Page 87 of Dragon's Code

“No one gets your really strange, old person references.”

Cillian’s smile falters. “Fuck off.”

I laugh this time and peel myself off the ground.

Luckily, I’ve found that I don’t need as much blood if I don’t tap into my vampire powers, but I have to learn to control them before I can just turn them off. Cillian is also dying to find out if I can super speed as a dragon.

I’m not sure I’m ready for that. Being in my human form and smacking into a wall hurts and I do some damage, which is why we’re in a parking structure that’s already crumbling slowly to the ground. I feel like hitting a building as a dragon using super speed would probably bring the whole building down. I’m not ready for that.

We practice until I’m exhausted but I’ve finally managed to stop myself before colliding with the wall every single time.

“You’re doing well, Athena,” Cillian says.

“You’re such a bad liar.”

He chuckles. “Maybe, but honestly, I have no idea how I would deal with what you’re dealing with. You’re handling the cravings just fine and Kash has made it clear he likes it when you attack him for blood.”

“It really should bother me more than it does that I find him so delicious.”

“Makes me curious what a dragon shifter tastes like,” Cillian says with a wistful tone.

“Stay away from Kash,” I growl.

“So possessive, you shifters.”

We head back into The Dragon’s Lair that’s had some major repairs done. Jerrick has been helicoptering or flying in on a private jet all sorts of materials to fix up his hotel and some of the other ones too. We’ve got control of the airport, so we can land planes as needed for supplies. It would seem that a lot of supernatural creatures own property in Las Vegas and have a lot of vendors that are willing to service us.

Cillian and I part ways once we’re in the lobby. I decide to try and use my super speed up the stairs. I only trip three times and manage to save myself from hitting my head or falling down multiple flights.

I enter the new suite that Kashton and I moved into once we started getting more people moving into Vegas.

Kash is on the phone. “Just come back. If he’s not there, there’s no point in looking further unless we get another clue or someone else finds something.” He turns around as he disconnects the call. He smiles when he sees me, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

He’s blaming himself for Declan and Krystana’s disappearances. There’s been no sign of either of them.

Grey seems to have gone underground for the time being. There’s been no word from him and no new hell popping up to surprise us. We’re trying to gather the troops and figure out a plan to really take down Grey once and for all.

“Who was that?” I ask.

“Levi and Isabelle didn’t find him. No clues. No sign that he was even there.”

“What about Krystana?”

“Tristian and Malcolm are looking for her, but so far they haven’t found any sign of her either.”

“It’s only been a few days. I’m sure we’ll find them.”

Kash nods, but I know he’s losing hope.

“Do you want to see a video of me smashing my face into a wall over and over again? It highly amused Cillian.”

Kash chuckles. “That doesn’t sound like fun to me, but I appreciate the offer.”

I shrug and smile. “One person’s pain is another’s glee.”

“He better not get too much glee or I’m going to have to hurt him too.”

“Relax. I’m fine. I’m going to probably need blood in a little bit though. I used a lot of power.”