Page 96 of Sworn to Revenge
“So, can someone explain where we’re going and what’s the plan?” I ask again.
“That bastard Christian is waiting for us. Today we’re getting answers.” Luca arranged to meet Stas’s replacement—Christian—and now I see what the plan is.
“You’re trying to see how far our secret spread and what they already know… not fight,” I confirm his plan aloud, mostly to myself.
Luca explains in a manic tone, “They came to the beach prepared, and if it weren’t for Bay, you and Alin would be in a completely different place right now.”
He doesn’t bother to hide the simmering rage within him—he’s also out for revenge, but he doesn’t have enough information to understand just how deep a pit we’re diving into this time.
“We’ve got your back.” Bay says to Luca, as if understanding his logic too, holding my hand. Her eyebrows are furrowed with a seriousness I’d only seen in Alin up to now, and I smirk at how uncharacteristic it is of her.
Mariano doesn’t say a word, just steps on the gas, and in no time, we’re out of the parking lot, merging with traffic. Bay’s gaze has moved to the window, watching the cars nearby on the road. Her thoughts seem to drift elsewhere again.
Or maybe she’s having another chat with her dragon—Myko, she called him? I place my hand on her shoulder, and she turns her head to look at me, her expression shifting as though she’s in an intense conversation with someone. Yeah, I can already tell when she’s in a ‘small talk’ withMyko.
“What does he want now?” I dare to ask with a heavy sigh. Getting used to this will be a lot harder than I’d imagined.
“I swear he’s starting to sound like you. Frustrated that we’re going on human missions instead of swimming to the Coral of Life,” she says annoyingly.
“At least we have the same goal—to keep you alive.” I tease but it’s the truth.She rolls her eyes at meagain.
“He’s annoyed because he’s starting to get hungry, not because of me,” she explains. “I told him I’d make sure he gets another royal feast.”
She stretches her body forward, placing her hand on Luca’s seat to support herself. “I hope your plan includes some humans for him to snack on?” she asks Luca with a sly smile.
Mariano’s laughter suddenly fills the car. “Bro, look at her smiling at the thought of feeding humans to her pet dragon. And you’re worried something will happen to her?” he taunts, and now even Bay laughs. Luca’s smirk joins in too. I sigh in defeat.
“Alright, alright. I get it. I won’t stop her from helping anymore.” I release her grip on Luca’s seat and gently guide her back to lean on her own seat’s headrest, securing her seatbelt. “As long as I can join her, I have no complaints.” I murmur.
She smiles at me, pressing a quick ‘thank you’ kiss to my cheek as I lean over her, adjusting the seatbelt strap so it doesn’t bother her. I noticed the small adjustments she always makes to the strap when it reaches her neck.
“Luca, when we arrive, don’t get out of the car until I tell you to,” she suddenly adds, and Luca turns to look at her.
“Why?” he asks, as she offers no further explanation.
“Feeling a bit of déjà vu from that mission at the port with Alin,” Mariano adds with a chuckle. That day, I thought my heart was going to explode out of my chest—I’d never have guessed that day would lead us into this insane world we’re now an actual part of.
“No idea whatyouare talking about,” she replies to Mariano, raising an eyebrow at him, “but you’ll soon get whatImean.”
Bay
“Wait,” I stop Luca as I hear the car door open on his side. “Myko’s going to check the area,” I inform the brothers, and they sit back in their seats as Luca closes the door again.
“Myko?” Luca asks, but I ignore him, asking the Guardian to scan the area just like he did at the beach. They arranged to meet in some open field a bit outside Manhattan—neutral ground that neither of them controls, according to Pedro’s explanation.
Definitely a royal feast—there are at least twenty humans in the area.Myko growls with anticipation, and I wrinkle my nose in disgust.Are you planning to eat their flesh or their souls? What’s with that hungry growl? It sounds like Cora’s stomach when she skips lunch.
“Myko says there are at least twenty humans around,” I inform the brothers, looking out the window forward. From our parked position, I can only see four men standing on the ash-covered ground, watching our car, clearly unsure of what we’re waiting for—I can see the tension in the rightmost man as he reaches behind his pants, preparing himself. Such cowards. Humans are so weird.
“How do you know?” Luca asks as he raises his phone to update Abert on Myko’s findings.
“Don’t ask me how it works, but Myko did the same thing at the beach. Thanks to him, we survived.” I clarify, and Pedro gives my hand a squeeze, thanking me as he adds, “That dragon saved all of our asses. I’d believe it. Stay alert.” He says and then looks at me.
“Shall we go?” he asks, waiting for my approval. His trust in me from the very start makes my heart race over something so small and simple. I nod, and the three of them open their doors.
Myko, I hope this time it won’t burn like it did last time.I don’t hide my concern over the terrible burning sensation I felt when he emerged from my chest.
Last time it burned because you fought me. Like I told you from the beginning—when you stop fighting me, our power will be one, and the burns won’t bother you.
