Of all the places I thought my life would take me, this was not one of them. I couldn’t look Wyatt in the eye—not yet. He might have given his permission to this but my guilt didn’t give a damn about that.
“That’s enough. Get off of her. Now.” Was that a growl? From Wyatt? No, I’m just hallucinating. Either way, that threat came from his chest.
Guy clicked his tongue and rolled off of me. I saw how he struggled to keep his smile in check but his eyes held a softer story. He knew where he stood, what he was allowed to do and I think that’s what bothers him the most—the fact he needed permission.
“Alright. Now what? We go investigate what happened to that capp–”
“Corre.” I interrupted Guy as he stretched his arms behind his back.
“Right, Corre, my bad. Are we going to go talk to him—why is he looking at me like that?” Guy asked, gulping at the glare Wyatt was giving him.
“He wants you to leave”
A pause far too long.
“Yeah, no, I’ll, um , be out there when you guys are done.” Guy nodded, grabbing his clothes and speeding out the room. The door shut behind him but I made no move to get out of bed. Oddly enough the soft, hot, wet sheets were more comforting than facing Wyatt's frustration. Or mine.
“I’m not mad at you.” His voice made me sink even further.
“You should be.” I didn’t know I could make my voice that small.
“Stop it. Look at me, princess.” He grasped my chin and gently turned me towards him.
“I feel like I’m gonna throw up.” Wyatt chuckled and kissed my forehead.
“I love you. Stop feeling guilty. Would it make you feel better if I said I liked watching that?”
Sitting up in bed, I nearly gave myself whiplash. Hands on my hips, I glared at him and for the first time in our marriage, he was grinning at me.
“That’s not fucking funny!”
“It is when it snaps you out of your shit. Get dressed. I’ll call that idiot back in.”
I winced and climbed out of bed on shaky, sticky legs.
Creeping shivers ran down my back. Wyatt was watching me like a hawk—he always did when I dressed or undressed. A hundred years ago, that was hot but now? Now it feels like he’s waiting for me to break.
“Wyatt, I’m not fragile.” I zipped up my jumper.
“I never said you were.”
“I know but you’re watching me so intensely…and we can’t, you-know-what.” I flexed my wrist letting him fill in the blanks.
He scoffed. “We’re adults, princess. You of all people can say the word fuck.”
The nerve of this asshole. “I was going to say be intimate but fuck me, I guess.”
“Trying to.” He murmured, turning his back on me again. That was a low blow—I know it wasn’t aimed to hurt me but it stung.
“Guy! Get your ass in here!” Wyatt barked, opening the doors. Guy sheepishly walked in, rubbing the back of his head. He wouldn’t meet my gaze even now that I’m fully dressed. Where was all that swagger from earlier?
“Yea?”
“Tell me about descendent history.” A lightbulb goes off over my head as Wyatt walks back and forth—stroking his chin. I love it when he’s in professor mode.
“What about it?”
“Tell me about the history of capps and descendants. They said spores were the cause of human deaths. When did that discovery happen?”
Humming softly to himself, Guy leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. “According to the Dragon Archives, it started about 50 years ago when the capps became sentient. Mushrooms had been growing for years but they didn’t start talking and walking until then.”
“And humans just dropped dead?”
Guy rolled his shoulders, trying his best to jog his memory. “No. Not at first…I think. Give me a beat.”
“It’s your people’s history and you’re struggling to recall it? Perhaps you—”Wyatt started in on him, but Guy opened his eyes, glancing at me then back to Wyatt.
“Those aren’t my people. They took me in, cared for me—if you can call starving me for questioning why we have that god-awful statue care—but they were never my people. As bad as it sounds,” he blushes, “you guys are it for me. ”
That won him a few points with me, but Wyatt was probably gagging in his mouth.
“Touching. You’re incorrect and useless, what a combination.” Wyatt's pacing never ceased.
“Hey, screw you, man! I’m trying here, okay? There's not a lot that I can recall, but it didn’t happen all at once. A missing person here or there. When we found them they were always half-eaten and covered in…” Guy's eyes widened, his rampage had cooled as the wheels started spinning in his head.
“Go on.” Wyatt was softer with him, but no less firm.
“They were covered in green goo. The same shade of green that Corre had while he was a zombie capp.”
“Zapp?” I added, tapping a finger to my chin.
“I like it,” Guy smirked.
“Focus. Corre was infected with something; even a blind man could see that. Sapph, your purification breath must have cleansed him. The question is: How did he get infected? If capps are killing humans while in a manic hallucinogenic state, then it may not be as clear-cut as your people have thought.”
“How do you know he was hallucinating?” I inquired.
“I asked him while you were sleeping. He claims he was seeing rabid dragons devouring Silla, and he was trying to defend her.” Never let it be said that my husband was not a proactive man.
“Holy fuck, that’s terrifying.” Guy let out—sliding down the wall with his hands behind his back. I felt the same way.
“Wait. Wyatt, pull up the map again?” When he did, I glanced at each tunnel exit. I licked my lips and wiped the sweat from my brow.
“Mm, I know that look. What are you thinking, princess?” Wyatt moved next to me, raising a brow.
“Each of the tunnels opens up in different places, but all of these—” I pointed, “these all open up near the surface and lead directly back to the marshlands.” Ugh, my head hurts. What am I missing?
Wyatt's eyes widened. “You’re on to something. Take your time.”
“Hold up.” Guy said, bouncing off the wall. His hand swept up on three of the exits I pointed at.
“The first three bodies were found nearby each of them. The next were no more than a few dozen yards out.”
My head snapped up, color draining from my face as the words fell from my lips.
“Were they found…or placed?”
“Sapph, what are you talking about?” Guy let out a nervous laugh, as if he didn’t want to think about it. I just looked at him, deadpan.
I didn’t give him an answer, just walked out of the room with Wyatt in tow. We might not be sharing minds, but he knew one thing based on the fire spitting from my lips; I was beyond pissed.
“How much trouble are you about to cause?” Wyatt's devilish smile brightened my day.
“Not enough. Direct me back to the city?”
“Always.”
Guy super-sped in front of me, but I pushed him out of the way. My bones were churning; the dragon power hidden behind my class was at a boiling point. It roared to be free–to be the old me. I was on a mission and the mission was starting right-fucking now.
“What—whoa, that’s a terrible idea. Hey–hey! Are you listening? Rupert’s gonna–” the words died in his throat when he saw my eyes. My mouth was set, jaw rigid. He gulped and nodded, keeping pace with me while Wyatt directed me.
We tasted the air once we hit the surface. Middle of town, just where I wanted to be. People gasped when they saw us. They pointed at me, at the statue a few feet away, drawing comparisons.
A group of tactically dressed men swarmed from the direction of the courthouse, converging on our location. They took aim at me but hesitated when they saw Guy. He was their leader after all.
“Guy! What the hell are you doing? Your father has put out a warrant for her arrest.” Just me? Like it wasn’t the two of us together that kicked Rupert’s ass?
“Yeah…good luck with that.” Guy snorted, smiling at me. With him on my left and Wyatt on my right, I was whole. Even without my powers fully unlocked, I had no fear of these assholes.
I spat on the dry ground as a crowd formed around us. They want a show? I’ll give em a fucking show!
“Insight.” My goggles fell, highlighting the cracks in the statue's building. I placed a hand over one crack, inhaling deeply. Flames licked my lips, a taste of my old temperament about to take over.
“Hold it right there!” Rupert's voice cut through the crowd. He stood on a sloping city street nearby, looking down at me like the smug asshole he was. I hope he thinks he has the high road cuz I’m about to cause a collision.
“Rupert! So glad you could make it.” I called out, watching a group of purple-cloaked people take his side. Of course it had to be purple, ugh. Those must be the other members of the council. Good, I can scare them all at once.
“How could I miss the best event of the year? Today is the day the old dragon queen dies and a new king takes her place. People of Cyran! See now how weak Sapphyra truly is? My men would have been slaughtered by now if she were the destroyer the archive said she was! Bear witness to her noble death!” His arm was outstretched, an evil gleam of triumph in his eye.
Boy, it was just like old times.
The crowd was silent…for about 5 seconds. Wyatt, Guy and I burst into fits of laughter.
Rupert's nose wrinkled; his teeth ground together. He raised his hand , signalling his guards. Bullets started flying, but Guy stepped in front of me, letting them bounce off his back.
“Traitor! My own son!”
“Sorry, not sorry pop, I don’t follow tyrants.” He pressed his forehead against mine, softly whispering. “You’re not a tyrant, right?”
Rolling my eyes, I smirked at the many ways I could answer that question. “Focus, hero.” His eyes lit up as he held me close, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“Aye, aye, captain.”
When the guards realized it wasn’t working, they started to move, but I didn’t give them time to breathe.
“You know what, Rupert? You’re right. Today is the death of the old dragon queen…because that thing? It was never me.”
My fist hit the ankle of that god-awful statue. It started shaking, rattling the entire city block before it crumbled into a mountain of gray soccer ball-sized pieces. If I had time, I’d burn it and dance on the fucking ashes. People started screaming and running away, but not my men.
Using vacuum was all but a reflex as I inhaled them all and raised my middle finger to a pissed-off Rupert with the most defiant glare I could give him.
“Refurbish!” I cried out, emptying my void and building up a new statue. Not an evil version of me–not even the hero I used to be. I built my statue from my heart, not just for me but for everyone around me.
In the city center stood a brand-new statue of me as I am now, smiling brightly as I leaned against the handle of a wide-combed push-broom.
My chest ached, my breathing was uneven, but it was done. I pointed my index finger up at Rupert, then at his council members, giving them one declaration:
“First it was the statue but get ready cuz’ I’m tearing down your lies next!”
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