off. Even though I was in Cody’s arms, nightmares haunted me.
Wednesday morning, I stood in the center of a ring of dragons. I was exhausted but trying not to show it. I’d woken up with sleep-crusted eyes. All I’d wanted to do was roll over and doze off again, but it was time to face Argentum and end this.
Each of the six dragons put a hand on me. Their strength flowed into me, and adrenaline pushed away the fatigue. “He won’t go easy,” I said. “Please be careful, and if he looks like he’s going to attack, just get out of there.”
Cody watched us from the couch. His mask slipped enough that I saw the torment on his face before he slid it back into place. I held his gaze, hoping this wouldn’t be the last time I looked into his sapphire eyes. Smiling at him, I teleported. The dragons’ energy funneled into me. We stretched out and squeezed in.
The putrid aroma of the cavern assaulted my nostrils before my body solidified. Shadows engulfed us, and the steady lapping of waves was the only sound.
I transformed my eyes to a dragon’s to penetrate the darkness. One of my comrades breathed in deeply enough for me to hear it, then moaned.
“You’re blood’s here.” Val’s whisper seemed deafening in the silence of the cavern.
The water rippled. He’s in the water. My thought was panicked, but all the dragons received the message.
Turn invisible, Aurelia thought back.
I did as she said and watched as the dragons disappeared one by one. Aurelia seemed to stand alone in the chamber. She stared at the lake, watching Argentum’s wave rush toward the shore.
He rose out of the water, like a leviathan. “What are you doing here, Aurelia?” He kept his head absolutely still, but his eyes scanned the area.
“The elder council would like you to come back with me for questioning.” She seemed relaxed, almost nonchalant.
He pulled one foot out of the water, making the earth shake. “I thought you didn’t lie.”
“I am not lying.” Smoke rolled out of her nostrils, but she showed no other signs of anger.
“I can smell the other dragons.” He lowered his head and sucked in a deep breath. “I can smell her.”
She stepped forward, moving slightly to the side to block me from him. “They are here. We are to bring you in if you do not come willingly.”
A low rumbling sound filled the cavern. The sound grew, bouncing off the walls and ceiling. I clasped my hands over my ears, finally realizing Argentum was laughing. “You think that you”—he practically spit the word—“can take me in. Unless you brought the entire elder council with you, that won’t happen.” He pulled his other foot out of the water.
“Why?” Aurelia held her ground. “Why did you betray us?”
“The girl cannot live.” He shook his body, and water sprayed around the cavern. The splash marks showed where all of us stood. “She has the power to control all of us. We have a responsibility to keep that from happening again.”
Cash growled. It wasn’t a warning growl or an it’ll-be-fun-to-scare-your-friends growl. It was filled with more than three centuries of rage and hatred. He turned visible and stepped forward. “We were under his control for hundreds of years, and you did nothing!” He strode toward Argentum, anger visible in the lines of his body. “You only care about yourself. The council is supposed to do what’s best for all dragons.”
Argentum whipped his head around, facing Cash. His lip lifted in a snarl, exposing his fangs. “Insolent, disrespectful whelp. What makes you think you can talk to me like that?” His neck and chest illuminated and fire spewed from his maw.
I threw a shield up, blocking all of us from Argentum’s rage. The flames arced over our heads, lighting up the vast cavern. They crawled along the ground, charring the bones strewn throughout the chamber.
“Argentum, the council is debating your punishment.” Aurelia’s voice commanded attention. “Do you really want to amplify their wrath?”
His flames cut off. “Leave the girl here and go.” Even though I was still invisible, he narrowed his eyes as if he could see me. “As soon as I’m finished with her, I’ll come in. The council will thank me once it’s done.”
The air moved around me as the dragons stepped closer. One of them grabbed my arm, and energy flowed into me. I recognized it as Malcolm’s. I won’t let him take you … no matter what.
Thanks. I hadn’t even considered that they might. I trusted each of these dragons, and my main concern was keeping them safe. I lowered my shield, letting Malcolm’s power amass inside of me.
A golden haze swirled around Aurelia as she transformed into her dragon. She was smaller and leaner than Argentum, but I wasn’t about to count her out. “We will not hand Dacia over to you.” She stepped toward him, and I prepared to block his flames again if necessary.
He lowered his head and prepared to breathe fire. Instead of putting a shield around us, I wrapped it around Argentum’s head. His flames filled the bubble, reminding
