Rise of the Dragon: an Urban Fantasy (Moonlight Dragon Book 5) by Tricia Owens

Author:Tricia Owens [Owens, Tricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-01-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

I didn't freak out because I recognized the silhouette. I sat up. "Hey."

"It's a good thing your uncle snores, or I would have joined him in bed," Vale drawled.

"Ah, yeah, I didn't even think about that. Dodged a bullet there, eh?" I rolled up my bed and then took a moment to stretch. "Hoo boy, you've missed a lot," I said as I slid onto the stool behind the counter. He stood motionless on the other side, dressed in the spare set of clothes that he'd taken to leaving in my studio for times when he couldn't go home.

I related everything that had happened and watched his expression grow darker and grimmer.

"It's unfortunate about Echinacious," he said once I'd finished. "Though his loyalty was strained, he was a valuable source of magick and was knowledgeable about the city."

"What's your opinion on his dying words? Do you agree that they hold deeper meaning than a farewell statement?"

"I do."

That lifted my spirits considerably. I trusted Vale's judgment when my own felt suspect.

"Okay, so we'll spend more time working on that puzzle," I said.

"It will tie in with the Oddsmakers' plans," Vale said. "Echinacious will have wanted you to prevail over them."

"Then he shouldn't have written me a damn riddle," I complained.

"If he hadn't, the Oddsmakers would have wiped the message away. I'm surprised they left it, but maybe one of them felt a moment's pity."

"Screw them and their pity. They didn't have to tear him apart." I took a deep breath and shook off my anger. "The only upside to any of this is that without Echinacious they can't practice any of their future moves. They cut off their own nose to spite their face."

"Exactly. It was a mistake, and it's not the first that they've made. Even with all their planning and practice you've spoiled their plans every time. I want you to think about that, Moody. They're in a worse situation now and once again it's due to your efforts. The odds have shifted in our favor."

I brightened. "I hadn't thought of it that way but you're right. These guys are major Type A personalities. They're probably going to go bonkers now that they'll have to act without practicing first. Sweet."

He smiled. "Yes. Sweet."

But some of my pleasure dimmed. "Lev is still missing. I promised Celestina I'd find him for her."

"You realize there's a good chance that he's dead. He, along with the rest of the wolf shifter packs in the city."

"Yeah, I know. I've got my fingers crossed because I can't just give up, but it's not like him to be missing for this long. He wouldn't put Celestina through that." Thinking of my friend and how she was suffering made me depressed. "She needs closure. I guess I do, too, otherwise I'll always wonder what happened to them."

"Let's go look for them now."

I blinked at him. "Just like that? Even with the Oddsmakers on the move and paranoid?"

He nodded. "That's exactly why we need to go. They're panicking.

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