Dragon Keep Me

Chapter Eight

Natalie

I dressed and finger-combed my curls the best I could, relieved they looked a little better than they had before. The clean clothes were heaven, and I slipped my sneakers back on. Cass wasn’t watching TV like when I’d left him, but was back out on the balcony again arguing with himself.

"I'm ready," I called, and he spun on his heel. His mood washed over me. I hated how I could sense people sometimes, their emotions. His were definitely darker than they’d been before I'd gone to shower.

"Did something happen?"

"I’m fine," he said, hands shoved in his pockets. "They’re waiting for us."

He held the door open for me. Despite the ibuprofen, my stubborn headache persisted. I hoped some food would take care of it.

I rubbed my temples as we rode down in the elevator.

"Those pills didn't help?" he asked.

"No, it’s been there since I woke up this morning and it's getting worse."

"From not eating?"

"Yeah. Or it could be stress from being kidnapped."

"Rescued," he corrected, rocking on his heels. "I rescued you."

"Rescued me to your dungeon? My hero."

"You're welcome, maiden," he said, offering me a smug smile in the metal reflection of the elevator doors.

I returned the smile, saying, "f**k you."

As if he couldn't help himself, he asked, "Is that an offer?"

"Keep dreaming," I snapped, thankful we'd arrived at our floor.

He led me to a large wooden door and we entered to find the same group of people at the head table who had been in the office earlier, except the pink witch was missing. I wrinkled my nose. There were also children. I wasn't a fan of sticky little kids.

The other tables were full, with various men and women. I thought they were all staring at me because I was new, but then I realized that only the women were staring, and it wasn’t at me. Some glared daggers at Cass, and others gazed at him with midnight hunger.

"You’re sure popular," I commented.

"Me?" he asked, as if he didn't notice everyone with a v****a was ogling him.

I took an open seat next to Eris and Cass sat by me. On her other side sat a small boy and girl who were certainly brother and sister, possibly twins. I knew immediately that they were Gideon and Eris’ children, as they both strongly resembled Gideon.

Finn and Kat sat across from us with a young girl and a toddler boy. They didn't look like either of their parents. The girl had bright, blonde curly hair and the boy had dark skin and deep brown eyes.

It was chaos at the table, the children all talking excitedly at once. Except for Gideon and Eris’ girl, whose yellow eyes watched everything with keen interest. She stared at me and I felt awkward under her intense scrutiny.

"What are you?" she asked, causing the table to quiet down. "You don’t feel right."

"Ceres," Eris scolded, "don’t be nosy."

Ceres didn’t ask again, but no matter what I did, I could feel her eyes on me.

The food was incredible and I devoured everything on my plate. During the meal, I cursed myself for it, but I was hyper-aware of Cass. If our elbows brushed, butterflies erupted in my stomach. I felt like a middle school girl. It was ridiculous. I noticed his skin was hot. Temperature-wise, he felt like he was running a fever.

Kat asked me nice things. Small things talk. Where are you from? What do you do? I answered her questions and found out that she had grown up in the human world as well. The human world. How strange to call it that.

Without warning, the pain in my head burst, like it had broken through a dam.

I pressed my hands into my eyes and gasped. It was worse than any headache I’d ever experienced. I couldn’t hold my head up and I turned and pressed my forehead into Cass’ upper arm.

"Natalie? What’s happening?" Eris asked, but it felt like she was talking to me down a long tunnel.

"My head…" I moaned.

"Whoa, did you see that? Her ear…" Kat said from across the table.

I felt cold, firm hands on my temples and then River spoke. "We should get her to Nadaria. I think her body is fighting the magic of the curse. Her true self is trying to emerge."

Cass picked me up bridal style as if to carry me there. My eyes were clamped shut and I was praying I didn’t throw up on him.

"Can you transport us there?" he asked.

The pain started ebbing after a moment and then returned to the dull ache it had been before. "It’s going away," I said, trying to breathe.

River said, "It will probably come like that, in waves, until your body has fought off the curse and your true self has emerged."

"Why now? I’ve been cursed for thirty years and now it’s doing this?"

"I’m sure it’s because you’ve entered the realm, but only Nadaria can tell us more. She can possibly remove it so you don’t have to endure a long process."

I opened my eyes and glanced up, only to blush when I found Cass looking down at me with a furrowed brow.

"I don’t think I should transport her either," River said. "The magic could ignite another episode. Nadaria was right, you certainly are a fae."

"What?"

"Your ears," Kat said, pointing.

I reached up and touched them, shocked to find that they were now longer and with sharp tips at the tops. They were tall enough to stick out of my messy curls now.

Cass

Seeing Natalie in pain was not my favorite thing in the world, and I knew River was playing off how serious of a situation this could be. When she’d laid her head against me, it was on fire. If her fever spiked too high during one of these "episodes", it could be dangerous.

"So should I drive her?" I asked.

River nodded and opened her mouth to answer, but Finn cut her off.

"Kat and I can take her. You don’t have to."

"I’ll do it," I blurted, holding Natalie closer to my chest.

Finn smirked, arching an eyebrow and I understood he had been testing me—and I had failed. Like Eris, he was starting to understand I was more invested in Natalie’s story than I should be.

"I’ll do it," I repeated in a calmer tone. "For, I am the best driver."

Finn scoffed and that comment got Gideon's attention, who looked at me like an exasperated babysitter.

"I’ll see you there," River said. "You know where her shop is? In the fae town?"

I nodded. I had seen it many times on my regular trips there.

River disappeared and I looked at Gideon. "I require a different car."

His eyebrows shot up. "What did you do to the one I gave you?"

"It suffered some minor body damage."

He sighed. "You are the worst, Cass. A plague, truly, on my house."

"You flatter me," I said. "Can I take your car?"

He sat up, looking offended. "You damaged the one I gave you and expect me to lend you my car? My brand new car. My Porsche."

I nodded in excitement.

He shook his head. "If you ever touch my car, Dragonsbane is coming off the wall."

Dragonsbane was the only weapon in known existence that could kill a dragon. I frowned. "Well, that's mean."

He smiled and said, "Just take Finn’s car."

"What?" Finn shouted, standing.

I grinned and headed out, still carrying Natalie.

"Cass, don't you dare take my car! Cass!" Finn was yelling, and I turned to see that he was wrestling with Gideon, who was blocking him from following me.

Gideon was laughing, holding him in a headlock, and all of the children were gathered around cheering. I put some pep in my step, knowing Finn would be on my heels.

"You can put me down if you want…" Natalie said.

I grinned at her, but didn’t answer or put her down.

We made it to the garage and I shuffled around Gideon’s sacred Porsche. Where he had gone for something brand new, Finn had opted for a classic. I set Natalie down on the passenger side.

"Are you serious?" she asked. "We’re taking this car? He’ll kill you if you even scratch it!"

I laughed. "He can sure try. Now hurry."

She looked at the car, her mouth open. It was a beauty, no doubt. Red with two black hood stripes, the 1971 Pontiac GTO Judge was a rare and coveted muscle car. His was souped up, as he called it, with a turbocharger and a dual exhaust. I opened the door and hurried Natalie inside. I ran around and hopped in just as the garage door flung open, cracking against the concrete.

"Cass! You fucker!"

I giggled and turned the key. The engine thrummed to life, purring like a giant kitten.

Crux was in a frenzy, absolutely loving it. 'Yes! It is ours!'

"Seatbelt!" I yelled, but saw Natalie was already strapped in and gripping the door like her life depended on it. Smart woman.

I threw it in reverse and worked the clutch and gas, happy that the garage door was already open. The car lurched, flying backwards into the driveway. I cranked the wheel and shifted to first. The tires spun on the gravel, throwing rocks behind us as Finn ran out of the garage, ducking to avoid the spray.

He was yelling but I couldn’t hear him over the engine and my cackling. I waved in the rear view. He flipped me off and then turned around and ripped the garage door down and then in half.

Natalie was wide-eyed, watching in her mirror. "Oh, s**t!"

"He’ll be fine," I said, waving my hand.

"He’s going to kill us."

"Trust me," I said, my lips curling at the edges. "He doesn’t stand a chance."

If anyone tried to touch her, I would probably kill them. I didn’t say that part out loud though. Plus, I knew Finn wouldn’t even be mad at her because she hadn't done anything wrong.

She looked at me. "What exactly are you, Cass?"

"Just a nice guy," I said, laughing at how untrue it was, and I kept my grin as the engine answered with a loud thrum.

We hit the pavement and I let the car go, opening it up and driving way faster than I should have. I couldn't help it. It was the closest thing to flying without actually flying that I had ever experienced.