“It was bizarre, I’ll give you that. It could be that she was trying to lure me to the river’s edge for some purpose, but something thwarted whatever devious plan she’d had in mind. Which is another reason I’d like to know the truth. She only wants a locket back. I would think she would want all of her gold if she’s making such an effort to get her jewelry back.”
“What if the locket has magical properties?”
“Or some sentimental value. Family heirloom, maybe.”
“Did it look old?”
“That’s the real problem. I didn’t pay any real attention to any of the jewelry. I just tossed it on one of my piles of treasure and buried it with more after that. So I don’t know what is hers, really.”
“Sounds to me like you could bargain with her. Force her to pay you a lot of gold to obtain her locket.”
He’d thought about it. He was a dragon after all. That was before she’d saved him. Well, maybe he’d thought about it even after that. Not that he’d wanted payment, but he wanted to know why in the world she didn’t transport when he was carrying her over the ocean and dropped her. If she couldn’t transport, why was she able to do so to the human world? Had she lost her powers and now regained them?
And then she was able to change her aura and hide her fae dust, but she didn’t when he went after her gold. Why? She could have just worn the dragon fae aura, and he would never have guessed she was anything but one of his people. Though the fact she was wearing so much gold paint on her face and hands would have clued him in that she wasn’t what she appeared to be.
So she was a total mystery, and he wanted to know what he could about her. Before he handed over her locket.
Olaf snapped his fingers. “I’ve got a date. Need to run. Do you want to practice again tomorrow? Maybe another location so you can concentrate better?”
“Here, tomorrow, same time.” Alton smiled. “Who’s the date with?”
“Not saying. Next thing I know, you’ll be asking her out like you did Ena.”
“Ena was to be mine. Her brother and I had a deal.”
Olaf laughed. “Ena has a mind of her own. See you later.” Olaf shifted and flew into the sky, the sunlight reflecting off his brown scales edged in gold.
Olaf was right. Alton had to get his mind on the game. So why did he shift and take off for the golden fae territory and was flying over the golden fae countryside, well away from the castles belonging to the nobility where archers would be sure to attempt to take down the offending dragon?
How could he possibly hope to catch sight of Kayla anywhere in the areas he was soaring over? He saw a few brown-haired girls that were about her petite size, wearing brown tunics and pants-skirts, their necks and wrists and hands covered in rings and bracelets and necklaces of gold. When they looked heavenward to see what kind of large-winged creature was casting a shadow over them, he saw their gold painted faces, but no one looked like Kayla. Besides, they all ran off screaming, looking for cover. He knew Kayla would be shaking her fist at him, cursing him for doing what he’d done to her.
Then he had another idea. The next girl he saw, he was swooping down and carrying her to the dragon fae’s side of the river. Then again, that wouldn’t work. He’d have to manacle her in iron or she could just transport away.
His blue scales blended in with the sky as he flew high above, but then they suddenly turned purple. He couldn’t believe it and he swore under his breath.
He saw more activity in a farmer’s market filled with plant stands of fruits and vegetables and flower stalls.
Then he saw the winged creature he’d fought with when he’d collected all of Kayla’s gold, strolling through the market. The falcon fae really stood out. She was wearing her black leather clothing, long, black leather gloves, and thigh high black boots. Her dark brown hair was unusual too, the edges of her bangs sporting silver strands. Her brown spotted wings were folded against her back.
Standing with her, a girl was dressed in a purple corset and a blue-green colored pants-skirt, leather boots laced with the same blue-green color, her hair short, curly, and blond. He had thought Kayla might be with the falcon fae because she’d called her friend and was trying to get her locket back as well. He’d had it in mind that the falcon fae had attacked him, trying to recover the locket to return to her friend. But the girl with the falcon fae wasn’t Kayla, and he was disappointed.
Both of them looked up. He was certain he’d have a fight with the falcon fae, and he didn’t want to. But he did want to know where Kayla was so he could talk with her, thank her for saving him, and learn more about her.
The other girl walking with the falcon fae gaped at him. She also wasn’t afraid of him while everyone else was shouting in the farmer’s market and ducking for cover. Some of the fae were running around with short swords, though, lucky for him, no one had crossbows.
He suspected if he swooped off toward the dragon fae territory, the falcon fae would follow him, if only to see if she could get her locket back. Then maybe she’d take a message to Kayla for him.
He flew back to the dragon lands, not checking to see if she’d follow, then landed, and shifted. He looked up then and saw her circling high above. He had to admit she had nice form if he wasn’t still irritated with her for attacking him before.
“I’m looking for your friend Kayla. I need to speak with her.”
“You should have thought of that before you sent the Dragon at Arms after her to throw her in the dungeon,” she said, flapping her wings high above him, her arms folded across her waist.
“It wasn’t like that.”
“Tell me how it was then.”
“I was asking to see her and I made the slip that she was a golden fae. I was on pain medication. I didn’t even know that I’d said what I did until Halloran told me. Tell her I want to speak with her.”
“Why?”
“I want to apologize to her and I want to talk to her about her locket.”
“What of mine?”
“Are they magical?” he asked.
The falcon fae turned and began to fly away.
“Wait, all right. Let me talk to her and I’ll make a deal with her.”
“For her locket or both of ours?”
“Both. But I won’t give them to her unless I’m able to speak with her first.”
“What…what if you talk to me instead? And I make a deal with you.”
“Who are you and what are you doing living with the golden fae?” Alton asked.
“I’m Sigrid and my people have always lived with the golden fae, though I am the last of my kind who live here now. And you are Alton, Dragon Thief.”
He smiled at the title she had given him, but he wasn’t speaking with her instead of Kayla. He had to personally apologize to Kayla and give her back her locket. She had saved his life, not the falcon fae.
“I thank you for the offer. But my duty is to Kayla.”
“Your duty, is it? I will tell her.” Then Sigrid flew off and disappeared beyond the tall pines.
He realized he hadn’t told her a place or time he could meet Kayla. Cursing himself for not thinking of it sooner, he shifted and flew after the falcon fae, then had a thought. If he could keep out of sight, though as a dragon it was no small task, he could see where she went. If she ended up at a cottage somewhere, it might even be Kayla’s. And then he could see her himself. Though he’d probably wait until Sigrid left and Kayla came out of the cottage so he knew for sure it was hers. Well, or whoever else lived with her. She might have a ton of family living there. A father even, who would love to shoot him full of bolts. Maybe even a brother or two. Then again, she said she only lived with her mother.
Alton was determined to get this over with, learn what the locket looked like and return it so he wouldn’t lose any more sleep over it. Which he couldn’t believe was happening either. To him.
Instead of going to a cottage out in the country, Sigrid headed back to the farmer’s market. He realized
then that she had left her other friend behind and couldn’t very well not return there to tell her what was going on. Though he wished she’d just get on with business. He wished he could hide his fae aura. If he could, he’d just shift and follow the girls and see if Sigrid told her other friend anything of value that would aid him in locating Kayla.
He landed behind a building and shifted, startling two wrens off a bird feeder, a blue fairy wren, its feathers a bright blue, and a variegated fairy wren, his head a mixture of blues, the rest of him in rust, black, blue, and various shades of brown. The fae had taken some of them with them to Australia eons ago, and called them simply fairy wrens, and the name stuck.
Alton kept out of sight as much as possible. But he couldn’t follow them without being seen. The blond-haired girl that had been with her hurried to join Sigrid.
“What happened?”
“I couldn’t catch up to him,” Sigrid said.
Why would Sigrid lie to the other girl?
“Why would he come here? To find me?” the blond asked.
From behind a wooden structure that served as a flower stall’s wall, he tried to see the blond better. It couldn’t be Kayla. But no one else in the golden fae kingdom might think he wished to see her.
Then another girl moved around the flower stall, doing as he was doing, eavesdropping. Except she saw him before he could duck behind the building. He could have vanished, but he still wanted to get a better look at the blond.
This girl came around the flower stall wall, acting not in the least bit afraid of him as if she couldn’t see that he was a dragon fae and that she should fear him. “What are you doing here?” she asked. “Have you come to return Kayla’s locket?”
“You know her?” He couldn’t have been more surprised.
“Yes. So if you’re here, you must intend to return her locket.”
“And apologize for what happened to her. I was heavily medicated and must have mentioned she was one of you. Well, one of the golden fae. I don’t remember. Just that I was asking to see her.”
“And I should believe you, why?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t be here now, would I? She risked her life to save mine. I owe her at least that. I told that to the falcon fae, Sigrid. She was to bring word to Kayla that I want to meet her. But I didn’t think to tell her when or where. We can meet on her side of the river where I met her before, tomorrow at noon?”
“If she can’t make it?”
“Then if you could see me with a new time and place, I’ll come again. I’m Alton, by the way, if you didn’t already know.”
“Oh, I know, all right. I’m Tanya, and Kayla’s best friend.”
“And Sigrid?”
“A new friend.” Tanya didn’t appear too happy about that, a little frown pinching her brows.
Alton took that as a good sign and decided to tell her what had occurred. “She wanted to strike a deal with me to get her locket back instead of me speaking with Kayla. Just a warning.” He thought it was important to mention it just in case the falcon fae meant to double-cross Kayla or something.
Tanya’s eyes widened, then narrowed. “What did she say exactly?”
He wasn’t sure if Tanya didn’t believe him, or believed him and was angry that Sigrid tried to go behind Kayla’s back on this.
“That I should talk with her instead of Kayla and that she would make a deal with me instead. Words to that effect.”
“Really.”
“Ohmigodess,” a woman screamed.
He’d been found out. “Tell her for me, will you?” Then he transported out of there, safer than flying out of the area as a dragon.
7
Tanya wondered what Sigrid was up to. If Sigrid had some hidden agenda, Tanya didn’t want to let on she knew in front of her. Best to discuss it in private with Kayla and see what she wanted to do about it.
She hoped Alton was being honest with her. She didn’t believe he had lied about what had happened concerning getting Kayla in trouble. Why come here and try to apologize and risk his own safety if he wasn’t telling the truth? If this was all real, it was the best situation possible. He could bring Kayla’s locket to her and apologize and then Kayla wouldn’t have to chance exposing who she was by going to the dragon games. Tanya couldn’t wait to talk to Kayla about it. And to tell her friend about Sigrid. Tanya had wanted to like her. To be her friend when she had none, but if she’d planned to betray Kayla? Forget that.
Tanya peered around the flower stall and saw Kayla and Sigrid walking toward the village, but Tanya was done with observing to see if anyone recognized Kayla. They hadn’t. She’d asked a couple of guys and a girl who knew her if they recognized the new girl walking with Sigrid. No one had. Except they’d told Tanya if the new girl was Sigrid’s friend to watch out.
If what the dragon fae had said was true, those who talked to Tanya were right to assume she and Kayla needed to be wary around Sigrid.
Tanya wondered what Kayla’s mother would say about all the changes in Kayla’s appearance. They hadn’t bothered with the contact lenses, Kayla not wanting to wear them in her eyes. Kayla had always been a stick-in-the-mud about her styles. Tasha would probably be shocked and even maybe a little concerned. Tanya really hadn’t thought that far ahead. All that had mattered was that Kayla got her locket back.
Before Tanya could transport to Kayla’s house where she figured she’d meet her later, Sigrid materialized before her, startling her. She gasped at her sudden appearance. “Where’s Kayla?” Tanya asked, trying to cover how shaken she was.
“She’s on her own for a bit to ensure no one recognizes her. If she’s with me, people might be looking more at me and less at her. Why aren’t you following her?”
Tanya didn’t think Sigrid was just curious. She sounded like she knew something was wrong. “No one knows who she is. I’ve talked to several people. I figure she’s all set to go.” Now would be the time for Sigrid to say that she spoke with Alton and they might have another resolution. Well, even before, when she was still encouraging Tanya to see if anyone knew Kayla.
“I would think you would want to be very sure Kayla would be safe when she goes to the games,” Sigrid said.
So Alton had been right all along. Otherwise, why didn’t Sigrid tell her there was a possibility Kayla and Alton could work things out?
“I talked to a woman who said you were speaking with a man with a dragon fae aura. What did he tell you?” Sigrid asked.
She knew. “He wants to apologize to Kayla and give her locket back.” Tanya figured there was no sense in pretending she hadn’t spoken to Alton now.
“And you weren’t going to tell me?”
“I thought he already told you that and you would have spoken to Kayla about it.” How could the girl twist things around to make Tanya look like the bad guy when she was the one withholding information in the first place!
“I see. You will not remember anything about the meeting with Alton.” Sigrid blew green fairy dust in Tanya’s face.
Tanya blinked the dust from her eyes and wondered where Kayla was since she wasn’t with Sigrid now. “Where’s Kayla? I thought she was with you.”
“She’s just walking around, seeing if anyone recognizes her. I was just checking on you to learn if you found anyone who knew who she was,” Sigrid said.
“No. No one.”
“Good. She’s going to practice her dragon skills for the rest of the day. We’ll go to the clearing by her cottage. Why don’t you come with me and the two of us can observe her until then? I’m afraid people are looking at me too much because they’re afraid of me, when we need them to just see her.”
“Oh sure. Great idea.” But Tanya kept feeling like she needed to do something. Yet whatever it was, it totally eluded her for now. Maybe she’d recall what it was later.
Kayla was glad no one who really knew her recognized her. She suspected no one who had met her in the dragon fae kingdom would either since they hadn’t seen her more
than once or twice. Now, she was eager to start her flying practice. She recalled what Brett had said to Ena and Alton about not being that good at his dragon flying skills yet and didn’t think he could best Alton in the games. She suspected she’d be a lot worse off than that because she was so completely new at it.
As soon as she rejoined Sigrid and Tanya in the woods on the outskirts of the village, Kayla asked Tanya if anything was the matter. She was frowning for one thing, instead of glad to see her. “No one recognized me, did they?”
Tanya shook her head and gave her a half smile.
Kayla knew Tanya well enough to recognize something wasn’t right.
When they reached the clearing by Kayla’s cottage, Tanya sat on the patio and waited for Kayla and Sigrid to fly. Kayla shifted and couldn’t believe how beautiful she was. Well, not her face because she couldn’t see it, but everything else. She loved the color and how protected she felt.
Even though Sigrid wasn’t a dragon, she still flew as a falcon fae, and she showed Kayla tons of tricks to flying, soaring, gliding, and diving. The flame business was something Sigrid couldn’t help her with though.
“I thought we’d have a sort of sleepover,” Sigrid finally said as Kayla shifted on the ground after finishing practice lessons.
Kayla had had a ball.
She was afraid they’d talk all night. At least that’s what she and Tanya normally did. But after the workout she’d had, she just wanted to take a shower, crawl into her own little bed, and fall asleep.
“Then we can start again tomorrow. You’ll need to sign in tomorrow afternoon for the games and you’ll be assigned to one of the barracks where the contestants are staying.”
“Tomorrow?” Kayla never squeaked, but she bordered on it. She thought she had longer than that to practice with Sigrid. At least the flying part of the equation. She was still falling out of the sky when the wind shifted direction and she wasn’t ready for it. She would look like a baby dragon kicked out of the nest.