Page 10 of Feathers and Scales

“Daxton, what is this creature inside me?” she asked.

“You can ask her that yourself.”

“Where did you find her?”

He sighed. “I went to Acadia the other night and came across a Tattered One. It looked like it had attacked her and left her to die.”

Tattered One. That must be what they call an Archfiend.

Reminded of the monstrosity, a cold sweat rushed over Izzy. Her stomach protested, nausea burning her spirit throat. She had forgotten the Archfiend still lived, searching for her body. After destroying her spirit, he’d need to kill her body to absorb her power.

If he destroys my human form, I’ll have to start my life over again. I can’t wait more years to find my way back to Heaven.

She disengaged herself from Sarah’s external senses. “Sarah. There is no time to waste. I have to go home.”

“Do not fret, child. As soon as we know where to take you, we will.”

Izzy floated around the dragon to stare it down, trying to convey her seriousness. “You do not understand. My life is at risk. I must return at once.”

Tatta-tat-tat.

Daxton’s fingers thumped a repetitive, irritation-induced staccato against the leather armrest. Clouds rolled by the window of his private jet as he and Sarah flew toward Memphis where Miss Tagalong needed to return. He rubbed another dusty spot on his pants. They’d been in such a rush, he hadn’t been able to change. Sarah still wore her scrubs.

Though the plane came equipped with ample comfortable chairs, a daybed, and a bar, the space suffocated him. He preferred to spread his own wings, something dragons rarely did. They were visible to the naked eye, and the few humans who knew of their existence hunted them. To keep their kind a secret, the Centurions around the globe made the joint decision to forbid shifting outside dragon capitals or while on the hunt.

A phone chimed from his seat’s cupholder. His eyes jumped to Sarah, who sat across from him. Taking a deep calming breath, he answered the call. “Percy?”

The chief of Wilgon Territory demanded, syllables punctuated, “What emergency do you have that requires Right of Passage to my territory?”

Rebellious dragon dominance clouded Daxton’s mind with swirling heated thoughts. He clenched his jaw as he restrained his retort. If he wanted to stay a chief, he’d have to act like one. Sarah shifted in her seat, squeaking against the leather.

For chiefs, gaining the right to another’s territory was arduous. Daxton’s Dyamur Territory only included most of the New England states and two provinces in Canada, so Tennessee lay outside his jurisdiction. Sneaking in would have raised too many questions if they caught him.

“I have a dire situation with one of my construction projects.” Daxton grabbed the pad of paper from his side desk. Earlier, he had scribbled down the name of a project that someone had contracted Prater Properties to oversee in case Percy asked.

“Something your CEO can’t handle?” Percy said.

“If he could, I wouldn’t have called and left you a message.” Daxton thumped the chair again.

“I don’t like last-minute calls, Daxton. They make me suspicious. I’m surprised you didn’t have Keiran demand the Rights for you. Did you have a falling-out? Or are you trying to hide something from him?”

Daxton leaned back and glared at the overhead buttons. He couldn’t understand Percy’s fascination with drama. But he was right. Daxton didn’t want to speak to Keiran—their Centurion who governed over Canada and the United States. Keiran’s dominance could make Daxton confess everything about Miss Tagalong. Something possessive breathed inside him, wanting to keep her to himself.

“This is time-sensitive,” Daxton said. “I wouldn’t bother the Centurion with something if I believed I could deal with it myself. But if you insist on holding me up, I will go above you.”

“I’ll send an escort.” The line died.

At Sarah’s questioning gaze, Daxton set the phone down and pursed his lips. “We’re clear.”

She huffed and leaned back in her chair. She knew just as well as Daxton how conniving Percy could be. Percy had once spread a rumor that one of Sarah’s friends had a relationship with her chief that interfered with their duties. Keiran had relocated Sarah’s friend to another territory.

Daxton couldn’t risk Percy discovering Miss Tagalong and telling Keiran. He drew in deep breaths, but his body remained coiled tight.

If Miss Tagalong would rather be with Sarah, good riddance, right?

His dragon didn’t agree. It pawed at the link as if it could bring her back. It seemed like she stared back at him through Sarah’s gray eyes.

Catching his gaze, Sarah shook her head. “She’s unresponsive. Just meditating or really, it feels like she’s going through some kind of internal library.”