Tempest Reborn by Peeler Nicole

Author:Peeler, Nicole [Peeler, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Retail
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2013-05-27T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

It took me a while to drag myself from Anyan’s side. I’d awoken about an hour earlier, and crept over to use the bathroom and freshen up. But despite every intention of heading downstairs for some much-needed coffee and breakfast, I ended up back in bed, staring at the barghest with what were probably enormous seal eyes.

Who needed breakfast when the man in front of you was good enough to eat?

Part of me just couldn’t get over the fact that my lover was here, and safe, and no longer trapped inside a homicidal dragon. I also couldn’t believe I’d rid the world of said dragon. There had once been a scourge on humans and supernaturals alike, free to roam the world, and I – Jane True! – had killed it.

Granted, I would probably have nightmares about the killing part for the next few decades, but I knew it was all for a worthy cause. All that life lost over the centuries, and I was the one to take away that threat.

In other words, for the first time in, well, ever, I felt like what I was supposed to be – a champion.

And here’s my prize, I thought smugly, leaning over to kiss Anyan gently on the cheek. He didn’t even twitch, his heavy breathing continuing unchanged. The barghest was exhausted.

Eventually, my grumbling tummy wrestled control from my puppy love, and I got up from the bed again. I put on clothes – yoga pants and one of Anyan’s T-shirts – then headed downstairs.

My steps were light as air as I descended, and for a second I imagined myself tripping lightly downward like Cinderella, my steps buoyed by the help of singing birds. I giggled at the thought.

But all giggling ceased when I saw what awaited me.

I’d thought Anyan and I were alone in his cabin, as there wasn’t a peep from downstairs. I was wrong, however. Ryu sat with his chin in his hands on Anyan’s big, overstuffed chair and a half. Iris was cuddled against Caleb on the sofa, both looking utterly dejected. I noticed the gwyllion had returned, although Daoud didn’t appear to have come with him. Even Hiral, whose skin was blue already, looked decidedly bluer. Tracy and Grizzie were sitting at the kitchen table, Tracy with her hands on her stomach as if holding on for dear life, Grizzie watching her worriedly.

No one had made any coffee.

‘Um, what’s up, guys? Y’all look like someone died.’

I immediately regretted my choice of words when Ryu informed me that, yes, someone had died. A lot of someones.

I sat down on the bottom stair, where I’d stopped upon seeing everyone looking so depressed. Luckily I hadn’t gotten any farther into the room, as my legs weren’t up for carrying me anywhere.

‘All of them?’ I said, my voice strangely calm.

‘All of them.’ Ryu’s reply was patient, if distant.

It still took me a second for my brain to catch up. ‘Gog, Magog, and Daniel? All dead?’

‘Yes. Their helicopters were destroyed.’

‘But I thought the Red—’

‘Not by the Red.

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