Heart of the Dragon (The Lost Royals Saga Book 3) Read online

  “Depends on what you’re talking about,” I finally replied, keeping to my decision to not offer up information. Although, I would’ve bet money Baz and I were thinking of the same, ridiculous situation.

  Ridiculous because, if it’d been up to me, if I didn’t think Evangeline would’ve hated me after, it would’ve been rectified a long time ago.

  “Nickolas has returned,” Baz clarified.

  I nodded and, on cue, Evangeline’s eyes landed on me.

  “I made it a point to speak to you in person, per our agreement,” he added.

  He swore to me that he’d keep me in the loop when it came to Evangeline, her safety. I respected that he kept his word.

  “We had suspicions Officer Chadwick had been in contact with his daughter, Rozalind. So, once we had confirmation that this was indeed the case, we took matters into our own hands.”

  Dallas and I both turned toward Baz, knowing there was some hidden meaning beneath those words, but I didn’t ask questions. My only concern was what the next course of action would be.

  “The officer’s daughter fell ill suddenly, which left Nicholas no choice but to come out of hiding. Two bus tickets were sent to bring them back here to Seaton Falls, and we’re expecting both to arrive in a matter of hours.”

  “And this guy, Officer Chadwick, just surrendered this information about communicating with his daughter without being … coerced in that fun little way you all like to do?” Dallas asked, not bothering to hide the cynical smile that sprang free. “I mean, you’ve gotta get use out of these witches somehow, right?”

  He was clearly no stranger to the particularly sadistic brand of torture only a clan witch could inflict.

  Baz studied Dallas a moment, and then chose to answer his initial question.

  “Officer Chadwick did play a part in helping us bring the two misfits home, but I can assure you there was no … ‘surrendering of information’. In exchange for my word that his daughter wouldn’t face any consequences upon her return, he was wise to cooperate in a much earlier phase of our plan.”

  Tension spread across my brow. “What’s that mean?”

  “Rozalind’s ‘sickness’,” Baz started, “was the result of clever conjuring by our witches.” I couldn’t see his face, but he was smiling. I knew it. There was a sickening pride he felt for manipulating his own people.

  I chose to ignore it and asked for clarity. “You made her father help with that?”

  Large shoulders shrugged when he explained. “His only role was to bring us an item of the girl’s, so the spell could be cast. Other than that, he merely awaited a phone call,” Baz explained. “Although, I’m sure he wasn’t expecting that phone call to come from the fugitive himself.”

  Yeah, he was definitely smiling under that shroud. You couldn’t convince me otherwise.

  “Despite Officer Chadwick describing the nature of the relationship between his daughter and young Nicholas as mere friendship … it’s become apparent that he seems to hold some level of affection for her.”

  “Figures,” Dallas chuckled. “Women make you do stupid things at any age.”

  “It was his concern for her wellbeing that made him come out of hiding, made him surrender himself to escort her home safely,” Baz explained further.

  Listening to him speak with such cold indifference solidified my theory that he held very little regard for his people. But that had nothing to do with me. I only had one question for him.

  “What’s this mean for Evangeline?”

  Dallas crossed his arms over his chest, just as interested in hearing the answer as I was.

  “Her safety is now, and has been, our number one concern. We’ll handle this case like we would any other. A summons will be issued to the Stokes residence and Nick will be expected to appear come nightfall tomorrow.”

  “And if he runs?” I countered.

  “He won’t get very far,” Baz assured us. “We’ll have a team on him the moment he steps foot off the bus. He’ll be unaware of their presence, of course. The delivery of the summons is simply customary. He’s been away from his family for a long time,” he explained. “And, depending on the outcome of his trial … it may be the last time he sees them for a while. Maybe forever.”

  Another fact about lycan government was that, while they pretended to operate with fairness and dignity, they were cutthroat.

  For a moment, I almost regretted letting Evangeline in. With her emotions so raw, so open … she’d cast a wall up wherever Nick was involved. But because I knew her, because I knew how compassionate her heart was, this couldn’t have been easy to hear.

  Nick had violated several cardinal laws within the lycan system. They’d never take into account that he was most likely ignorant to his offenses before committing them. First, he took it upon himself to summon the clan witches, and then went on to use them for his own, personal business. According to their law, only Elders and members of the Council had such authority.

  His second offense?

  Endangering the life of the queen. Even if only inadvertently. No, he couldn’t have predicted that Evangeline would become directly involved, but this was the way of his people. He was once considered an asset, but he was now just as expendable as everyone else under the umbrella of the Seaton Falls clan.

  There were a slew of minor infractions that would’ve most likely only gotten him a slap on the wrist, but coupled with everything else … it didn’t look good for him.

  Officer Chadwick was right to protect his daughter by any means necessary.

  “And you’ll be pleased to know we’ve had the Stokes household under surveillance for several days now,” Baz offered. “We’ve even got a team monitoring all incoming and outgoing communication.”

  “Is this because the missus was getting lippy?” Dallas quirked.

  Baz hesitated, but then responded to the less-than-elegant question. “Precisely. We took her threats quite seriously. The moment she alluded to her intentions to ‘go above our heads’ we set a plan in action.”

  Without spelling it out, it was clear the Elders took this threat to mean that, if there wasn’t news about her son soon, Mrs. Stokes planned to do whatever it took.

  Even if that meant presenting this matter to The Sovereign.

  Typically, he wouldn’t have been interested in trivial clan issues, but if she mentioned Damascus … that could potentially not only expose the facility, but expose all the secrets so many fought to keep hidden.

  My only hope was, for all the Elder’s effort to bridle Mrs. Stokes tongue … they weren’t too late.

  *****

  Evie

  Tonight should have been a good night.

  I conquered my first lycan shift, spent time with Beth, and kicked Chris’s butt during training.

  But things had taken a turn in the last half hour.

  The truck rocked Liam and I back and forth as we ambled over the snow-covered roadways, heading home. My thoughts were muddled, clogged with too many emotions to list. To name a few, I was worried, scared, and confused.

  Nick was on his way back into town or had already made it, for all I knew. While I wasn’t afraid of him per se, I no longer trusted him. He’d shown me the darkness he was capable of, and that was enough for me.

  So … why was I worried about him?

  The things I overheard through Liam’s thoughts, the things the Elder said ... there was no telling what fate, or punishment, awaited Nick. He was not at the top of my list in terms of my favorite people, but that didn’t mean he deserved to suffer.

  To die.

  At the thought, I reached for Liam’s hand, needing to cling to him for comfort. The ways of the supernatural world were quite different from the natural. Because of our abilities, we were held at a higher standard. I guessed it was because the probability of us doing more damage and causing greater destruction was greater, we had to be punished more harshly. But it still seemed cruel.

  Especially when I took into co
nsideration that Nick had only given himself up because he cared about Roz.

  Once, I pegged him as selfish for his willingness to cause me grief just to satisfy his hatred for Liam. But what he’d done for her … it was one of the most selfless things I’d ever seen. He knew things could, and probably would, get worse for him once he came home, but he willingly surrendered.

  For her.

  Only love would make a man risk his life to save another. Glancing at Liam, I had a full understanding of this. He’d put himself in harm’s way on my behalf more times than I could count, so I could only imagine a similar sense of vigilance in Nick’s heart when it came to Roz.

  Even if he hadn’t fully accepted it yet.

  “This doesn’t feel right.”

  Liam glanced over when I spoke for the first time since being let inside his head. Without asking, he knew what I referred to.

  “There’s nothing you, or anyone else, can do.”

  My knee bounced up and down as frustration set in. “I’m not willing to accept that. Maybe if I go to the Elders on his behalf I could—”

  “Absolutely not.” The words left Liam’s mouth with such ferocity I was shocked. Stunned to the point that I didn’t immediately have a response.

  I blinked at him as it set in that he’d all but forbidden me.

  “You can’t tell me what to do,” I countered, turning to face the window as I slowly pulled my hand from his.

  Hadn’t I already made it clear that I wasn’t a child?

  Children didn’t have to worry about the things I had to worry about, weren’t faced with the responsibilities I’d soon face. I wouldn’t bear the burdens of being an adult, but experience none of the benefits. The days of me being pushed around … by anyone … were long gone.

  A sharp breath left Liam’s mouth and he spoke far more calmly now. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “He saved my life once during the earthquake,” I blurted, recalling the details of the day disaster struck Seaton Falls just this past year.

  “I would’ve been crushed inside a building had he not come for me,” I added.

  Beside me, Liam was silent for a moment, taking in this newly-revealed information. The truck’s headlights illuminated falling snow and I stared, just as quiet as a parade of thoughts stampeded through my head. Thoughts like how, at the time of the quake, I hadn’t transitioned yet, wasn’t invincible yet. Had Nick listened to someone telling him I wasn’t worth saving … I wouldn’t be here today.

  Liam shifted in his seat. “I didn’t realize you’d been in danger,” he admitted. “At that time, our tether wasn’t as finely tuned as it is now. If something like that was to happen today …”

  His voice trailed off and I closed my eyes, breathing deep. “I know,” I sighed. “But that’s not the point.”

  There was a brief moment of clarity as I realized what I hoped to shed light on by sharing this experience.

  “I only mean to say, if he thought enough of me to put his own life on the line, if he thinks enough of Roz to do the same … doesn’t that have to mean he’s not all bad?”

  I chewed the side of my lip to keep from crying. I wasn’t even sure why I wanted to, but the stinging in the corners of my eyes meant tears were on the way.

  The hand I’d just taken back was warm again and I didn’t pull away, didn’t miss the fact that I felt better when he held it.

  “Evangeline … I understand you feel like you owe him something,” Liam sighed, saying these words despite them feeling unnatural to him, I’m sure. “But it’s unwise to intervene in Council business,” he reasoned. “Yes, they revere you as their future queen, but the operative word here is future. They’re under no obligation to grant you favors,” he clarified.

  I knew he was right, about all of it, but I couldn’t justify my lack of action with such flimsy reasoning. So what if they didn’t listen to me. I still needed to try.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Liam said, cutting in.

  “Actually, you don’t.”

  He spoke tenderly despite my clipped tone, proving once more that he sees right through me when he blurted, “You blame yourself.”

  I said nothing, focusing my eyes as only a supernatural could, counting trees through the haze of falling snow. It was all I could do to distract myself from the reality that seeped in with Liam’s words.

  Very rarely was he wrong about me, so it came as no surprise that he was spot on even now.

  I did blame myself. To a degree at least. This all boiled down to me.

  I was the cause of Nick being the Liberator.

  I was the reason he hated Liam, enough to want him dead.

  I was the reason he so desperately sought a cure.

  It was all on me. Had I not been born, Nick could have had a normal life.

  “I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” I sighed, feeling those tears gathering into pools.

  Nick had been away for so long—away from his brothers, his parents. Even before he and Roz had run off. And now, fear of the Council’s punishment kept him away even longer. He was just a kid. It wasn’t his fault he was more than human, but being more had damned him to a fate none of us could fathom.

  I squeezed Liam’s fingers now, suddenly over the brief bout of defiance that momentarily made me crave distance. He wasn’t my punching bag. Yes, he was strong physically, emotionally, but I had no right to lash out. Especially knowing he only wanted what’s best for me.

  “I’m sorry,” I uttered softly.

  He didn’t respond, just lifted my hand to press a kiss to the back of it. I knew I’d been forgiven even before I realized I’d been wrong.

  “I’m worried for him,” I admitted, never concerned Liam would misinterpret my feelings. My whole heart was his, and there was never a reason for him to doubt it. He knew these sympathetic thoughts toward Nick were innocent.

  “He’s doing all of this because he cares about Roz,” I went on. “Will the Council take that into consideration? Would they allow me to speak on his behalf?”

  I never thought I’d even think to do such a thing. Not for Nick. Not with all he cost me.

  Yet here I was, begging to save his life if it came down to it.

  Regardless of the turn things eventually took with us, he was my first friend here. And that was real, genuine. I hadn’t gotten over the problems that crept in these last few months, but I found it hard to believe he deserved to die because of it.

  Call me crazy.

  We pulled into the driveway, and before I could undo my seatbelt, my chin warmed at Liam’s touch. He lifted my gaze to meet his.

  “I’ll do what I can.”

  There was such sincerity in his eyes, I didn’t doubt him for a second. He didn’t have to agree to this—especially since Nick had set him up, had nearly gotten him killed—but he was willing for me.

  Because these were the sacrifices a man made for the one he loved.

  My lips pressed to his. Every time I thought he couldn’t get any better, any more right for me, he proved me wrong.

  “Thank you,” I whispered against his mouth, repeating myself just to make sure he knew the gratitude that filled my heart. “Thank you.”

  I wasn’t sure if Liam’s request would be enough to sway the Council, but it meant so much that he’d try.

  Even if only for me.

  —Chapter Eleven—

  Nick

  It would have been ideal to walk her to the door … but she insisted I get out of there before her father saw me on their property.

  Officer Chadwick hated me—of this I was certain.

  I watched from behind a nearby tree as Roz was greeted with a huge hug that told of how deeply she was missed. She was taken inside where it was warm, where she could be cared for the way she deserved, where she’d be safe. These were all comforts I couldn’t offer her.

  Suddenly aware of how alone I was, how vulnerable I was, I ran to my grandfather’s estate, the only place I could
think to go.

  My bags hit the ground with a thud as I fumbled along the wall, feeling for the switch. Once the place came alive with light against its dark fixtures, I breathed deep, letting the heap of emotions that’d been dangling over my head come crashing down. It would have been nice to go home, but I wasn’t sure who might be looking for me. I couldn’t risk anything happening to my family. For now, I’d hang around here until I figured things out, decided on my next move.

  Everything that could have possibly gone wrong did. Roz getting sick was just the final straw. I was sure coming home was about the worst thing I could have done right now, but we were out of options. Besides, I was sick of running. Whatever consequences I had to face … I’d brought it on myself.

  Showering ranked so high on my list of things to do, I could hardly focus on anything else—even eating. I scarfed down a pizza I left in the freezer when I stayed here around Christmas. It wasn’t all the way cooked when I pulled it out the oven, but I didn’t care. I wanted to get something in my stomach, but mostly I wanted to get clean.

  I wasn’t sure which I enjoyed most—the hot water or getting to shampoo my hair with real shampoo for a change. Since leaving the motel, the stream near our camp had been me and Roz’s only means of getting clean.

  Well … clean-ish.

  I stood there, beneath the stream of piping hot water until it ran cold. Toweling myself dry, I stared at the reflection in the mirror—at the dark mop of hair that hadn’t been cut in months, at the scruff on my face. I looked like someone nearly twice my age, but wouldn’t bother trimming or shaving until tomorrow.

  Or the next day.

  Maybe.

  Content to sport the caveman look for a bit longer, I stepped back into the master bedroom. However, the moment my feet left the cool tile, touching carpet the next instant, I knew something was off. Sensed it.

  I wasn’t alone.

  There were traces of others’ scents in the air. No, they weren’t in this room, but they were definitely in the house.