Reign Check (12 page)

The whole situation made my head hurt, and a simmering headache wasn’t a good sign for proper Darkling management.

“So,” Rhys began as the car pulled onto the road toward our unknown destination. “Michael isn’t only your servant, he’s your boyfriend, too? You know that’s not allowed, right?”

That did it.

Stress coursed through me and I felt a popping sensation on the sides of my head.

“Oops.” I reached up to touch my short spiral horns.

Rhys scooted back from me on the seat. “Uh, I’d appreciate it if you don’t completely shift form in this car. It’s rented.”

I looked down at my hands. My talons glinted back at me. My eyes widened as I looked toward the chauffeur. Rhys followed my gaze.

“Don’t worry about him.”

“You put a glamour on us?”

“Something like that. He’s driving us where we need to go, but he won’t notice or remember anything out of the ordinary.”

“Well, that’s good,” I said uncertainly. “Weird, but good.”

“That sounds about right.” Rhys just stared at me.

“Is it only the horns?” I asked, pointing at my face.

“And your eyes are red and glowing. And your hair …”

I nervously twisted a talon through my currently flame-red locks. Well, at least my wings hadn’t unfurled. They might have broken through a window. Small blessing. I glanced at him. “You don’t have to be afraid of me, you know.”

“I’m not afraid.”

“You look petrified.”

“Do I?” He cleared his throat nervously.

“I’m not going to hurt you. I swear.”

He didn’t look convinced. “Let’s just say I didn’t expect this. Maybe I should have. I guess I got used to you looking completely human.”

I grimaced. “I’m totally demonic, right?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say that exactly. I … I saw a demon up close once. He was allowed into the faery realm to deliver a message to my parents. You look different from him. The eyes are the same but your hair is different.” He tentatively reached forward to touch a lock of my red hair. “It’s so soft.”

“What did you expect?”

“Well, the demon I saw was completely bald. Shows off the horns better, maybe.” Still looking uncertain and a bit freaked out, he ran his index finger up over my left horn. I grabbed his hand and pushed him away from me.

“Sorry. I was curious.” Then he let out a short, nervous laugh, looking down at my taloned hand.

“I’ll change back in a sec. I just need to calm down a bit.”

“Think about, like, a bubbling brook,” he suggested. “Or a unicorn—the one you saw the day we first met. Those are pleasant, calming images.”

“I’m on it.” I closed my eyes and willed myself to de-stress. After a couple of minutes it started to work. I felt a pinch and then a moment of painful wooziness as the horns disappeared. I touched my head to make sure and was relieved to feel they were gone.

“You need to keep an eye on your emotions, huh?” Rhys asked.

“I’m told it gets easier.”

“It wasn’t as bad as I’d expected, actually. The demon I saw before was really scary and ugly. You’re … well, you’re
not
.”

“Not scary or ugly?”

“You’re not ugly. Still scary, though.”

True to what Rhys had said, even with such a strange conversation in the backseat, the chauffeur didn’t glance at us in the rearview mirror once. He was focused only on the road ahead.

I eyed Rhys warily. “I freaked you out?”

“A little,” he admitted after a moment. “But I also found it strangely interesting.”

“Glad I amuse you.”

He shook his head. “After observing you now for a whole week, I’m more confused than ever.”

“About what?”

“My advisers are positive you’re evil incarnate, based on centuries of rumors about Darklings and our current knowledge of demons in general. Demons are our enemies, after all. I was convinced of it myself from the moment we first met. But …” His brows drew together. “But, now I’m not so sure.”

The thought that Rhys wasn’t entirely convinced I was evil was a strange relief. I felt myself relax for the first time that day. Just a little.

“And that’s why we’re going to see this oracle of yours,” I said. “To prove it to you once and for all.”

“And to prove it to you as well. If you were certain there wasn’t any darkness inside you, I don’t think you would have needed this trip. You’d know in your heart that you could never destroy anything.”

I gritted my teeth, not liking that he seemed to know me so well, so quickly. “It’s complicated, I guess.”

“Just as complicated as you and Michael?”

I looked out the window as the road sped past us. “There is no me and Michael. Not anymore.”

“Because he’s your servant or because of the many rules and regulations your demon friends have against interspecies dating?”

“Because of lots of things.”

He was quiet for a moment. “Just remember, there are solid reasons behind all rules, especially the ones that govern beings like Shadows.”

I looked at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t know. I’ve heard things—that Shadows can be dangerous, even more so than demons.”

Even though Michael had told me the other day that some demons were afraid of Shadows, I still didn’t believe it. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Then I’ll stop talking.”

“Good idea.”

I remembered leaving school with Michael on Monday. What was the last thing Rhys had said to me?

Just be careful with him.

Ridiculous.

I didn’t say anything else, and Rhys didn’t try to engage me in conversation. Shadows were dangerous and demons feared them? Sure, they were. That’s why they were kept around as servants. It made zero sense.

A half hour later we reached our destination. The currently enchanted and, thankfully, oblivious chauffeur got out of the car and opened the back door.

“Wait for us here,” Rhys told him.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the chauffeur replied without any hesitation.

“Follow me,” Rhys said. “She’s expecting us.”

I had been so distracted by turning Darkling and by Rhys’s reaction that I’d completely forgotten about where we were headed. I hadn’t had enough time to mentally prepare myself for what was going to happen next—I was about to meet an actual
dragon
.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

I really hoped the sweater I was wearing wasn’t flammable.

10

“Come with me.”

I looked up with surprise. A woman stood before us holding a clipboard to her chest. She was probably around forty years old, with light brown hair in a short flippy-yet-professional style. She wore a green blouse, which looked designer and fit her slim frame perfectly, and gray dress pants. She turned and walked through a door at the end of a short hallway.

Rhys began to follow her, but I grabbed his arm.

“Where is she taking us?” I asked.

“Down the hall.”

“I see that, but … but is that where the dragon is?” I said under my breath. I was confused and Rhys was not exactly helping. I didn’t understand why the car had dropped us off at a doctor’s office. “Is there a secret passageway?”

He looked at me. “I find it charming how completely clueless you are.”

I glared at him. “Gee, thanks.”

“You’re very welcome. Now, just come on. And stop worrying so much.”

Easy for him to say.

Sticking close to Rhys, I forced myself to trail behind the woman as we went through a door. It led into a richly decorated room with a black leather couch across from a large black lacquered desk. On the wall were framed medical certificates.

One thing led me to believe that, despite all appearances, we were in the right place. Among folders and paperwork and a laptop computer, several small gold dragon sculptures sat on the desk.

The woman we followed moved to stand beside the desk near the gold dragons. She smiled and dipped her head toward Rhys.

“Your Majesty,” she said. “Welcome.”

“Thank you,” he replied.

So she knew who Rhys was? Was she going to lead us to see the dragon oracle after a brief … I glanced around … checkup?

“What kind of doctor’s office is this?” I asked, trying to remain calm, or at least appear like I was. I was grateful that my surge of apprehension about being there didn’t feel as if it would trigger any Darkling shifts. At least, not yet.

Her gaze moved to me. “It’s an office of psychiatric medicine. My specialty.”

“You’re a psychiatrist?”

“Yes, I am. My name is Irena.”

“This is Nikki Donovan,” Rhys introduced me. “
Princess
Nikki.”

He said it very respectfully and not in the least bit mockingly. I did appreciate that.

Irena nodded. “The Darkling.”

More apprehension. “You know about me?”

“Yes, of course.” She touched her necklace, which held a large amber pendant. “King Rhys called ahead to let me know you might be joining him today. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

She stood and extended her hand and I shook it, about to ask where the dragon was and what I should expect to happen next. But then I suddenly noticed that her eyes were the same vibrant shade of amber as her pendant. Like, the
exact
same shade. When she blinked, I could have sworn her pupils elongated.

It reminded me of something. Of a … lizard.

My own eyes widened at the thought, and I pulled my hand away from her.

“Hold on,” I said. “You’re a psychiatrist?”

“Yes.”

“But not only a psychiatrist.”

She smiled. “That’s correct.”

I’d expected the dragon oracle to be large and green and scaly. Not well dressed and well coiffed.

I forced myself not to cower away from her and launch myself to the safer side of the leather couch. “You’re the … the …”

“The one you’re here to see,” she finished for me. “Yes, I am.”

“Sorry,” I managed. “I’m just surprised. You look so … uh …”

“Human?” Irena glanced at Rhys, who regarded my flabbergasted reaction with more than a little amusement. “It helps to look as human as possible when one wishes to fit in with other humans. I’ve maintained this form for so long that I barely remember my other one.” She ran her finger along the spine of one of the small gold dragons. “But I do keep reminders around so I don’t forget completely.”

Rhys sat down on the leather couch. “Irena’s lived in the human world for nearly twenty years. She even has a family here.”

“A family of dragons?” I asked, trying to wrap my head around the fact that an actual fire-breathing mythical creature had a doctor’s office thirty minutes from where I lived.

She shook her head. “I have a human husband and together we have a son.”

“And they know who you really are?” I couldn’t seem to stop myself from asking questions.

“My husband does. My son will be told when I feel he’s mature enough to deal with it. Dragons and humans rarely produce offspring that is anything other than one hundred percent human, so it’s not an immediate issue.”

I was talking to a fortune-telling, future-seeing dragon in human form with a human family, and she made her living as a shrink. Well, something had to pay the bills, didn’t it?

When I continued to stare at her in shock, she smiled. “But enough about me. Unfortunately, I only have a few minutes to spare today for you both before I must get back to my regular patients. I hope that will be enough time.”

“I’m sure it will,” Rhys said quickly.

Irena looked so totally and completely human. Then again, so did my father when he chose to have a human form. I’d seen him in demon form—coal black skin, expansive black leathery wings, large curved horns, and glowing red eyes. Same father on the inside,
way
different on the outside.

“Let’s start with you, Princess.” She pulled out the top drawer on her desk and withdrew a crystal sphere about the size of a baseball. “News of the prophecy has already reached me. It’s a very serious one.” She sounded surprisingly calm about it.

“Yes, it is,” I said tightly. “So I’m here for a second opinion. It can’t be true. But I’m worried what might happen next if I can’t prove it’s false.”

She closed her eyes. “Let me see what I can find. I should be able to tell if the prophecy is clear or covered in a web of darkness and lies.”

“Uh, that would be good. Thank you.”

She held the crystal ball in the palm of her hand, and after a moment I saw a pulse of white light right in the very center of it.

“I have located the prophecy about the first Darkling in a thousand years,” she said with a nod, but she didn’t open her eyes yet.

The white light flickered to other colors—pink, green, orange. It was beautiful, really. But then it began to darken.

Irena shook her head, her forehead creasing. Her chest hitched. “It’s … it’s harder to see than I expected. I need to go deeper to gain clarity.”

Shade by shade it grew darker until it appeared as if the crystal contained a solid, dark purple core.

Suddenly the center flashed from the darkness to a light so bright I had to shield my eyes. Irena’s face grew strained and pale and a small gasp escaped her lips.

“Irena, is everything okay?” Rhys asked, concern in his voice.

“What’s going on?” I asked him.

He shook his head. “It shouldn’t be this difficult. She should already know the truth one way or the other.”

“Something’s blocking my vision. There’s a thick wall around the Darkling prophecy. I can’t see past it.” Irena’s eyelids fluttered and she cried out in pain. The crystal ball slipped from her grasp and I jumped as it shattered on the floor.

I didn’t need Rhys to tell me that this wasn’t normal. He’d moved from the couch and placed a hand on Irena’s shoulder to steady her as her eyes snapped open.

“What happened?” Rhys asked.

She shook her head. “I’m not sure. I could see something, but not clearly enough to confirm or deny the prophecy. I’m so sorry.”

Concern mixed with disappointment. While I wanted to know the truth, I didn’t want it to cause anyone pain, and it was obvious that searching out my prophecy in the metaphysical ether—or whatever she had just tried to do—had not been big fun for her. To say the very least.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yes, I’ll be fine.” She reached out to grab my wrist and drew me closer. She looked weary, and there was a thin sheen of perspiration on her forehead. “However, I did see something else—another prophecy. Princess, you are in danger. A darkness surrounds you and it is growing stronger.”

“A darkness?” I asked. My mouth felt dry.

“It watches you closely now and in the future. One day, unless you’re very careful, it will consume you entirely.”

“The darkness,” Rhys repeated. “Is that what might take her over so she will fulfill the Darkling prophecy?”

I gave him a look, thinking he was being sarcastic, but by his expression I could tell he wasn’t. It was a legitimate question. After all, he’d taken me along with him today so he could learn the truth as well.

“No,” Irena replied. “This has nothing to do with the first prophecy—it’s a separate thing altogether. And the darkness comes from a source apart from the princess. I’m sorry, but my vision was unclear, so I can’t give more specifics. There is very little about you that is clear, Princess Nikki. Perhaps your human side is what blocks my magic. That may explain why the first prophecy was shielded from me.”

So this darkness thing was a
second
prophecy. I’d come here today to have the first one debunked, not to cash in on a two-for-one deal.

I just nodded, trying to take it all in and make some kind of sense of it. Being consumed by an outer darkness struck me as something straight out of a horror movie. Something that had the potential to keep me up at night worried about what was lurking under my bed or behind my closet doors.

“Did you see anything else?” I asked shakily. “Anything good?”

Irena squeezed my wrist. “I did see that there is a possibility the princess’s light may, with effort, be enough to quell this darkness.”

“Her light?” Rhys asked, confused. “But she’s half demon. How is that even possible?”

“It’s possible because her soul is pure.” Irena’s voice had gotten steadily stronger as she spoke. “I saw no evil here you should be concerned with, King Rhys.”

“Really?” Rhys sounded skeptical.

“Yes, really.” Irena glanced at him. “You’re surprised?”

“I … don’t know. Maybe a little.” His eyes flicked to me before he looked away, his expression still clouded with confusion.

I almost smiled. Out of everything horrible that had just happened—not being able to prove or disprove the first prophecy, almost making Irena’s head explode, finding out that darkness stalks me in a shiny new second prophecy—the fact that she’d just confirmed to Rhys that I wasn’t completely demonically evil almost made it worthwhile.

“This is all I can do for you today, Princess,” Irena said. “I apologize for not having been more helpful.”

I nodded, twisting my bracelet nervously as I went over everything in my head. “Thank you. It’s a start.”

Her pleasant, caring expression faded, and I realized she was now staring down at my wrist. She suddenly grabbed hold of my arm so hard, I couldn’t pull away.

“You have a dragon’s tear.” The way she said it, her shock at noticing my piece of jewelry for the first time, made my blood run cold.

“It … it was a gift,” I said quietly.

Irena raised her eyes to mine and hers were now pure gold with those long black slits. Any friendliness that had been there previously had vanished as if it never existed. Right then I knew I’d been wrong when I’d mistaken her for completely human. She wasn’t. The magic poured off her now, making my skin tingle. I could practically see the green scales, the sharp spikes running along her spine, the long heavy tail whipping back and forth angrily, the wisps of smoke from her nostrils.

“The magic of one of my brothers or sisters dangles from your wrist. You wear the evidence of murder as if it means nothing to you. I didn’t even sense it when you walked in here, which means you rarely, if ever, have used it. You take such an ultimate sacrifice for granted?”

“No, I … of course I don’t.” I flinched as her nails dug into my skin.

“Irena,” Rhys said sharply. “Let go of her.
Now
.”

Irena clenched her straight white teeth, and I felt I could almost see the long, sharp incisors there, waiting for her to shift to her true form and take a big bite out of me. She let go of me so abruptly that I staggered back a few feet.