Ember's Kiss (18 page)

Or maybe this so-called friend was the spellcaster.

What was that powder?

She forced herself to think about biology and physical responses to substances. Anything was better than thinking about magic—and magic could have a base in biology. If she knew exactly what the powder was, maybe she could break the binding spell. Maybe there was an antidote.

“Was that the first time that you nearly shifted involuntarily? After Matt released the powder?”

Brandon frowned, then met her gaze again. “Yes. I had to fight the dragon all the way back to Hale‘iwa.”

Liz tried to think of it in biological terms, even though she guessed this was the dark magic she'd sensed. “There are many, many substances that act in a beneficial way in small quantities but are toxic in large quantities. That's true for all species. What if this powder is a substance that unleashes your dragon?”

“Like a drug it reacts to.” His eyes lit at the thought. “So, it'll wear off, like it always does. It just might take longer because there was more of it.”

“Where do you get it? Can you get more?”

“I don't want more!”

“For testing purposes. We have to have some to figure out what it is.” Liz nodded. “Then we can ensure that you avoid it.” She intuitively knew it wasn't the
whole answer, but she would try every possibility before she welcomed magic back into her life.

“I could ask Chen for more,” Brandon said. “But he said it was the last of it.”

“Maybe he's holding out on you. Maybe he kept a bit back.” Liz shrugged. “If not, maybe there's enough residue in the vial for testing.”

Brandon nodded. “I left it at my place when I went back to get a board.”

“Good. Then you need to talk to some of the other
Pyr
,” Liz said, certain this was the most obvious choice.

Brandon took affront at this suggestion, much to her surprise. “What for?”

“To ask about their firestorms.”

He shook his head. “I don't talk to other
Pyr
.”

“Well, maybe you should. They might be able to give you some advice.”

“Never!”

Liz was surprised by his vehemence. “That makes no sense….”

“It makes perfect sense! I'm not going to let those people into my life. Into
our
lives. Forget it.”

This was the last thing she'd expected him to be stubborn about.

“How else are you going to learn to understand your nature?” Liz demanded, propping her hands on her hips to confront him. “You can find out about their experiences and learn from that. Just because you and your dad don't get along doesn't mean that all dragons are bad. Maybe what you're going through is typical….”

His eyes flashed with unexpected heat. “Liz, you don't understand. This thing is evil. It's nasty and it's bloodthirsty, and if you think I'm going to hang out with a bunch of dragons who are just the same, even in the interest of understanding my nature better, you can think again. I'm not going to put you at risk, not now that I've found you.”

“Then what's your plan?”

His lips set. “I want to be rid of it forever. I just have to figure out how.”

“Nobody can change what they are,” Liz argued. “Your physiology isn't going to change just because you want it to.”

“Then I'll make it change!”

“It's a binding spell. We'll break the spell….”

“I don't believe in magic, Liz. I believe in what I'm feeling. This thing is inside me and it's baying for blood. I'm not going to play.” Brandon jabbed his finger at his own chest. “This is a contest and only one of us can win. That means the other loses. But if the dragon is going to win, I'll take us both out instead. That's how much this matters.”

He stalked toward her car, leaving Liz with the urge to shake him. He wouldn't be able to change his nature. He had to regain control of his dragon and destroy the binding spell, and the best chance of that, in her opinion, was to talk to others. If there was dragon magic at work, they were the most likely to know the answers.

She was tempted to quote her mother, which just made her more angry.

“How are you going to make it change?” she demanded, hearing her frustration.

“I'll figure it out!”

“Or commit suicide instead,” she yelled back at him. “Good plan!”

Brandon pivoted to face her, his gaze simmering. She saw surprise light his features, but she didn't care. She stormed toward him, shaking her finger at him.

“You said that my presence makes it easier for you to control the dragon,” she said. “Maybe walking away from me right now isn't the smartest choice you could make.”

His gaze danced over her, and she saw his anger fade. “You're literally spitting sparks,” he said with awe, lifting a hand toward her as if warming it before a fire. “I thought the firestorm was satisfied.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Look at you. You're on fire again! Your eyes are flashing and there are sparks flying in every direction. This is different from the firestorm. This is what I saw when you turned up on the beach and just a few minutes ago, too.” He looked into her eyes, his own bright with curiosity, and she had the sense he could see right into her soul. “So, come on, Liz. Tell me. What
are
you?”

Liz panicked. She'd been a freak in high school and she knew how that story had ended. The mark on her arm seemed to itch. Her mother had died because of her.

She wouldn't put Brandon at risk.

Liz took a step back from Brandon, and he could see that she was frightened. She spoke curtly, and the light that had illuminated her was gone—as if she'd banished it on purpose. “I'm a marine biologist; that's all. I'm just mad because you're not being sensible.”

“No.” That wasn't the truth and Brandon knew it. “No, this is more than anger. There's something special about you.” He smiled because she looked so freaked out. He was hoping to reassure her. “More special than I already thought. It's how you know about spells. You must be some kind of witch. Tell me.”

“No!” Liz cried and headed for driver's-side door. “There is
nothing
special or unusual about me. You're seeing things!” She hauled open the door with a savage gesture, as if she couldn't put distance between them fast enough.

What was going on?

“You feel pretty strongly about that.” Brandon said softly.

“I do.” She gave him a hot look, one that showed him her fear. Her voice rose in challenge. “Do you want a ride back to Hale‘iwa or not?”

Brandon leaned on the hood of the car with both fists, his gaze unswerving. “You know my big secret,” he said quietly. “Maybe you should tell me yours. Maybe it would make you feel better about it.” He smiled just a little, already guessing that it wouldn't reassure her. “Maybe trust is the foundation of the firestorm.”

“I don't have a secret,” Liz insisted, and got into the car. She slammed the car door. “I do, though, have an appointment in Kane‘ohe. Ride or not?”

When she started the engine, Brandon got into the car. He had no doubt that she would leave him behind when she was this upset, but he wanted to know why. She backed out and turned around, never glancing his way, and he noticed the nervousness in her gestures.

He also saw the symbol on her upper right arm. He was sure it hadn't been there the night before—he'd caressed every inch of her. It wasn't a tattoo. It looked like a brand. But it was fully healed.

Did it have something to do with her being so scared?

He let her drive for a moment, then spoke in measured tones, returning to their earlier topic of discussion. “Okay, you're right. Being with you does help me control my dragon. So the firestorm can't be what affected the dragon's power. The firestorm—and you—are challenging the dragon.” He turned to her, noticing how she deliberately stared straight ahead. “You can help me because you're special—and maybe I can help you in exchange. But only if you talk to me.”

Her lips tightened, and he knew her answer before she even spoke. “Let's find your friend. I think we should get your scales back and learn more about this powder.”

“Sounds like the subject is closed.”

“It is.”

“Is that because of this?” Brandon touched the
new mark on her arm with a gentle fingertip, and she flinched. “Does it hurt?”

“I don't want to talk about it. The less you know, the better.”

Brandon didn't agree, although he guessed he wasn't going to get anywhere in this argument right now. “You're going to have to tell somebody, Liz. And if you're going to tell anybody, I think I'm your best choice.”

She flicked a frightened glance his way.

“Think about it. I know what it's like to have a nasty secret, one that could maybe ruin everything if people knew. We already have this connection, and your power is somehow feeding mine. That tells me that we need to work through this together.”

If anything, his words seemed to scare her even more. Her knuckles were white on the steering wheel and he could feel the agitation in her pulse.

What was she afraid of?

“I'll wait, though,” he added calmly.

“Don't hold your breath,” Liz murmured.

Brandon looked out the window, watching the surf and drumming his fingers on the car door. “Okay, we have to figure out what to tell everyone who was at the beach.”

“They'll be looking for a corpse,” Liz agreed, and he had the sense that she was glad to be talking about something else.

“So, maybe you found me,” Brandon suggested. “There's a riptide on that beach. You could have found me all bashed up and washed down the coast.”

“What about the dragon?”

“What
about
the dragon?” He granted her an intent look, not appreciating that she wanted to share his secret with the world when she wouldn't share hers with him. Liz held his gaze for a moment, then turned back to the road. Brandon felt his lips tighten but he again spoke calmly. “Let's pretend we know even less than they do.”

“It's not much of a strategy.”

“The alternative is telling them the truth about me, and I am not going there.” He gave her a hot look. “You, of all people, should understand that.”

Liz blushed. “You don't understand what's at stake.”

“Because you won't tell me.”

There was silence between them then, and Brandon wondered if her hesitation was due to doubts about his intentions.

He cleared his throat, determined to straighten that out immediately. “Listen, Liz, I believe everything I said about forever and kismet and the firestorm.” He spoke softly but with conviction. “But that can only happen if I'm whole. I'm not going to risk the dragon taking a toll from you, ever.”

Liz kept driving, but he saw her swallow.

“We can do it together, Liz,” he said. “The firestorm is the only good thing about this dragon stuff, and it's the key to solving everything. We have to work together, which means you need to believe in the future, as well.”

She said nothing and he knew she was really frightened.

“My dad said that a firestorm brings a
Pyr
the woman he needs to make him more than he already is.”

“I thought your parents split up.”

“They did.” Brandon turned to look out the window, and he felt Liz steal a glance at him. “But he told me he would never love anyone else, no matter how long he lived.” He glanced back at her suddenly and caught her gaze. Her eyes widened as she stared at him, and he knew he must look intent and determined.

He felt her pulse flutter.

She wasn't immune to him. She believed in the firestorm, too—but she was afraid that whatever she feared was stronger than both of them.

That just meant that Brandon had to figure out the truth and show her that she was wrong. He stole another glance at that symbol, ensuring that he would remember it.

There had to be a way to look it up. Maybe its meaning would tell him what he needed to know.

When Liz parked in front of the beach bar where Brandon's buddies always hung out, Brandon made a show of getting out of the back of Liz's car, just as they had agreed. He acted as if he was more beat up than he was, but the sight of him even pretending to be injured was troubling to Liz.

As he'd predicted, he was spotted instantly and was immediately surrounded by his concerned friends.

Liz rubbed the mark on her arm and hung back, worried. Was she doomed to lose every single person in her life she cared about? As soon as she'd had the thought, Liz couldn't shake it. It couldn't be a coincidence that the first time she'd allowed herself to care for someone, the mark of her impending test had appeared.

Could she help Brandon defeat his dragon, only to lose him?

The mark on her skin felt like it was burning.