Dragon Blood 3: Surety (4 page)

Donna screamed and fainted. Gary caught her and Helen screeched, “I knew it. I knew it. Dragon Mage. Traitor!”

Amber’s muscles bunched and she prepared to spring at Helen.

Kade stepped in front of her. “Amber. You don’t really want to do that. Change back.”

Amber snarled, closing the gap between them.

“Amber.” Kade crouched in front of her, reaching out a hand, stopping centimetres away.

She tried to push the panther back, but anger kept her from changing. Anger and the instinct to attack those who threatened her. Moving slightly, her gaze arrowed in on Helen. A menacing growl emerged from her.

“I thought it was a dream. A nightmare.” Sitting on the floor, Donna leaned against Gary.

Amber turned her head in Donna’s direction when she spoke.

Donna struggled to her feet. “We’re going back to the city. Immediately.”

Amber snarled, growling at Kade when he moved between her and her mother. No one was forcing her anywhere.

Helen laughed, a bitter, mocking sound. “Too late for that. Nothing can fix her but death. Unless someone kills her, she’ll well and truly see this century out.”

Amber snarled at Helen. She wasn’t about to let anyone kill her, especially not her own grandmother.

Kade moved again, trying to draw her attention away from Helen. “Amber. Change. Please. I can’t change in front of everyone to stop you attacking them.”

She fought against instinct and with one last snarl, changed back, pushing past Kade to face Helen. “How many dragons have you killed?”

“Two.”

“What did they do that you killed them?”

“We found them.”

“So they did nothing.” Her hands curled into fists and she struggled against becoming a panther again.

“They’re dragons.” Helen sounded like she spoke of a mass murderer.

“Dragons aren’t real.” Donna’s tone was pleading.

Amber continued to stare at Helen. “What about Dragon Mages? Have you killed any of them?”

“There’s always a first time for everything.”

Amber wanted to wipe Helen’s smug expression off her face by telling her that both her grandchildren were Dragon Mages. But it wasn’t her secret to tell. “You’d kill your own flesh and blood even though they’d done nothing to you.” Behind her she heard Gary try and calm her mother.

“I can’t believe they’re making mages again. I would have thought that after the last time they wouldn’t have bothered.”

“Last time?” Amber asked.

At the same time, Kade asked Amber,
“What is your grandmother talking about?”

“When the Knights convinced the mages that they didn’t need to be ruled by dragons. The mages took it too far. The Knights had to hunt them down and kill them too.”

“When was this?” Amber demanded.

“The witch hunts of the Middle Ages.”

Amber couldn’t stop looking for some sign that her grandmother didn’t mean everything she’d threatened. The hard look in her eyes and the compressed line of her lips made Amber believe she meant every single word. She guessed it wasn’t only dragons that were bloodthirsty. “The Knights killed humans.” Her words were flat, sounding more like a statement, even though she wanted her grandmother to confirm it.

“You’re not human anymore. You’re a Dragon Mage. You’ll always be a Dragon Mage.”

Amber held back the flow of angry words she wanted to spill. Behind her Gary continued to try and calm Donna. Amber barely stopped herself from telling her Mum to shut up. When Kade placed a hand at the small of her back, she glanced towards him. He smiled slightly before he returned his attention to Helen. Remembering Ronan’s orders, Amber decided she was wasting her time trying to change Helen’s mind. It had been made up long ago. Well before she’d even been born. “I need the photos before I go.”

Helen nodded, striding towards her bedroom.

Amber stared after her, turning to her mother when she spoke her name. “What?”

“How did this happen?”

She didn’t know how to explain. Because her mother had brought her to this town? Because her grandmother didn’t have a dishwasher? Because Kade had been distracted? “Random stuff happens. Wrong place at-” she broke off, changing her mind about the words she wanted to speak. “The right time.” She smiled when Kade’s hand brushed up and down her back several times. Some of her anger faded.

“You can’t stay at his home. Not on your own,” Donna said. “You’re too young to move in with your boyfriend. You’re only seventeen.”

Amber started to argue that she wasn’t too young.

Kade interrupted her, his gaze on Donna. “You’re welcome to stay there too.”

Amber looked up at him. “Are you sure? And Gary too?”

Kade nodded.
“It’s probably safest that she isn’t left to wander unprotected while we’re trying to get your family back.”

“I don’t know if I want them back. My grandfather’s a killer. What if he tries to kill you?”

Kade grinned.
“I’ll try not to hurt him when I subdue him.”

Amber glared at him. “That’s not funny.”

“What isn’t funny?” Donna looked between each of them.

“Nothing,” Amber muttered, ignoring Kade’s chuckle. “I need to grab some clothes.” She also needed to get the book and return it to her grandmother. When no one argued with her, she hurried from the lounge room, heading for her bedroom.

Staring around her room, she tried to recall the first time she’d seen it. That moment felt like years ago, not months. Her eyes fell on the book, still lying on her bed. Picking it up, she skimmed through some of the crimes, stopping when she reached a dragon that had only one crime listed. ‘Suspected of killing Harriet Selton, 1941.’

Amber shook her head when she turned the pages, finding no more crimes for that dragon. Leaving the book open on her bed, she grabbed some clothes, shoved them in a bag and took it, along with the book, back to the lounge room.

“Here.” Helen stepped forward, holding out two photos. “They stopped sending photos of Roger with his letters about twenty years ago.”

Amber put the photos in her bag. She continued to hold onto the closed book, her finger marking the page. “Is everyone in here to be killed on sight?”

“Yes.”

“Even this one.” Amber held the book out, open to the page of the dragon with only one crime.

“All of them.”

She held Helen’s gaze. It never wavered. “What is his crime?”

Helen turned the page. “Exactly what it says here.”

“Suspected.”

“He’s a dragon. Of course he’s guilty.” Helen’s conviction was clear in the tone of her voice.

Amber slammed the book shut, shoving it at her grandmother. “There’s no difference between Knights and dragons.” Ignoring Helen’s arguments, Amber crossed the room to where her mother stood with Gary’s arm around her shoulders. “I’ll meet you at Kade’s.”

“How will you get there?” Donna asked.

“It’s probably better you don’t know.”

Helen pointed a finger at Kade. “He’s a Gold Dragon. They’ll be there in minutes. Once Charles and Roger are safe, he won’t be.”

Amber was across the room in seconds, her hands curling into fists in an effort not to shake Helen. “You will not harm him. You won’t tell anyone he exists.” Her voice was low and there were only centimetres between them.

“Don’t you dare threaten me.”

“Then don’t threaten Kade. Getting my grandfather and uncle away from their enemies doesn’t mean they’ll get to come home. My allies might think it’s better they keep an eye on them.” And maybe that might be the only way to keep everyone safe.

“Traitor.” Helen spat the word out, her gaze sharp.

Kade stepped up behind Amber, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her away from her grandmother. “Time to go.”

Amber tilted her head so she could meet his eyes. She hesitated, but she’d had enough. “Yes.” She closed her eyes as Kade took her into the Void, opening them when he kissed her. They were at his front door, Brann opening it.

“Prepare Orin and Morgan’s old room for Donna and Gary,” Kade said.

“Who’s Gary?”

“Another one of Ronan’s plans,” Amber muttered.

When Brann continued to look confused, Kade said, “Donna’s lover.”

Amber groaned. “Call him her boyfriend. It sounds better.”

Brann started to leave the lounge room, speaking over his shoulder. “Updates from Maira are on the kitchen table.”

“You go and look at them, I need to ring Ronan.”

“Do you want me to stay with you?”

Amber shook her head. “No. I’ll be safe.”

“But will you be okay?”

Having no reassurance, she shrugged, pulling out her phone and dropping her bag on the floor near the front door. She watched as Kade nodded and walked towards the kitchen before she dialled Ronan’s number. “I’ve got the information you want,” she said the moment he answered.

“Good.” He disconnected, appearing several minutes later in front of her.

Amber stepped back. “She told me what happened to the last Dragon Mages.”

When Amber remained quiet, Ronan finally spoke. “Are you planning to share that information with me?”

She nodded, wishing she could find a way to convince Ronan to protect Kade for her even if she died. If only she had something valuable to bargain with. But she had nothing and the information she’d gained wasn’t worth much. It’d be better for her to give it to him. While she took the photos from her bag, Amber told him what she’d learned, finishing with the fact that her mother and Gary were on their way.

“I can’t believe she chose him out of all the ones I sent her way. I hope you’ve got better taste than your mother,” Ronan said.

“He’s not that bad.” Amber felt obligated to defend her mother’s choice.

Ronan took the photos, frowning. “This kid looks familiar.”

“He’s not a kid in that photo. He’s twenty-six.”

“A kid.” Ronan tucked the photos into his vest. “I’ll have copies made and return these to you.”

Yawning, Amber nodded.

“And get some sleep. You’re not still having nightmares are you?”

“No.” Although she wouldn’t be surprise if she had one tonight after the day she’d had. Her grandmother definitely wanted to kill her. She’d always known she was a bitter old woman, but she hadn’t suspected she was a murderer.

“Find other warriors to protect your lands and tell Rian to join you here. At least you let him look after you.”

She shook her head. “I don’t trust anyone else to protect them.”

“About time. I might make a dragon of you yet.” Ronan disappeared into the Void before Amber could argue.

“Damn dragon.” She stalked to the kitchen where she found Kade sitting, head bent over reports. He looked up to give her a quick smile before he returned to them.

Maybe Ronan was right. Sleep was the best plan. Surely tomorrow had to be better than today. The weekend was always better than a school day.

She’d been wrong. Completely and utterly wrong. The day had started fairly ordinary. With breakfast. Then things had gone downhill. Her mother had lectured her, demanded answers and finally ended with, “At least Jasper isn’t involved in all this mess.”

Amber had barely managed not to blurt out that Jasper was in exactly the same mess, only he’d asked for it.

After Donna’s interrogation one of Ronan’s warriors arrived to return Amber’s photos, only bowing before he left, speaking not a word. She stared at the photos in her hands wondering why the photo of her grandfather was more current than the one of her uncle. Was Roger still alive?

Her uncle, like her mother, had blond hair and blue eyes, but he had a look of mischief in his gaze. The picture had to have been taken in his mid twenties. She wondered if her mother had ever had that same expression. The photo of her grandfather was of a grim, imposing man with white hair and sharp blue eyes. He looked solid and dangerous. Not someone to be messed with.

Kade walked into the kitchen where she continued to stand, staring at the photos. “Who are they?” He nodded towards the photos she held.

“My family.” She gave them to him, the one of her grandfather on top.

Kade stared at the picture. “I’m guessing he’s going to be as happy to have me in your life as your grandmother is.”

She was pretty sure Kade was correct. “I don’t know what to do.”

Kade looked up from the photo. “We’ll figure it out.” He looked down again, shifting the top photo behind the second one. “Who is this?” His voice was sharp.

Amber moved to his side. “My uncle.”

Kade stared at her.

Amber waited for him to speak, but he remained silent. “What?”

“I’ve met him before.”

“You have? How?”

Kade gave her the photos. “How long ago was he taken?”

“I already told you. Forty years. And he was six at the time.”

Kade tapped the photo she held. “He still looks like that.”

“What do you mean?”

Kade turned away to stare out the window. Silence stretched between them.

“Kade.” There was a warning note in her voice. He better hurry up and tell her. She was completely and utterly sick of secrets.

He met her eyes. “He’s married, Amber. He has three daughters.”

“And?” There had to be more. That didn’t sound like all that big a deal. People got married all the time. And had kids.

“His oldest daughter is a Gold.”

Amber frowned. Gold? “As in a dragon?” Surely she’d misheard.

Kade nodded.

“But he’s a prisoner.” Why would anyone let a prisoner get married? And obviously to a dragon.

“Not anymore.”

“He’s not a prisoner.” She said the words slowly and clearly, wanting to make certain he understood her.

“No.”

Amber stared at him, trying to make sense of everything. “Is his wife a Gold?”

“No. One of her great-great grandparents were. Or it might have been her great-great-great.”

“He’s human.”

“The base form of his kids is human, but they can change into dragons.” Kade grinned. “Were you worried we couldn’t have kids?”

She held up a hand, taking a step backwards. “Oh no, don’t even think about going there. I’ve got enough problems to deal with.” She mentally searched for her mother, hoping she was far enough away that she hadn’t heard that comment. She didn’t need any more lectures. Finding her mother outside with Gary, she relaxed a little. “So what’s this mean?”

Kade shrugged. “I don’t know. But he isn’t in a weak position.”

“What about my grandfather?”

“I’ve never seen him before.”

Amber tossed the photos onto the kitchen table. “This is great. Just great.” Her tone said it was anything but. “I need to ring Jay and tell him all hell’s working on breaking lose. Again.”

“I need to meet some warriors. I’ll leave Brann here to look out for you.”

Amber’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t need a bodyguard.”

“They’re not for you. They’re to replace Maira. When things go crazy, I want warriors I can trust by my side.” Kade drew her to him, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Don’t leave the house.”

“An entire fortnight without dramas. I thought everything was going back to normal. Or as normal as it’s possible to be around you dragons.”

“Probably the calm before the storm.”

Amber opened her mouth to argue, but Kade’s kiss stopped her words. When he finally pulled away, she’d forgotten what she was going to say. “Be careful.”

Kade laughed. “I’m a dragon. I can take care of myself.” He vanished into the Void.

Amber shook her head. If that was true, then dragons would never die. And they did. Far too many of them. She shied away from thoughts of Paili. She needed to ring her brother, not remember old battles. Then she had to start storing more energy. She had a bad feeling she was going to need it. Looking at the six gold bracelets she wore, she made a mental note to ask Ronan where she could buy them. She doubted any human shop would sell bracelets that had been cast with dragon-leather through them. Maybe a dozen more would be enough. She hated to think how bad a situation would be if she needed more stored power than that. The end of the world? She really didn’t want to find out.