Reign Check (15 page)

He just nodded. “I didn’t realize it was you at the time. See?” He pointed at the drawing. “The darkness is blocking half your face. It was the darkness that made me wake up from the dream. It … it freaked me out … the way it started to block the light all around you.”

Darkness.

I remembered what Irena had seen in my future. The darkness that surrounded me, that watched me. Was Chris confirming what she’d said? That the second prophecy was definitely true? Fear coursed through my stomach.

I rolled the sketch back up and handed it to Chris, but he didn’t take it. “It’s not me. I don’t know what that is, but you have a vivid imagination. I guess you have a future as an artist ahead of you. Maybe comic books or something.”

His brows drew together. “I don’t know what the darkness is, but it wants you. It’s dangerous.”

“You’re crazy, I think,” I said evenly, trying to ignore the panicky feeling welling in my throat and threatening to choke off my words. “You might want to look into that.”

When I took a step closer to Chris, he staggered back as though I frightened him. Was this fear the reason he’d been avoiding me since the dance? The thought didn’t make me feel any better. In fact, it made me feel much worse.

He was quiet for a moment, and then he laughed so suddenly it made me jump. “You might be right about me being crazy.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You think?”

“Maybe that would explain all of this,” he said, shaking his head. “Maybe I should get my mom to prescribe me some meds.”

“Your mom?”

“She deals with insane people on a regular basis. It’s her job.” He shied away from the piece of paper I held out to him. “No, keep it. Please. I don’t want it anywhere near me.”

“But what about—”

He put more distance between us. “Let’s just forget we had this conversation, okay? I’m starting to realize how completely nuts I’m sounding. And I … I’m really sorry about what happened at the dance. I know you won’t believe me, but I’ve never done anything like that before. So whatever happened, I deserved it.”

I thought I’d be the one to walk away first, but it was Chris who left me standing there alone, breathing hard, my heart impersonating a jackhammer. I looked again at the sketch of the Darkling standing in a shadow with the castle behind her. I recalled what he’d said about his mother.

She deals with crazy people.

What did that mean? I knew Chris’s father was a lawyer and his mom was a doctor. They had lots of money, just like Melinda’s parents did.

Wait … Chris’s mother was a doctor? A doctor who dealt with insane people and could prescribe medication?

My eyes widened.
Oh my God!

I quickly went back inside and found where I’d hidden my purse in one of Melinda’s kitchen cabinets. I dug into it to grab my wallet and pulled out the business card Rhys had given me when we’d left the dragon oracle’s office yesterday. I hadn’t looked closely at it then, but I did now.

My hands shook, making the card hard to read.

Irena had mentioned her son—the one who didn’t know the truth about his mother yet. She was waiting for him to be mature enough to deal with the knowledge that she was an immortal dragon living in human form. I’d assumed she meant he was just a kid, maybe seven years old, and she hadn’t wanted to scare him at such a young age.

Actually, he was seventeen.

Irena was Chris’s mother.

And, by the looks of the sketch he’d just given me, Chris had more than a little bit of dragon oracle in him as well.

13

I shoved the drawing and business card into my purse and went back to the party, feeling the least festive I’d felt in my entire life. It would take a lot more than fruit punch or finger sandwiches to help me recover from the revelation that Chris Sanders was half dragon and able to glimpse pieces of my life in his dreams.

“Oh, wow!” I heard Melinda exclaim from the dining room to my left, distracting me from my racing thoughts. “I love it. Thank you so much!”

I entered in time to see her throw her arms around the newly arrived Rhys—who I’d convinced myself wouldn’t be at the party at all tonight, given how we’d left things.

“Nikki,” Melinda said when she spotted me lurking nearby. “Look what Rhys got me for the gift exchange.”

She held a small wooden jewelry box in the palm of her hand. It was delicately carved, with flowers on the lid.

So Rhys had just happened to pick her name, had he? What a coincidence. Although, I had a funny feeling Melinda had been in full control of who he ended up with. My best friend was definitely determined when she set her mind to a new goal.

After seeing her basement arsenal, knowing this did not ease my mind.

“Beautiful,” I confirmed. “Looks like it cost a lot more than the ten-dollar limit, though.”

“I’ll never tell,” Rhys said. He had a drink clenched in his right hand. Our eyes met for a moment before he quickly looked away, then downed whatever was in the glass in one big gulp.

He was forcing himself to stay in my presence rather than fleeing the room to get away from me. It was nice to know that was the effect I had on guys now. Really fabulous.

“Want some more?” Larissa asked him.

“No, thank you.”

“Don’t lie. You
totally
want some more,” she slurred. “It’s sooo yummy.”

It was now painfully and pathetically obvious that Larissa was drunk. Was she feeling a bit uncomfortable and unwanted here at Melinda’s party and had to find some liquid courage?

“Oooh, check it out,” she said, pointing upward at Melinda’s decorations. “Mistletoe!”

She grabbed Rhys and kissed him full on the lips. His eyes widened and he attempted to disengage from her. It took a couple of tries. The girl was strong. He then gave her a look that could only be described as unhappy as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and glanced at me.

I was not going to laugh. It was a struggle.

“Larissa.” Melinda glared at her. “Can I talk to you, please?
Now
?”

Larissa’s cheeks went red. “Uh, okay.”

They left so Melinda could give her BFF-in-waiting the “keep your hands off Rhys” speech. Which meant Rhys and I now were in the dining room alone. Well, if you didn’t count the fifty winter coats piled high behind us. I threw mine on the top of the heap. Everyone else had congregated in Melinda’s massive high-ceilinged living room toward the front end of the mansionlike house. The music was so loud, I could feel it reverberating through the hardwood floors.

“So, I decided to come to the party, after all,” Rhys said.

“I see that.”

He eyed the plastic cup. “I have no idea what I just drank. Wine?”

“Probably.”

“I’ve never tried human wine before.”

“I guess this is your lucky day.”

“It was kind of disgusting.”

“Yeah, well, nobody’s saying Larissa has great taste in anything.”

He touched his lips. “She kissed me.”

“Congrats. From what I’ve heard, you’re one of many. You might want to floss.”

He took a step away from me. “So … what’s new?”

Yeah, this was a great time for awkward small talk with the faery king who hated me. “Irena’s son is here at the party. And I already know him. Small world, or what?”

“I knew her son attended your high school. Chris, right?”

My heart skipped a beat. “You
knew
?”

“Of course.”

My head throbbed, letting me know I wasn’t doing a good job of controlling my stress levels. My Darkling form wanted to burst free and party. “Great. Thanks so much for the heads-up.”

He looked confused. “Is that a problem?”

“Yeah, it kind of is.”

I told him what had happened with Chris in the backyard. Despite my history with Rhys, I still felt desperate to confide in somebody who’d understand.

I showed Rhys the sketch. He studied it carefully before giving it back to me.

“It seems to confirm the second prophecy Irena told you about.”

“I know. So what do you think I should do?” I asked, feeling hopeful in spite of myself that he’d be able to help me out or give me some sage advice.

“Why are you asking me?”

“Because you’re the dragon expert around here.”

“Dragons have scales, you know,” Rhys said pointedly.

I looked at him. “What?”

“Green scales and spiky tails.” He paused and then started to laugh. “Hey, I made a rhyme!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Dragons see the future.” He nodded. “Unless it’s all blurry. Then they just make stuff up, I think.”

“That’s not exactly what I asked you.” I started to feel annoyed with him again. Why was I surprised Rhys was letting me down when I needed his help?

“Sorry.” He grinned. “It’s the wine. I wasn’t sure how it would affect me, but now I see so, so clearly.” He grabbed my shoulders. “Do you see, Princess Nikki? Do you? It’s a strange world here with strange human people and none of it makes any sense to me.”

I pushed his hands off me. “One glass of wine and you’re already drunk? That’s even more pathetic than Larissa.”

“Faery anatomy.” He shrugged. “S’different than humans. We have wine back home. It’s made from strawberries and sunshine and a little bit of magic.”

“Oh, brother.” I rolled my eyes. “This is just perfect.”

“Demons.” He poked me in the shoulder hard enough to hurt.

I was grateful for the loud music. It helped drown out Rhys’s scattered outbursts. “What about them?” I asked cautiously.

He made a face. “Hate ’em.”

“Yeah, so you told me yesterday. Don’t worry. I promise not to infect you with any demon cooties.” I tried to move past him, but he grabbed my wrist to stop me.

“Not you. Don’t hate you. Wanted to. And I sorta do sometimes, but you’re not the one to blame.”

“Blame for what?”

He inhaled deeply and it sounded shaky. “My … my parents.”

I shivered. “I’m sorry they’re gone.”

“They were there one day, and then they weren’t. And I had to become king whether I wanted to or not. My advisers … I don’t think they like me. They respected my father and my mother, but they don’t respect me. Maybe they never will. It makes me feel really alone.” He frowned. “Why am I telling you this?”

“Because you’re drunk and you don’t know any better.”

“Sometimes I don’t want to go back. I wish I could stay here, where it’s easy. Where people are nice. Where it’s safe … unless you’re a frog.”

“You can’t stay?”

He shook his head. “Not for long. I have duties. And my hotel suite—it’s so empty and there are noises at night, but at least nobody bothers me there, asking me to make decisions that affect the entire faery realm. They think I’m the one to blame for everything bad that happens there.”

He looked so dejected by this that I couldn’t help but feel for how lonely he must be. “I can’t imagine it’s easy being a king.”

“Would you want to rule the Shadowlands?”

“No,” I replied honestly.

“If your father was murdered, you’d have to. You’d have no choice. You’re his heir.”

Murdered
. I hated the sound of the word.

“You’re right,” I said. “I guess I would. How … how did it happen? With your parents?”

His eyes became glossy and he sniffed hard, swiping his hand under his nose. “They went to the Underworld. They were scheduled to have an important meeting with Queen Sephina. The demon who did it was caught and put in the dungeon there so he can be punished, but it doesn’t change anything. My parents are gone forever.” His voice broke.

“I’m so, so sorry.”

Rhys looked on the verge of tears for a moment, and I touched his arm in a weak attempt to comfort him. The contact made him take a big step back from me. I was getting used to guys doing that, attempting to escape me in any way they could. I was trying very hard not to take it personally.

I snatched my hand back. “Sorry.”

He laughed, still sounding tipsy from the wine, but there wasn’t a lot of humor in the sound. “You’re so weird.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

“Gee, thanks.”

His smile turned into a scowl. “I really don’t like you.”

I tried not to let his harsh words bother me. “I guess you don’t have to like me.”

“But Irena said that you’re my—”

I cut him off. “I don’t care what she said. You know it’s not true.”

“I know. It’s stupid. All my life—even before what happened to my parents—I’ve been taught to hate demons. They’re evil and ugly and unpleasant.”

I nodded. “Right. So I’m pretty much done with this conversation. I think I’m going to go join the rest of the party. Or maybe I’ll just go home.”

“Why are you going?”

I glared at him. “You just called me evil and ugly and unpleasant. That doesn’t exactly make me want to hang out with you any longer.”

“That’s demons. Not you.”

“I’m half demon.” I sighed. “Why am I even having this conversation with you? You’re drunk.”

He frowned. “Am not.”

“I don’t do well with drunk guys. They tend to do or say things they end up regretting.” I went to walk past him, but he stepped in front of me. I put my hands on my hips. “Move, please.”

The corner of his mouth twitched into a half grin. “Or what?”

“Or I’m going to punch you in the stomach.”

“Violent.”

“Well, I
am
a demon.”

“Half demon.” Now he was the one reminding me.

“Whatever. Now please move.”

“Well … unfortunately there’s a little problem,” he said.

“What?”

He pointed up. “That.”

I looked up to see the mistletoe dangling from the ceiling where I’d hung it three hours before.

“Okay, but what does that—?”

Rhys kissed me. It took me so much by surprise that I didn’t realize what had happened until it was almost over. When he pulled away, he held my shoulders and leaned back from me, his brows knitting together, his expression filled with dismay.

“I really, really didn’t want to like that,” he said.

“Rhys—” But before I could say anything else, he kissed me again and pulled me closer. The fact that I wasn’t pushing him away was a little disturbing. In fact, after another moment I realized I was kissing him back.

If I’d known mistletoe was this dangerous, I never would have helped Melinda put any up.

“The last time I saw her, she was over here,” someone said. Then I heard a gasp.

That
was when I finally shoved Rhys back from me and peered over his shoulder. Melinda stood in the kitchen staring at us with wide eyes.

Next to her was Michael.