Mentored in Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights)

“Your dragon is huge, right?” I asked, my teeth just about to chatter. I wasn’t cold—the temperature here was as perfect as the Realm—but I was suddenly nervous. I remembered fighting that rainbow dragon at the circus. That thing had been crazy.

Then again, I’d been trying to conceal my magic at the time. I wouldn’t have to worry about that here.

“Very. One of the largest,” he said, and I heard a little smugness in his voice.

“And it chose you?”

“Yes. As did several others. But hers was the battle offer I accepted.”

“Oh.” I climbed from the buggy, seeing the second buggy behind us, black instead of gold, probably matching Cahal’s mood. He made no move to get out. “More than one can pick you?”

“Not usually. But…” He pushed his hand against his chest. “I’m the king of the Underworld. There is status in being bonded to me. Many of them wanted to reap the rewards of carrying me on their back. It happens every time I need to bond a new dragon. They are not immortal.”

“What rewards?”

“She is the queen of the dragons—she has the choicest nest, gets carcasses brought to her—”

“Carcasses of…?”

“Of various Underworld animals. Once you are thoroughly trained, we can travel the wilds. Many areas are incredibly dangerous. I know you’d be fine, but some of the creatures are important to the ecosystem, and I can’t risk you killing the wrong thing.”

It took me a moment to unpack all of that. It was entirely clear there was a good deal of the Underworld I had yet to learn. It was like scratching the surface and then falling down a huge well.

“Anyway, when she is heavily pregnant or with new life, I hunt out the choicest hides and bring them to her. It is something any dragon rider would do, but…”

“You’re the most powerful, and therefore can wrangle the best…hide. Hides.”

“Exactly, yes. Plus treats and baths and…”

I shook my head, not even able to imagine what it took to bathe such an enormous beast. I let it go for now.

“And why don’t the other dragons get those things? Money?”

“No.” He shrugged and walked to the center of the gate. “I take care of what is mine. She is my responsibility, and so she will have whatever she needs. She repays me by marching into battle if I need, or taking me for a pleasure cruise.”

“Or hunting down the latest disturbance in your kingdom.”

He smiled. “Not going to let that go, are you?”

“Not likely, no. She killed innocents.”

“No one in the Edges is innocent, and you let her do it so as not to reveal your magic.”

A grin wrestled with my lips, and I had to stop from laughing. “You have me there.”

“Yes. Trying to act high and mighty when you are no better than me…” He tsked.

I did laugh this time. “I should be better than you. Everyone agrees.”

“Everyone? Who, the druid? Your vampire? They turn you against me when they don’t know me?”

He had me there, too. “So the other dragon owners don’t do as much for their dragons?”

“It depends, but largely no. I am overbearing in the extreme when it comes to taking care of what’s mine. If only your mother were here—she would back me up on that.”

My gut twisted and longing stole over me. I knew she would. I’d heard stories. More stories than I cared to, even. The sexier ones on her deathbed had made me want to pour bleach in my ears.

“And yet I am trapped down here,” I murmured, because I had to. I was torn—so torn—and I needed some sign that he was terrible. That I was trapped, which would make him the bad guy. Which would make the choice to leave easier.

Lucifer waved his hand, and Cahal came floating out of the buggy, arms firmly crossed over his chest.

“You are learning right now, and hopefully shedding some of the untrue stories you’ve been fed. After I am sure you know me—really know me—and are leaving for the right reasons, I will let you go. It will break my heart, but I will let you go, hoping you will come back.”

I stared into his eyes, looking for the lie. Looking for the flat expression that would indicate he was holding something back. I only saw earnestness, and a shadow of worry.

I blew out a breath, apparently the way I dealt with things beyond my control, which was this whole endeavor. I turned toward the gate. “What happens now?”

“We enter the dragons’ territory and see what comes.”

Something flowered in my middle. “See what comes” was exactly the way I liked doing things. No planning, no strategizing, just walking in and rolling with the punches.

“No sweat.” I sliced through Lucifer’s magic on Cahal, dropping the druid to the ground. He staggered but caught himself before falling on his face. Lucifer’s expression flattened. “He’s my pet. I should hold the leash.”