Page 96 of Half Dead

And not just any dragon. A fuzanglong.

The muscles across my chest tightened. It couldn’t be. He was dead. I knew this with certainty because I was the one who’d set his spirit free.

As the dragon lowered himself to the ground, he morphed into human form. “Lorelei Clay. We meet again.”

I rose to my feet. “Bruce?” I choked out.

“You remember me?”

“Of course I do. Bruce Huang.” How could I forget the dead dragon shifter who’d been hired by The Corporation to guard one of their offshore accounts in the basement of his Fairhaven home?

“Did I burn you? I aimed for the locusts.”

I checked my arms for signs of damage. “I’m fine.”

“Your hair…” He pointed. “I think I singed it.”

I examined a few strands. “No, they’re just split ends. I’ve been too busy for a haircut.” I returned my gaze to him. “How are you here?”

“I’m still dead, if that’s what you’re asking.”

This was one of the islands of the immortals. It was possible the dead could linger here before continuing to the afterlife.

“How long have you been here?”

“Hard to say. Time moves differently when you’re dead.” He glanced skyward. “We should move before the locusts regroup. This way.”

I swiped my sword off the ground where I’d left it during the locust attack and sheathed it before following him through the dense thicket.

He glanced back at me. “How’s my house? Still standing, I hope.”

“Yes. It was sold to a nice family who has no idea that the basement featured an entrance to a pocket dimension.”

“The Corporation hasn’t beaten you yet, I see.”

“Define ‘beaten.’”

He sniffed a laugh. “You act of your own free will.”

“I do.”

“Good. They do not deserve you.”

“Speaking of things we don’t deserve, why did the locusts attack me?”

“A warning to leave. They recognize you don’t belong here.”

“Is the island itself rejecting me or did someone send the locusts to attack me?”

“Does it matter?”

“Know with whom you’re having the pleasure.” I said, channeling my inner Pops. “Yes, it matters.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know the answer.” He pondered me. “If The Corporation hasn’t sent you, then why are you here?”

“To recover an ancient tablet.”

His face twitched. “Why would you seek the tablet?”

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