Page 80 of Dream Reaper

Warmth flooded through her body, soothing her raw emotions, her frayed edges. It was familiar and comforting. Like a strong pair of arms wrapped around her on a cold winter’s night.

“That’s better,” Talos said as he corked the skin and tossed it onto the ground at Brynja’s feet.

She shot him a foul look as she stooped to retrieve the discarded item. Ava watched her intently, hoping that her piercing expression would convince the girl to back off and let the matter rest. Thankfully, Brynja did indeed back away.

“That’s close enough, shifter,” Talos called, and the movement that had begun to stir behind Ava ceased abruptly. “You’re fine right where you are. We’re all getting along so nicely, so let’s not spoil it, shall we?”

“I would prefer to spoil it,” Jerrid muttered between his teeth.

This elicited a genuine smile from Talos, but for the life of her, Ava couldn’t figure out what he thought was so amusing. Didn’t he realize how much trouble he was in if they all decided to take him down? This could go south very quickly. The only thing keeping the peace was the fact that no one had lost their temper yet.

“Well, this has been fun,” Talos said, wiping his hands on the front of his tunic, “but I think it’s time we go, Ava, don’t you?”

Footsteps pounded against the ground behind her, and Ava’s eyes rolled closed in exasperation.

Jerrid snarled, “She’s not going anywhere with you, elf.”

And there went their fragile peace…

Talos grinned at him, too mean and stupid to realize how much danger he was in. Because Ava knew something he didn’t. Something even Jerrid didn’t know.

It was her secret. Their secret.

That warmth swept through her again. This time it was decidedly smug as it teased her senses and emotions, frolicking like a puppy set free in a meadow.

“And how are you going to stop me, shifter?” Talos widened his stance, letting the flame in his palm widen and grow until it was big enough for him to toss it from one palm to the other. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed that your dragon friend hasn’t come out to play yet. Where is he?”

Jerrid froze alongside Ava, his face growing gray.

Talos’s smile widened.

“I wondered as much. Thank you for clarifying this for me. Ever so kind of you. I take it your little scaly side isn’t up for playing right now, is he? Which means you”—he waved a hand to indicate all of Jerrid—“are just one more helpless, useless human.”

Ava choked down a hysterical laugh, the warmth growing inside her, alongside the realization this was about to get really, really ugly… And that she would be the cause of it.

“Just like she”—he indicated Ava—“is another useless, infertile wh⁠—”

Jerrid, already coiled like a condensed spring, launched forward.

“Dragon, stop him!” Ava screamed.

Jerrid’s head whipped toward her, confusion distracting him from his intentions. But it didn’t distract Talos, who hurled his first fireball.

A strength outside herself threw Ava forward, tackling Jerrid unceremoniously around the knees and out of the path of the fireball that disappeared into the trees beyond the camp.

Talos cursed, snapping his fingers again.

But Ava leaped back to her feet in a smooth motion similar to something she’d seen Jerrid do in the past. Instincts not her own flooded through her body, honing her senses as she turned to face Talos. She cracked her neck from side to side and relished the pop.

“You’ve bitten off more than you can chew, Talos,” she spat between her teeth, enjoying the confusion that stole over his cocky features.

Beside her, Jerrid scrambled to his feet as he swung his attention back and forth between her and Talos. The poor, foolish man had no idea what he had done. What they were about to do.

He’s such an idiot, Dragon agreed through the mental link. He really thought he could put me in a box.

Because Dragon had been there the whole time, curled into a ball on the edge of her consciousness, so small and unobtrusive she might not have noticed him. But a dragon, even one trying to seem small, is anything but. And Ava had noticed him.

It’s hard not to notice when a dragon invades your mind.