Page 11 of Gambling with Time

Samantha grabbed his clothing and folded it into neat piles and then held it to her chest. She lifted her gaze to mine and that same shock of knowing hit me square in the chest. My breath stuttered to a halt when she didn't look away immediately. This girl was important to me. And I would follow any of them to the ends of the earth and the depths of the underworld to restore my memory of how and why.

Raiden lowered a wing to the ground and hunched as low as he could get. When we didn't move, he swung his head around to eye us with a huff of smoke. Right. The dragon wanted us to get on. Samantha, Tyler, and Bellamy climbed onto his back. While Alastor stood off to the side with Cerberus.

"After you." I gestured at the beast.

"I'll portal there, it is easier with Cer." He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged.

A flower slowly bloomed from the dry red ground. A white daisy expanded and grew next to him. Followed by blue cornflowers. I knew the meanings of them both. A message for me?

I love you truly, and Be gentle with me.

"We will see you there."

He nodded as Raiden took flight. I couldn't take my eyes off him until I could no longer see him. It seemed Bellamy and Samantha had a similar feeling because when I pulled my attention away, they were doing the same.

I turned my attention to the palace that grew in size the closer we got. The sentinel dragons flew in circles in the sky around the mountain tops, as we grew closer I could make them out.

The air grew thinner and colder the higher we went. Samantha shivered in front of me, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around her and pulled her back into my warmth.

"I'll keep you warm."

She melted into me, and I never wanted to let her go. "Thanks," she murmured.

Moments later, I wasn't given a choice as the dragon landed next to the palace steps. She slipped from my arms and off his scaly back as Alastor stepped out of a portal near the entrance. Raiden shifted, and she held out his clothes for him, her cheeks slightly pink. From more than just the cold air?

Two dragons landed near us, shifting almost seamlessly. "Welcome back." The larger, younger man bowed his head before raising it and taking us all in. My heart beat hard behind my ribcage. Proof. We had been here. "Did you come back to rule or for more treasure?"

Raiden blinked slowly, taking in the words. “We need to speak to someone that knows about the ruby.”

The older man’s eyebrows disappeared behind his gray hair as he swung his gaze over us. He read our body language without missing a thing. A slow breath released from him before he pressed his lips together.

“Let me get my clothes, and we can speak.” He inclined his head and strode away, the young dragon following.

“This is a nudist colony,” Tyler hissed. “Dude, you never told me you grew up in a place like this. Are the females hot?”

“Ty.” Samantha smacked him as Raiden ignored him.

Alastor started up the palace steps. He paused as he reached the top and glanced back at us. “This way.”

We followed like the lost souls we were. He could be leading us into danger, and each of us would be right behind him. We probably should have thought about that before arriving.

As soon as we entered a large room, memories hit me. My hand shot out to steady myself as they assaulted me. I knew without looking that there was a balcony that overlooked the mountain, and that Samantha looked amazing with her skin kissed with cold and pleasure at the same time. I–no, we had wanted everyone to see.

“Are you okay?” Alastor asked.

Lifting my head, I took in the room filled with memories. When I was here last, we started to work out our issues, Alastor and I. Bellamy had claimed all of us. Well, except for the dragon.

“I remember this place.”

“But not the club?”

“No, it is familiar, in a déjà vu way. But here…we changed things.”

“Things changed at the club too,” Alastor replied, his cultured voice low and soft. “And it is your home. Maybe your apartment will hold some memories.”

The old dragon strolled into the room, cutting off any other conversation. He took each of us in and then settled into a chair around the long table.

“I assume you are having second thoughts about removing the ruby from the treasure room where it was safe?”

---