6. Riggs

6

Riggs

I stared down at my son.

Cara leaned over him, her hands tracing the livid burns on his skin. He lay on one of two Dragon-sized beds in the room—his cousin snored from the other one. She had placed both the boys into healing comas.

Mykal. His name was Mykal.

My heart constricted. Was it the tearing kind of worry that a father should feel? Or merely regret that he'd been injured? I had no memories of him, but something deeper was at work here.

Tyrez sat on the bed beside his own son. One big hand rested on the boy's arm. His features revealed his relief at having him safe. Now that our family was here, my brother had regained the calm demeanor I'd seen at the academy. He was like a glacial lake—still at the surface most of the time, but the undercurrents ran deep. And all heck broke loose if you plumbed them.

Was I remembering? Or was it just based on what I'd seen of him?

Watching him with his son, and glancing to the small body on the other bed—suddenly, rather than the emptiness of loss for something I could no longer experience, I was angry. I could handle what they'd done to me. Could even, perhaps, find the humor in it—that a Legion Dragon could even become a wingless, tattooed foreign student with fancy earcuffs and a theoretical womanizing past.

But now they'd tried to kill my son .

And the rage flooded through me. They would pay. I would make them pay.

A warm presence appeared beside me. I dropped my gaze to meet Breana's eyes—dark brown surrounding chestnut centers—and what I read in them eased the turmoil within me. I didn't know this woman, not really. But a single look from her soothed away the jagged thoughts.

Something surged from within, something powerful and primal that insisted she was a part of me.

Cara straightened. "He is resting comfortably now. Both will be fine, but they will bear scars for the rest of their lives."

A muscle jumped in Tyrez's jaw. He looked up at me, and then back to her. "You need to get Riggs and Bree back to the academy," Tyrez said. "How are you going to explain their absence?"

The Watcher huffed a laugh. "I'm not. I'm going to ask Riley for one last favor."

The big shifter raised a brow, but then he nodded. "That would be best. Just make sure they don't still stink. Popping back in smelling of Fire Drake smoke will set off anything with a nose."

"Good point." Cara turned to meet my gaze, and her brows dropped at what she read there. The Watcher gestured me out into the hall beyond. "Come with me."

I followed her. Instead of spending more time in my jumbled brain, I examined the walls as we walked the short distance to the stairs.

They were created from living wood because Cara's hideaway existed inside a giant tree. Or rather, a collection of them, growing in a circle and forming a hollow center. The treehouse had multiple stories, each floor formed by branches that had grown flat rather than round. The stairs were the same, and I had to watch my step as they weren't regular in height.

When we reached the next level up, we ran into my mother.

She wore her scaled bodysuit, but those along one arm were ridged and distorted. She, too, would bear permanent scars from the fire. Her gaze sought mine, and the pain in them froze my breath.

"Are you two all right?" she asked, as her eyes moved to Breana.

"I'm okay," Breana answered. "We were all very lucky."

Was I okay? No. No, I wasn't. But I told her what she needed to hear. "I'm fine."

"You are supposed to be resting," Cara scolded her gently.

"Sirki is still asleep. Banta is with her." She looked down the stairs. "I'm going to stay with the boys. I have no idea what to tell them."

"The truth is best," the Watcher said. "It is their reality now."

The Matriarch's hands curled into fists. "Their caregivers will think they are dead."

I heard Breana inhale sharply. The Watcher's expression revealed her sympathy. "I am sorry, Eriana. But I think that is best for now."

The Dragona's mouth twisted. "What of the servants? Did they escape?"

"Havoc stated that most got out," Cara told her. "He couldn't swear that all made it, though. The fire spread very fast."

The Matriarch rubbed her temple. "We were down to a skeleton staff. Most were called away to help with the party at the palace." She straightened. "Not an accident, I take it."

It was a statement, not a question, and Cara merely nodded.

"Taran would never do this." Her words were filled with anguish, as well as doubt.

The Watcher raised a hand, as though she wanted to touch the Dragona, but at the last second, she held back.

"It was Victor." The name was snarled from Breana's lips. "The Fire Drake was there. He burned the lake resort down."

"It was built to withstand Dragon fire," Eriana said sadly. "No one thought it would ever face anything stronger."

"No one thought it would ever have to, either." Cara straightened. "All the Drakes were supposed to be wiped out over a thousand years ago. But the Fire Drakes are infused with the power of a Fire Elemental. There is nothing that they cannot burn."

"That one wasn't working alone," the Matriarch stated. "And although I am alive, whoever is responsible has achieved what they wanted to. As long as the Empire thinks I'm dead, they can do as they please." She swallowed and met Cara's eyes.

"If you officially survive this—they will only try again," Cara said. "You know that. And it's not just you. You can't protect them all."

Eriana's eyes bled pain. "I know," she husked.

Now Cara did reach for her, and took her hand. "There will come a time," she said. "Right now, you must protect the future."

The Matriarch's eyes rose to mine. Then past me to the hilt of the sword I wore. And she nodded. "I know," she repeated. And raised her chin. "We are the future. And I will protect it. With my life."

As my mother moved in to hug me, my entire reality jolted for just an instant. As if something was glimpsed, far too rapidly for me to process. And then it was gone.

But I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed. She pulled back to search my eyes, and then patted me on the arm.

"Be safe, Michelangelo," she said, and moved past us to descend the stairs.

Both Cara and Breana watched me closely. Were they wondering if any memories had broken free? Or were they worried I would break if they did?

I ignored the looks, and instead, asked, "So what now?"

The Watcher clapped her hands together. "Now, you eat." She slipped past me and began to climb.

My thoughts dipped and swirled like a flock of restless birds. To distract myself, I peered through every break in the exterior trunks. Dawn's first rays illuminated the lush life existing not just beyond, but along with, the trees forming the structure. We were far above the jungle floor, and all I glimpsed were leaves and small flying creatures flitting through them.

We emerged onto a landing that extended past the trunks to form a walkway. It led us to another treehouse, where we descended to the kitchen.

It was bustling with the rest of our teammates. Among them was a Watcher who was about Cara's height, but a little stouter.

"I take it everyone has met Mandy?" Cara asked.

Heads nodded all around.

Dani pulled a plate of steaming meatrolls out of the microwave. My eyes traced the wiring disappearing into the trunks. Solar power?

She offered the tray to Ash, who leaned against the counter. When he shook his head, she picked one up and held it to his lips.

"Bite," she ordered.

He sighed, and took it from her. She continued to the table, took one for herself, and handed the plate to Marcus. All those seated were inhaling food like they hadn't eaten in weeks.

My stomach growled.

Cara raised a brow. "Sit. Shovel. We need to get you back to the academy." She captured Riley's gaze. "How are you feeling?"

Riley paused in mid-bite. "Hungry. A bit tired, but okay otherwise."

"Are you up for a Time Jump?" Cara asked.

Her mouth quirked. "Didn't think I was supposed to do those."

"Well, they are bound to have noticed our absence. If we Jump back to just after we left, they won't know we were gone."

Marcus's brows dropped. "How many?"

"Tyrez and I come and go all the time," Dani said, "so no one should care about us being gone."

"And I'm rarely ever there," Ash stated.

Cara's mouth straightened. "Tyrez's absence might be noticed, though, so he has to go back with us. And Riggs and Bree. Then your guys."

"That's a lot of fucking people," growled Havoc.

"No problem," Riley said almost at the same time.

I opened my mouth to state that I could stay here. If it was safe for the Matriarch and the rest of my family, surely it was safe for me. No one would think to look for us in this jungle.

Cara watched me. That she was also in tune with my thoughts was obvious with her next comments. "You have talents that need to be explored. And you are walking a different path from them."

My mouth closed. Because she was right. If I stayed here, I would be hiding. It wasn't just about me remembering who I used to be. I needed to discover who or what I would become.

She gave a single, small nod of her chin, and turned her gaze onto the others at the table. "As soon as you are done eating," she said, "there are showers just on the other side of the trees, installed along the rock ridge. Use the soaproots I have along the edge—they'll kill the smoky smell. You'll have to rinse out your clothes as well."

Rafael's brows rose, and he glanced at his mates. "Group shower?"

I shot him a look.

He shrugged. "I am half Satyr, after all."

Cara's lips were twitching. "There is also a bathing pool, fed by a hot spring, along the north side. That would be better suited to a group party. But, um, make it quick. The longer the Time Jump, the harder it will be on Riley."

Her suggestion seemed to throw a switch among them—and a strong scent permeated the room. It took my adrenaline rush from the mission and amplified it into something painful—something my current torn and singed sweatpants weren't likely to hide.

Suddenly I craved pure physical sensation, to help me forget that I didn't know who or what I was. I grabbed a couple of meatrolls off the tray, and said, "I'll take the shower, if you guys are still eating."

Various versions of "go ahead" cruised around the room, and I strode out, my mind held deliberately blank.

Which lasted until I reached the stairs, and ran into my mother, who was heading for the kitchen.

As she blocked the doorway, I was forced to halt. I swayed from foot to foot beneath her intent regard, and finally said, "Are they still asleep?"

The Matriarch nodded. "Their healing was extensive, so they'll be bedridden for a while." She tilted her head. "Do you really not remember Mykal?"

I looked away from her. I had felt something, but I couldn't begin to define it. "I'm sorry. I don't remember him, either."

I winced internally at the reminder that I didn't know her, and saw her flinch, ever so slightly. Her mouth straightened. "Your memories might return, eventually. You just need time."

"That's what Cara says," I confirmed. "Were Mykal and I close?"

"Yes, you were. He's been distressed ever since Taran told him you were dead. His strongest desire was to take on the underworld, all by himself."

I swallowed. "I still can't believe Taran would try to have me killed or go after the rest of his family. For what?"

She shook her head. "Taran has always been ambitious. The people would never have questioned his claim to the throne, if it weren't for all the changes he's proposing. And if he really is forming allegiances with the underlords—there will be many unhappy Dragons who will be looking for alternatives."

I didn't want to have this conversation. "I am not an alternative, especially now."

Her mouth straightened. "Not at the moment, no."

It wasn't a definitive kind of statement, but I took it as one. She moved aside for me, but my stride hitched as I went by. When I turned back to her, she was still watching me. And my foolish mouth opened to spill out a question.

I almost backed out of it. But I would be leaving soon, and I might not have another opportunity. "What was I like before all this?"

When her eyes teared up, I immediately cursed myself for asking. How did one sum up a life in a few sentences?

But she didn't hesitate. She squared up to me, and said, "Honest. Loyal. Driven to help others. A superb fighter. You had a quirky sense of humor that often involved teenage movie fantasies and a disturbing tendency to pierce body parts." She took a deep breath. "Deep down, you are still who you once were, Razir."

My mouth opened, and then closed again, before I said, "I don't know if I can ever be that person again."

She smiled at me—a genuine expression that carried with it all her hope. For just a second, her gaze caught and held on the hilt visible over my shoulder. "You don't have to lose who you are just because you lost your memories. And no matter what, I am proud to call you my son."

Her faith sent a pang straight through me. But I had one more question. "Were Tyrez and I close?"

She smiled gently. "You were best friends. He was so serious as a child, and you brought light into his life with your unfailing, upbeat energy. You hauled him places he'd never have gone himself. When he thought you'd died, despite his strength, I was terrified he wasn't going to survive it. Even though you can't remember him—having you alive has brought him back to life, too. You two are a team."

She emphasized the last word, but I didn't trust myself to speak. All I could do was nod, and then turn away.

The need to shove all this into a box, and immerse myself in something purely physical, became overwhelming. With renewed determination, I headed for the showers.