Cody brushed his thumbs along my cheeks. “If he can, let him.”
Malcolm, Cash, and Aurelia stepped up beside Mavros.”We can make sure he takes only the memories that will threaten to undo you.”
I looked over at the other dragons, standing with my human friends. “What do you think?”
“None of us should remember that.” Arianna shook her head.
The images came to my mind again, but the intense reaction didn’t come along with it. “I’m sorry … for what I did … for not telling you.” I remembered the look of disgust on her face when I summoned Mavros. “Don’t hate me.”
“Oh, Dacia.” Her voice was soft. “I don’t hate you.” Her eyes darted toward Mavros. “I worry about you.”
I felt a moment of remorse, but it disappeared quickly. “Somebody’s controlling my emotions.”
“Yes, Dacia.” Aurelia waved her finger between her, Cash, and Malcolm. “We all are.”
“Why all of you?”
Malcolm put his hand on my shoulder. “They are overwhelming, too strong for one of us to dispel on our own.”
Mavros stood among the dragons, not looking out of place, not looking uncomfortable. He watched me carefully without making it obvious.
I stepped closer to him and reached my hands out. He held them tenderly. “Take the bad.” I looked down at his thumb rubbing my wrist. “I don’t want to remember the taste of his blood. I don’t want to remember the bloodlust. Just let me remember that he’s dead and that you and the dragons helped me.”
He nodded. “I would’ve done it for you.”
“I know.”
“Why didn’t you let me?”
I pulled my lip into my mouth and looked at his feet. “If I would’ve commanded you to do it, it still would’ve been by my hand.”
He touched my forehead with two fingers. “You are so strong, Dacia. I can’t guarantee this will last forever, but hopefully, it will last long enough to take the edge off and let you work through the pain.”
A black mist floated across my vision. I saw Argentum fly down off the ledge. I summoned Mavros. His power flowed into me. I transformed into the demon beast. Blue and black flames danced along my hide. Malcolm, Cash, Mavros, and I cornered Argentum, and the four of us struck at once. Demon venom pulsed through Argentum’s body. He weakened and crashed to the ground. His claws tore through my side. Malcolm struck, breaking Argentum’s neck. My body became my own, and I collapsed from blood loss. The dragons brought me to the cave with the silver-haired fairies. They healed me and removed the demon taint from me. Mavros, my friends, and the dragons seemed to have decided on a truce. They all stood with me, helping me heal.
Mavros stepped back. “She needs sleep.”
“Do not let her use her powers for a few days.” Rayne hovered in front of Aurelia. “The demon’s energy must be fully out of her system. Otherwise, it will taint her magic.”
I nodded. “Okay. No powers.”
“If you use them, find us immediately.” She flew off, joining the others. “Fare thee well, Dacia.”
I lifted my hand to wave and stumbled. Malcolm, Mavros, and Cody each lunged to catch me. The dragon and demon backed off, and Cody lifted me into his arms.
“Get her back to her room,” Mavros said.
“What about you?” I mumbled.
Mavros clutched my hand. “I will not do anything you would disapprove of. I will stay close and watch over you.”
“Thank you.”
Malcolm clutched Cody’s arms, and we teleported to my room. Cody laid me down on the couch and pulled a blanket over me.
Chapter 44
Trapped
The serpent slithers toward me. Its once copper eyes are as black as the depths of Tartarus. Shadows ripple between its scales. You are mine. Its voice is possessive, dangerous. Not the comforting voice of the past. You are mine.
Fear claws at my stomach, and I step back. I glance over one shoulder, then the other. Darkness surrounds me, closing in. I transform my eyes into a dragon’s, but there are only unending fields of ebony. A shiver creeps up my spine.
When I look back, the giant snake is gone. I press my hand to my chest, trying to calm my racing heart. Even though I can’t see it, I know it’s there, watching me, ready to strike.
I shuffle back and trip. I hear the serpent slide over the ground. The sound is like rustling leaves. Jerking my foot back, I search for the snake. I press my hands down behind me to push myself up, and the serpent coils around my leg.
As it moves along my body, the shadows clinging to it dissipate. It draws its head back and strikes.
Darkness burns away the light inside me. Anger and hatred fill me. My heart hardens. Shadows writhe under my skin. I look into the snake’s onyx eyes, and the laugh that shatters the silence is maniacal.
L
My eyes shot open, and I jerked into a sitting position. The room spun around me. Malcolm darted over, kneeling in front of me, ready to face some unseen threat. “What is it, Dacia?” His voice was savage.
“I don’t know.” I held my head in my hands. “I feel like I forgot something, something that’s important.”
A shadow crossed his face, but he didn’t say anything. Cody ran his hand up and down my back, trying to soothe me.
I got up and walked to the door.
“Where are you going?” Malcolm was suddenly in front of me, blocking my exit. “You need to sleep.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I need to pee.”
“I’ll go with you.” He looked over his shoulder at Cody. “Don’t leave.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and tapped my foot. “What’s going on?”
“I—” he rubbed his jaw “—I’m not sure how the Nephilim are going to react to you summoning Mavros.”
Having Malcolm in my life made me wonder what it would have been like to have a big brother. He was protective, bossy, and
