CHAPTERONE
Lexi’s heartthumped like a rabbit’s hind leg while scratching at fleas. It took everything she had not to turn and bolt away from the cave looming before her like a dinosaur looking to swallow her whole.
And many might consider what was inside the cave a dinosaur. Lexi refused to shiver as the chill running up her spine cooled her overheated skin.
She took a deep breath and worked to control her emotions before glancing back at Orin. He still wore that damn, smug smile he’d had since announcing he caught a dragon.
He didn’t realize how punchable that smile made him… or he didn’t care. The not caring was probably more like it.
Standing beside Orin, Cole’s eyes were the color of liquid mercury as he stared into the cave. Behind his clamped lips, she saw the outline of his lycan fangs.
Her father and Sahira stood behind Cole with their jaws clenched. Lexi wondered if they were contemplating punching Orin too. It was a very good possibility.
Behind them, Maverick, Brokk, Kaylia, Varo, and Niall stared at the cave with different expressions of curiosity, unease, and awe. This situation amused Orin, but it had the rest of them on pins and needles.
Lexi flexed her fingers as a bead of sweat ran down her nape. The unrelenting sun of this outer realm baked the rocks of the barren world. The jagged formations decorating the land were the color of apricots as they spread endlessly onward. She had no idea if this outer realm had a name, and she didn’t care.
Something stirred deep within the cave. She couldn’t see it, but what sounded like a knife scraping against stone came from the darkness.
Instinctively, Lexi knew a stone hadn’t made the noise; it had been a claw that could decapitate her in one swipe. The image of such a thing happening was so clear she almost placed a hand against her throat to make sure her head remained attached.
She settled for wiping away the sweat that was starting to stick her green tunic to her flesh.What am I doing here? Why are weallhere? This is insane.
But she already knew the answers to those questions. Shehadto be here. She needed to learn how this dragon would react to her. But not everyone else had to put their lives at risk.
However, they had all refused to remain behind once Orin dropped his dragon bomb. Not that she could blame them; she would be curious to see what happened if a dragon met an arach after all these years.
And shedidwant to know. It was essential and might be what helped them defeat the Lord. But she didnotwant to face a creature who could eat or squish her before she blinked.
At least it can’t roast me.
Her immunity to fire was little consolation right now. Lexi gulped. She hoped it didn’t kill her. She enjoyed her life and was in no rush to become splattered arach bits all over the cave.
“You don’t have to do this,” Cole said.
The gravelly tone of his voice was the one she’d come to recognize as what came through when he was fighting against shifting into a wolf.
“I know,” she muttered.
But they both knew that was a lie. She didn’t have a choice in this, and everyone here knew it. She had to face the dragon.
She tugged at the collar of her shirt as she gulped again. Her eyes met her dad’s; the disapproval and fury were evident in his red eyes.
A small snort and a rustling from inside the cave drew her attention back to it. It almost sounded like the dragon was settling in to sleep or something.
For a second, her shield crumbled beneath the weight of her terror and uncertainty. To her, that was worse than facing a dragon.
Her secret was out; the Lord knew an arach still lived and was a threat to his claim onherhomeland, but she couldn’t lose control. The Lord and those at the ball had seen her. She was sure images of her were circulating throughout the realms while the Lord hunted her, but she could remain hidden from those who didn’t know who she was.
She couldn’t do that while walking around glowing like an overcharged Glo Worm. Lexi scrambled to get her shield back into place, but it was difficult to concentrate while on the verge of going to meet the creature within.
Finally, she managed to regain control, and her glow completely vanished as she mentally erected her shield once more.
“I should go alone,” she said. “It’s probably scared and angry and will do better if it only has to face one of us.”
It was probablypissed, and having this group tromping in to see it wouldn’t make things better for the frightened, murderous creature. She tugged at the collar of her tunic again before meeting Cole’s eyes. He would never let her walk in there alone, but they didn’tallhave to go.
“I’m coming with you; everyone else will stay here,” Cole commanded.
