Page 89 of Daman

“Here we are.” Kira grabbed a black coat and came over to me. “May I?”

“Um. Sure.” I stuck my arm into one sleeve and then the other. The coat was totally my style, slim-fitting and black with green embroidery along the collar. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. “This is awesome, Kira. Thank you.”

“Try it out,” she said, lifting her hands to her mouth in anticipation.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” There weren’t any holes in the back of the coat. If I released my wings, they would tear the material to shreds.

“Trust me. It’ll work.” She breathed out a laugh. “I hope so anyway. This is the first time I’ve ever designed something like this.”

“Okay.” I cast a final look at my reflection. It was a shame. The coat was badass. I’d miss it once it was in tatters on the floor.

I released my wings.

Kira squealed. “It worked!”

Stunned, I peered at my wings and then down at the coat. “How?”

“The material was made with magic thread,” she said, excited.

“I didn’t think that was even possible.”

“It’s something new I’ve been experimenting with.” Kira ran her hands over my shoulders and peeked at the spot where my wings came through the coat. “Now that I know it works, I want to make more. My plan is to design armor for our warriors where they can shift into their full dragon forms and have the armor shift with them.”

“So they won’t rip their clothes and be naked when changing back into their human forms,” I said, tossing Warrin a smile.

He blushed and averted his eyes. So fucking adorable.

“That too,” Kira said with a laugh.

As we left Kira’s studio, my awesome new coat draped over my arm, Armen met us in the hall.

“The king wishes to see you in his study before you leave,” he said, bowing.

Warrin guided me in that direction, his hand at my lower back. Butterflies filled my stomach. So did warmth. Nikolai turned to us when we entered the study.

“Come in.” Tension caused wrinkles in the king’s brow. He pulled out a cigar, clipped the end, and lit it, dragging smoke into his lungs before blowing it out.

“Is everything all right?” Warrin asked.

Nikolai didn’t respond. He only puffed on his cigar and paced. Anticipation built as I waited for him to say something. I wanted to snap at him to just spill the news, but I refrained from doing so.

Alastair would be proud of me. It wasn’t often I held my tongue.

“Viktor told you about the demon situation improving?” Nikolai finally said, sitting in one of the chairs in front of the fire. Warrin and I remained standing. “Fortunate news.”

“Yes.” Warrin’s eyes narrowed. “Yet, you’re worried. Why?”

“Alastair called me earlier this evening.” The king lifted the cigar to his lips again. “The demons have fled Echo Bay as well. And I wish to know why. The timing is suspicious, is it not? Why the sudden retreat?”

“It’s a game,” I said. “Asa demonstrated his power by approaching Warrin the other night. By calling off his minions, it’s just another demonstration of that power. He wants us to know that he’s calling the shots. Or so he thinks.”

Nikolai’s eyes shifted to me, and the blue appeared so much colder than Warrin’s ever did. “I’m beginning to fear siding with you was the first big mistake I’ve made in my time as king. A mistake that will bring destruction upon everything I hold dear. My family. My kingdom. All because of your war.”

“Mywar?” I stepped toward him, fist clenching at my side. “Asa wants to enslave humanity. Kill countless people. And once he’s finished with the humans, he’ll do the same to everyone else. Shifters, vamps, all of us. You would stand by and let him?”

“Watch your tone, boy.”

“Boy? I was fighting in battles long before you came screaming into this world,Your Majesty.”