Chapter 22 #2
“Of course you could, if the conditions are right and we can get the door to open,” Anon reminded him. “But we’ll have to see.”
Rhaz gave him a sage nod. “Very well.”
Anon nodded. “Carry on, then. I’ll make the arrangements.” He turned and left the room. What would happen if the dragon prince somehow managed to open the door?
Anon didn’t want to think about it. Instead, he returned to his study and began writing out their plan.
Rhaz needed some air after his discussion with Anon and went out the back door. He should probably have told someone where he was going, but he wanted a moment alone and needed to think.
The Sarian was a threat, yes, and he would do what he could to help the humans get rid of it, whatever it was.
But perhaps it was a creature that stumbled through the door, just like some of the others did.
In Caelen and Quill’s case, they said they literally stumbled and fell into it.
Jackson couldn’t stop in time and went through. Same with Anon.
But in his and Basil’s case, along with Aaron, they were pulled in and spit out. The door drawn to their power, perhaps. So far, he and Aaron were the most powerful supernaturals to come through. Could it be the door was aware of that power?
He would have to speak to Quill about it. He knew the wizard had theories and was working on them. Maybe he’d come to the same conclusion.
He looked at the back fence on the other side of Anon’s property, across Moon Creek to the park beyond. He headed that way and was surprised when he spied Phin’s little yellow car in the parking lot.
He headed for it, but there was no sign of Phin anywhere. He searched the area and spied her sitting at a picnic table with another woman. She looked familiar somehow, and he realized she looked like Phin.
That must be her sister.
Maybe he shouldn’t disturb them. Besides, it was getting dark. What he really wanted to do was shift, let his dragon fly, but he couldn’t do that yet. Besides, there’d be plenty of time later once they started their search for the Sarian.
He turned, prepared to go back to Anon’s, when he heard Phin’s voice call out.
“Rhaz, is that you?”
He turned back, and she was leaving the picnic table and heading for him. The other woman followed.
His heart thumped in his chest at the sight of her, and warmth spread through him. “By scale and flame,” he muttered to himself.
The reaction worried him, as it well should. She was human; he a dragon shifter. Still, he couldn’t deny his attraction to her or the way she made his dragon practically sing.
Ezriel was pleased with her and would take her home with them if he could.
Rhaz didn’t think that was such a great idea.
Phin reached him, giving him a big smile. “Rhaz, what are you doing in the park?”
“I was just out taking a walk.” He smiled at her sister. She smiled back and held out a hand.
“Hi, I’m Jessica.”
He took her hand and gave it a shake. Apparently, this was a common human greeting. Anon had told him, and he’d seen it done often enough since he’d arrived.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Jessica said. “Phin’s told me all about you.” She elbowed Phin in the ribs and winked.
Rhaz wasn’t sure what to make of that, so he said nothing, but he did like the way Phin blushed. Perhaps her sister was just teasing.
“So, you are a fire chief where you come from?” Jessica asked. “I always wanted to go to Dubai. It’s on my bucket list of exotic places I’d like to visit.”
“Why don’t you have Richard take you?” Phin said with a smirk.
Rhaz glanced between them. “Who is Richard?”
“He’s my boyfriend,” Jessica said. “He lives in Coos Bay. He’s an accountant.”
She said it with a dreamy tone, as if this Richard the accountant were a great warrior. But even he knew what the word accountant meant in every language he spoke.
“An accountant?” Rhaz said with a smile.
Jessica frowned at him. “All right, buddy. Just because he’s an accountant doesn’t make him any less exciting or manly. He skydives, for one, and he’s gone scuba diving once.”
Phin laughed. “Sis, don’t worry about it. If you love him, then great.”
Rhaz looked at the ground and smiled. “She’s right. Loving him is all that matters. His occupation means nothing.”
He thought about some of the ladies at court. All they cared about were riches, the strength of a mate, what would make them rise to different levels of power, and the prestige it would give them.
He was sure there were politics and other troubles here, just as there were in any realm. But in his realm, it was as if everything was taken to another level.
“I hear you had lunch with Mom and Dad,” Jessica said. “I hope they didn’t drive you crazy. Honestly, I’m surprised Phin hasn’t moved out yet.”
“Oh goodness, talk about being driven crazy,” Phin said. “Mom would never let me hear the end of it.”
Jessica laughed at that. “Better you than me. Ha! I’m glad I’m the oldest and could get out first.”
Phin took on a panicked look. “Don’t think we don’t like our parents,” she said. “We love them. It’s just that sometimes they can be a little too protective.”
His eyebrows shot up at that. “What do you mean? Isn’t it a good thing that your parents are protective?”
“Well, yeah,” Phin said. “But they want to know where you’re going every minute of the day, what you’re doing, and they’re always asking what I’m going to do.”
She shook her head and waved a hand in the air. “Forget I said that. It doesn’t matter.”
Jessica nudged her with an elbow. “You’ll figure it out. And it’s not like you have to decide this minute.”
“I know, but...” Phin looked away, biting her lower lip.
“Decide what?” Rhaz asked out of curiosity. He knew Phin had brought this up before and that she was trying to decide what path she wanted to go into.
Phin sighed. “There are just too many possibilities. I get overwhelmed, and then I don’t even want to think about it.”
It was in stark contrast to his dilemma.
He was bound by duty, honor, and the kingdom.
Everything was decided for him and had been his entire life.
“It’s all right,” he told Phin. “You’ll figure it out.
And as your sister says, if you have time, then take advantage of it. I wish I had your options.”
Jessica laughed. “What does that mean? That you’re stuck being a fire chief the rest of your life?”
He gave her a hint of a smile. “Something like that.”
Phin cocked her head. “You and I are going to have a talk, buddy.”
He laughed. “Anytime, Miss Ironwood.”
She gave him a curt nod. “How about tomorrow? We could go for a walk on the beach.”
“I’d like that,” he said.
“You should come to Coos Bay with me,” Jessica suggested. “I’m going to go see Richard. We could all have lunch and then hit the beach there. Of course, the beaches here are better, but...” She shrugged. “Better not tell Richard that.”
Phin glared at her sister, then at Rhaz. “So, do you want to?”
“I’ll see what Anon has planned. But yes, I would like that.”
“Great. It’s a date,” Phin said. She bit her lower lip, blushing.
Her sister noticed and giggled, then elbowed her again. She did that a lot. Perhaps it was a human sibling thing. But he enjoyed the way they got along, unlike some nobles he knew who constantly fought.
“Well then,” Phin said, “I guess we’d better get home. Jessica and I sometimes meet and talk without our parents around. It kind of makes us feel like we’re getting away with something, like when we were kids.”
Jessica laughed. “That’s true. I better go. Let me know about tomorrow, and we can take my car. It’s got more room.”
“I will let you know,” Rhaz said.
“By the way, did you get a cell phone yet?” Phin crossed her arms and stared him down. “You really need a phone, dude.”
“I am working on it.” He smiled politely and backed up a few steps. “You should get home. You drove here, Jessica?”
“Phin came and got me. She’ll take me home.”
He gave them a nod, turned on his heel, and left while he still could. He wanted to stay and talk to them, but he also wanted them to get home before it got too dark.
He returned to the manse to find Anon waiting on the back porch for him. “There you are. Next time, inform one of us that you’re taking a walk. Safety first!” He shook a finger at him, then went inside the house.
Rhaz smiled and followed him in.