The complete conviction that rings out in Aiden’s voice is somewhat reassuring, but I’d be much calmer if he actually cared about what happened with me. His accusations earlier and his general attitude toward me in the past two months—specifically that he primarily wants me for my power and what I can do for him, not forme—don’t give me much hope that he’d put his life on the line.
Not that it will come to that. I still believe we can resolve this peacefully. Whatever it is the villagers want, I’m sure we can find a reasonable solution.
“Bring out the witch!” someone bellows from outside.
Or maybe not.
I don’t want to go out there and be fucking stoned to death. Or burned at the stake. Now more than ever, I wish my magic wasn’t so damn specific. Where my sister could conjure up a fireball to launch at her opponents or blast them away with a gust of gale-force wind, I’m left virtually defenseless with my tech magic. I could grab Jack’s or Ty’s hand and channel their power, but that would be a gross misuse of magic, not to mention that they’d have to give the power voluntarily. I’d also never formed a fireball in my life, so it’s much more likely that I’d torch the entire house than scare away any attackers.
In short, I’m fucked because the Goddess saw fit to grant me with the most modern strain of magic out there.Yay.
Maya leaves the room, muttering an apology, and I understand. She doesn’t want to be caught in the crossfire. Her family—Jack’s family—is likely out there, protesting my very existence. What if they disown Jack for shacking up with a witch? I bet they weren’t happy even when they thought I was a human. There aren’t any other humans in the village, and I get that. There aren’t many sea dragons left, and they probably want to keep their bloodlines clean. Now, they’ll want him to break up with me immediately.
Witches and dragons don’t date. Never have. Our differences and distrust run too deeply. I don’t know why I thought we’d be the first exception to the rule.
“I’m going to go out and talk to them, and you two are going to make sure Skye doesn’t leave this room,” Aiden commands. “Are we clear on that?”
“Hey—” I protest and start forward, but the office door slams in front of me.
He’s gone to face the angry mob all on his own, and we’re supposed to be stuck inside?
Oh hell, no.
I take the doorknob to open the door, only to be yanked back, gently but decisively, by Jack. I glare at him until he releases my arm. By the time I turn back to the door, Ty’s leaning on it, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Are you two serious?” I demand. “You’re going to let him go out there on his own?”
“He’ll be fine,” Jack says.
Ty dips his chin. “Yeah, he’s a big boy. Don’t worry about him.”
Shouts ring out from the front porch, and we all twitch at the sound.
“Oh sure,” I drawl. “He’s doing great.”
I step right up to Ty and give his shoulder a push. “Move, dammit.”
It’s like trying to shift a boulder. I pinch his side, and he purses his lips in annoyance, but he doesn’t budge.
From outside, there’s more yelling, then a massive, echoing roar.
Two
Skye
“Oh shit,”Jack breathes. “He shifted.”
They rush out of the office, and I follow on their heels. The front door of the Lodge is thrown open, the entrance blocked by a massive flank covered in night-black scales. Aiden, in dragon form.
He roars again, and the glass rattles in the windows. One pane shatters with a melodic tinkle, so Jack, Ty, and I race to the broken frame to see what’s going on.
Another sea dragon stands on the lawn in front of the Lodge, its maw open wide. It roars, then lashes out at Aiden. One massive foreleg sails through the air to deliver a blow, but Aiden ducks and snaps his teeth at his attacker’s neck. A moment later, a plume of fire bursts from Aiden’s jaws, andholy fucking shit, if I ever doubted about their fire-breathing abilities, I’m convinced now. The flames glance off the other dragon’s scales, but a burning scent rises from the nearby fir trees.
“Crap!” Jack vaults out the broken window and runs to Aiden’s side. “What the fuck is going on?”
Aiden swings his big head toward him, and a board of the decking snaps under his enormous weight. He overcorrects his step and swishes his tail against the railing, breaking off a good-sized chunk.
Ty hisses beside me. “You can’t get out there,” he says, even though I’m not moving. “You could get crushed.”
