Page 20 of I Am the Storm

The dragon approaches the waterfall and as she moves through it, her body begins to glow a blinding blue. She shrinks, the closer she gets to the throne, until she steps out of the water not as a dragon, but as a beautiful woman where the dragon had just been.

She is naked and her body shimmers a striking blue. Her hair is white and flows around her, long and wild. She stretches her dragon wings to fullness, revealing their width and beauty, then they settle at her back, becoming a cloak around her. Tiny white horns dot her forehead, and her blue eyes are large—larger than any human—and still very dragon-like.

"Good to see you again, Son of Water," she says in a silky voice. She takes a seat at her throne, crossing her long legs. "I received your petition to speak with me. You have come to argue the innocence of your brother." It's not a question, but Derek nods.

"Approach," she says.

We walk forward until we are about five feet from her throne.

"Speak," she commands.

"Liam was not part of this attack," Derek says, bluntly. "But we need your help to prove it."

She cocks her head. "The Son of Fire was seen exiting the explosion unharmed. He's known for his temper. And the event was clearly a distraction for someone to steal my egg. Why should I believe he wasn't part of this conspiracy? Many would pay well for the egg of a dragon."

"We have no need of money," Derek says.

She leans forward. "Money is not the most valuable currency, as I am sure you are aware."

"Kara, you know our family. You know this is not what we trade in nor is it how we work."

Her eyes narrow. "I know many things," she says. "But foremost I know my egg is missing and there are many who would like to see the Eternal Dragons fall. I can no longer be sure who are enemies and who are friends. Someone has betrayed us, and someone will pay."

She closes her eyes for a long moment, then opens them again, the reptilian movement of them a bit unnerving on her nearly human looking face.

"While I have no doubt about that, it just isn't possible that Liam was behind this," I say, and they both turn to look at me.

"Ah, the human who is not human has found her voice," the dragon says. "Tell me, Eve Oliver, why isn't this possible?"

"This took planning. Time. Liam—and all of us—have been wrapped up in a case that only recently resolved, resulting in the reemergence of his powers. In fact, they came back that very night. And they wouldn't have come back had we not won the case. Whoever planned this wouldn't have relied on something as untenable as Liam getting his powers back. Things could have easily gone the other way and the plan would have been ruined as a result."

The dragon stares at me a long time, and I wait, knowing that sometimes it's better to shut up and let the other person make up their own mind. If I keep talking, I might inadvertently say something that pushes them in the other direction.

"Tell me, Eve," she says softly, "Do you know what you truly are?"

I sigh. "I don't. Everyone keeps asking me and I don't know."

"Approach," the dragon says once again, and this time she means that I should come up to her throne.

I glance at Derek, but he nods, so I move close enough to her that she can reach out and slide a finger along my forehead, closing her eyes as her body begins to glow blue again. A wisp of power washes through me, disappearing as soon as she pulls her hand away.

"Interesting," she says. "You are most interesting. I can see why so many are fascinated with you."

"Can you… can you tell what I am?" I ask, desperate to know myself better.

But she doesn't answer my question. Instead, she asks another. "Why do you work for the Night brothers?"

This isn't a question that I expect, and it throws me off. I flounder for an answer and then give up, trying instead to bring the conversation back to Liam. "Please can you help us find the truth?"

"Silence, girl. I am asking the questions. And you have yet to answer mine."

So much for avoiding the issue. "I started working for them because I needed a job and a new life after my twin brother killed himself. I stayed with them because they have become my family. Maybe dysfunctional at times, and full of conflict, but family, nonetheless. I would never abandon them, which is why it's so important to me to find out the truth and exonerate Liam. He is a father now. He is my friend, and something more. He is needed in our family."

She leans back, studying us, twirling a gold ring on her middle finger. After a moment, she pulls the ring off and gestures for me to come forward. "Take this,” she says. “It is my mark. And it will help you in your investigation. Use it to travel through the Otherworld unhindered.” She holds out her ring to me and I accept it, studying the sapphire stone and signet within.

She looks to Derek. "I am surprised you are so convinced of your brother's innocence, Son of Water. You know better than most, not all Druids follow their own code."

Derek frowns and the dragon flicks her wrist dismissively. "You may leave but know this. We are the Eternal Dragons of the Otherworld. This will not be like any other trial. Someone will pay, and if my egg isn't returned to me by the end of this, that someone will be Liam."