Page 21 of Drakhana's Treasure
I see the flames in front of my eyes and I try to hold them back. My dragon recoils inside me, trying to strike at the woman, who backs off quickly. Her milky eyes change back to an ordinary, soft brown. I take a few steps after her, hearing the crackle of fire above my head.
I still can’t feel my hand. The patch of ice is spreading from that one small spot up my arm. Panic closes my throat and I can’t even scream.
I can’t even breathe.
Sounds and lights swirl around me. I don’t know what’s happening or even where I am.
The only thing I do know is that I have been infected by ice and it feels like it’s eating me alive.
Fourteen
Rastus
Even though I move through the casino with my usual confidence, I don’t feel connected to anything. Normally this is the very air I breathe, making people happy so they come back to us again and again. Giving them luck. Letting them win.
Today I move from place to place, trying to get up my usual enthusiasm. Even though people greet me happily, I can’t connect with them. The natural charisma of a shifter usually makes me dynamite in negotiations and today I can’t even smile at a card dealer without falling over myself.
It’s a good thing that Zelena and Kane are absolute sharks at the business. They are so competitive with each other and the rest of the recruits they have taken all the meetings out of my hands. A few days ago, I might have been annoyed about that, but now I’m pleased to be set free from it.
After a good few hours wandering through the place doing next to nothing, I finally admit to myself I’m not going to get anything done until I see Kirralee. As hard as I’ve tried to distract myself, I can’t stop thinking about last night.
I felt the fire inside me when I touched her. We only laid on the desert floor and touched the lava with our dragon spirit, but it was as if she took me swimming in it. My dragon has been with me all day, a stronger presence than usual but quiet and waiting.
By the time I decide I need to see Kirralee I have no idea where she might be. I deliberately avoided knowing where she was so I wouldn’t hover over her all day. I’ve tried to stay calm, but all I can think about is her soft skin under my hands.
After I’ve gone around the main floor twice, I still haven’t found her. I hold back my panic, forcing myself to stay calm. Why would she have disappeared without a word?
Maybe, because I scared her. I couldn’t keep myself under control. If she did leave, then I deserved it. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen but I couldn’t wait long enough for her to be ready.
Surprisingly, it’s my dragon muttering in my blood that makes me feel better. Instead of exploding with rage at the idea our female might have gotten away, it coils within me, lending me fire. Instantly I’m comforted. Kirra and I are connected by flame. We can never really be apart now. My dragon knows this even if I still have doubts.
Just when I’m about to head to security and have them track her down, I see a commotion at the main doors. Several of my doormen are there and so is security. When I see the three people in the center making trouble, the fire in me flares to life begging to be free.
Ice dragons!
I walk swiftly towards the doors. It has taken years of control to be able to walk towards my enemy and greet him calmly. They want to play by human rules, lets see how good they are at it.
I don’t get time to engage them. I see the woman edging through the crowd and then I see the bright flash of hair that can only be Kirralee. The ice dragon female is pushing her back, leering in her face.
Even though I pick up my pace I can’t get there in time. I see the ice woman reach out and grab Kirralee’s forearm. There is a horrible scream.
Then screaming breaks out everywhere. Even the ice dragon is screaming. Bright yellow flames flicker across her, spreading from Kirralee to everything around her. A huge blast of flame pours into the sky and the ice dragons run for it. The sprinklers come on, hard, and now the customers are screaming about their ruined outfits.
I charge straight into the commotion, pushing people out of my way. I’m ready to grab Kirralee and run upstairs with her, furious that she put herself in such a position. I should have spoken to her about where to work—or just staying in her damn room—but she should have known better than to put herself in such a difficult position.
When I finally reach her side, my fury fades. She’s laying on the ground in a twisted mess. I turn her over quickly, looking into her eyes and stroking her hair. She barely responds.
A security guard nudges my shoulder.
“What do you want done here, boss?”
“Get the people compensated.” I say automatically. “Seal off this area until we get it cleaned up. Divert people through the entrance in the club. Make sure everyone gets some free chips!”
“You got it.” He moves away, directing people out of the flooded area.
The water is starting to soak into Kirralee’s dress and she whimpers, moving away from it. She starts to shiver and I lean down to her again.
“Kirra? Kirra, can you hear me?”
