this place as quickly as I can. These men are not natural or sane, I can feel it. The hate they carry fuels them, yet the witches seem to thrive on it.
“That will cost you,” Chloe tells me, leaning against her man who wraps his arm around her, watching me closely.
“I will pay it, whatever it is,” I reply straightaway, knowing I will do anything for Dawn.
They glance at each other and have some form of silent communication before all looking at me and speaking at the same time. “You are powerful, the cost is high. Let our men feed on you and we will get you the location.”
“Witches,” I hiss, and they ignore me.
“Not enough to drain you or make you weak, a taste is all,” Mercy clarifies.
“That means they will be able to track me anywhere in the world, forever,” I counter, and they grin, knowing that. I debate my options, but what choice do I have? I need that location. They must sense my hesitation though.
“They will not harm you, dragon, they are loyal to us, but we need to be paid. Finding the location will not be easy for them.”
“Them?” I repeat, confused, and Loxley nods.
“They will find it. Only the dead can walk among the sleeping court and survive.”
Grinding my teeth, I jerk my head in a nod. “Fine, one may feed before, the others after I have my information.”
The witches grin. “Accepted.”
Chloe turns to her man and strokes his face lovingly. “Edward, my love, feed.”
The one in the tux snarls and jerks, but Loxley leans back against him and he settles down even as he glares, watching Edward coming towards me with malicious intent, his eyes alive and filled with hunger as he takes me in and the power pouring from me. It is against a dragon’s nature to share it, to share our power or let another take it or feed from it. It means we are weak, exposed, but I have no choice.
For her, I remind myself.
He steps close enough for me to feel the ice-cold touch of his form, and I have to refrain from ripping him to pieces. He flashes me a grin as if he knows my thoughts.
“This will hurt,” he informs me, seemingly happy about that before his hands dart out and grip either side of my face.
I growl as the chill penetrates my cheeks and glides into my blood, freezing the vessels and making me sluggish as it pumps through my body. He closes his eyes with a groan, his face lax in pleasure as the warmth leaks from me to him, my heat replaced by ice inside me.
“Enough,” I snarl, ripping his hands away after a few minutes. He laughs, stepping back with a stumble, drunk from the power.
“So powerful,” he whispers with wide eyes. “So filled with it, I could eat it all up.”
The other two step forward, but I narrow my gaze, my body shifting slightly until I’m larger, my scales starting to cover my arms. “Enough, dragon,” Loxley shouts, and looks at the ghosts. “Go, find the location.”
The man in the tux grips her chin harshly and kisses her. She moans and leans against him, and then suddenly he is gone, and I glance around to see the others do the same. I relax slightly when they leave and cross my arms, glaring at the witches who watch me curiously.
“Why do you need the sleeping council?” Chloe asks inquisitively.
“Enough, I have paid your price, you will not get my secrets from me,” I growl, and they titter with laughter.
“Oh, dragon, we could rip them from you if we wanted to, but we don’t. You are a friend. Did you not notice we stopped our men from stealing your soul and warmth to survive on? A little appreciation, dragon, or we will start to think we are not friends after all,” Mercy warns.
I grind my teeth, but I still need them, so I have to play nice. “Fine, thank you.’’ Each word is like glass on my tongue.
“Better.” Loxley grins. “I’m guessing it has something to do with his mate. Did you find her?”
“Not yet,” I offer and they nod.
“Soon, she has a destiny after all,” they murmur in unison. I shift, feeling annoyed and wanting to be on the road. The sooner I leave, the sooner I can find Dawn.
The witches must notice because they step closer and all focus turns to me. Their eyes hold far too much knowledge, they see too