Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
MACKLIN
“Hank hasn’t been to his home in Columbia for at least two months. Nobody knows where he’s gone. A neighbor said several black SUVs picked him up one night, and she hasn’t seen him since. Is there anywhere else he would go?”
Charli pales and shakes her head. “I wouldn’t know.
The last time I saw him in person was at the trial when I was sixteen.
But I did see him in a vision before I came here.
” She goes on to explain how quickly he found her last time and how odd it was.
“He pinpointed my exact location. In record time. Usually, I have a couple of days to move before he arrives.”
Teague frowns. “How do you know when he’s coming?”
She nervously traces her hair and shoulders. “I dream of that night.”
“Every single time?” Andros asks, his voice catching. “How close was it this last time?”
She nods. “Too close. I saw him in my rearview mirror when I was getting on the interstate.”
Andros speculates. “Hank sent monthly checks to the Human Rights Coalition or HRC, which is the same organization experimenting on Mavros, Ramiro, Raine, and probably countless others. What if he found a way to force one of the supes to help him?”
“That’s terrifying,” Charli whispers. “But it wouldn’t surprise me.”
Teague looks at me, already thinking along the same lines. “We need to check in with the other Vales. Find out exactly who’s missing and alert them to a potential security breach.”
“I’ll send word and get them to pull together a list,” I assure him.
Charli frowns. “What about Mavros? Does he know where Raine is? I’m worried I haven’t heard from her. She said a few days, but it’s been over two weeks, and I’m getting this prickly feeling between my shoulders.”
I shake my head. “Ames says he pretty much stays in his dragon form. Let me call him and see what we can do.”
“I’m going to fly the perimeter and make sure it’s secure,” Teague says, and Charli’s eyes widen. He halts and turns toward her. “Do you want to see me take off? I’ll mostly be in this form, except for my wings.”
She slowly nods, then tilts her head and studies me. Knowing she’s putting two and two together, I walk off, phone to my ear, trying not to think of the past.
Ames picks up on the first ring. “I told you I’d call if there was any change.”
I quickly explain we’re running out of time. “What if we gave him a sedative? Kept him calm enough for us to ask him some questions?”
“Might work, but we need to figure out a way to get him to shift,” he drawls in a tired voice. “He’s been in his dragon form for three days and shows no inclination to change.”
“Let me make a few calls. Figure something out,” I reply, running a hand down my face. “Clarissa might be able to create a potion or spell. I’ll have to check.”
“We only trust MacKenzie.”
Well, that’s interesting, but I guess it makes sense. MacKenzie’s a shifter too. A pure white unicorn. About as mystical as you can get.
“Got it. Call you back,” I tell him, hanging up.
Charli comes back in, her eyes full of wonder. “Everyone here seems so normal; I sometimes forget Greystone is full of supernaturals. That was incredible. Teague’s wings are huge, and he took off like a rocket.”
Phantom pain rips down my back, bringing the memories with it, and Charli’s stricken face stares at me in horror as some of it seeps through our connection.
“I’m so sorry. I should have realized. The scars on your back, they’re in the exact same spot as Teague’s wings,” she murmurs, walking toward me.
I flinch at the sorrow in her eyes.
I clear my throat, preparing to explain, but she shakes her head. “You don’t have to tell me. Not today, not a thousand years from now. Not unless you want to talk about it. Believe me, I’m the last person who will press you for the details.”
“It’s fine.” A derisive laugh escapes, its harsh exhalation jarring in the quiet evening. “I don’t talk about it. One, because it’s too damn painful, and two, because Teague feels so damn guilty.”
Andros stands, his gaze locked on Charli with an odd expression on his face. “Why don’t I call MacKenzie so you two can chat?”
Her thumb swipes across the back of my hand in a soothing manner. Warmth and acceptance radiate from her to me.
I stare into her light green eyes, needing something to ground me.
“Vampire hordes were sweeping across Europe in record numbers. It wasn’t safe to stay.
That evening, Andros, Teague, and I were boarding a Dutch ship bound for the Americas when Teague got word that a horde was heading toward our friends—Ronan, Kian, and Alejandro—and the village they stayed to protect.
He knew they’d never be able to fend off thirty vampires by themselves. ”
“So, we went. The fight was brutal. I went down.” My words are clipped as the memories swarm me. “The vampires were rabid.” I swallow, still feeling their hands and teeth ripping at my wings. “Ronan saved me. We stayed with them until I healed, then left for the Americas six months later.”
Tears silently roll down her cheeks. “I’m sorry they took them from you.”
I carefully wipe her cheeks. “Me too. I loved to fly. More than anything. Most of the churches in Europe reach an incredible height. My favorite thing to do was fly to a peak and perch on the edge.” My voice is gruff as I remember feeling like I was on top of the universe.
“No wonder Teague’s guilt eats at him,” she says softly. “He knows what it meant to you.”
“It kills me that he’s still carrying that burden, but nothing I say convinces him to let it go. Honestly, if the tables were turned, I’d feel the same way.”
Andros comes back, his keen eyes scrutinizing us. “We have a plan. MacKenzie has a sedative, but with him in dragon form, there are only a few places we can inject it. She’s going to meet us out there.”
Macklin: Headed out to Ames’. Loose plan to sedate Mavros and hope he shifts.
Teague: I’ll meet you there.
I blow out a breath and look at Andros. “First sign of trouble?—”
“I’ll get her out of there,” he finishes.
Ames’ ranch sits against the base of the mountain to the north.
A large, sprawling red brick home with dark grey accents is the first thing you see when you come up the long drive.
Set against the lighter grey of the mountain, it’s got a rugged feel to its luxury exterior that makes it feel more like a home than a statement.
Four large barns line the back of the property, housing the dragon hatchlings before and after they’re born.
Horses and cattle graze in a nearby pasture. The scene is picturesque.
At least until Ames comes striding out, wearing a scowl that would rival the ugliest bull.
Cranky as hell, he’s been alive longer than most supes and seen a lot of shit.
All dragons make for big men. Ames is no exception.
Tall and built like a tank, his brown hair in disarray like it hasn’t seen a brush this century, he looks like a one-man army.
Startling green eyes flicker with irritation and a hint of his dragon as he studies us.
“Let’s get this over with,” he spits, his gaze moving past me and Andros to Charli. “Guess you’re the seer I’ve heard so much about. Ames.”
Charli gives him a tentative smile and moves closer to Andros, who takes a half step in front of her, his gaze locked on Ames. “Hi. I’m Charli.”
He regards her for a moment, then dips his chin. “MacKenzie’s already at the barn, waiting on us.” Pivoting on his boots, his long legs eat up the distance to the barn on the far side of the property.
Three times the size of the house, the whole building shakes as a roar rolls out across the valley.
Although he was practically a skeleton when we found him, Mavros is even bigger than Ames.
Can’t imagine that’s going to translate into a small dragon.
My stomach tightens, wondering if this is a colossal mistake.
“Andros, take Charli about three hundred feet that way,” Ames orders him, pointing off to the side. “MacKenzie, give the needle to Macklin, then join them.”
She calmly walks over and hands me a syringe the size of my forearm with an equally long needle attached. “Hit him hard, or you won’t puncture the skin. Dragon hides are tough.”
Ames turns to me. “MacKenzie says the sedative will only work if it’s injected under the surface.
Best option is to inject it in his tongue or gums. But if he’s opening his mouth, fire is coming out.
The only other option is to lift a scale and jab the needle into the skin underneath.
Will take quite a bit of muscle. So, take your pick, but regardless, you’ll have to shift. ”
I flick a glance at Charli, and Ames grunts. “She hasn’t seen your form, has she? Hope she doesn’t run away when she gets a glimpse of your ugly face.”
I lift a shoulder. “She’s my fated mate. Going to see me sooner or later.”
There’s a brief look of envy in Ames’ eyes before it’s shuttered. “I can’t hold him long. Five, maybe six, minutes.” He rolls up his long sleeves, revealing strong, muscular arms, then flicks a hand to slide open the two massive doors.
I hear Charli gasp at his use of magic. So does Ames, and damn if he doesn’t preen a little.
I snort. Looking into the barn, every ounce of amusement dries up.
Mavros’ dragon is massive. Biggest I’ve ever seen.
And every inch of him is pure black except his eyes.
Amber shot with gold. They gleam in the darkness of the barn as if they’re sizing me up for a snack.
Ames walks in and grabs the long, thick chain, and Mavros lumbers forward, his eyes fixed on me. I search his chest and legs, hoping to find an opening, but his scales are almost seamless. From head to tail tip, he’s practically impenetrable. There’s really only one play here.
Walking toward him, I glare at Ames. “Going for the mouth. Don’t let him eat me.
Got a lot to live for.” Between one step and the next, my skin hardens, muscles enlarge, and oversized fangs drop.
I briefly turn toward Charli, wanting her to see who I am.
Thankfully, I don’t have horns like most of my brethren. This is already a whole lot of ugly.
Her stunning light green eyes are as big as saucers when they scan me from head to toe, and surprisingly, she’s clutching Andros’ gloved hand, but she’s not running.
Mavros’ tail whips the ground, and I shift my focus to the beast in front of me. Chin raised, he roars to the skies above, then shuffles forward a few steps.
Now or never. I take a running leap and catch his neck, quickly scrambling up the remaining ten feet. He opens his mouth, and I throw back my arm and stab his tongue as hard as possible. The needle slides in, and I press the plunger.
Roaring again, he shakes his neck, sending me flying.
Ames curses at the small crater my body makes in the pavement when I slam into it.
Mavros opens his mouth and lets loose a stream of flames.
Standing up, I continue counting, letting the fire wash over me.
Twenty seconds. I blink. Is that screaming?
Thirty seconds. Damn, I don’t think it’s working.