Smoked - Mari Mancusi Page 0,21

least of which was saving my life.”

She thought back to the first time she’d encountered Emmy in the cave. She’d been bleeding badly after a fight with her mother’s boyfriend and thought she was going to die. But then Emmy appeared—like an angel from heaven—giving her blood from her one soft scale to help seal up the wound. This particular pocket of dragon’s blood, it was said, could perform medical miracles if given voluntarily by the creature in question. And without that miracle, Scarlet was pretty sure it would have been game over for her.

Suddenly, a thought struck her. Maybe Emmy’s blood could heal Caleb too, bring him back from the Nether once and for all. And maybe healing Caleb would give Emmy more confidence, make her see how valuable she really was. Scarlet’s heart pounded in her chest. It was the perfect plan! Something to give Emmy a purpose, and as a bonus, she’d get Caleb back too. Why hadn’t she thought of it sooner?

“Emmy, do you think you could maybe…”

She trailed off, realizing the dragon was already shaking her head. Evidently she could still hear Scarlet’s thoughts before she voiced them, through their blood bond.

I’m sorry, Emmy said, sounding wistful. I wish I could. But it seems I am useless in this now, as in everything else.

“What do you—?” Scarlet started to ask, then broke off as she watched Emmy lower her gaze to her arm. Scarlet followed the look, then gasped as she saw it.

“Emmy!” she cried, horrified. She dropped to her knees, taking Emmy’s paw in her hands. So many scales had been broken, she hadn’t noticed this one in particular. But there it was—her healing scale, ripped away. Only an ugly scar remained in its place.

The poor dragon. The poor, poor dragon!

“Oh, Emmy!” she cried, looking up at the creature, her eyes blurred with tears. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize. If I had known, I never would have asked. I’m such an idiot. Please forgive me.” Here she thought she was going to make the dragon feel better. Instead, she’d only made things worse.

Emmy regarded her sadly. It’s all right, she assured Scarlet. You couldn’t have known.

Scarlet’s heart panged at the suffering she could hear clearly in Emmy’s voice. She couldn’t imagine how much pain the poor beast was going through each and every day. Not just the physical pain that would eventually heal with her wounds. But the mental anguish to know she was no longer whole.

She stepped up to the dragon, opening her arms wide to embrace her fully. Emmy was so big now she could barely manage to get her arms around her head. For a moment, the dragon was stiff, unyielding, But as Scarlet continued to hold her and whisper in her ear, she eventually softened, snuggling her head against her chest, her soft breath tickling the hairs on Scarlet’s arms. For a moment, they just stood there, holding one another, pulling strength from one another—no words necessary.

Finally, Emmy pulled away. Scarlet looked at her questioningly.

“What is it?” she asked.

While I cannot cure Caleb, there may be another way.

Scarlet’s eyes widened. “Really?” she asked, hope rising within her. “What other way? Whatever it is, I’ll do it!”

The dragon looked hesitant. If I help you, will you agree to help me in return?

“Yes, of course,” Scarlet said a little doubtfully, not sure what she was agreeing to. But if Emmy could help Caleb… “I would help you no matter what. You know that, Ems. What do you need me to do?”

The dragon gave her a stern look. First, you must promise never to speak of this. Not to anyone. Especially not to Trinity.

Now Scarlet’s heart was really pounding in her chest. Was she about to learn what Emmy had been hiding at long last? What had made her so estranged from her former Fire Kissed?

“Of course, Emmy,” she assured the dragon. “You know you can trust me.”

Emmy seemed to consider this for a moment, then snorted, puffs of smoke billowing from her nose. Very well, she said. Open the door and get on my back. We need to take a little ride.

Chapter Seven

Thirty minutes later, Scarlet was high in the clouds, Emmy tearing through white mist at breakneck speed. As they dipped and wove through the atmosphere, she couldn’t help the small thrill tingling from her fingers to her toes, despite the somber circumstances. Besides the one brief flight after Emmy’s rescue from the government lab, the only other time she’d