Arsenic Dragon Read online

  “Raise your head, child,” the oracle said. “You’ve been through enough already.” She looked at the others. “I need to talk to her alone.”

  Marina put her hand over Farrah’s. “Can I at least stay?”

  The oracle nodded. “That is fine, if Farrah wants it.”

  Casey and Brittany gave Farrah reassuring glances and then left the room.

  “So your name is Farrah?” Marina asked. She looked at the oracle. “Would figure she knew that.”

  “Of course I would,” the oracle said calmly, taking one of the vacated seats by the bed. Her gaze was wizened but sharp and piercing. “What I don’t know is how she slipped past our notice for so long.” The oracle put a hand on Farrah’s, but she pulled her hand back from both her and Marina, not wanting to deal with touch.

  The oracle dipped her head, shame in her gaze. “We have failed you, and I assure you we will do whatever we can to make you comfortable.”

  “I want to go home,” Farrah said, not sure what they meant about failing her. The only people she blamed for this were the shifters who’d taken her. As far as she was concerned, these people had saved her, and as long as they returned her safely home, all could be forgiven.

  “I’m afraid that may not be possible,” the oracle said, giving her a reluctant look. “You see, you will still have people after you, and until your memories are erased, you will be a liability.”

  “I can have my memories erased?” Farrah asked, her heart welling with hope.

  “Not so fast, my dear,” the oracle said. “Not until we know you are out of danger. Not until we have dealt with anyone who knows you were taken. Not until we can be assured you would be safe in human life, which we may never be able to.”

  “I want them erased,” Farrah said, staring off at nothing in particular, trying to remember a world before all of this had happened. “All of them, from when this started. “

  “I understand,” the oracle said. “You feel that way now, but you may change your mind.”

  Farrah shook her head, heart pounding harder than ever before. Pounding with… hope. Desperate hope. “I won’t change my mind. If they could be gone, that would be the most wonderful thing in the world.”

  The oracle shared a concerned look with Marina, then sighed. “Then we will see, my child.”

  “Don’t call me a child,” Farrah said softly. “Or my dear. I’m not a baby.”

  The oracle raised a white brow and laughed in a cackle. “My dear, when you have lived as long as I have, everyone is a child.”

  “So you… You’re not one of the bad guys in this world?” Farrah asked.

  “No,” the oracle said, leaning back with arms folded over her curvy form. “Usually, I’m one who watches over this world and those in it, including humans who have contact with the shifter world. Generally, we prevent… things like this.”

  “I see,” Farrah said. Great, she was even unluckier than she’d thought. What was it about her that was unworthy of better treatment? Of rescue?

  Well, she’d been rescued. Just a little bit too late.

  “We will have to see about sending you to your home, though. At least temporarily, if that’s what you want,” the oracle said.

  “I do,” Farrah said hurriedly.

  The oracle sighed. “The only way I can see it happening is if you take a dragon with you.”

  “A shifter?” Farrah said nervously, thinking of the ones she’d met.

  “Yes,” the oracle said. “If one of them is willing to volunteer, then it’s possible you could be in your house and be safe, no matter what comes.”

  “I don’t… I can’t—”

  “My dear—Farrah, I trust those dragons with my life.”

  “I’ve seen dragons,” Farrah said with a shudder. “Awful, evil creatures.”

  “No, you’ve seen wyverns,” the oracle said. “Horrible, malformed hybrids that were never supposed to exist. A corruption of dragon blood and the shifters that are injected with it. A hideous perversion of nature.”

  Farrah stifled a laugh at the oracle’s disgust with the wyverns. From Farrah’s point of view, it was well-founded.

  “Marina, will you see if anyone is willing to volunteer?” the oracle asked. “If we have a dragon willing to do it, I’m at least willing to consider it.”

  Farrah wanted to protest, but she also badly wanted to be back in her bed. She’d dreamed of it so many nights. If she was there, she’d at least be able to pretend things were normal. Maybe for once, she wouldn’t have nightmares about needles.

  And the oracle didn’t seem to be a bad person. If she trusted the shifters downstairs…

  “While Marina’s downstairs, I’ll tell you a little bit about my dragons and hopefully reassure you there is nothing to worry about with one of them around.”

  “Right,” Marina said. “I’ll go talk to the guys.” She gave Farrah a reassuring smile. “You’re going to be fine. You’re safe now.” Then with a little wave, Marina slipped out the door.

  The oracle slid her hand over Farrah’s once again, and this time, Farrah didn’t pull away as a wave of warmth and comfort washed over her. She took a deep breath and released it.

  It was finally sinking in that she was actually safe. And this woman who she’d thought would ask her tons of invasive questions about what she’d been through instead only seemed to want to comfort and reassure her.

  After weeks being poked and prodded as a lab experiment, being treated like, well, a human was refreshing. She could feel at least a tiny bit of bravery returning.

  She looked into the misty, whitish-purple eyes of the oracle. “Tell me about the dragons.”

  Chapter 4

  Arsenic was perched on the armrest of the couch, nervously waiting in the living room with the other dragons as the oracle spoke with their new guest.

  He wanted to go up there, sneak up beside the door, and eavesdrop or read thoughts, so he could know what was going on.

  What the human’s name was and what she’d gone through. He wanted to know everything about her, which was odd for a man who usually kept to himself and only learned things about others on a need-to-know basis.

  “Calm down, Arsenic,” Mercury said, glaring at him. “You aren’t going to help anything by having a heart attack.”

  Arsenic glared back. “I am not even close to having a heart attack, and I resent the implication. I am simply worried about our hostage.”

  “The hostage we rescued,” Cadmium said, chucking a toothpick he’d been chewing on into the fire. “Not a hostage any longer.”

  But Arsenic wasn’t so sure about that, looking up at the bedroom where she was being held. She wouldn’t be allowed to leave, most likely, and he doubted she wanted to stay.

  He’d seen the way she looked at him. Terrified, as if she would always hate and fear everyone like him. He was a little used to that disgust from others on his planet, at least when he’d been growing up, but seeing it from a human was novel.

  Not in a good way.

  “What’s on your mind?” Zinc said, walking over to sit on the couch next to where Arsenic was perched.

  Arsenic lifted an eyebrow, unable to resist answering their future king. “I do not know, your highness.”

  “Don’t call me that,” Zinc said. “I’m just your friend. One of your teammates. Besides, we don’t know if I’ll ever make it back to Drakkaris.”

  Arsenic nodded. “Zinc, then. I do not know, Zinc.”

  “Yes, you do.” Zinc encouraged. “It will help if you talk about it.”

  Arsenic didn’t think so, but just as he was trying to figure out what to say, the door to the bedroom upstairs opened and Marina came walking downstairs, hand on the bannister as if to steady herself.

  The two mates, who had come down earlier and were sitting with Cadmium and Lead, looked up at her worriedly.

  Marina gave them a weak smile that didn’t reach her eyes and then headed down the stairs and into the living room, her
movements almost as one who was walking in her sleep.

  When she reached them, Mercury jumped forward and caught her in his arms, letting her collapse against him.

  For a moment, the entire room was silent as Mercury held his mate, stroking his hand over her hair and murmuring sweet nothings.

  Then Marina raised her head, smiled at him, took his hand, and walked with him into the center of the room. She took a seat there on a recliner, Mercury standing nearby.

  “What is the news?” Cadmium asked. “Is she all right?”

  Marina shook her head. “I mean, technically, Farrah—that’s her name—is safe now, but it will be a long time before she is all right.”

  Farrah. Arsenic even liked the sound of it.

  “I still don’t understand,” Arsenic muttered. “We saved her. She should be fine.”

  “She wants to go home,” Marina said, flicking her gaze up at them.

  “Impossible,” Lead said dully. “The remaining shifters who know about her may come after her. Depending on how she was captured, they may know where to find her.”

  “In my dream, I saw her taken while she was away on a work trip,” Marina said. “She was not at home. Still, that doesn’t mean the bad shifters can’t find her. You’re right, of course. She’s not safe out there.” She leaned her cheek on her hand with a sigh. “Which is too bad because it’s all she wants, and after what she’s been through, she deserves at least something.”

  Arsenic steeled himself, straightening his spine. “Send her home. I can go with her.”

  Marina raised an eyebrow. “Really? But it could be cold and difficult. I’m not sure she can even let you in the house.”

  Arsenic shrugged, aware that all the other dragons were staring. “I am the best option,” he said. “I can take on anything that comes her way.”

  “She wants her memory erased,” Marina said warily, as if she were trying to warn Arsenic. “You must not get too close to her.”

  “No closer than she wants me,” Arsenic said. “I can treat it like any mission.” That last part felt somewhat like a lie, but he didn’t care. Like hell he would let anyone else protect her when he was the best option.

  He had his own code of honor, and while it was less rigid than Lead’s, in this case, it demanded he see her home safe, no matter what it took.

  “Farrah is… damaged,” Marina said.

  “No,” Arsenic said, folding his arms and shaking his head. “Things get damaged. Farrah is…” What was the word for it? “In need of help. Protection. None can provide it better than me, head assassin of Drakkaris and second-in-command of the dragon guard.” He looked around the room in haughty challenge.

  Just as Cadmium let out a snort, the upstairs door opened again, and they all turned to face it.

  This time the oracle came out, and Farrah was with her. She was wearing a fluffy black robe that covered her from neck to toes and clutching it tightly against her as she looked down at the others.

  Her eyes wandered the room unsteadily and then landed on Arsenic. Her jaw dropped, her lip quivered slightly, and then she ran back into the room, slamming the door behind her. The oracle was left out in the hall, looking vaguely exasperated.

  She shrugged at the dragons and teleported down the stairs in a blink of light, taking a seat in the center of the couch. She appeared to be deep in thought, heavily distracted.

  “Oracle, Arsenic has volunteered,” Marina said, getting out of her chair and stepping forward.

  The oracle snapped her head up, as if trying to focus on the new topic and not whatever had been swirling in her head. “Oh, yes. Really?” She looked at Arsenic with those piercing, misty eyes.

  “I do,” Arsenic said. “I’m the strongest fighter here and the most capable of ending life if needed. Anyone here will verify it.”

  The oracle put her head in her hands, massaging her scalp. “Well, I hate when any life has to be ended, but if anyone deserves it, it’s any creature that tries to come after Farrah.”

  Farrah. The more Arsenic heard the name, the more he liked it.

  “But don’t get ideas about trying to mate her,” the oracle said, jabbing a finger toward him. “Every female I send to you dragons ends up mated. Farrah, she… She needs space, protection. Nothing more. She isn’t for you. For any shifter. She is determined to forget all of this, and I want to respect that if it’s possible.”

  Arsenic nodded as a slight, sharp pain somewhat like lightning rocketed through his chest. “I will do only my duty. Nothing more,” he said.

  “Good,” the oracle said. She cocked her head, then raised a hand and waved it in Arsenic’s direction.

  He reached a hand up to his hair, feeling almost as if someone had ruffled it.

  “I simply got rid of your streaks,” the oracle said softly. “Fetching as they may be, white streaks in black hair would only constantly remind Farrah that a shifter is in her home.”

  Arsenic just shrugged, not really caring about his looks if it meant someone could be more comfortable. Besides, his hair had always been mostly black. Now it was just a little more so.

  The oracle stood. “Now, if Marina and the girls could help her get packed and ready, she can head out tonight. If possible, the sooner she’s in a familiar environment, the sooner her mind can rest.”

  Arsenic nodded. “I will ready myself as well.”

  The oracle stood, creating a portal in front of her. “When you are ready to leave, Marina can create the portal. I will send her the coordinates.” She gave the dragons one last purple-white look. “Good luck.”

  Then she was gone, and the portal flashed closed behind her.

  “I so want to be able to make those,” Cadmium said, drawing nervous laughter as the tension broke in the room.

  The other dragons came up to Arsenic, asking if there was anything he needed, volunteering supplies. He accepted a backpack and warm clothes from Cadmium, a phone that Cobalt showed him how to “activate” that he could use to communicate, and a book of recipes from Chromium.

  “She’s skinny,” Chromium had said in explanation, thrusting the book into Arsenic’s arms.

  Arsenic had been oddly touched by the gesture.

  The last person who came to talk to him was Marina, who’d stayed downstairs after the mates went up to help Farrah.

  “What is it?” Arsenic said, packing the last of his supplies into his backpack.

  “I just… Be careful,” she said.

  “I am always careful,” Arsenic said. “That’s what makes me an effective soldier.”

  “I thought you were an assassin,” Marina said, a teasing lilt to her voice.

  “I am, in service of my people. So I am also a soldier,” he said frankly. “What did you need?”

  Marina fidgeted, looking at the ground nervously. “I just… wanted to remind you that not all wounds are visible.”

  Arsenic knew that. He’d been hurt his entire life, and he knew people could cut you in a million different ways without ever raising a sword. “Of course.”

  “She has been hurt a lot.” Marina’s blue gaze held deep worry, and Arsenic sighed.

  “I already inferred as much. I do not see why you are taking the time to tell me.”

  “Because… Dammit, Arsenic, you know I like you, but sometimes you can be really harsh. With this girl, with Farrah, we need you to be gentle. We need you to at least try.”

  “I will treat her fairly,” Arsenic said. “You are the one who thinks she is damaged.”

  “She is,” Marina said, shaking her head. “Dammit, Arsenic—”

  “Do not worry, sea dragon,” Arsenic said flatly, putting up a hand in gentle protest. “I will take good care of her. I will not let anyone hurt her.”

  “I’m more worried about you hurting her,” Marina spat out. Then she took a step back, biting her lip.

  “What does that mean?” Arsenic said, drawing himself back with icy cool.

  “You’re sharp and mean at times. You of
fend people, and—”

  “Shh,” Mercury said gently, stepping up to draw his mate in against him. His eyes met Arsenic’s. “Arsenic gets what you’re trying to say, right?” His eyes held Arsenic’s with a metallic glare.

  Arsenic gave a sharp nod. “I would never dishonor the guard of Drakkaris.”

  “That’s not—” Marina was still trying to protest, but Mercury tilted her chin up for a kiss, and she sank against him, visibly calming, which relieved Arsenic.

  Apparently, there was one thing that could calm the dragon that usually calmed everyone else.

  When they broke apart, Marina gave him an abashed look. “Good luck.”

  He felt a frisson of excitement. He would be the first dragon of Drakkaris to live outside the mansion and would be able to put all of the knowledge he’d gained about the human world to the test.

  “Keep looking into the bastards that did this,” he said, cracking his neck side to side. “The sooner she’s safe, the better.”

  “We could come check in, if you want,” Marina said.

  “I think it would be better if no one did,” Arsenic said. “It will be hard enough for her to adjust to my presence. It would be best if she didn’t see any other reminders of her ordeal.”

  Marina nodded. “That actually makes sense.”

  “I can be sensible as needed,” Arsenic said. “It’s one of my best qualities. The other is that I am honorable.”

  “I can vouch for that,” Lead said. “We all can.” He walked forward and put a hand on Arsenic’s shoulder. “We will miss you, brother. Keep in touch with your phone.”

  Arsenic slipped his hand in his pocket and touched the odd little object. “I will.”

  He looked up at the creak of the stairs to see Casey coming down it, and Cadmium got up to join her. She came over to Arsenic with worried eyes.

  “She’s packed now. She’s agreed to this, but she’s not happy about it,” Casey said nervously.

  “Does she know it’s me?” Arsenic asked.

  “She just knows one of the dragons is going to guard her. She didn’t want to know any more because she said she doesn’t want to get closer than she has to with any shifter.” Casey let out a sigh and leaned into Cadmium.