Green shadow, p.13
Green Shadow, page 13
Eventually, my well of emotions calmed. My magic slowed, and I crouched, exhausted mentally and physically.
Stepping forward as one, they each laid a hand on me.
Inhaling a deep breath through my nostrils, I spoke. “What are you doing here?” My voice in dragon form was a deep rumble. Dragon shifters, along with sphinxes of the Gryphos Tribe and man-shaped gargoyles of the Stone Tribe, were the only Mythos shifters who could speak in our other forms.
“Curtis called. He said you might need some support,” Alec said, his blue eyes striking against his olive skin. His hand rested on one of my forelegs, petting it absentmindedly. As a healer, Alec had a bone-deep drive to comfort and cure. Add to that, he was now the head of his family, and his campaign to look after everyone drove him to exhaustion.
“You’re a Green now,” Tyr said, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s not our fault you didn’t read the fine print.” His crimson eyes held shadows, an inner darkness that worried his siblings. Nevertheless, the fire mage strove to be a good person, putting points in one column or another with every act of kindness.
Swiveling my head, I glared at him. He stared back, unconcerned that my head alone was as large as he was.
A protective urge roared to the forefront. It recognized the shadows of rage hiding deep within the man. It was familiar, something I’d seen before. But my brain wasn’t putting the pieces together. I pushed the thoughts aside. They would come to me or not when the time was right. At the moment, all I wanted was to keep him from sinking farther into a hole he couldn’t dig out of. I made a vow then. I would do everything to save him from the rage, to keep it from eating him alive.
A delicate hand caressed the scale plates of my chest. I reared my head far enough to point my snout down. How the hell did she duck under there without me noticing?
Over the last few months, Brooke had gone through a metamorphosis. The bright, bubbly girl fondly remembered by her brothers was gone. In her place was a young woman the boys, didn’t quite know what to do with. She’d chopped her waist-length blonde hair two inches off her skull, using a product to spike it all over the place. Over time, the cute dresses, flattering skirts, and sparkly shoes she’d once favored were replaced with a darker, more combat-friendly wardrobe.
Her touch came without any hesitation. A drastic contrast to the early days of our cohabitation. Over the past couple of months, we’d bonded over our feelings of shame. Both of us regretted our actions. Brooke spoke to me at times about how much pain her actions still caused and had agreed to let me siphon away a portion of her overwhelming self-loathing. The kid was smart enough to know that she wouldn’t heal without some space.
Recognizing the emotional waves that rolled off her, I curled my long neck around her body. “Let me help,” I asked, offering what little comfort I could.
She nodded, and I could feel the trickle of tears against my scales. Siphoning away her pain, anger, and sadness, I got her to a point where she was no longer drowning. Leaving only enough for a natural cathartic release. With the negative emotions eased, I felt a need she carried. One she’d buried deep, not feeling like she was worthy of receiving it. I didn’t know what to do in my current form to help, but as soon as I was human, I would make sure to offer the comfort she desperately wanted.
Brooke taken care of, I met the eyes of her brothers. “I’m beginning to see why she fought so hard for you.” As much as I loved my own family, they lived hours away. And other than my father, they’d never offered me the unwavering support this one did.
“Took you long enough,” Connor’s cheek elicited chuckles from the others, even a wet one from the child hiding her face against my chest. Connor was my harshest critic. He hated what I’d said to his sister. But even he didn’t skimp when it came to offering his support.
The hole in my chest was now almost fully healed. And while that wasn’t enough to repair the ragged tatters of the one-sided mate bond, it bolstered the tie, giving me more time to make a choice. My dragon rumbled his gratitude. Appreciating the fact he had more time to sway my opinion.
We stayed silent for a time, taking comfort from one another. Then I shifted my focus to the metal mage. “You and I have a date tonight.” My dragon features may not facilitate a range of emotions, but Connor’s snort said my teasing tone came through.
Fluttering his eyes, Connor cooed, “Why Lucan, over my sister already? I figured you’d brood longer.” Even I chuckled at his antics.
Tyr tossed a backpack at my feet. “Curtis mentioned you might need these. Brooke raided your closet, so blame her if you don’t like the outfit.” Then, as if some unseen signal passed between them, they stepped away and positioned themselves in a rough circle around me. Turning to face outward, each began to glow. Red, blue, yellow, and silver with gold streaks. We’d talked about their powers before, but only in the vaguest sense, and this was the first time I saw it unrestrained. It was magnificent.
The significance of their positioning hit me like a bolt of lightning. They were protecting me during my change. I would be vulnerable for the five minutes it took to become human, and they’d decided to watch my back. My dragon rumbled his approval. He liked that they accepted him, us. I, however, felt unworthy. Especially since, while I was slowly coming to terms with it, I was still struggling to overcome Mackenzie’s past.
My return to human took longer than five minutes and was much more painful than usual. A physical manifestation of the deteriorating mate bond, combined with my emotional and physical exhaustion.
Human again, I laid a hand on Connor’s shoulder. “Thank you. I’m ready.”
Connor nodded, and the others turned at the sound of my voice. Brooke wandered close, and I pulled her into a tight hug. She resisted at first but relaxed when I didn’t let go. My dragon purred, glad she accepted the comfort, even if she still didn’t believe she deserved it.
Squeezing her close, I whispered into her ear. “I will never stop fighting to get her back to you. You have my word.” Her embrace tightened.
“As long as I get to help. You are not the only one who has to make up for things done and said,” she mumbled into my shirt, and at that moment I promised myself that whenever the time came to rescue her sister, Brooke would have a crucial part in the plan. It would go a long way to healing her psychological scars.
Connor and I headed to where my bike lay abandoned. It took several minutes to get there, and by some miracle, no one had stolen the thing. Taking the machine by the handles, I lifted it up and engaged the kickstand. Wiping off an errant piece of grass, I looked at the man beside me.
Now that my emotions were more stable, the urgency to get to the address Curtis had given me started to take over. I knew we wouldn’t get there in time to save her. It made accepting my need to have this moment easier. But I felt that something important still waited and that I shouldn’t waste too much time finding out what it was.
So, when I noticed Connor doubled over, taking deep breaths, his body shaking. Panic struck. I went to lay a hand on his shoulder and get to the bottom of his odd behavior. My concern ebbed when he let out a big snort and pitched over laughing.
Brows furrowing, I tried to understand what he found so funny. Taking pity on my confusion, Connor pointed to himself, then to me, then to the bike. Then, between fits of laughter, he said, “Should I be in front? Or do you want me to squeeze in behind you?”
I looked at the big man. Connor was taller and broader than me. Then I looked at the bike. There is no way in hell both of us are going to fit. But my mind conjured the image of Connor sitting behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist, and mirth bubbled up inside me. Lips twitching, I broke out in unexpected laughter. It set Connor off again, and we hunched over until the laughter died.
The levity was Connor’s way of coping, so I didn’t rush the man.
When Connor straightened, he wiped tears from his eyes and spoke to me in as serious a tone as he could manage. “I can see why she was drawn to you.” He looked me in the eye. “It wasn’t just the influence of the mate bond.”
Startled. I jerked back. As far as I knew, Quinn, Jasper, and Curtis were the only ones who knew of the one-sided connection. I hadn’t wanted the kids to use it as an excuse to like or hate me.
Connor’s lips twitched. “We lived with Alec and Quinn for years. So we’re all well aware of the symptoms when potential mates meet.”
So, he doesn’t know that I’d initiated the bond, only that the potential exists between Mackenzie and me.
A smile bloomed on Connor’s face. “Mackenzie has major trust issues, and she offered you more insight into her life in the short time she knew you than she gave Quinn in three years.” That statement had my dragon puffed up and preening with pride.
Connor’s eyes narrowed, and I could practically see the wheels turning in his head. Then, a moment later, he turned to look at me. “Answer me honestly, Lucan. Can I trust you?” That he asked this question without Quinn here to verify my answer wasn’t lost on me. If nothing else, Connor trusted that I would tell him the truth. It was a trust I never wanted to break.
I didn’t hesitate. Affection for the young man rushing through my system. It was independent of my mate and what she represented. If I rejected Mackenzie, I knew the depth of my care for her brother and sister would not fade. My loyalty to the boy was absolute. “Yes”
Hands-on hips, he stared at me as if he could peer into my soul. I must have passed whatever criteria he required because he nodded and said, “I’m going to share something with you. Something about me, us.” His eyes glittered in excitement. Finally, it hit me; Connor didn’t have people outside his family. He had no friends to share the inner workings of his power with.
Taking a deep breath, he gave me a shy smile. “Brooke and I told you a bit about our magic. But we didn’t tell you that our kind has a name. We are considered Elementals, and I am the Elemental of metal.”
How does an elemental differ from a mage?
“I can see the question all over your face.” Connor snickered. “As an elemental, I can, with practice, access any active or passive ability associated with my base.” He smiled at me. “It takes training, maturity, and time.”
His eyes twinkled. “Remember how shitty the plumbing was in the cottage just after we moved in? I told you I’d take care of it.”
I remembered. It took Connor days to sort the mess out. During that time, there had been an abundance of clanking and cursing. Every time I offered to help, he told me to bugger off.
When I nodded, he kept going. “I had it done in about twenty minutes.”
My mouth went slack.
Connor chuckled. “Metal is metal. Once I traced the path of the pipes and found all the holes and rusty spots. It was easy to break down some scrap metal and make the repairs.”
“What about the cursing?” There was a tiny amount of awe in my tone.
Connor shrugged. “It was funny watching you fret about it.”
I couldn’t help it and punched him in the shoulder. This elicited more amused chortles from the bigger man.
Still, if what he said was true, he had an absurd amount of power. Not just Connor, my mind supplied. All of them are cut from the same cloth.
Connor rubbed a hand over his short-cropped hair and gave me a boyish smile. Excitement shone from his eyes. “One of the active abilities I’ve discovered is a unique way to travel. It has only manifested once since the Resurgence, and the man died young. But since it was his, it is also mine.” Reaching into his pocket, Connor pulled out a chain. On the end was a ball of unknown metal ore, the size of a child’s fist.
He handed me the chain, then cupped the lump of metal in his hands. Then, with a wink, he said, “Call my name when it’s all clear, and I will come out.”
His eyes lit with a metallic glow, and his body turned grey. Then it broke apart into a swirling mass of fine metal shavings. They circled the metal ball before being absorbed. It started slow, but the absorptions sped up as more particles became incorporated into the mass. The whole thing glowed with an eerie, pale light when the last speck melded with the metal.
Shaking my head at the trust Connor placed in me, I settled the chain around my neck. The lump pulsed lightly, where it rested against my chest. I wanted to be in awe, to feel something monumental about what I’d just learned. But I couldn’t muster up the relevant feelings. Everything was buried too deep under the confusing swirl of emotions I couldn’t untangle.
It was time to stop stalling, Mackenzie had been in Cape Hope, and I needed to know why.
Chapter 15
Lucan
Two and a half hours after leaving GreenRiver, I stopped in front of a modest ranch-style house in the suburbs of Cape Hope, a small community on the ocean’s coast. A cool autumn breeze ruffled my hair as I removed my helmet.
Confirming the address Curtis gave me, I looked at the clean red-brick house and well-manicured lawn. Nothing stood out about the property. Neat and well-kept, it resembled every other home on the block.
Glancing around, I made sure I was alone. It was getting dark, and there were no street lamps. Sweat beaded on my brow as I sent out my empathic senses. I wanted to make sure no one was watching. That Connor’s magic wouldn’t become gossiped about or coveted by the wrong people. I owed the young man that much.
I took the orb from under my shirt and brought it to my lips. Then, tapping it lightly, I whispered, “Connor, it’s all clear.”
Particles peeled off the strange metal and collected back into the shape of a man. Connor solidified, then raised his arms in a full-body stretch. A grin lit his face as he rotated his neck.
I grimaced at the snaps and pops the motion caused. “You know that’s not good for you, right?”
“Then why does it feel so good? Besides, you try staying cramped in a small space for hours and tell me you don’t need to relieve a little tension.”
Shaking my head, I stayed silent. I wasn’t sure how far I could push our newfound comradery.
Together, we turned and made our way up the path to the front door. Neither of us spoke, both on alert for anything amiss.
At the door, Connor held up his hand when I would have knocked. I paused, and watched as Connor stared at the metal doorknob with a strange intensity. I waited for him to explain.
Breaking eye contact with the door, he said. “Someone’s been here already.” Squinting his eyes, he brought his face closer to the surface.
A defeated sigh gusted out of him. I hadn’t shared the significance of our travel here, and I regretted not giving him a heads-up before we left. Not wanting to make the same mistake twice, I spoke.
“Connor,” I laid a hand on the man’s shoulder.
“Mackenzie was here.” His fists clenched, and with my senses still alert for danger, I caught the riot of emotion coating the young man.
I cringed at his dull tone. “I know.” My heart skipped a beat. Have I broken the little trust we’ve managed to forge? Thankfully, Connor didn’t seem angry, only sad.
“Lucan, we’re not going to like what’s inside,” Connor said, his eyes becoming hard.
Well, that isn’t ominous or anything.
“How do you know?” I wanted so bad to reach out with my magic. It was an itch under my skin. But I didn’t. I simply kept monitoring sweeps. It was hard, but maybe not as hard as it was yesterday. That was the key, I guess. Taking it one day at a time.
“You know how Mackenzie can make shields?” He asked.
I nodded, remembering the dome protecting her as a building threatened to crush it to bits.
“Her shields aren’t a manifestation of her earth abilities.”
“But shielding can be earth-based,” I said, trying to understand.
“Yes, but hers come from within. They are spirit based.” Before I could ask about the relevance, he went on. “The five of us have secondary talents. Mackenzie’s is spirit based. Mine is too.”
I waited for him to continue. Absorbed by the new information he was sharing.
“With our secondary talents, we are like ordinary mages. One active, one passive power. I can tell when an object has memories imprinted on it, and if I try, I can see those images.” I opened my mouth to ask more questions, but Connor held up his hand.
“We can discuss the finer points of it later. Right now, just accept what I share.”
I nodded. “Anything else you want to tell me? Perhaps the ability to shoot fireballs from your eyes or X-ray vision,” I said, sarcasm lacing my tone. My hands opened and closed at my side as I tried to break the tension. Would Connor see my attempts for what they were, or would he think I was being a dragon on the wing? Unconcerned.
“No,” Connor shook his head. The hint of a smile curling on his lips. I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding and took the win.
“The door doesn’t contain more than a glimpse of the people who touched it. And then only those who had strong feelings at the time. So I didn’t get more than Mackenzie entering.”
It wasn’t locked and swung open on silent hinges. Stepping in front of Connor, I picked up the ghost of his smile when it raised the hairs on my neck. Thankfully, he didn’t tease me for my protective behavior, just shook his head and accepted it.
We walked down a hall to the first room. I couldn’t help the tiny spark of hope that blossomed the further I went. Curtis had said I would be too late to save Mackenzie. But maybe she’d made a different choice, altering the future, so she was still here. An unrealistic dream, but one my dragon clung to, nonetheless.
Broken furniture littered the ground, stains marred the carpets, and little ornaments that would have lined the shelves, lay shattered on the floor.
Connor took the rooms on the right while I took the ones on the left. I let my empathic senses blanket this level of the home. Even if Curtis was right, I couldn’t take the chance that there wasn’t someone else here.
