Page 71 of Saving the Last Heir
We rounded a small building with a FOR SALEsign outside and went to the rear. It had once been a gas station that had transitioned to a shitty used car lot, before shutting down for good about five years prior.
“This looks good,” Jackson said, glancing around, inspecting for any spots people might be able to see from.
“Shit, hang on,” I said as I pulled out my phone.
“What’s wrong?”
“I sent you the garage door and security codes for the shop,” I said. “Kinda need those if you’re gonna go get the car.”
Jackson barked a laugh. “What would I do without you?”
“Well, you wouldn’t have doneanyof the stuff you did last night, that’s for sure,” I said.
“You do have a point, there,” he said, then leaned down and kissed me.
Each and every time our lips touched, lightning crackled at the back of my mind and butterflies wiggled in my stomach. God, he was a good kisser.
Pulling away, he glanced at the sky. “I guess I need to go.” As he turned, I noticed his face change. He winced as if sad or irritatedand whispered something—not to me but himself. “I wish all the dragon healers weren’t gone. They could heal him in no time.”
“What did you just?—”
Before the question was out of my mouth, Jackson shifted, transforming into a massive dragon, and I had to take a few steps back to give him room to maneuver. Within seconds of shifting, he leaped into the sky, his magical camouflage making him blend into the sky.
Standing there, I watched him go until I could no longer make out the blur that he’d become against the background.
“Dragon healers?” I muttered to myself. “What the hell arethose?”
There was so much to learn still. This world I’d found myself thrown into became more mysterious by the day. I wondered if I’deverknow all the secrets.
15
JACKSON
The door to the paint room rattled as it rolled upward, revealing the car, shiny and perfect as the day it rolled off the assembly line. She was gorgeous, but I had no love for it. The damn thing had caused me more problems in the last week than I’d had in the last year.
As I ran my hand down the side of the Lamborghini, I couldn’t help but think about what this car had brought me as well. Without the Anitolis forcing me to steal this stupid thing, I never would have met Shyanne. Even after only a few days, I couldn’t fathom never seeing her, never knowing her, neverexperiencingher. I could have rolled up to any shop in the city, but I’d found hers first. She’d been willing to help when almost no one else would have.
Walking to the far end of the room, I opened a small box and retrieved the key fob. Standing in front of the hood, I pulled my phone out and dialed Anitoli’s number. It rang and rang to the point that I thought he wouldn’t pick up, then finally on what had to be the last chance, he answered.
“Good morning, Jack. Am I ever getting my fucking car?”
His usual greasy car salesman fake charm was gone today, this morning he was all business, and business was being a hard-ass.
“I’ve got it. All clean, no tracker,” I said.
When I’d first thought about it, I’d informed Shyanne, who’d done a thorough sweep of the car while her team had been working on other stuff. From what she’d been able to access, itwasclean.
Joseph sounded surprised. “Really?” The callousness left his voice in an instant, the faux nice guy act returning. “Well, then, let’s set up a meeting, my boy. We’ll take that beauty off your hands, and we can figure out next steps.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I said, staring at the car and forcing myself not to kick out the goddamned headlights in frustration.Next steps? Cute way of saying ‘other bullshit I’m going to make you do’.
“I’ll text you the coordinates for the pickup,” Joseph said. “Let’s say an hour? It’ll take you that long to get there anyway.”
“Fine,” I grunted, my anger evident in my voice.
“Oh, don’t be like that, Jack. This part’s almost over,” Joseph crooned. “See you soon.”
A few seconds after hanging up, my phone buzzed with a text message with coordinates. When I punched them into a GPS app, it showed a spot at the edge of a forest fifty miles outside the city. Sighing, I climbed into the car, started it, and eased it out of the garage.
