Page 50 of The Dragon With A Girl Tattoo
As I returned to the main stage for our bow, I searched for signs of Yrian, but he was nowhere to be seen.
More concerning was the fact that Christian now stood with the women, along with Jim the demon dog, and Pixie.Two of the four guards peeled off with Christian when the latter went dashing off in the opposite direction of the wyverns.
“That went so well, didn’t it?I think it went well.Did you see how they were dancing even before you glamoured them?”Billie almost skipped next to me as we hurried off the stage to the changing tent.“I don’t want to count my chickens early, like Becket said, but we kicked ass!”
Skye, Deni, and Billie all talked at once, excited, amped up on performance adrenaline, and just overall thrilled that the set had been received so well.
I was silent as I hurriedly stepped behind a privacy curtain and changed into a pair of leggings, a black tunic, and a blond glamour that was as opposite from my stage appearance as was possible.
“You guys were absolutely brilliant,” I said as I emerged.
“So were you,” Billie said with a giggle before taking her place behind the curtain.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard Billie sing better, and you two were beyond kick-ass and into the realm of legends,” I told Deni and Skye.“But if you don’t mind, I’m going to scoot.Something’s up with the dragons, and if it’s my stalkers, I’d rather get out of the public eye.”
“We’ll text you the time for the set tomorrow, but it won’t be until after noon, so you’ll have time to enjoy your boyfriend,” Skye said with a slight acid tone to her voice.I said nothing, well aware she was still salty about her partner breaking up with her a few months before.
“Thanks, I appreciate the heads-up.Brilliantly done, ladies!We’ll knock everyone’s socks off tomorrow!”I gave them each a hug before hurrying out of the tent, my mind worried, my stomach unhappy, and my toes still angry about the heels.
Just as I rounded the stage, Allie took off to the left in a fast trot.I went straight for the ladies who now looked downright angry as they obviously argued with the vampire guards.
“What’s happened?”I asked as I ran up to them, one of the vampires immediately blocking my view of the women.“Is it Candy and Andy?Where’s Yrian?”
“Becket?”Aisling asked, peering around the bulky vampire.“You look so different!”
“I didn’t want to wear my performance glamour,” I said softly, looking around to make sure no one was close enough to hear.The crowd was filing out more or less without issue, although there were always a few stragglers who had to be encouraged to return to their lodgings.“Are more demons here?”
“No,” Aisling said grimly, squeezing herself between two of the vampires.“Dragons.Bad ones.Jim, come with me.You may speak, but only if it’s of importance.”
“Like I got anything to say that isn’t a pearl of wisdom?Heya, Becklestein.Loved that last song.Did you know when you twirl you can see your undies?Well, maybeyoucan’t see them, but those of us on the ground can.”
“Jim!”Aisling pinched the dog’s shoulder.“We do not mention other people’s underwear.Becket, I think everyone would be happier if you stayed here with Christian’s men.I’m going to see what’s happening, and remind Drake that I’m not a Guardian savant for nothing!”
“I’ll come with.I can cast a few spells on whatever dragon is causing issues,” Ysolde said, likewise squeezing out of the vampire cordon.She hesitated a second.“Pixie—”
“I’m coming, too,” the young woman said, a pugnacious expression on her face.“It’s dark out.No one will see me when I hide in the shadows.I can spy and tell you where the baddies are.”
Ysolde didn’t look any too happy about it, but sent a meaningful glance toward her son, who gave her a quick nod of understanding as he took Pixie by the arm, and they hurried off toward the trailers and food stalls.
“And that’s my cue to go to the shadow world, I think,” May murmured before she blipped out of sight.I considered following her to the Beyond, but couldn’t leave Yrian.What if he needed my help?
“Well, I’m not going to stay here by myself,” I told the ladies, ignoring the objections by the guards when I followed the others.
“You’re the one who needs the most protection,” Ysolde pointed out.The guards moved alongside us, clearly determined to do their best to keep us safe.“Yrian will go mental if you are harmed.Oh, hell.That sounds rude.Obviously, we would all be distraught were you to come to harm—”
“It’s OK,” I told her, worry quelling any amusement at her unintended gaffe.I searched the few remaining people on the field.Most of the attendees had left, and no one who remained appeared to be a dragon, or someone who was wearing a glamour.It was just a few mortals laughing, singing, and chatting loudly as they streamed past the stalls, heading for the parking lot and shuttles to nearby hotels.“I know what you mean, and I would agree, but this is a new glamour.”
Jim cocked its head at me.“Yeah, but you’re still a girl, and all the demons are looking for a girl.”
“Hmm.Good point.”I took advantage of the group pausing at a (now closed, much to Jim’s sadness) ice cream stall, and whipped up a quick glamour for myself.“Glamour incoming,” I warned everyone, and ducked behind the stand to apply it.
“Whoa.That’s ...”Jim blinked at me.
“Yeah, I know, but it’s the only man I could think of who wasn’t present,” I said, trying to remember the First Dragon’s exact speech cadence.I’m sure it was highly disconcerting to everyone to see what they thought was the dragon ancestor but hear my voice emerging from his mouth.
“What a good idea to use his form.The dragons may recognize his appearance, but I’m willing to bet they’ll give you a wide berth, because they won’t want to tangle with him,” Aisling told me; then she pointed at a flash of blue light that exploded from behind two of the big trailers.“Is that an arcane blast?”
“Yes,” Ysolde said with a heartfelt sigh.“It means someone has suitably pissed off Baltic until he resorted to magic.We’d better go see how many of Xavier’s crew are here.”
