I jumped up. “What do you want from me? I know what the Nephilim want now … to cage me. Is that what you want?” Tears burned the back of my eyes.
She plopped down in Cookie Monster and dropped her chin to her chest. “No, Dacia. Please do not think that about me. I thought they had taken you.” She wouldn’t look me in the eyes. “I thought we had failed you.”
Malcolm nodded at me. His expression was grim. “Past experience should’ve made me realize it’d be hard to keep an eye on you.” He smiled, and for the first time, I realized he had fangs. “But, if you’d have been injured, I could’ve smelled your blood thirty miles away.”
Cody’s face paled, and my stomach rolled. “Really?” I gulped down a lungful of air. “Thirty miles?”
He shrugged. “I’ve tasted your blood … maybe fifty.” His eyes flashed. “Same with the boy.”
Cody sat up taller, narrowing his eyes at Malcolm.
“I mean no offense.” Malcolm chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. “You’re at least two thousand years younger than me, maybe more. I forget how old I am.”
“You tasted my blood?” My lip curled in disgust.
“Licked it off my claws.” He put his fingers to his mouth and kissed them, opening his hand as he pulled it away. “That … I won’t forget … ever.”
“Malcolm.” Aurelia growled.
I shivered. Cody’s hands clenched, and he glared at Malcolm.
“I’m a dragon, and your blood is powerful.” He buffed his fingernails on his sleeve, then held them in front of him. “Waste not, want not.”
D
Pink blossoms cover the trees. The air smells sweet. Gray clouds promise spring showers. I put my hand on Cody’s arm, and we stroll along the path. There’s no fear of attack. No monsters hunting me. Nothing haunting my dreams.
My days run together, one blending into the next. I spend my time wandering the massive grounds, staring at the rolling hills, trying to figure out where I am. I paint and read, but without purpose, I feel lost.
The Nephilim allow Cody to come and go as he pleases, but they guard the exits, keeping me trapped inside. I cannot force my way out. My magic is bound here, and without it, I no longer know who I am.
The loss opens a hole inside of me that fills with hopelessness and despair. Each day it builds up, pushing out any happiness I might have found here.
Cody leads me to a bench that overlooks a pond. Swans swim languorously across the water, creating ripples on the surface. It’s a beautiful setting, but anger eats at me from the inside, hardening me, taking everything that should bring me joy and twisting it.
He brushes the back of his hand along my cheek. “You don’t smile anymore.”
“I should be happy.” I lift one shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. “But I feel so … broken.”
The alarm clock rang, startling me out of my dream. I reached across Cody to turn it off. Once I did, he pulled me on top of him. “How’d you sleep?”
I laid my head on his shoulder and ran my hand over his chest. “I dreamed about the Nephilim’s sanctuary.”
“And?” There was something in his voice. I thought it might be hope, but was it hope that I’d go there or that I wouldn’t?
“It’s beautiful, peaceful”—I pinched my eyes shut, hoping he would understand—“and all wrong for me.”
He held his hand over mine. His heart pulsed against my palm. “Will they leave you alone?”
“I doubt it.” I sat up. “I’m gonna shower. Then we can figure out what to do today.” Grabbing my stuff, I looked into the lofts and realized Samantha and Dan weren’t here. Aurelia. I projected the empty beds to her.
They are in Cody and Dan’s room. Arianna and Russ are watching them.
Thank you.
I stepped into the hall, and somebody grabbed my arm, spinning me around.
Cash glared at me. “That stunt you pulled last night.” He tightened his grip. “Don’t let it happen again.”
Diana and the dark-haired Nephilim watched us from near the staircase, but the rest of the hallway was still empty.
“Let go of me, Cash.” I froze my arm.
He yanked his hand back. His nostrils flared, and the veins in his neck bulged.
I turned my back on him and strolled down the hall, trying to look strong and in control. I waved at the Nephilim as I walked past. As soon as I shut the door to the bathroom, I crumpled against the wall. Cash was dangerous, volatile. I needed to show him I wasn’t afraid of him so he’d back off. But in truth, I wasn’t scared of him. I was petrified.
By the time I finished my shower, Val had replaced Cash as the hall monitor. He threw his arm over my shoulders and leaned in, sniffing my hair. “You smell good.” I pulled my head back, but he pressed closer. “So, uh, last night you learned about the prophecy. Didn’t ya?” He patted my arm like an excited little kid. “Pretty cool, huh?”
I ducked under his arm, wishing he knew something about personal space. “What about it is cool?”
“Really?” He stood with his hand on his hip, tilting his head until it practically rested on his shoulder. “You’re like the most powerful human on the planet. It’s awesome.” The last word was practically sung. He stepped inside my bubble again and rubbed my head. “Don’t you think?”
I shook my head. “I just want to be normal.”
“We can make that happen,” the dark-haired Nephilim said in a voice like an angel’s.
I jabbed my finger at her. “No.” The word came out low and harsh. “Leave me alone.” I stormed down the hall and into my room, slamming the door behind me.
Aurelia and Cody stared at me.
“You okay?” Cody asked.
I dropped the bathroom bag on the floor and slid my hand through my wet hair. “I’ve had it with Nephilim and dragons.”
Aurelia sat up straighter. “What happened?”
“Cash scares me.” I plopped down next to
