Charred Tears (#2, Heart of Fire) (20 page)

She didn’t know what to think of it.

Skylar turned off the vehicle and hopped out. Chace followed her lead, the bag of figurines in one hand. Cool desert air made her shiver, and she slowed as she neared the bar.

“So … last time I was here, that huge guy almost kicked my ass.”

“I remember.” There was amusement in Chace’s voice. “I rescued you.”

“Not sure I’d call it rescuing, seeing as how you dragged me into this weird world of shifters.”

He snorted. “You’re safe. Don’t worry.”

That guy was freakin’ huge.
She kept this to herself, deciding to stick close to Chace. He had no power, but he was a friend of the huge man who almost choked her to death once.

Chace’s step quickened, and she wondered if he’d missed his friends. Bitterly, she recalled she no longer really had any friends since meeting him. Mason was up in the air. Caleb was dead and Dillon was on a rampage. She didn’t know where the rest of the shifters stood in terms of how they viewed her, but she had to think she was now considered a traitor for consorting with their enemy.

There was no mistaking the shifter magic from those in the bar. It rolled over her like the rock music blaring from the brightly lit bar. Cigar smoke reached her before she entered behind Chace, tense. One hand went to her pocket, where the golden lasso was. Her instincts were much stronger this time, compelling her to Chace while the shifter magic was like a wall of energy that washed over her.

A few of the shifters in the bar glanced in their direction while most ignored them. Chace made his way to the table in the back corner. The only time she’d seen him there, he’d been with three others.

This time, there were five people at the table, including Gavin and the bear of a man who almost clobbered her the first night.

Skylar drew a deep breath. It was difficult for her to focus with all the shifter magic floating through her senses.

They reached the table, and the massive man who once almost killed her rose. She looked up at him. He was bristling, his long beard and dark eyes a stark contrast against his pale skin.

“Hey, Max,” Chace said, slapping his on the arm. He slid by the large man to sit at the table.

“Hi, Max,” Skylar said. “I’m Skylar.” She held out her hand. “I don’t think we were properly introduced last time.”

He glared down at her long enough for her to doubt her newfound status as Protector meant anything. Finally, he stepped aside and motioned to the table with his head.

She released the breath she was holding and moved by him to the table. The seat beside Chace was open, as was the one beside Gavin. She glanced around the table, feeling everyone’s eyes on her. Rather than sit by either of the dragons, she sat in the seat farthest away from both, with her back to the room.

“This is Sky,” Chace said. “Sky, you know Max. This is Luke, a phoenix shifter and Wyle, a tiger shifter.” Luke was a blond like Chace, though his olive coloring and green eyes were a stark contrast to Chace’s fair skin and lighter eyes. Wyle had dark hair and eyes and a quick smile that reminded her of Mason’s.

Her father was watching her closely. Skylar met his gaze, uncertain why he was concerned this time. He was with the others yet clearly a part, his observant aura and naturally chilly reception of the world around him giving him an unapproachable air.

Chace was the opposite. He was alert and warm, despite the features that appeared to have been chiseled from stone. Would he become like her father in another few thousand years?

“Gun told us the plan. We just sit and wait?” asked the shifter introduced as Luke. He looked from her to Chace.

“I don’t like waiting,” Max grumbled, his deep voice rolling like thunder.

“You finally get a chance to make a stand,” Chace said to the brooding, bearded shifter.

“And capture the slayers,” she reminded them.

There was a quiet then all eyes turned to Gavin.

“Right, dad?” she prodded.

“Not if it puts any of our kind in danger,” he replied.

“They
are
our kind!” she retorted. “They’re the children and relatives of shifters.”

“They’re killing shifters. There’s no coming back from that, Sky.”

The resolution on the features of the others was clear. They truly had no regard for those like her.

“These slayers have had their whole lives taken from them. They’re no different than these guys, except at least I can transform them into shifters again!” She yanked a shifter figurine out of the bag on the table. “You can’t fix dead.”

“Sky, the plan is not to go on the offensive,” Gavin said patiently. “The plan is to get Dillon here and identify whoever the mastermind behind this is. But if attacked, we have every right to defend ourselves.”

“I know. I just …” she struggled with her emotions and the sense of fear that shot through her like she was dropped into a pool of frigid water.

Despite his claim, Gavin had no compassion for the slayers. If he’d nearly killed the dragon meant to take care of his daughter, what was he going to do to the people he held responsible for his wife’s death?

“Just think of them the way you think of me,” she said finally, frustrated with trying to get them to understand. She clutched the shifter figurine in her hand and began the count. “Chace, you thought I’d killed off your dragon friends and still couldn’t kill me. Gavin, you had me taken from you six years ago. Remember what that feels like. There are other shifters who are hurting like you because they lost their children.”

Gavin was unyielding. Chace at least attempted a smile, though she saw the truth in his eyes.

He was about as likely to fold as her father when it came to the slayers.

The figurine in her hand came to life. She leaned down to place it on the floor between their table and the next and glanced at it to see what it was.

Wolf. Great. Hope he doesn’t fight with panthers.

“Just a reminder of what this former
slayer
can do,” she said pointedly and scooted her chair over for them to watch.

The wolf grew fast and large, its color charcoal grey and its eyes silver.

The others at the table were silent, staring in interest if not surprise. Chace smiled, this time more easily, his gaze on her. He reached across the table to squeeze her hand briefly, as if to reassure her.

She pulled away, displeased with all the shifters in the world this night. Full grown, the wolf’s back reached midway up her torso, if she stood. It shook its large head and looked around, orienting itself. With a low growl and sneer, its eyes settled on Gunner.

“Not a fan of dogs,” the panther shifter muttered.

“No shifter craziness. Go.” Skylar pushed the large wolf, her hands sinking into its thick, soft fur.

It nudged her in what she understood was the way a shifter thanked her, then slunk through the tables to the door and into the night.

“That’s amazing,” Luke said, the first to speak.

“Some of these guys have been asleep for a thousand years,” Chace said, pulling a handful of figurines out of the bag. “She woke up twenty two dragons.”

“Some were put to sleep for a reason,” Gavin said. “Maybe the time in solitary has cooled them down some.”

Skylar bit her tongue to keep her acidic remark about there being no difference between untrustworthy shifters and brainwashed slayers. The men before her were too set in their ways to listen to her. She prayed the slayers didn’t come, that only Dillon showed up to finish what he started.

“Let’s create an army,” Chace said, handing her a bunch of statues. “I’d recommend not freeing anything with wings in here. Chances are, they’ll be big.”

She nodded, only half paying attention. The others fell quiet, watching in fascination as she and Chace began to awaken the shifters that had been sleeping for years.

“I called in the other dragons,” Gavin said. “A reminder. If the sun rises before Dillon comes, none of us will have any magic. It’s hard to win a battle when one side has magic and the other doesn’t, even if we’ve got strength on our side.”

Skylar glanced up from the shifters clenched in her hands.

“Are all shifters nocturnal?” she asked.

“Most are. The latest generation doesn’t seem to be constrained by the time of day the way I am,” he explained. “Chace is the youngest dragon.”

“Must take dragons a few thousand years to mature,” she observed.

“Thanks,” Chace replied.

Gunner laughed, and Luke smiled. Max didn’t seem to find anything worth commenting on, aside from talk of crushing slayers.

Gavin said nothing, his eyes on her hands as she awoke the shifters.

Wyle brought them a round of beer and snacks from the bar counter, and Chace joined in casual conversation with his friends while working with her to bring the shifters back to life.

Skylar didn’t know what was bothering her: being so close to the man who drove her crazy, tolerating the man who raised her or watching the shifters have their lives returned to them when she still didn’t know much about her own.

Mason’s text haunted her, because she really did want to know the other side of the story. Why she and the others were kidnapped and most importantly, how to undo what was done in a way where those like her were given a second chance, like the shifters in her hands.

Even with the murmur and activity of people in the bar and blare of classic rock, she remained overly aware of Chace’s low voice, his every move. How was he able to affect her so much? She wanted to walk away long enough to think, but even then, her mind kept returning to him.

He was more relaxed among his friends in the magic bar than she’d seen him elsewhere. Some part of him knew this was where he belonged, recognized his shifter family as his own.

She, however, felt like she was on the outside looking in. Logically, the same magic blood in their veins ran through hers, but she couldn’t help thinking she’d feel more at home at The Field than here.

Was that the brainwashed side of her? Or was it really what she felt?

Disturbed, she focused on the tingling flow of shifter magic around her. Gavin claimed she was able to use the magic of the shifter nearest her. It worked in his house and Chace’s cabin and also to awaken the shifters. What else was she able to do?

For several hours, she worked on the figurines until only a few winged ones remained. The warm bar was comfortable – but the company stifling. She was starting to worry that their plan might not work.

What happened if Dillon came after daybreak and brought the slayers with him? Nocturnal shifters like her father would be out of the picture. She didn’t want bloodshed, but the show of force from a few hundred shifters – including some truly frightening ones – was part of how they’d win the psychological battle. If the slayers knew it was too risky to fight, then they wouldn’t attack.

A glance at her stoic, calm father made her think the possibility of no bloodshed was already gone. Needing some air, she stood.

“I’m taking these guys outside to wake them up,” she said and lifted the bag. “They all have wings.”

“Not alone,” her father objected.

“No way,” Chace said simultaneously.

The two eyed one another, both growing tense.

“Before this turns into a testosterone match – I’m going out alone,” she said. Without waiting for their reaction, she left the table and made her way to the door.

The night air was fresh and cool, a welcome change from the overwhelming shifter magic pervading the bar. Skylar stepped into the shadows along one side.

She set down the bag and pulled out her phone, reading Mason’s text again. With some hesitation, she replied.

I need to know what’s going on, Mason. If the slayers can be saved. Please PLEASE tell me you’re on my side.
She sent the message and leaned back against the wooden wall of the bar, waiting for his response.

There was no movement in the desert in front of her, and the moon had begun to sink from the center of the sky to the western horizon. Silvery light outlined the cacti while the nearby mountains were dark shapes against the sky.

Her phone buzzed.

It’s complicated, Sky. But I can promise you’ll be safe if you come with me.

Mason’s response made her stomach sink. She re-read it twice before responding.

You’ve been my friend since the beginning. Are you still my friend?
She asked.

This time, his response wasn’t immediate. Skylar tucked the phone in her pocket, disappointed and hurt.

“Guess that answers that,” she muttered. She squatted down beside the bag and dumped out the rest of the shifters. With anger she knew shouldn’t be directed at the sleeping creatures, she glared at the one in her hand. “I wish I’d never met any of you.”
Except maybe Chace. If he was human.

Chapter Twenty

Chace stayed in place despite the instinct that told him Skylar was upset. He wanted to pull her into the back room and make love to her until she was less stressed. For all he knew, she was pissed at him again.

Or maybe,
still
pissed at me.

Gavin rose shortly after she did. Instead of following her, he went to the bar and sat, ordering shots of amber liquid.

The father-daughter team was not on the greatest terms, and Chace suspected Skylar’s unusual quietness stemmed from her worry about the slayers. For once, he agreed with Mr. Nothing. He didn’t care who the slayers were; they were endangering his family and his Sky.

“Whoever said being nice won’t kill you never really tried it,” he muttered.

“You’re still alive,” Luke said, smiling.

“I’m proud of you. You’re doing good in your resolution to be a better person,” Gunner said.

“Thanks,” Chace replied. “Anyone else here want to take off Mr. Nothing’s head and feed it to Dillon then pluck all his feathers off before killing him, too?”

The others at the table raised their hands in unison.

“Okay, good.” Chace relaxed. “Glad I’m not the only one.”

“We’re sitting ducks out here,” Max complained.