Page 57 of I Am the Storm

Liam pulls back to study me. "Even if I'm found innocent, I'd…I'd still like you to adopt her. To officially become her mother, if you're willing. You're the only mother she has."

I can't speak. My heart is flooding with emotion, my body viscerally moved by his trust in me, by this shared bond that is so heavy and yet so light all at the same time. "Are you sure that's what you want?" I ask.

He nods. "More than anything. I want you and I want her. The two of you are my family."

He kisses me deeply and it feels as if it might be the last time we ever kiss like this again, though I know that's not possible. We have time before the trial. Time to steal more kisses and hold each other and talk about the future with his daughter. Our daughter.

It's a perfect moment.

Until it isn't.

A warning flash hits me first, sending a wave of dizziness through me.

Then a loud crash coming from the hall startles us both into action. When Liam and I run out, we see the front door has been beaten down and Enforcers swarm into the castle led by Dath’Racul. He tips his head at me, "Miss Oliver." His eyes narrow when he sees Liam.

"We have a warrant to search this property." He hands Liam a scroll, and Liam studies it, singeing the edges with his fire.

I read over his shoulder and my blood runs cold.

They had a tip. The egg is somewhere in the castle, and once they find it, any defense we might have had falls apart.

The Lie

How does something that set fire to your heart suddenly chill your bones? ~Nikita Gill

Enforcers immediately beginto spread out, roughly handling priceless antiques as they search in the most unlikely places.

"The egg, which is the size of a medium built dog, is not hiding in a vase the size of my first," I say, grabbing the ancient hand-painted relic from an Enforcer's hand. "Are you here to destroy everything, or to actually attempt to find a dragon egg?" I ask.

Matilda, Lily, the other brothers, the Ifrits, the Kitsune, the Gargoyles and the Dryad all come to the hall after hearing the commotion. The baby is crying and the Enforcers look at each other, uncomfortable with the presence of a child, clearly.

Derek steps forward, frowning. "What's the meaning of this, Racul? You know we don't have the egg."

The fire dragon shrugs. "Then you shouldn't have any problem with us taking a look around."

My flash is still pinging in my brain, but I don't need my flash to know something smells off about this whole thing. I grab Derek's hand and pull him into another room while the others continue asking questions and generally work to keep the Enforcers from making much progress in their search.

"This is a set up," I tell Derek in a whisper. Who knows what kinds of creatures the Enforcers are, or how well they can hear.

"I assume so as well."

"Which means, the egg is here. Someone is framing Liam. We have to find the egg and get rid of it before they do, or there's nothing we'll be able to say to exonerate Liam."

Derek nods.

"You know the castle better than me. It will be somewhere that looks like it's been hidden, but not so hidden that these idiots won't find it," I say.

"The Enforcers may be idiots, but don't underestimate Dath'Racul. He's shrewd and brilliant."

I narrow my eyes. "So am I."

Derek smiles at that. "That you are."

We head to my room where I get my sketchbook and turn to the pages I drew when I first arrived here, of all the halls and rooms and secret passages I could find in the castle. Derek whistles under his breath. "I'm not sure you're assessment is correct," he says.

"About what?"

"I don't think I know this castle better than you. That's the most thorough map I've ever seen."