It was from Roisin. I winced. With all that had been happening in my life, I’d not circled back to check on her.
Yes why?
I need to talk to you. There’s something you need to know.
I’ll call you
No. I need to see you
I sighed gustily at the same moment Ryodan did and glanced at him, startled. “You can see her text?”
“No. I picked up only that someone wanted you and you’d made up your mind to go, when a split second ago there was nothing but sex on your mind. Whatever it is,” he said darkly, “let’s get it done.”
“This is certainly going to make things easier. You can tell when—”
“Your stubborn kicks in,” he growled. “Yes. We’ll both know when it’s pointless to argue.”
“That’s going to save so much—”
“Which means more time to fuck,” he purred, pushing up from the chair.
“Are you going to start finishing all—”
“Good chance of it. Soon you’ll stop talking.”
Holy hell, I don’t need to anymore!
You and me, peas in that kaleidoscopic, crazy-ass Mega-pod of yours. He flashed me one of those rare full-on smiles, blazing with joy.
It took my breath away. Maybe this beast/dragon thing could actually work.
Never doubt it, he said in my mind as we headed out to see Roisin.
* * *
p
I was pleased to hear the sound of multiple dead bolts sliding when I texted Roisin to let her know we were standing outside her flat, that I’d brought company with me and to brace herself: I looked a bit different.
Still, I suppose no warning could have prepared her for the sight of me. I’d gotten my fill of shocked, startled, and frightened looks on the way over. And notched my chin higher, put a little swagger into my step. I wasn’t scary looking as far as I was concerned; Hunter-raven and obsidian flames looked good on me. I thought I looked downright dangerous and oddly hot.
Soft laughter in my mind. That you do, Ryodan agreed.
I sent him a wordless smile in response.
Sexy in any form, Dani. Woman or dragon.
Back atcha, badass dude.
More laughter, husky with a blatantly sexual undertone. I shivered. Couldn’t wait to get my illusory hands on him again.
During the walk over I’d become aware that something deep at my core was changing, transforming, caterpillar to a leathery-winged black butterfly. I could sense subtle differences in my brain I couldn’t quite grasp but it felt as if inert areas of gray matter were waking up, firing with new neurons. I could feel more raw energy pooling inside me than ever before. I loathed that the changes were taking me away from my friends, but given what Ryodan and I could do with our bond, and the power I would soon have, my inevitable transformation was more bittersweet than bitter. He loved me. He would love me no matter what I was. I loved him the same way. Love doesn’t always come in tidy packages.
“What in the world happened to you?” Roisin gasped, peering intently at me.
“Hazards of the trade,” I told her as we stepped inside the flat, unable to keep a note of irritation from my voice. There were no rules in our world, hadn’t been for years. Who knew killing a Hunter meant you would become one? Who could even guess at that kind of twist? It had been somewhere between seven and nine years since I’d stabbed it. What kind of transformation took that long? I said, “How’s your back?”
“Healing. The bastards dragged us down the street,” she said tightly.