Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

T he air behind the hotel was cold, but it crackled with charge. Mick and I ran for the railroad bed and scrambled to the top.

For a moment, we stared into blackness that seemed serene. All was quiet except for the wind stirring dried grasses at our feet.

Then I saw it, a flicker of light, like a lightning strike that slammed from the base of low clouds to the ground.

The sky lit up with white for an instant before it flared out, darkness swallowing the land once again. A second flicker shone to the right, then one to the left.

I felt no bite of a storm, no stirring of my storm magic answering its call. The flickers continued far into the darkness, silent and eerie.

"Trying to open the vortexes?" Mick voiced the fear that had sent us both racing out here.

"Would whoever it is be that stupid?"

"Someone trying to grab themselves a vulnerable dragon?" Mick asked. "They'd do anything for that. "

Vortexes were swirls of magic that New-Age tourists believed held the secrets of world peace, or something like that. In reality, vortexes were gates to hell worlds beneath this one. Some of those spaces were empty and banal, but most were chaotic and full of pissed-off demons and gods.

One of the vortexes out here, which Mick and I had sealed a while ago, was the entrance to the realm where my mother dwelled. She was a goddess who'd been denied entry into this world by dragons and other gods who didn't really want her up here causing as much destruction as she could.

She'd found a way to partly interact with the human sphere by possessing women who were minding their own business but had strayed too close to her territory. Using these unfortunate women as her vessels, she'd managed to bring two daughters into the world—me and Gabrielle. Our birth mothers hadn't survived the process.

I'd been lucky enough to have a kind father who'd insisted on keeping me and raising me himself. Gabrielle had not been as blessed. That she could now live in my grandmother's house without killing everyone in it, not to mention coach a school basketball team, proved how far she'd come.

As Mick and I watched, the lightning dipped and vanished, then flickered and flared before disappearing again.

Mick rumbled in his throat, and fire streaked his smoky aura. "I'm going to check it out."

I knew nothing I said would stop him, so I made a go for it gesture. "Be careful. We don't know what this is, and my storm powers can't do shit right now."

Mick's eyes were blacker than the darkness, his dragon coming out to play. I sensed his eagerness, which had nothing to do with anger or fear. He liked a challenge.

"I'll find out everything I need to know." Mick stripped off his shirt and handed it to me. I moved the bowling bag on its strap to my side to accept it, holding the warm cloth to my chest.

I wondered if Mick meant he'd learn all about whoever was causing the lightning while his dragon digested the culprit. Dragons tended to chomp first and contemplate things later.

Mick's jeans came off, crumpling at his feet before he kicked them away. He hadn't bothered with underwear, not that I'd let that distract me or anything. Mick had told me he liked to be ready to shift.

He jogged off into the darkness, the prickly grasses and rocks not bothering him at all. In a few moments, a shroud of blackness surrounded him, and from it burst an ebony dragon, its sides streaked with fiery red.

Mick spread his wings, his form silhouetted against the stars, before he whooshed out over the desert and was gone.

I released a sigh. Mick was a beautiful dragon and a beautiful man, and I still wasn't used to the fact that I was going to marry him.

You'll enjoy it, a new voice rumbled beside me.

I yelped, my heart banging as adrenaline spiked. I hated that he could sneak up on me so easily.

Once my breath slid back into my lungs, I turned to the large coyote sitting on its haunches next to me. Wind ruffled his fur, which was touched with a silvery glow.

The mate thing, or marriage, or whatever you want to call it, isn't so bad, he continued .

"You've made up with your wife, then?" I asked when I could find my voice.

Coyote's wife, Bear, was a solemn goddess with terrifying powers. I liked her, though I admitted her relationship with Coyote was too weird for me to understand.

We have our ups and downs . Coyote's tongue lolled from his mouth as he began to pant. Things are in a good place right now.

"I'm glad to hear it. What's your take on this?" I gestured to the lights on the horizon, the dragon, tiny now, circling them.

Coyote stared out into the desert, the flashes reflected in his golden eyes. If you want the truth , I'd call it the tip of the iceberg.

I regarded him in dismay. "No, no, no. Do not tell me there's another big, bad evil coming. I'm tired of big, bad evil. I just want to get through my wedding—which will be stressful enough—and move on with my life."

Coyote's tone held amusement. You are a child of a goddess who possesses wicked-amazing magic. Your life will always be battling evil. Your massive power attracts those who want it for themselves.

"Yay?" I said faintly. "This is why I try to surround myself with strong friends, who seem to vanish when I need them most." I glared at him.

We have our own lives . I heard the shrug in his answer. What you're dealing with is someone who can kill a she-dragon. Only an immensely powerful being could do that. Her offspring was brought to you for safekeeping. Coyote switched his gaze to the bag at my side. I wonder why it needs so much protecting?

The egg moved, though I didn't sense fear from the little dragon inside. Curiosity, yes, and some excitement. It was a dragon, all right.

"Are you talking about another dragon slayer?" Bile rose in my stomach. "I didn't like the last one." He'd caused serious damage we were still recovering from.

Dragon slayers are out there, yes. Not as many as in the past, but there are still plenty who'd love a stuffed dragon head mounted on their wall. Why, I have no idea. Seems like a weird thing to decorate your living room with. But more beings than slayers want dragons. Dragon power is legendary. What couldn't someone do with a young one?

I rested a protective hand on top of the bag. "Drake said he worried about what Bancroft wants the kid for. To take as his heir apparent, Drake thinks. Train the little dragon to be a dickhead like himself."

Or he'd simply destroy the egg, Coyote said. A young dragon will be a threat to Bancroft, and he knows it.

"Because Junior might want to take over the dragon council when he grows up? An improvement, I'd think."

The dragon council had nearly killed Mick and me—multiple times. They weren't the most moral or ethical beings ever. Dragons did what they wanted, figuring no one would stop them. They were mostly correct. Only other dragons could thwart them.

Exactly, Coyote said, as though pleased I was keeping up. The young overthrow the old, which is how the world works. If you get rid of all the young dragons, or the eggs, then you hold on to your power forever. Dragons live a long time, and they don't like to retire.

I dragged in a breath of clear, dry air. "You're saying all the dragons are going to come for this egg?"

I don't know. Possibly.

And Drake had decided it would be safest with me ? "Why does Drake want the egg?" I wondered suddenly. "To use as a bargaining chip? To threaten the other dragons? Gods, I so don't need to get in the middle of dragon politics."

If Drake is its daddy, maybe he simply doesn't want the others crushing it, Coyote suggested.

Across the desert, Mick was diving at the light, roaring in a way I knew meant he was enjoying himself. The lightning strikes moved farther away, with Mick in pursuit.

"Drake might or might not be its dad," I said. "I can't picture him becoming suddenly warmhearted and loving, even if he is the father. Wouldn't he still try to use the kid to benefit himself?"

We'll have to wait and find out.

Coyote's calm statements were becoming exasperating. "Why don't you protect him?" I held the bag out from my side. "You're a god. No one will get past you."

Coyote started, then his panting mouth opened into a grin. You'd give me the bargaining chip, would you? So I could gain control over all dragons everywhere?

"What? Why would you want to?"

Coyote's eyes narrowed. The intensity of his stare was marred by the lolling tongue, but this expression was somber for Coyote.

Would you want to, Stormwalker?

"Have control over dragons?" I asked in perplexity. "What for? They drive me crazy, including the one I'm in love with. I was much happier not knowing they existed."

There is your answer. Coyote swiped his mouth, sending spittle flying.

"Ew." I wiped moisture from my cheek. "You mean the answer to why Drake chose me? Wonderful."

He knew he could trust you to take care of the egg for its own sake. I'd be flattered, if I were you .

"Flattered that I'm such a sap?" I was annoyed with Drake for assuming I'd be willing to defend this egg with my life, and annoyed that he was right.

I supposed I could simply set the bowling bag down and leave it out here in the cooling night, dusting my hands off as I walked away. A wild animal would probably find the egg, tear it open, and eat the little dragon inside. Or the entity Mick was chasing would grab it to use for their unknown purpose. Other dragons might sense the kid was alone and helpless, and waste no time destroying it.

The egg wiggled, as though sensing my worrying thoughts, and I cradled it against my side.

"Drake's right," I said in resignation. "I am a sap."

Aw. I wouldn't like you any other way.

"You don't happen to know how I can defend it?" I demanded in irritation. "Me against a dragon horde? Who want me dead anyway?"

How about you against a dragon hoard ? Much easier, right? You'd just take the most portable pieces and go.

"Very funny."

You mean, very punny.

I did want to laugh—Coyote was such a goof sometimes—but I knew he was trying to tease me out of my frustration.

"So, are you going to help me, or not?" I asked.

I never said I wouldn't help. I don't want a dragon training up a young one to take over, under his control. That's asking for trouble. I don't want them killing it either. That's just mean.

"I agree on both points. Thank you."

What bothers me most is that someone took out Cesnia. She was a formidable dragon. Not someone you wanted to tangle with.

I stopped feeling sorry for myself to focus on what Coyote was trying to tell me. "You mean whoever killed Cesnia is even more formidable than she was? And who we need to look out for?"

Something like that.

"Who did kill her?" I watched Mick skim over the ground, far to the east now, the lightning flickers so tiny they were like fireflies on the distant horizon. "Another dragon? A mage? An entity we don't know about?"

Silence filled the space beside me. I knew even before I turned that Coyote had gone.

Coyote loved to disappear right when the hard questions were being asked. Because he thought I should figure them out on my own? Or because he didn't have the answers?

I vented my spleen at Coyote with a few choice words in the Diné language, English, Spanish ones Maya had taught me, and a couple in dragon.

The egg inside the bag vibrated, bumping against its foam support. I would swear the kid was laughing.

Mick returned in a somber mood.

"I chased off whatever it was." Mick stood, hands on hips, his bare body radiating heat. "They weren't expecting me, but I couldn't do much against them. Nothing to get a fix on." By his tone, that bothered him.

"Will they be back?" I didn't like it when Mick was worried.

Mick shrugged. "Probably. They must be after the egg. Will be interesting to see what they choose to do. "

Interesting for a dragon was scary and stressful to the rest of us.

Mick reached for his jeans and slid them on. He didn't need to for my sake, and he never felt the cold. But he'd be polite and not shock the people in my hotel.

I handed him back his shirt. Mick took it without donning it and laced his fingers through mine. "We don't need to worry about whoever it was anymore tonight. I gave them something to think about, at least." His voice quieted. "I missed you, Janet."

I'd missed him. Waking up in bed alone was not what I liked.

Mick pulled me close, his strength stirring all kinds of need. The kiss he touched to my lips held his fire plus a longing for me that went beyond anything I understood. That would alarm me if I didn't feel the same profound hunger for him.

Fire, earth, and air wound between us and bound us together.

The bag bumped into my side, the egg jiggling with glee. I broke the kiss.

"We have the kid." I wrapped my arm around the bag, as though reassuring the egg I wasn't about to abandon it.

Mick grinned, his good humor restored somewhat. "It'll be practice for the future."

He took my hand once more and led me back toward the Crossroads at a swift pace.

As I jogged beside him, I realized that before tonight the two of us had never talked about having children of our own. We'd always been so busy fending off enemies that we hadn't had time to speak of anything beyond the wedding.

Tonight was the first we'd even mentioned it .

I'd thought fighting off packs of demons, earth entities, super-mages, and dragon slayers had been scary. I was learning that everyday life might be the most frightening thing of all.

We decided to leave the dragon egg in the bathroom, closing the connecting door to my bedroom but not locking it. As I set the bag on a pad of towels, I glanced up at the mirror hanging over the sink.

"Do not let anyone but me and Mick in here," I admonished it. "If someone even comes close to the window, you tell us. All right?"

I'd pulled the blinds over the small, locked window that looked across the empty land beyond the hotel, but I didn't trust sneaky entities not to find a way through the cracks.

"Which means I can't watch you ," the mirror said with its usual pout. "You're no fun, hon."

I pointed to the bag. "Very important. More than your own life. Got it?"

The mirror heaved a sigh. "All right, all right. Drakey had better appreciate my sacrifice."

I hadn't actually told the mirror that Drake had left the bag or what was in it. But the mirror, while annoying, was sharp, and had likely already figured out what was going on. Fortunately, it had said nothing so far, but I needed to make sure it kept quiet.

"Tell no one ." I pointed my finger at the mirror, something I'd been taught was very rude, but I was taking no chances. "Don't even mention it around anyone but me and Mick. "

"Hey, sweetie, I can keep a secret." The mirror sounded offended. "Just watch me."

"I will." I regarded the mirror sternly, though I saw only myself, my hair windblown, my cheeks flushed. "Good night."

"Sleep tight, angel-kins. Don't worry about us, shut away by ourselves in a bathroom . No, we'll be fine. We'll be just?—"

I fled and shut the door.

Mick was already in bed, his large form dominating it, one light sheet covering his unclothed body. He smiled and reached a lazy arm toward me.

I wasted no time getting myself across the room and into the warm nest he'd made. I heard the mirror start crooning a soft lullaby as I snapped off the light.

I was in much better spirits in the morning. When I entered the bathroom, the bag with the egg lay undisturbed on its pile of towels. The mirror greeted me wearily, then started to snore.

It didn't need to sleep—this was retaliation for making it babysit.

I moved the bag into the bedroom under Mick's watchful eye as I showered and dressed, then I carried the egg out with me to start my day.

Mick remained in bed, saying he was going to catch up on some rest. Life at Many Farms started very early, so I could understand why he welcomed some sleep-in time. Also, he'd been very energetic the night before.

The Horribles were already up, earlier than I'd thought they would be. They flopped into various chairs in the lobby, sipping coffee and nibbling pastries that Elena baked the night before.

Yvonne was holding forth. "Did you see everyone staring at us at the diner last night? Especially when we were all singing? Oh, and when Allie got up and did her dance?"

Allie laughed. "They so wanted to be part of us. You could tell."

"That's right," one of the husbands said. I peered at him, wondering if he was being sarcastic and realized he wasn't. "Wishing they had a family like ours."

I had a feeling the inhabitants of Magellan were staring for a different reason, but I decided not to enlighten them.

"Oh, hey, Janet," Allie called when she saw me. "That old guy, he took off. He told me to tell you. Or maybe not to tell you. I don't remember." She tittered before she turned back to her family. "Let's go to that diner every night. We've taken it over anyway."

"What?" I stopped next to Allie, steadying the bowling bag, which was trying to bang against me.

"I said, we should go to the diner every night."

"Before that. The old guy. You mean Carl?"

"Is that his name? Yeah, he left, not too long ago. He took a motorcycle that was parked out back. Oh, maybe he did tell us not to tell you." Allie put her hand over her mouth. "Oops."

The only motorcycle parked out back last night had been Mick's—he'd carried it with him when he'd flown here and left it there, too distracted by fighting magical entities and then retiring with me to put it in the shed.

The weather had been dry, and the bike warded against anything magical, so he didn't worry. Plus, no one in their right mind would steal Mick's Harley.

Except Nash's very stubborn and resourceful grandfather. Mick and I, in the throes of passion and then deeply asleep, hadn't heard it go.

Well, shit.

"Thanks," I babbled to Allie, then I dashed back the way I'd come, charging into the bedroom to give Mick the bad news.