Dragon Blood 1: Pliethin (7 page)

“You mean to tell me that wasn’t what you were angling for earlier tonight?” When Amber only glared at him, Kade laughed and gestured towards the bed. “Don’t worry, you’ll be the only human in it tonight.”

Was she still human? She didn’t know. She took a hesitant step towards the bed, sending a cautious glance towards Kade. When he remained by the doorway, she threw back the covers and dropped onto the bed. “You can turn the light out now.”

Kade rested his hand on the switch. “No invading my thoughts in your dreams.” He smiled, turning out the light.

She blinked at the sudden darkness. When she blinked again she was surprised to find the room wasn’t as dark as she’d first thought. She searched for the source of light. There was none. Rolling over so her back was to the door, she quickly closed her eyes, not wanting to think what it meant. But she couldn’t help the thought, ‘cats see in the dark’, from invading her mind. Squashing it, she focused instead on reconstructing her own room, in her own home, in her mind. She wished she was there right now. Her grandmother’s house would never be home.

Amber’s eyes popped open and she glanced around. Nothing. Whatever sound had woken her had stopped. She rolled onto her back and sat up. She was completely silent. Her movements didn’t disturb the dragon curled on the bed with her, taking up most of the space. She felt like pushing him onto the floor. No other human! Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she stood up, quietly crossing the room and letting herself out. Closing the door behind her, she wandered to the bathroom, returning to the kitchen once she’d finished in there.

Noise caught her attention and she stepped back into the laundry. Movement at the window drew her forward. Her eyes narrowed and she saw a bird jump from branch to branch in one of the trees outside. She could see each feather, the eyes that checked for danger and the way its head turned towards each sound. Easing the back door open, she stalked towards the tree. She leapt and grabbed one of the lower branches, swinging herself up. She paused. When the bird remained unaware of her, she pulled herself higher.

Crouching on the branch, she waited. The bird came near. It darted away. Closer. It paused to trill. Then it landed near her. Amber leapt up onto the next branch and her hand streaked out, grabbing the bird as it tried to fly away. She could feel its heart beat fast as it tried to struggle out of her grip. She could smell it. The tantalising smell of her prey filled her senses.

“Amber! What are you doing up there?”

Startled by Maira’s words, Amber nearly fell from the tree, opening her hand to grab a branch. The bird darted away. She looked around, half dazed. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. “Trying to see how quickly I can be committed.” She shakily descended the tree. Twice she almost fell.

“Committed to what?”

Flinn stepped out the back door. “What’s she doing here?”

“I invited her. It’s not like I can invite other females over. Not without a lot of preparation and planning and making sure everything looks normal. Do you think I enjoying being stuck in a house full of males all the time? Five to one are pretty bad odds.”

“Then keep her out of my way.” Flinn spun, striding back inside.

“Isn’t he cheerful.” Amber strode towards Maira. “Why did you tell him I’m here to even up the odds?”

“I didn’t.” Maira grinned. “Not once did I actually come out and say that. What he chooses to take from my words is his business.”

Amber shook her head. “What have you got for breakfast?” She glanced in the direction the bird had flown, forcing herself not to think about it. Although today her stomach didn’t rebel at the thought of eating a live animal. Horror rushed through her and she missed Maira’s words. “Do you have breakfast cereal and milk?” When Maira looked at her in concern, she demanded, “What?”

“I said we often catch our own. There might be some bread in the fridge for when I make sandwiches for school lunches.”

Kade appeared in the doorway, wearing only leather pants. “I wondered where you’d gotten to.”

“Trying to catch a bird.” Amber glared at Kade.

He laughed. When Maira opened her mouth to ask a question, he waved her away. She went without comment. “Walk with me.” He dropped an arm around her shoulder, guiding her away from the house.

Wanting to talk to him, Amber remained at his side. “How do I stop this? I can’t get up and leave the classroom when I notice prey outside.”

“Maybe you need to take a few days off while you sort it out.”

Amber pulled away from him. “Sort it out! And how the hell am I meant to do that? I wish I’d never met you.” She spun away, striding towards the gum trees that stood on the other side of the open paddock they were in.

“Amber!”

She ignored Kade, breaking into a run when she heard him follow. He came closer. She could hear him. Smell him. He smelled like predator. She ran faster, a long easy stride without effort. He ran beside her. She forced herself to move faster. Suddenly she loped across the ground, the grass rising up around her body, her paws silent. A rumble started in the back of her throat. She roared as she turned to face Kade. He stopped abruptly. Amber’s eyes narrowed as she watched him. He took a step back.

He smelt like predator, acted like prey. She sprung, powerful limbs throwing her forward. He shot off the ground, a dragon taking flight.

“Amber! You’re human. Remember you’re human.”

Amber howled in rage as she looked up at him. An image pushed into her mind. Herself prowling back and forth, a panther with tattered cotton flapping around her. Shock shuddered through her. She felt herself change. It was like a shiver going through her body. Kade landed in front of her, human the moment he touched the earth. Amber rose from the ground, trying to pull the tatters of her dress around her, very few of the seams still intact.

“Maira’s bringing you something to wear.”

“I don’t want this. Please. There has to be some way to make it go away.”

“Amber, I’m-”

“If you say you’re sorry, I’m going to turn into a panther and rip your limbs from your body.”

Kade grinned. “Do you think you can turn into a panther at will?”

She glared at Kade, wanting to tell him she could change whenever she wanted, but she knew that wasn’t true. She didn’t have a clue how to change. Or how to throw fireballs. Or even what other surprises she had to look forward to. She stopped that train of thought immediately. What did it matter? She didn’t want to be able to do any of those things. She wanted her life back. Unchanged. There had to be a way to fix this.

“Heads up.”

At Maira’s warning, Amber looked up. As soon as she did, the black and silver dragon dropped the clothes she carried, wheeled in the sky and flew towards the house. Amber caught the black leather, turned her back to Kade and quickly pulled on the long pants. Removing the tattered clothes, she slipped on the leather vest. Once she’d done up the buttons of the vest, she frowned when she notice the vest gapped a little. Maira filled it much better than she did.

She turned back to face Kade. “I want my clothes.”

“Sure, if you don’t mind ending up naked every time you shape shift.”

“Why don’t these become tatters? Or even look like clothes when you become a dragon? They’re made of the same material as your pants, aren’t they?” She gestured towards his legs.

Kade nodded. “Yeah, they are. It’s because they’re dragon skin.”

“It’s-” Amber shook her head. Surely she’d misheard. “What?”

“Dragon skin. Don’t worry, you’re not wearing the skin of my family.” He grinned. “Renegades. At least they become useful in death.”

Amber opened her mouth to speak. Closing her mouth when words wouldn’t form, she turned away. Her eyes closed as she tried to gather scattered thoughts. Just like cow hide, she tried to tell herself. Except cows didn’t become human and hold conversations with you. She wore the skin of a dead person. Her eyes flew open. She had to get them off. Her fingers fumbled with the buttons. She pushed Kade away when he stepped in front of her, trying to grab her hands.

“No! Leave me be. I can’t wear this.”

“Amber-”

“No!”

“Don’t be stupid.”

“Stupid! Don’t-”

“Stop it!” He captured her hands. “You’re becoming hysterical. I think I liked you better as a panther.”

“Let go of me.” Her voice dropped, her teeth clenched together. She stared at him. Anger filled her.

“Amber, be realistic.”

“Don’t tell me what to do. I’m not one of your warriors. Leave me alone. I’m going back to my grandmother’s and I never want to see you again. You talk to me at school and I’ll pretend you don’t exist.” She didn’t try to pull her hands away. She waited. Anger coursed through her body like energy waiting to be used. She held it in check. What the emotion might unleash terrified her. Fear had brought fireballs. Hunger called forth a panther. She didn’t need any more complications.

“I’ll have Brann make you a vest that fits better. And Maira can give you a pair of her leather shorts to wear under your school uniform.”

“I’m not wearing the same clothes every day.”

“I’ll organise several for you. Any preference to colour or will black do?”

Amber’s lips tightened. What choice did she have? Ending up naked in front of an entire school would have to be one of the worst things possible. Nearly as lethal as being hunted by a wyvern since she’d probably die of embarrassment. Her lips curved into a mocking smile. “The colour of your skin.”

Kade laughed. “Light brown it is then.”

The smile evaporated when Kade didn’t take offence at her comment. “I want to go.”

“I won’t tell you I’m sorry since you don’t want to hear that, but if you can think of anything I can do to make this easier for you, tell me.”

Amber almost said there was nothing he could do. Yesterday’s conversation with Maira came to mind. “I want you to take me home.”

Kade nodded. “I know. You’ve already asked, but if-”

“No. My home. Not my grandmother’s home. I want you to fly me there. Maira said you could do it in about ninety minutes.”

“How long does it take to drive there?”

“Nearly four hours.”

“And that would make this easier for you?” Kade looked sceptical.

Amber nodded. “I need to see someone.”

“You can’t tell them what’s happened.”

Amber shook her head. “I don’t want to.” Maybe if Crystal hadn’t dropped out of her life she would have wanted to, but now she only wanted to find out exactly what had happened. “I just need to see them.”

“When?”

“Now?”

Kade shook his head. “It needs to be after dark. I don’t think you could manage the altitude I’d need to fly at in daylight to remain unseen.”

“I’ll be ready and waiting for you at quarter past five.” Amber didn’t wait for an answer. Pulling her hands away from his relaxed ones, she strode towards the house, amazed at how far she’d run. She wasn’t a runner. She hated running. Well, she had, in her old life.

She considered running back to the house, wanting to get away from Kade who walked silently at her side. But it wasn’t a good idea. Her stomach rumbled with hunger and she forced herself not to be distracted by the many warm bodies she could smell around her. Running might cause her to change and go hunting. That was the last thing she needed.

Maira waited at the back door for them. “I put your clothes in the dryer last night.” She gestured towards the folded clothes on the bench near Amber’s mobile phone and bag.

Amber nodded, gathered her gear and strode towards the bedroom. She wasn’t going to wear the leather clothes home. That’d cause a million questions she couldn’t answer. A light tap on the bedroom door just after she shut it had her glaring at it.

“Amber, I don’t know what you plan to wear today, but I’ve got a pair of shorts here you might prefer.” Maira tapped on the door again when Amber remained silent.

Amber finally opened the door and took the shorts. She tried to close the door, but Maira put her foot against the base. She was tempted to tell her to leave her alone. But she already knew how well Maira listened to what she thought when it went against her orders. Instead, she stared at a point past Maira’s shoulder.

“When you’ve got the shorts on, give me a yell. You need to be measured for your own clothes.” Maira moved her foot.

Amber locked the door as soon as she closed it and pulled off the long pants to replace them with the shorts. She stared at the door. A sigh escaped. Maira wouldn’t be put off. She might as well give in and at least appear to be choosing to be measured rather than forced. Swinging the door open, she was startled to see both Brann and Maira. When she stepped back, they entered the room. Brann held a dressmaker’s tape measure.

Having her waist measured was bearable. Hip to ankle wasn’t too bad. When Brann tried to measure her inner leg, she stepped back.

“Stay still,” Brann muttered as he tried to measure her again.

“Problem?” Kade asked from the doorway.

Amber’s head snapped up. She wondered how long Kade had been there. “Not at all.”

Kade smiled. “Sure?”

Amber glared at him while Brann continued to measure her. When he measured her chest, her glare intensified. Brann stepped back to scribble the last measurement in his notebook and Amber went to her bag she’d dropped on the bed. Even though the nights were cool, the days were still warm. So she’d brought a short-sleeved dress to wear.

Pulling the dress from her bag, she turned to her audience. “If you don’t mind?” She shook the dress to let them know what she meant.

“I’ll meet you out the front.” Kade started to turn away.

“You’re not driving me home.”

“Maira’s had hardly any sleep.” Kade stepped into the room.

“Mum would freak if I returned with you when I left with Maira.”

“I’ll manage.” Maira leaned against Brann who put his arm around her waist.

Amber hesitated. Maira did look tired. But she didn’t want the drama that would erupt if Kade took her home.

“We’ll all go. I’ll drive.” Kade turned and walked from the room. Decision made.

Amber glared after him, wishing she could throw something at his retreating back. He glanced down the hallway towards her as he entered the lounge room and stepped out of her vision. Brann and Maira followed his example. Amber closed the door behind them, leaning against it. It was an effort to stay focused. She needed to eat. And soon. Her ears pricked as she heard a movement in the ceiling. Her nose twitched. Possum! She pushed away from the door and moved stealthily across the floor as she sniffed it out.

She swore as she realised what she was doing. There had to be a way to get rid of this. She couldn’t very well go hunting when she was at school tomorrow. She hurriedly dressed, grabbed her things and went outside to the front verandah. She didn’t want to be alone. That was when it was worse. It was easy to lose herself when there was no one around to remind her she was human. And she was human. She had to be.

As soon as she was in the front seat of the car, she sent a text to let her mother know she was on the way. She didn’t think she could speak to her. She needed to calm herself first. Although she had no idea how she was going to manage that.