Call of the Dragon (Return to Avalore Book 1) (22 page)

“What about the other place, the land of humans?”

“It’s hard to describe. The people there don’t travel like you do. We use cars and planes. They also don’t have the abilities we have.” A deep shudder shook her to her core. “Until I met Drake, I didn’t know anyone else was able to use energy to heal. It was a relief to find out I wasn’t some kind of freak.” Another wave of nausea rolled over her.

“Are the people there nice? I’ve never met-”

“I think we’d better go down to the safe room, Katie.” Rhia started towards the bedroom and stopped short. The feeling of dread intensified with each step, making it hard to breathe. Shaking it off, she took another step closer to the room and her body shuddered again. No, they couldn’t go in there. “Listen, Katie, something’s wrong. I don’t know what it is but we can’t stay.”

Katie stood and came towards her. “Drake told us to stay here and wait for him. We should go to the safe room if something is alerting you to danger.”

“I know, and I hate to go against his wishes, but trust me in this, we can’t stay here.” They had to move. “Now, Katie, come on.” Rhia held her finger up to her mouth, asking Katie to remain quiet before they unlocked the door and slipped out into the night.

Rhia’s legs pumped harder than ever before as she ran. Blood pounded through her as adrenaline pushed her faster away from the malevolent energy skimming over her. They made it to the treeline just as a blast slammed into and destroyed the small bunker. Bits of wood and debris hurtled through the air all around them. A pale blue ball of flames burst into the air, casting them in an eerie glow before it dimmed and extinguished, leaving them in darkness.

It took several moments before Rhia noticed a light, persistent buzzing in her head. When she managed to focus on it, Katie’s frightened voice came through.

“
Do you know how to cloak yourself? You need to do it now, before whoever did that…”
She pointed at the rubble.
“Shows up.”

Rhia didn’t hesitate, cloaking herself as Evan had taught her.

“Come, we can’t stay here. Drake’s closed himself off. He’s not answering me. We’re on our own for now.”
Katie turned, not waiting for the dust to settle before leading Rhia deeper into the forest.

Katie was right. They had to go. Had she been more adept at telepathic communication, she would have been able to reach Evan. The distance wasn’t insurmountable to someone with more experience, but all she got when she tried was an empty void.

They’d walked in silence for a while before Katie spoke to her again. “
I don’t mean to pry, but has Drake treated you well? I can’t imagine him treating you poorly, but I’ve never seen him so close to the surface like he is with you.”

He was close to the surface? Was that some kind of Avalorian saying? “
I don’t know what you mean.”

“
He’s edgy and growling all the time. His drag-”
She broke off looking around them.

“
What’s wrong?”

“Drake’s in battle. I can’t speak to him when he’s fighting, but my dragon wants to answer his call.”
She started walking again.

Her eyes widened, and she stumbled to a stop. “
Your dragon?”

“It’s responding to Drake’s and wants to go help. Don’t worry, I’m not going, I just feel its desire to go. I have great control over her.”

More confused than ever, she walked faster to catch up. “
I don’t understand. What do you mean, his dragon?”

“You really don’t know much about our people, do you? Drake and I are of the dragon line. There hasn’t been a reported shift in the past seventy-five years, at least, not a complete one, but we still hold some of the dragon’s inner qualities and abilities.”

This was getting crazier and crazier by the minute.

“We have some traits of the dragon people. Our line is known for its courage and strength, but we’re also quick to anger.”
She spoke as if talking about the weather.
“We can do certain things other lines can’t do.”

”So, not all Avalorians are dragons then?”
This was, by far, the most far-fetched thing she’d ever heard, but it did explain the rumbling she’d heard coming from his chest at times.

“No, there are four ancestral lines.”
She sniffed the air, and then changed course a little, never missing a stride. “
Your brothers are of the Phoenix line as is your father and his ancestors before him. Then there’s the Gryphon line. It’s all but extinct now, but there are still a few of them out there.”
She gasped and then smiled.
“Perhaps now that you’re back, they will thrive again.”

She waited for a minute, but when Katie didn’t continue, she asked,
“So, what’s the fourth line?”

Katie turned and grinned at her. “
You are, of course. You, your mother before you and her mother before her are of the Soothsayers. I can’t believe Drake didn’t tell you all this already. The Soothsayer women hold the characteristics of all three lines within her and keep them within her light so the darker tendencies of each are subdued and held in balance with the good. We are people of the light. Without it, we eventually die.”

Katie’s eyes filled with such admiration and hope.
“You’re back, now the balance will be restored.”

“I hope I can help, but I don’t know the first thing about being a queen
.”

“We just need you to be here. Eventually, you’ll be expected to form your Council and preside over certain things, but I’m sure The Elders will let you get settled before insisting you play a larger role.
” Katie made a sharp left turn, and then crossed a path in the forest, taking them back to the cover of the trees.

“Where are we going?”
Her feet were beginning to hurt from walking on the uneven ground.
“I hope you’re right. About the Council I mean.”

“I’m sure I am. Your light is what we need most. The rest will wait. I’m taking you to Drake’s house. I don’t know what’s going on, but before he left, he told me no one could know you were here, and we couldn’t trust anyone.”
She slowed her pace.
“We’re almost there.”

“Is there nowhere else we can go? I don’t think Drake would want me in his home.”
Considering the way things stood between them, she wasn’t sure about anything.

“Of course he would. He wants to see you safe at all costs. No one would dare cross him and enter his dwelling without his permission.”

“
But aren’t we going to be entering his house without his consent?”
She was grasping at straws and she knew it.

“
Perhaps, but I’m kin, and you’re our queen, so we’ll be okay. Besides, once he’s done with whatever he’s battling, he’ll come looking for us. We can let him know where we are when he tries to talk to one of us.”

They emerged from the forest into a large yard. It was too dark, with no outside lighting for her to see much more than the dark outline of a house.

Katie didn’t hesitate. She walked to the door and turned the knob. It wasn’t locked. In fact, unless she’d missed it, there wasn’t a lock on the door at all.

The house’s décor was masculine, yet tasteful, and so very Drake. The darker color palette of the walls was rich and comforting. Large pieces of furniture, both stylish and comfortable, gave the place a nice, lived-in feel. On the mantle above a big stone fireplace were several framed pictures. She gravitated towards them, wanting to know more about Drake and his family.

The first one she picked up was of a much younger Drake holding Katie’s hand, smiling down at her like she’d just said something funny. Next was a picture of an older man and woman who smiled into the camera. The man’s arms wrapped around the woman in a loving embrace. The dark hair, blue eyes, they had to be his parents. The next frame held a picture of Drake and Evan with another boy. In this picture, they were all teenagers and laughing at some unknown source behind the camera. Her breath caught in her throat. If he smiled like that all the time, her poor heart wouldn’t stand a chance.

The last one surprised her the most. The woman in the picture sat on a blanket, with a picnic basket next to her, and her hand rested on her rounded belly. The woman’s skin glowed as she smiled, holding her other hand out for whoever was behind the camera to come join her. One look at this picture, and she knew she was looking at her own mother. The resemblance was too uncanny to ignore. Her knees shook as she took the few steps to one of the chairs and sat, no longer able to stand as the realization of who she was sank in. She’d never seen anyone with the same color eyes as she had, until then.

Her trembling fingers touched the glass as she turned towards Katie, who was watching her. “This is my mother, isn’t it?” How could it be anyone but?

“Yes. That’s Queen Angelique.”

She couldn’t tear her gaze from the picture. “I thought, I mean, Drake and Evan told me, but I guess I wasn’t expecting such a close resemblance.” She’d held on to some small shred of doubt perhaps they’d gotten it wrong, and she wasn’t the one meant to save their species. Looking at the photograph though, she couldn’t deny who she was any more than she could help how she felt about Drake.

Katie’s head snapped towards the door, then with smooth, graceful movements, placed herself between Rhia and the door.

“What’s wrong?”

“Drake’s not in control right now. He went a little crazy when he saw the bunker. His dragon is going wild. I’m trying to get through to him, but he’s not listening. Evan can’t calm him. Go into the bedroom at the end of the hall. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to come out.” She didn’t look at Rhia, but kept her eyes trained on the door.

“He won’t hurt me.”

“You’ve not seen him like this. It would be best if you let me handle him.” Katie squared her shoulders, ready to do whatever needed doing.

A loud roar cut through the night sky, making her jump out of her chair just as the door burst open, slamming hard against the wall. Drake stood in the doorway, flames dancing in his eyes. His fiery gaze swept the room before settling on Rhia.

Katie squared her shoulders as she faced her brother. “Drake, you need to rein it in, I won’t let you harm her.”

Drake stepped closer, his gaze flashing over to Katie before locking on Rhia again.

Energy crackled in the air as Katie positioned herself between them. This wasn’t going to end well if she didn’t do something. Drake would never forgive himself if Katie got hurt, much less if he was the one to do it.

“Katie, step away from me. He won’t hurt me, I promise.” She spoke aloud, hoping her voice would soothe him at least a little.

“I’m sworn to protect you. I can’t let anyone harm you, not even my own brother.” The tremble in her voice belied her confident stance.

“I appreciate you wanting to keep me safe, but there’s no need. He’s reacting because you’re standing between us.” She stepped to the side, giving Drake a clear view of her. “He’s fighting for control right now. Help him, Katie. Do as I ask.” She could have throttled her when Katie stood her ground and took a step between her and Drake again, but she didn’t dare show her frustration.

“Katie, step aside. As your queen, I’m telling you to stand down. Now.”

Sparks arced across his palms as he clenched and released his fists.

Doubt flittered in her eyes, but Katie finally conceded, and stepped away.

In an instant, he closed the gap between them, crushing her in his arms. Deep growls vibrated against her cheek.
“I’m fine, Drake. We both are.”

Bending his head to her neck, he took long deep breaths until his death grip around her began to loosen, then without a word, he swung her into his arms, and carried her through his home.

Chapter 18

Blood rushed through Drake’s veins, pounding in his head like a tribal drum. In his arms, Rhia’s soft body was the only thing keeping him together. Had he not found her and Katie safe in his home, there was no accounting for what he would have done. Even now, explosive power pulsed just below the surface, obliterating rational thought and demanding release.

He strode through his home, not stopping until he reached his bedroom, kicking the door shut, and locking it behind them. Her body jerked in his arms as the slamming of the door reverberated through the moonlit room. Later, he’d have to go find Katie and apologize for scaring her, but not now. His dragon was still too angry—too unpredictable. Putting any distance between him and Rhia right now would give it just enough leverage to break free, and he couldn’t let it take control.

He ignored the lamp, maneuvering in the dim light with ease. She hadn’t recoiled from him, even when he was out of control and had come crashing in, but for all he knew, she was in shock. He should have told her more about their people. Prepared her for what she’d see.

The air held no trace of blood, yet he scented for it again and again. She smelled of the forest, of moss and clean, fresh air, still the beast struggled for freedom. It clawed at him, wanting more—demanding more, until all he could think about was ripping the clothes off her body to inspect every last inch of her.