Chapter 38
Magma
I pull up outside of Flint’s apartment. He’s working on Mistveil, but he hasn’t given up the place until he knows what his future will hold. Whether he’ll be back or stay that side. Flint is already out front. He waves when he sees me. I pull up to the curb.
He looks good. I’ve only seen him once since he left for Mistveil, and it seems to be agreeing with him.
“Hey,” I say.
“Hi, Magma.” He grins. “Good to see you. It feels like it’s been longer than a couple of weeks.”
I pull back into traffic.
“It does. You look different.” I narrow my eyes, trying to decide what’s changed.
“I cut some of my hair off.”
“Oh, shit! Yes, you did. I like it. It suits you.”
“Males wear their hair shorter on Mistveil. I did it to blend in. I might cut it even shorter. I’ll see how I feel.” He shrugs.
I want to ask him if he’s picking up some shit for being a Draiger, but I don’t. It’s too soon for heavy talk.
“How was the flight?”
“Short. I love taking the chopper. I can’t wait until I can make the trip on my own steam, though. It must be awesome to shift at will.” He groans.
“I would say it isn’t, but I’d be lying,” I tell him. “How long until the vaccination clears your system?”
“A couple of weeks. Too long, if you ask me. Everyone shifts on Mistveil. It’s the way most people get around. I mean, there are cars and other forms of transport, but shifting is normal.”
We get onto the main road. The evening traffic is moving nicely. We have plenty of time to get there, so I’m not worried.
“And workwise. How’s it going?” I ask. “And I want the actual answer. Not the one for the reports.”
He looks out the window. “The frontline is further along than I expected. They’ve got the positioning right, which is more than I thought when I first saw the original layout.
Their training is great. The staff they have are fantastic, but the problem is that they don’t have sufficient staff to man the whole frontline, or for relief staff.
At this point, no one can go on vacation. It’s seven days on and one day off.”
“That won’t work long-term.”
“You’re telling me. We’re working on it. We’ve just done a big recruitment drive. New staff are being trained. It’ll all be up and running soon. It’s going to be a matter of ensuring that all the scheduling is done correctly to avoid too many junior staff being on the same rotation.”
“I hear you.” I nod. “It sounds like you have it under control.”
“The changes won’t happen overnight, but we’ll get there.”
“Our frontline isn’t going anywhere,” I tell him.
“Thank fuck for that, or we’d have the same problem as before.”
“I take it that there still hasn’t been any news on the missing females’ whereabouts?”
“Nope.” He shakes his head.
I nod. “And the reintegration setup?” I ask, changing the subject.
“That’s the part that’s going to take longer.
” He stretches his neck to one side. “Mistveil needs to recruit therapists and doctors. Once again, the levels of safety measures required are enormous, and we just don’t have the resources at this stage.
The facilities themselves will need to meet certain criteria if they’re going to work.
I’ve put together a proposal. I’m waiting for the green light on the first facility. ”
“Sounds good.”
“Again, these things don’t happen overnight.” He shrugs. “The males they’re trying to bring back from feral status aren’t that far gone. A few of them have real potential. We need to reach them. Make sure that they are aware of what we are trying to do.”
“And then try not to get yourselves killed during the setup.”
“Exactly.” He widens his eyes.
I take the road that will eventually lead us out to the chapel. It’s warm and muggy. I’m praying that the rain holds off for the wedding next weekend.
“And Mistveil itself?” I ask. “How do you like it?”
He considers this. “It’s different.”
“Different good or different…not so good?”
“It’s good. I’m enjoying it.”
“How are the Reds treating you?” I ask.
“Octane has done a lot of work in smoothing the way, but there is still a fair bit of bias. I’m good, though.” He shrugs. “No one has been outright hostile yet.”
“That doesn’t sound all that great.”
“It’s going to take time. You’ve said it yourself; we’ve been taught to hate one another.”
“Have you met anyone interesting?”
“There are plenty of interesting people,” he says. “It’s been enlightening.”
“I mean females.” I lift my brows, glancing his way. “Have you met any?”
He is quiet for a beat. “Females are pretty thin on the ground over there. Which, for the record, suits me.”
I look at him. He’s staring straight out the window.
“Come again?”
“I’m taking a break from all that.”
I wait again. That can mean a dozen things, coming from Flint.
“You’re taking a break from females?” I say. “You? How does your dick feel about that?”
He laughs. “My dick is just fine. I’ve had enough of fucking around.”
“That can’t be right. Again, I’m sure your dick can’t be happy.”
“My dick has my hand. It’s not a biggie. You’ve done it for years. When’s the last time you got laid?”
“This isn’t about me.” I circumvent the question for obvious reasons.
He taps his knee twice and goes back to looking out the window.
“Are you bringing a date to the wedding?” I ask.
“No.”
I glance at him. “You’re going alone?”
“That’s what no means.”
“Okay, then.” I nod.
We turn off the main road and onto the long stretch toward the chapel. The oak trees on either side are old and wide, their canopies leaning toward each other over the asphalt. The evening light comes through them in broken slants.
Flint shifts in his seat and smirks at me.
“What?” I bark.
“I heard from a very reliable source,” he says, “that a certain female is going to the wedding with you.”
I keep my eyes on the road.
“A Red shifter female.” He tilts his head. “Goes by Brook.”
“We’ve been messaging.”
“Have you now.” It isn’t a question.
“It’s nothing. A few weeks of back and forth. Don’t read anything into it.”
He reaches over and slaps my arm with the flat of his hand. “You old dog.” He shakes his head. “About damned time.”
“It’s one date.”
“Still.”
“Stop.”
“I’m just saying—”
“It’s one date, Flint. She’s not moving in.” I hear myself and dial it back. “You clearly don’t want me up your nose about your newfound celibacy, so don’t start up on Brook. It’s casual. Let’s leave it at that.”
He holds both hands up. “You have my word. I’ll let it go.” He turns back to the window. “I’m proud of you for reaching out to her, though.”
I grunt, letting him know that the discussion is over.
I’m not proud of myself at all. I’m using her so I don’t have to go alone. It’s wrong. I will be sure to let her know that when I see her. It isn’t going to go anywhere.
I take the last turn, and the chapel appears at the end of the lane, white-painted, modest, and tidy against the backdrop of trees. There are already a few vehicles in the small lot out front. I pull into one of the parking spaces.
We get out. The air smells like freshly cut grass.
The minister is waiting at the door. He’s a small male, older, dressed plainly, with the kind of face that suggests he has been doing this a long time. He extends a hand.
“Good evening. I’m Pastor Lyle. You must be—”
My dragon moves.
Not a stir. Not a ripple. He goes from nothing to fully awake in under a second, and I feel the shift through every inch of me, a flood of heat and want so immediate and so total that I miss whatever the minister finishes with.
Carla is inside. I can’t see her yet, but I know it with a certainty. My dragon knows. He’s pulling toward her.
“Earth to Magma!” Flint elbows me, and I refocus on the minister.
“Sorry. I’m Magma. Apologies. It’s been a long day.” I take his hand and shake.
“Good to meet you both. Aside from tea and coffee, there are sodas and waters on the table at the back. Robyn also brought fruit, muffins, and cookies.”
“Thanks,” I tell him.
“We appreciate it,” Flint tells him as we walk in.
We go inside, and there she is.
Carla is across the room with Robyn, and they’re laughing about something. She’s wearing a floral dress that makes her eyes look beautiful. She’s even prettier than I remembered. Her hair is down. She’s radiant…fucking glowing. So damned sexy, I think I might be drooling. My dick takes note.
My dragon is going nuts. He wants me to go over to her. He wants me to throw her over my shoulder and to leave with her.
I have to force myself to look away.
My dragon snarls.
I take a few deep breaths. I can do this.
Ridge walks over to us. “Hey…it’s my best males.” He reaches me first and shakes my hand, then Flint’s. Then he turns and brings a woman over who has the same coloring as Robyn but is a few years older.
“Magma, Flint, this is my future sister-in-law, Cathrine.” He puts a hand on her shoulder briefly as he says it. “She flew in from the Mainland this morning. It’s only her second time on Draig Island, so I want you on your best behavior.”
“Hi, Cathrine,” Flint says.
“Call me Cath.” She smiles.
“Hi, Cath.” I have to force myself to keep my eyes on her.
And then Robyn says, “Magma,” and I turn, and Carla is right there.
Holy fuck!
Her scent hits me in the gut. Vanilla and cherries. Her hair still smells of orange blossoms. She still uses the same products.
“It’s so good to see you.” Robyn hugs me.
“You, too, Robyn. Your sister looks just like you.” I smile at Cath, who nods.
“Thanks for coming.” She pulls back, eyes lit up. “You two know each other already.”
Carla looks up at me.
She smiles.
“Hi,” she says, looking a little shy.
“Hi.”
I’m not sure if I hug her first. I think I probably do. All I know is that she fits in my arms. That is the only word for it. She fits fucking perfectly. Her hands go to my back, and she leans in against my shoulder.
Mine!
Take!
My dragon is being unreasonable.
No! Not ours.
I pull back.
I have to do it deliberately. I have to make myself step away because I don’t want to. This is going to be tougher than I realized.