“You need a drink,” she seems to be able to understand, and gives me a sip of water. The liquid feels cool against my dry throat, and then I try again.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
The smile that lights her face is more beautiful than anything I could possibly imagine.
“You can talk,” she says. “It’s working.”
“Yes,” I whisper.
“I don’t know how long it’s going to take for your entire body to return to normal,” she says. “Hopefully soon. We need to get you back to your family, right? You have a group of dragons waiting for you? They’re going to be worried.”
That’s what she’s concerned about? Talk about a heart of fucking gold.
“My clan,” I tell her. “It’s my clan.”
“Your clan,” she repeats. “Is there any way to contact them? I mean, what do we do with her?” She jerks her head toward Nicole. “Do you have like, a prison for people who try to hurt shifters? How does that work? Sorry, I’m babbling, but damn, this has been quite a ride.”
I realize it’s late. It’s well past midnight. I don’t know how long I was incapacitated for, but I turn my head to see Nicole lying, bound on the ground. Even though she still looks pissed, she also looks really tired. Eventually, she’s going to pass out. I think we all are. We need to get to Fablestone before that.
“I can’t shift yet,” I whisper. I keep trying, but nothing happens.
“That’s okay,” she says. “We can camp here. I’ll stay awake. We can build a fire if we want to?” She says it like it’s a question.
“No,” I choke out. “No fire.”
“You’re probably right,” she says with a sigh. “Don’t want to attract anything dangerous. You know, like a bear.” She winks at me, and I realize how nice it is to be around someone who isn’t afraid to make jokes in the middle of a terrible situation. “But seriously, what do you want to do about Little Miss Evil?”
“We can bring her to the clan.”
“Are you sure about that?” Julie seems unconvinced. “Is your dragon lord going to be okay with that?”
I stare at her blankly.
“Dragon king?”
What the fuck?
“Dragon sorcerer?”
“Please stop.”
“Okay.”
“We don’t have any of those things.”
She just shrugs.
I sigh. “We have a clan leader. He’s going to be fine with it because we won’t let her know where anything is.”
Julie looks doubtful.
“We’ll blindfold her.”
Julie just stares at me.
“And we’ll keep her bound.”
“Are you sure that’s going to be enough? She seems kind of tricky. No offense, but are you sure you’re up for that? What if you lose your powers again?”