Page 4 of Betrayed By Dragons

But Amy knew of it, too. Supposedly, her mother, Rhiannon, half-pursued it when she was shacking up with four different men--including three kinds of dragons and a wizard--back in her commune days.

And now here it is again, in a different form, but the phrasing still strikes me like lightning to my chest.

Finally losing patience, High Priestess Fang breaks and prods me, "Yes?"

I blink, and the room around me comes back into focus. I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry. It seems so silly, but can it be a coincidence?

It must be. Like she said--all of these stories. They're just that. Fairy tales. Legends. Myth.

"Nothing." I shake my head and stand. "Just an old legend."

High Priestess Fang narrows her eyes. "Old legends may not be literally true. But they're almost never 'nothing'." She shakes her head. Ominously, she adds, "Not among our kind."

Chapter Two

EMBER

High Priestess Fang and I get back to work after that, but between my exhaustion and my distraction, I'm not exactly my best self. I do my best to learn another Stone Dragon stance to try to harness energy from the earth, but it doesn't feel any different than the other techniques we've tried. By the end of our session, I'm circling the edge of despair again, and I'm more than a little relieved when she sends me off.

"I'll have one of the Sisters look up more texts about the bracer's other potential abilities," she promises me. "Discretely, of course. Portals, offensive magic, dissipating darkness."

"Thanks." I try to put some enthusiasm in my voice. Maybe attacking the problem from another angle will lead to better results.

Maybe.

With a flick of her wrist, she parts the stone wall behind us, opening a doorway connecting this hidden chamber with the corridor outside.

When we first started these sessions, I had my misgivings. What if she had a heart attack or something while we were secreted away? She assured me that one of the other priestesses would come looking for us eventually. And even if they didn't, my phone still worked, right?

That wasn't embarrassing or anything.

I press my hands together in front of my breastbone and give her a small bow of thanks and farewell.

I then make my way through the labyrinth of corridors and tunnels carved into the rock foundation beneath the temple. The walls are made of polished, white stone, inlaid with intricate carvings that are no less impressive once you know they were created with stone dragon magic as opposed to chisels.

At first, I found the twisting paths difficult to navigate, but after a handful of days, I discovered that the hum of power radiating throughout the rock and stone is my guide. I follow its currents, feeling for the way it dissipates into the air and warmth above. Green tendrils of grass and the strong roots of trees interrupt the dense vibrations, leading me upward.

I emerge into the courtyard in the center of the temple. And just in time, too.

Amy is seated at a pale gray stone table in the shade of a broad-canopied white pine. Beside her is her now-constant companion, it seems, Sister Grace.

High Priestess Fang threw Amy and her brother Jett at Sister Grace the first time I visited the temple, so she could confront me about the Shadow Queen's Bracer in private. Apparently, Amy and Grace hit it off. Every morning, Amy's traveled with me to the Grand Temple. While I've gone off to meet with High Priestess Fang, Amy's been shadowing Grace.

Half-dragon and half-witch, Amy's been interested in learning magic for as long as I've known her. It's one of the reasons--besides being an awesome friend--that she decided to accompany me on the journey. It's worked out well for her so far. She's picked up a bunch of tips, hanging out with Grace. The color on her cheeks and the light in her eyes is great to see.

Even if it also, maybe, possibly reminds me of how much less progress I seem to be making.

As usual, Amy and Grace are sitting side by side, looking at something on Amy's phone. They're a study in contrasts. Amy's petite and pale with a wicked sense of fashion and bright pink hair. Grace has luminous, copper-colored skin, her hair is a crown of tight, black coils, and her Stone Temple robes are timeless, but not exactly chic.

I narrow one eye at exactly how close together they're sitting. They've been getting very, very chummy the past few days. I know Amy's gay, and I know she's into Grace. Is it possible Grace reciprocates?

If so, Amy hasn't mentioned it to me, but I make a mental note to press her on the subject more later.

For now, my friend and her "friend" take a back-burner to Amy's half-brother, Jett, who's got a bag of take-out from the amazing dumpling place around the corner draped over his arm.

"I knew I brought you along for a reason," I tell him as I take a seat opposite Amy and make grabby hands at the bag.

Jett, a powerful, dark-skinned fire dragon, raises a brow. "To protect you and my sister in a potentially hostile foreign nation?"

---