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Chapter

Thirty-Six

When we land in Sapphire’s clearing, a black dragon is sprawled out where she was earlier. He looks up toward us, his bright emerald eyes a stark contrast to the rest of him. I want to ask if that’s the dragon boyfriend, but I have no way of communicating outside of growls, whines, and yaps.

My father pats Sapphire’s head and laughs. “Looks like your boyfriend missed you.”

Now I have my answer.

The dragon snorts before a sharp descent, which causes me to slide forward into Harek. He tightens his grip around me, holding me in place.

Sapphire lands right next to her boyfriend and nuzzles him. They both make happy noises, but the other one eyes me with suspicion. His concern pulsates out in waves I can both see and smell.

I leap onto the ground and hurry toward the entrance to the house—not that I’m even sure if my father wants a wolf in his home.

Einar pats the new dragon. “It’s fine, Vash. These are friends.”

Harek leaps down onto the ground with a thud, still holding my sword. “I don’t suppose you have any clothes Eira can change into? I think she’s hesitant to shift back because her clothes shredded. If you don’t have anything, I can return to Vivvi’s place. I’m sure she’s wondering where we are.”

My father shakes his head. “No reason to go to her. I still have some of her mother’s things, including her wardrobe.” He turns to me. “Let me take you there. Does that sound good?”

Relief washes through me, and I manage a nod.

“Perfect. Follow me.” Einar starts toward the entrance, but then opens another door instead. “The dragon food is in here, Harek. Do you mind feeding them? Sapphire is always famished after a long flight.”

“Sure, but I’ll feed them after I see where you take Eira.”

My father cocks a brow. “Still don’t trust me, even after all that?”

“Nope.”

Einar pats him on the back. “I appreciate that. I’m glad she’s had you looking after her all these years. It seems she needed it while dealing with that stepfather of hers.”

“You have no idea,” Harek mutters. “I hope her bite kills him slowly. He deserves it.”

“Unfortunately, that didn’t look like a lethal wound. But she has her sword, and that’s all the really matters.”

“We’ll see about that.”

“Yes, we shall.” My father marches into the mansion, and Harek and I hurry after him.

He leads us through even more of the home than before, taking us through so many corridors I’m not sure I’ll remember how to get back out. Not that I know how much I’ll remember once I turn back into myself. It’s possible I’ll forget all of this since transforming into a wolf.

I’m going to have a talk with Harek about the whole ‘we only shift within a day of the full moon’ nonsense. Plus, if I’m being honest, I’m rather disappointed about having destroyed that outfit. It was far and away the nicest thing I’d ever worn. Now it’s gone.

Einar stops in front of a door. “Your mother’s things are all in here. This is where she kept them, and she only took a little with her when she left. I never had the heart to remove a single item, always hoping one day she’d return. Now it’s all yours. Do what you think best with it.”

Harek opens the door and steps inside.

I start to go in, but he motions for me to stop. If I wasn’t a wolf, I’d argue with him but I do appreciate him looking out for me. Though at this point, I trust my father. Not only did he risk himself and his dragon to help me get my sword back, but he kept my mother’s things all this time. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.

“Everything looks good.” Harek steps back into the hall and looks into my eyes. “Are you going to be okay shifting back? I can be there with you.”

I try to express through my eyes that I’ll be fine. The last thing I want at this point is to shift in front of him. Maybe someday, if our relationship goes in that direction, but for now it’s a big no.

My bones ache, which seems like a clue that they want to shift back into my natural form. I nudge my way past Harek into the room. Then I use my muzzle and paws to close the door between us. If that doesn’t answer his question, nothing else will.

Conversation sounds in the hall, then footsteps. Both grow quieter.

I’m alone. Now I can shift back.

The ache turns into sharp pains, similar to what I felt back at the farm. I close my eyes and whine. This is going to be as painful as before.

Agony rips through every inch of me in hot waves.

I let go, stop holding it back, and let nature take over.