Loved by Light (Wings, Wands and Soul Bonds Book 4) Page 9

  He runs to the side, and the roots blast through the pavement, the width of tree trunks as they shoot after him while Ian runs in a circle to avoid their grasp.

  “You made me this way,” the creature shrieks. “You and those like you. You’ll pay!”

  Ian skids to a halt, then jumps onto one of the tree roots, riding it as it climbs up, bucking. He jumps down and dodges another root. “No. It wasn’t me. And what happened to you was wrong, but—” He dodges another swing. “But we’re here to help you. To make it right.”

  The man glares, then changes again until he looks like he’s covered with scales, slightly taller than a human, glittering like a beetle shell from head to toe as fiery wings outlining leathery dragon wings shoot from his back to rise above him by ten feet. “Does it look like you can make it right? I shouldn’t exist!” His voice is filled with genuine agony, and it reaches deep into my soul.

  As if hypnotized, I start forward, avoiding Dallin’s hand as he reaches out to jerk me back.

  I pick up my pace, running faster.

  “Ian! Wait!” I don’t know why, but I don’t want him to hurt this lost creature.

  Ian turns to face me, and panic makes him pale as a ghost as he sees the dragon turning its attention to me as well.

  “A human?” The dragon looks at him. “Yours?”

  Ian just waves to me. “Go back, Liz. No!”

  I skid to a halt, suddenly wondering what I’m doing, but my gaze locks with the dragon’s and for a moment, his face goes softer.

  Like he can’t decide what to do. It’s the first time I’ve seen him feeling anything but pure rage.

  His scales recede, and he takes a step back. “I don’t kill humans. Or women.”

  Ian’s gray eyes send me a silent warning not to reveal that I’m fae.

  The dragon is shirtless, wearing ragged pants, with only blue-green dragon wings arching from his back. He turns to Ian. “Just kill me. Before the chaos takes over again.”

  Ian shakes his head. “I will not.” He looks over at Dallin. “Now!”

  Quicker than I thought possible, Dallin whips a crossbow out of his large jacket and aims it at the dragon.

  The dragon lets out a yowl and stumbles forward, and I see a large, blue-fluid-filled dart embedded in his arm.

  He looks up at me, lost as his eyes lose focus. Then he slumps back on the ground, utterly still.

  Ian just stares at him as Dallin jogs over to us.

  “Dammit,” Dallin says, pressing his hand to the man’s neck to check his pulse. Then he sits back on his haunches, shaking his head. “Do you see what I mean? These are good dragons, and the light kingdom has fucked them up so badly.”

  Ian nods. “It’s why I will never say no to one of your favors.”

  Dallin glances up at him. “You shouldn’t ever say no to Ultraviolet either.”

  Ian just quietly nods, avoiding my gaze. I’m definitely going to ask him about this Ultraviolet person later.

  Dallin sighs and reaches down to heft the dragon up, standing with him over his shoulder as if he weighs nothing. He glances at me. “I guess it’s good you brought the runt. This dragon had a soft spot.”

  “If you ask me, all dragons have a soft spot,” Ian says, glancing at Dallin.

  “Shut up,” Dallin says. “Anyway, when I need you again, I’ll call you.”

  I turn to Ian. “What was that wall?”

  Dallin grins back at us, and it looks more like a predator baring teeth than any genuine sign of happiness. “Emerald. They really fucked up when they gave me emerald dragon blood.”

  Ian nods. “He’s powerful. The fae world would do well not to underestimate him.”

  “I have so much to learn,” I say blankly.

  “Take her home. Get her up to speed,” Dallin says. “Then, for the good of both of you, let her go.”

  Then, in a second, he disappears from view, and all we hear is the flapping of giant wings as wind beats over the broken pavement.

  “I’m still jealous that they can cloak and go invisible,” Ian says as he leads the way back to the car, reaching out a hand for mine.

  “Yeah,” I say faintly, still shocked by everything that has happened.

  As he encloses my fingers in his, I realize he’s slightly shaking.

  When we reach the car, I pull him in for a hug, holding him close. “Were you afraid?” I ask, looking up at him.

  “Only for you,” he says. “If you got hurt because you were caught up in my foolishness…”

  “I don’t know what this is, but it’s not foolishness.” I pull back from him, and he opens the door for me to get inside the car.

  It’s kind of a relief to just sink into the plush leather after everything that has happened.

  He starts the car, and as we head back onto the road and my heart rate returns to normal, I look over at him curiously.

  “You know, I don’t think you’re wrong for doing this. People like that dragon need help. But I think it would be good if you told someone, like me, more about what’s going on. Like with Dallin. Or this Ultraviolet person.”

  His eyes are pained as he looks over at me. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I told you there were secrets I couldn’t say.”

  I bite my lower lip, disappointed, but then nod. “Okay.”

  He glances over. “Really? You aren’t going to be angry?”

  “You’ve done everything for me,” I say. “I’ll always owe you. Plus, I really care about you. I don’t want you more stressed because you think I’m mad about what you’re not telling me. I accept you, Ian. Just as you are.”

  He lets out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Liz. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m so glad you came into my life.”

  “Ditto,” I say, looking over at him.

  We drive for a moment, just letting things return to normal. As much as they can after fighting a giant dragon.

  “Want to go get some art supplies?” I ask.

  He laughs, finally looking relaxed as he looks over at me. “Sounds good.”

  I nod and kick back in my seat, but something bothers me slightly, making it hard to fully relax.

  When he said he couldn’t tell me, just for a moment, his eyes went a darker gray with less rainbow.

  It’s the second time it has happened, and I’m not sure what it means.

  But it’s something I’m going to keep an eye on just in case it means something is wrong.

  13

  Ian

  I can’t believe the way that dragon just stood down when it saw Liz.

  I don’t like it, and a part of me is jealous that she could have that effect on another male.

  But I also have to be grateful to her because it made the whole situation easier. And less dangerous.

  I’m just glad she’s safe, even though it occurs to me I’m in deeper than I thought if I’m angry at another male for simply looking at her.

  We’re just heading into the apartment building when Flynn comes striding out, almost hitting me with the door.

  His auburn hair glints in the sunlight, and his ember eyes study me, then relax. “Oh, I was just coming to look for you. I sensed distress in your bond.”

  Probably when I was fighting a huge hybrid dragon and saw my mate running toward me, unguarded.

  Mate? No. I don’t know where that came from.

  There’s nothing permanent in what we have. There can’t be.

  Callie pulls Flynn back, and Flynn holds the door for us to come into the building.

  “You two okay?” Callie asks Liz, who nods.

  “We’re doing great,” she says. “We stopped on the way home to get art supplies.”

  I wanted to get her something to distract her from what had just happened and the fact that I can’t tell her more.

  Also, I’m kind of dying to see one of her paintings. I like Liz so much I can only imagine I’ll be touched by her art as well if her heart comes across in it.

  “Liz, want to
come eat lunch with me?”

  She looks at me hesitantly. “Is that all right?”

  I glance at Flynn, who is giving me a look like he needs to talk to me. I give Liz a nod. “You’ll be safe with her. I’ll see you soon.”

  She looks like she’s about to hug me but then turns and goes with Callie, who puts her arm around Liz and starts gushing excitedly about the place she ordered lunch from.

  When they disappear into Flynn’s apartment down the hall, Flynn turns to me seriously and gestures toward my apartment.

  The one I used to share with him.

  I unlock it and we go inside, and the door is barely shut before he shoves me down into a chair and blocks my escape by standing in front of me.

  “Level with me,” he says firmly, standing with folded arms.

  “Hm, feels like when you were showing me how to be dominant,” I say, grinning. “Worked out well last night, by the way.”

  His cheeks flush, even though we only threw each other around a few times as he showed me how to make a move on a woman since I was so damn sheltered in the tower. “Be serious, Ian. I need to know what’s going on with you.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask, trying to play innocent.

  “Don’t play dumb with me,” he says sharply. “I should have paid more attention, but I’ve been honeymooning with Callie. The others said you were morose, but I felt distinct fear from you earlier today. Like you were fighting.”

  I frown. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I feel chaos on you when you lie to me,” Flynn says, leaning forward and putting his hands on either side of the chair, his face close to mine. “Don’t lie to me. Tell me what’s happening. I won’t tell the others if that’s what it takes, but you have to tell me. I’ll figure it out in some way on my own if you don’t.”

  I stay silent, unsure of what to do.

  “You aren’t taking more trips to the light kingdom?” He narrows his eyes.

  I shake my head because I’m technically not taking any more from here on out. And I haven’t in some time.

  “You’re lying.”

  “What’s it to you?” I ask. “As you say, you haven’t been around.”

  His eyes soften, then twinkle. “Aw, did you miss me, baby?”

  I give him a shove back. “Jerk. You always were a tease.”

  His eyes go serious again. “And you were always honest. Just tell me what’s happening.”

  I stay silent.

  “I smell dragon on you,” he says. “And chaos.”

  Shit.

  Of course Flynn would be sensitive enough to pick up on that. He always was the most perceptive of our group.

  “I can’t tell you,” I say, my jaw tensing. “It’s part of what I agreed to when you and Callie were saved.”

  Flynn pushes off the chair with a frustrated huff and turns away from me. Then he turns back to glare down at me again. “Then you shouldn’t bear the burden alone. We should help.”

  “Absolutely not,” I say firmly. “This is mine and mine alone.”

  “That’s not fair,” Flynn says, genuinely frustrated. “If you don’t tell me something, I’m going to have to go to the others.”

  “No,” I say quickly, panicked. “You’ll only make my life harder if you do. I’ll tell you something. I’m helping Dallin, Ultraviolet’s dragon, save some of the infected dragons from labs. That’s all I can say.”

  I wasn’t technically forbidden from talking about that part of my duties.

  Plus, Dallin already ratted me out by leaving his scent on me. I was told I could say what I had to if my friends started to pick up on the truth.

  “I know you’re not lying, so why do I still sense chaos on you?”

  I shake my head. “I don’t know, but don’t make this harder on me, Flynn.” I give him a strained smile. “I promise I’m not doing anything wrong.”

  He sighs. “All right. I’ll let it go for now, and I promise to be more supportive so you can come to me for anything if you need me.” His lips turn up in a grin. “Besides, hopefully, you’re going to focus on better things. Like what’s going on with Liz.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me. “How was the wine?”

  I feel my cheeks go bright red.

  “That answers my question,” he says with a chuckle. “I knew it. The way she looks at you…”

  I feel somewhat guilty about the whole thing now that reality has intruded again.

  Last night, everything seemed so simple. So wonderful.

  If I had met her sooner… but then…

  “I can see you’re getting in your head about this,” Flynn says, glaring at me. “Don’t.”

  “That’s easy for you to say,” I retort. “Your whole world wasn’t blown apart right before you met the person who is supposed to be your forever.”

  Flynn grins at me. “So she’s your soul bond, then?”

  I curse. “I didn’t say that. I mean, she could be. But not now, and it doesn’t matter—”

  “Ian…” Flynn looks torn and takes a step forward, reaching out as though he’s going to hug me.

  Normally, I appreciate furthering bonds, but today I don’t feel like it. I just feel sort of distant from everyone. Trapped between my duty and the truth and my heart.

  “I’m sorry, Flynn. I know you only want the best for me and to help me, but it’s time I finally grew up. Whatever I’m doing right now, I have to do it on my own. You helped me, taught me, back when I was innocent. But I can’t go back to being that way anymore.”

  He frowns. “Not even for a soul bond?”

  I can’t answer that, so I just stare up at him, lost.

  “Fine,” he says, shaking his shoulders and relaxing. “It’s okay. Don’t look so tense about it. Things will be okay. I’m sure of it. You want to watch some Love Villa? Just hang out for a bit?”

  I can’t help but be tempted since I haven’t seen my best friend in a while. “But you hate reality TV…”

  He grins. “Yeah, but I like you. Besides, don’t tell Callie, but I’m getting won over by it.”

  “Why not tell her?” I ask, puzzled.

  Flynn laughs, walking over to the couch and patting it for me to sit down next to him. “We trade off what to watch. I need my action movies, Ian.”

  I nod. “Makes sense.”

  I sit on the other side of the couch, and as we start up Love Villa and laugh about the couples, I feel my heart start to relax.

  The chaos that started in me when I couldn’t tell Liz what was happening, when I couldn’t tell Flynn what was happening, abates.

  Until I just feel like Ian again, sitting and watching a show with his friend.

  It’s fun and it’s easy, but it’s not long before I start wanting to see Liz again. Make sure she’s okay. Have her by my side.

  I shake my head and turn back to the TV because the feeling of wanting to see her, needing to be with her, is honestly so strong it worries me.

  14

  Liz

  I can tell Callie has something to ask me. Like Ian, she’s terrible at hiding her feelings.

  We’re eating delicious takeout burritos from a place that has always been too expensive for me, and she keeps darting glances at me nervously in between her easy small talk.

  She waits until I’m done eating and I set aside my food. Then she leans in, intertwining her fingers under her chin as she studies me. “How do you feel about Ian?”

  I laugh, taken aback, as I kick back in the comfy chair. “You don’t beat around the bush, do you?”

  She shakes her head. “I’m known for being blunt and just going right for it. I met Flynn when I asked him to take my virginity. I knew I wanted him the moment I saw him.” Her green eyes go warm like sunlit grass. “So how do you feel about Ian?”

  I frown, reaching for my soda to take a sip and give myself a bit of time before I answer. “Um. I’m not sure yet.”

  “Oh, come on, you like him. I see the way you look at each other.
”

  I sigh, running my hand through my curls and probably frizzing them up. “I do. I just… I’m not sure I’m allowed to.”

  Callie sits up. “What do you mean?”

  “Ian says he can’t have a soul bond,” I say carefully. “I don’t want to override his boundary. Right now, I’m just enjoying things with him. Seeing where life goes.”

  Helping him save dragons behind his friends’ backs.

  She frowns, leaning back on her couch and looking a bit lost. “Perhaps I should tell you a bit about what happened right before you met him.”

  I bite my lower lip. “Should I hear it from him?”

  “I don’t know if he’ll talk about it. He won’t really talk about it with anyone, except to say he was betrayed. But this is my story too because it happened because of me. So I have a right to say it, I think.”

  I nod. “Go ahead, then.” I definitely want to know anything if it helps me understand my friend.

  “I was captured and taken to the light kingdom. You see, light fae are looked up to by other kingdoms. They rule at the very top. Ian always thought every light fae was like the ones in his kingdom. Very moral. Concerned about others and those they protect. Light fae are supposed to be the most powerful.” She grins slightly.

  “Are they?”

  She shakes her head. “Well, I don’t know. But Flynn burned down a good chunk of their kingdom on his way to save me, and no one could stop him. Then again, Ian was helping him. See, Ian had come with me to the fae world, and when he found out the light fae who picked me up lied to me and were going to kill me, he tried to stop them. They imprisoned him, and Flynn freed him and they rescued me.”

  “Wow,” I say. “Sounds exciting.”

  “Except Ian died.”

  My jaw drops. “What?”

  “For a moment,” she says. “It turns out I have blue dragon blood in me, thanks to my father being a dragon. So… yeah. I brought him back since he wasn’t all the way gone. He just needed the connection to his magic healed.”

  “Wow,” I say, dazed as I sit back and stare at her. “So… what does this have to do with me and Ian?”