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  Clive laughs, a horrible rumbling sound like someone coughing so hard they shake the floor. “That’s how all of his racketeering started. He was trying to stifle trafficking like the mud wolves are involved in. Tonight, he heard they had new merchandise. That’s why he headed down there.” Clive grins. “You’re the merchandise.”

  “He’s going to sell me,” I say, trying to push myself back and out of Clive’s reach on the bed. “He can’t be that good.”

  “Oh, he’s not good,” Clive says, putting a hand in my hair and jerking me toward him. I can feel his breath on my face, and I wince away as much as I can with him holding me. “He’s just weak. Misplaced sense of justice.”

  One that doesn’t apply to me, apparently, because I’m about to get raped.

  The wind increases suddenly, and the large window at the side of the cabin flaps open, making a banging nose.

  Shortly after that, the door flies open as well.

  Clive curses as he walks over to slam both, locking them carefully before turning to me. “You have powers?”

  I snort. “That was the wind, dude. I don’t have powers.” How I can be so glib at this moment, I don’t know. It’s just the thought of this stupid bear thinking I had anything to do with something so random. It’s the last weird thing I can stand today, and I can feel myself getting slightly hysterical.

  Right now, I just want to be back in my world. I want to see my sister. I want to go to my call center.

  As Clive gets on the bed with me, covering my mouth with his sweaty hand as his other hand fumbles with my jacket zipper, I regret ever taking any deal.

  He reaches down and unties the rope holding my ankles together, and panic fills me as the whole situation becomes all too real.

  I don’t want this. I don’t want this.

  And just as I’m losing hope, his hand sliding down my zipper successfully, I hear a huge cracking noise as something falls down from the ceiling and lands right on Clive’s head.

  “Witch,” is all he has time to say to me before he passes out, his weight falling over and pinning me down.

  I look from his bloody head to the ceiling where a beam clearly came loose. It’s now lying beside him.

  After all that worry, when I was about to lose hope, I ended up saved by shoddy construction.

  Thank heavens.

  I slowly push up against Clive, listening for anyone who might be around.

  He is heavy, snoring, but using the squishy bed, I can somehow squeeze out from under him, just barely.

  I take a deep breath when I’m free and bring my tied hands up to my mouth, working quickly to undo the knots.

  To my chagrin, they’re too tight, so I’ll just have to run for it and hope no one sees me.

  I walk to the window and peek out, wondering where I should even be going.

  Griffin’s gray-and-blue eyes come to mind, but I shake my head as I think of him.

  He would probably just throw me to the wolves—I mean bears—again.

  But for sure, all of the bears will, so Griffin is probably still my best shot.

  I creep to the door and peek both ways before stepping slowly out into the dark night. I run as quietly as I can around the side of the cabin and peek at the rest of the buildings, trying to make out which one is Griff’s.

  A tiny gust of wind is blowing through the clearing, and as my eyes follow it, it dissipates in front of a cabin I recognize.

  That has to be the one.

  Knowing it’s my only hope, but still terrified that Griffin won’t help me, I run as fast as I can toward the cabin.

  When I get to the door, I lose all sense of composure, biting back a sob as I slam my tied hands against the door.

  “Please help me. Please help me. Please—” I’m cut off as the door suddenly opens and someone grabs me by the arm to pull me inside.

  As the door shuts behind me, I look up at Griffin, who locks it and stares down at me impatiently.

  Maybe he just got back from being outside. Maybe he’s still pissed about the kiss, even though it was his fault.

  Maybe he feels bad for not saving me, which he should since he just proved he was actually bad.

  But then he just grabs my hands and pulls me forward, throwing me not too gently onto the bed.

  I look up, afraid for a moment that his intentions are like Clive’s, but then he extends a finger and puts it in the rope of knot holding my hands together.

  With a quick movement, the ropes fall away, cut down the center. I look down at his hand just in time to see a black claw retract into his hand.

  He set me free.

  I sigh in relief, stretching my hands and fighting the urge to sob in relief while he just stares at me, folding his arms and leaning against the dresser.

  “I’m sorry about that,” he says solemnly, full lips pursed.

  I’m grateful he isn’t sending me back out there, but I’m still pissed that he didn’t help.

  I turn away from him, curled into a ball.

  I don’t need to know what he’s sorry for. Lee was wrong. Griffin is bad.

  “This doesn’t change anything,” he says flatly, putting his hand on the doorknob. “Tomorrow, I sell you. But you’ll be safe for tonight. I promise you that.”

  Then he exits, shutting the door behind him. I run over to the window and see him sitting on the porch, looking out at the dark forest.

  So he’s just going to sit there all night, guarding the cabin?

  It only confuses me, seeing him care.

  Then again, he’s going to sell me tomorrow. Perhaps he just doesn’t want anyone stealing the merchandise.

  I pull the blankets around me, trying to calm myself and take advantage of one of the only peaceful moments I might have.

  Despite what just happened, my pulse is slowing and my body is calming.

  I’m safe. Nothing happened.

  I turn to the ceiling and think of my sister’s face, peaceful in repose. Of my call center. Of the last time I saw my parents, years ago.

  I’m sorry, Anna. We just can’t take it.

  So I had to. Because I’m strong.

  I roll over, pulling the blankets around me. Tomorrow, I’ll just have to try again with Griffin. Try again to convince him to help me. Try again to see why Lee wanted him helped.

  And maybe, most terrifyingly, try not to think about that kiss.

  8

  The next morning, I’m awakened to the sound of chaos and Griffin roughly shaking my shoulder as I blearily try to make sense of what is going on.

  I push myself up and look around, and though it’s morning and the sun is streaming in, it’s a little gray, a little dimmed compared to what I’m used to.

  It’s the first thing to remind me I’m in a different world.

  The second thing is Griffin’s amazing eyes, that startling combination of gray and blue staring at me intently.

  His big, handsome body is clothed in a red flannel shirt over a black tee, combined with dark, worn jeans and work boots.

  He looks like a model dressed up as a lumberjack. I kind of dig it.

  He doesn’t like me; that much I’m sure of. He might have kissed me, maybe just to throw me off guard, but he isn’t my friend.

  If he was, he wouldn’t have left me alone with Clive last night.

  I still shudder to think what would have happened if that beam hadn’t fallen on Clive’s head.

  Griffin sends a worried look toward the door of the cabin, and I tune into sounds coming from the vicinity.

  Yelling, terrified shouts, and the sound of strong winds.

  I jerk myself straight up, throwing the covers off me. “What’s going on?”

  “Black dragon,” Griffin says. “He’s one of the things I protect the wolves from.” He gives me a wry grin. “Just between us, he’s a friend. Though, he always makes a bunch of trouble when he shows up here.”

  My brows wrinkle at Griffin’s pleasant tone as he stands up and stretches, heading fo
r the doorway.

  “When are you going to sell me?” I ask, running after him in an attempt to catch his arm.

  He whirls on me, jerking out of reach. “I don’t know, human. Why don’t we see if the black dragon has an opinion on that?”

  “Black? Why black?”

  “We all have colors, or didn’t you know that?” He puts his palm over his face, shaking his head. “Whoever sent you really didn’t tell you anything.”

  I blink at him. “Which color are you?”

  He puts his hands on his hips. “Really?”

  I think for a moment and then snap my fingers, blaming my tiredness for not realizing it sooner. “Red.”

  He gives a quick nod, almost proud. “Come on. Let’s go. He’ll know better than me what you’re worth.”

  “What about the bears?” I ask, hesitating at the door and peeking out for any glimpse of Clive.

  “They’re all now aware you’re off-limits. Until I decide what to do with you, that is. I think Clive learned his lesson.”

  “Because a beam fell on him?”

  A slight blush passes over Griffin’s high cheekbones. “They just know, okay?”

  “Aw, did you stand up for me? Tell them to leave me alone?” I ask, following him out of the cabin. “Maybe you aren’t such a big, bad dragon after all.”

  He runs a hand through his red hair. “Forget it. Anyway, no more bears should bother you, for now.”

  “What about this black dragon person? Is he a good dragon or bad like you?” I shove my hands in my jacket pockets nervously.

  Griffin puts his hand through his hair again, and it’s thick enough that it adorably sticks up in all directions afterward. “I don’t even know how to answer that. Wait, yes, I do. If he’s here, he’s bad. End of story. You’d be smart not to trust him.”

  “Or you?”

  “Right,” Griffin says tightly, shaking his head as he starts walking out from among the cabins, toward the source of the noise.

  I cover my ears as the howling rush of wind gets louder, and the rest of the bears lock themselves away in their cabins. Griffin is walking me out to an area that is bare except for dry grass, no trees or cabins in sight.

  “My landing area,” Griffin says. “But Seth sometimes uses it.”

  “Seth?” I ask, curiosity bubbling up in me.

  “You’ll see,” is Griffin’s only answer as he stops at the edge of the landing space, hands on his hips. “He’s coming in now.”

  I put a hand up to shield my eyes, though it always feels a bit cloudy here no matter how brightly the sun is shining.

  The wind is still swirling, making little dried leaves and pine needles fly through the air in a wide circle as dust rises from the grass.

  Something lands in the clearing with a loud thump, shaking the ground, and I have to take a step forward to catch my balance.

  At first, Griffin’s arm reaches out to steady me, touching my lower back, but after an awkward look between us, he quickly pulls back, leaving me heated.

  Dammit, why do I have to be so affected by his touch?

  I squint at the spot where the thump sounded, feeling like there’s something I’m supposed to see, only I can’t.

  “You can uncloak, Seth,” Griffin says. “She knows about us.”

  Almost instantly, like an invisible curtain is falling, a shimmering, black monster is revealed from top to bottom.

  A slender head lined with spikes on both sides, shimmering like obsidian. Intelligent eyes the color of fire, orange on the outside, toxic green at the center.

  A long, pointed snout with defined nostrils. A huge, tall body with fierce legs leading to long, black talons and a spiny back with huge wings that are currently folding in.

  It’s bigger than a house and lowers its head to study me, making me back into Griffin, who catches me with sturdy arms.

  The dragon narrows his eyes, looking between us. “A human?” His voice is a hiss that can make trees rumble. I’m in awe just at his size.

  Does Griffin look like this?

  The dragon’s eyes are pinned on me. “Griffin is red, not black.”

  I sigh. “He can read minds too?”

  “Almost all dragons can,” Griffin says frankly, folding his muscular arms. “Even if we don’t want to, it’s like a voice that comes in and out, depending on how much you want us to hear you.”

  “Oh, got it,” I say, turning to Seth. “I don’t want you to read my mind either.”

  The dragon rears slowly back to full height, looking down at me disdainfully. “I don’t care what you want.”

  I gulp at that, taking a step backward as Griffin moves in front.

  It seems almost… protective, if I’m honest. Griffin probably doesn’t want anyone messing with his merchandise.

  “Seth, you know you should be in human form,” Griffin says. “You’re wasting your poison resistance.”

  Green flares in the dragon’s eyes, and his lip curls in indignation. But with a sparkling veil that falls like dropped diamonds, the dragon disappears.

  In his place, rising from one knee on the ground, is a young guy.

  A young guy unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. And maybe not that young, now that I look at him. His features are just… boyish.

  No, that doesn’t cover it.

  He looks like a girl. A beautiful girl, except for his hard jawline and severe cheekbones and straight, bordering-on-masculine nose.

  His eyes are luminous. A toxic green that borders on radioactive, glowing even in the overcast sun.

  But that’s not the most notable thing about him.

  No, the most notable thing is probably the tubes that wind around the sleeves of his long black coat and feed into the top of his neck, carrying something dark and bluish.

  His coat’s tall collar is folded down so I can see his hair is just past his jaw, brushing his shoulders, layered slightly.

  It’s a confusing shade that takes me a minute to figure out. It’s blond, golden at the roots and lighter through the body, almost white until it hits an inch from the end.

  Then all of it fades to black, making it look singed at the edges.

  His eyelashes are blond, his lips pale, his entire face devoid of color.

  He looks sickly and strong at the same time, and he stands very straight as he looks over at me, a faint scowl on his lips.

  “Griffin,” he says, greeting the man next to me.

  “Seth,” Griffin says, walking forward, extending a hand.

  Seth merely stares at it, then shoves his hands in his pockets. “Have you found any new shipments?”

  Griffin shakes his head. “No. Even synthetic blue serum is getting rarer.”

  Seth turns to face the trees, feet spread apart, hands still in pockets. He lets out a sigh. “I suppose it’s a miracle I’ve even lasted this long in this world. Perhaps I should stop trying.”

  “No,” Griffin says, walking forward. “We can get you more serum.” He points to me. “I’m taking this human to the Arcwood market. I’m sure we can find more there with the price she’ll fetch.”

  Seth turns back to him, narrowing his beautiful eyes to slits. “You never go with me. You bring me the merchandise, and I sell it. What’s different now?”

  Griffin’s jaw tightens. “Obviously, this is a little different. It’s a human.”

  Seth stalks over to me, ignoring the way I cringe. He catches me by the hand and lifts it over my head, holding me in place like he might restrain a stray dog. Then he sniffs the air above me. He jerks slightly, releasing my hand before both his arms wrap around me, pulling me in.

  I gasp and struggle for a moment, worried when my hand bumps into one of the tubes running down his sleeves.

  Is it some kind of IV or something?

  “Hey now,” Griffin says, coming over to try and separate us, though Seth appears to not want to let go.

  Seth growls at Griffin, setting him back a pace. “Can you not sense what she is?”
>
  I frown. What I am?

  Griffin snorts. “You don’t know that.”

  “Don’t know what?” I ask, lost.

  “Dragons can read each other’s minds too,” Griffin says. “Useful when flying.”

  “I’m positive,” Seth says. “I can feel it when I touch her.”

  Griffin frowns. “It doesn’t work like that. Besides, why would it matter? We’re here now. You don’t think we could… that we—”

  “Yes,” Seth says. “You and I could. Would you want to?”

  Griffin’s look is hard, and then he reaches between us and finally separates us from one another. “First, hands off the merchandise.”

  Seth looks irritated at having lost hold of me, and his hands look like they are itching to grasp me again.

  Despite his strangeness, I can’t say I’d mind it. It was a shock, but then his arms were warm. He wasn’t hurting me…

  “Come on,” Griffin says, pulling Seth a few feet away to talk. “We don’t need to do this in front of the human.”

  Seth allows himself to be pulled away by the bigger man, but he turns to watch me over his shoulder, startling green eyes following me all the way.

  Seth is unlike anyone I’ve ever met before. From the beauty in his face to the pain in his eyes to the impulsive way he acts, he’s truly unique.

  “He’s filled with poison.”

  I jump at the sound of a voice when there’s no one in sight, and then look down to see Lee’s face poking up through the grass.

  “Oh my God, you can’t keep doing that,” I hiss, glancing up at the dragons, who are arguing as they walk farther away. Seth seems to be trying to convince Griffin about something.

  “I wasn’t expecting Seth to show up this quickly,” Lee whispers tersely. “It’s definitely a bit of a complication.”

  “Is he not one of the friends you wanted me to find?”

  Lee shakes his head. “Not yet. He’s the most dangerous.”

  My eyes wander over to him, and I can’t help but wonder what makes him so dangerous in a world where monsters already abound.

  “Let’s talk in the cabin. We don’t have much time,” Lee says.

  I turn to face Griffin and put both hands on the side of my mouth to call out. “I’m going back inside. Gonna find some breakfast.”