Page 86 of Feathers and Scales

“Less than ten, why?”

“That’s enough to help a dragon fly again and trap Fotios, right?”

Serephina’s mangled form pierced through Izzy’s mind. “Yes, maybe, but—”

“No but. It’s the best chip you have, and helping her is a regret I won’t allow you to have on your conscience.”

Her heart skipped. Simon was right. Helping Serephina was her greatest bargaining chip. She refused to let her thoughts linger—not on the second part, and certainly not on the return to Pentros. Not on Silas. Not on Serephina. Not on Daxton. If he was even back.

Simon’s hidden agenda of getting her back with the dragons lay plainly in the cocked tilt of his mouth. He expected the dragons to get the better of her, but Izzy had long locked away her heart and set her mind. She was going after Fotios by herself.

“All right,” she said. “There’s just one problem. I don’t remember how to get to their territory. Their Illusion dragon made my memory foggy when we traveled there. All I remember is we drove off a cliff.”

“Cliff jumping? That’s not an easy fix.” He glanced around. “Okay, here. I’ll grab a map, and then we’ll find it.”

Five hours later, after collecting the supplies they needed, Izzy made another daring trip over the cliff edge. The one that made the most sense given the routes from the airport. Simon nearly blew out her eardrums with his screams as she drove over the edge since he wouldn’t. Only after they exited the tunnel into Pentros did his voice stop.

“This…this is dragon territory?” he asked hoarsely.

Two blood-red dragons landed in front of the car. Izzy slammed on the brakes and jerked in her seat. They gazed up from low postures and snarled. Sweat accumulated between her fingers and the steering wheel. She waited through three intense breaths, but they didn’t shift back to human, only stared at them with hostility.

“We’re going to stay in the car, right?” Simon asked.

“Yeah.”

Down the gravel drive, dust plumed into the air, following an all-terrain vehicle. Someone was heading toward them. Her heart leaped, fearing it was Daxton.

The Jeep parked behind the dragons, and a tall figure jumped out.Where’s Daxton?

Frustration lined the tightness in Silas’s robust build. His presence was even more intimidating than the dragons. Not only did she break through his Illusion, but she was the reason his sister was injured.

“That’s Silas,” Izzy said. “The one I warned you about.”

“Get out of the car,” Silas said, planting his feet wide in front of her hood.

Izzy swallowed. “Just do as he says and remember…”

“He can wipe my memory. I’m not backing out now.” Simon opened his door.

Izzy followed suit and clutched the car door for support.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” He sliced his hand toward Simon. “And you’re bringing humans here now?”

“I propose a trade,” she said.

“You have a lot of nerve asking for anything from us.”

One dragon shifted with a flash into a woman with a crooked nose and walked toward Simon.

“Hand over any electronic devices,” Silas said to Simon before meeting Izzy’s gaze. “Both of you.”

She placed her phone in the dragon woman’s hand. “I can help Serephina.”

His square jaw ticked. “You should have done that instead of leaving her bleeding on the pavement.”

His anger tore at Izzy’s next words. She steeled herself. “Do you want your sister to fly again or not?”

“What do you want in return?”