Smoked - Mari Mancusi Page 0,56
can break us apart!”
Behind her, she could hear the Potentials cheer. Reaching into the box, she pulled out the necklace, then looked at Emmy a little doubtfully. “Though I’m not sure it’s going to work as a necklace anymore,” she teased, noting the circumference of the dragon’s neck. “Maybe a bracelet?”
Everyone laughed at this. Emmy snorted, nodding her massive head eagerly. Then she lifted a paw up to Trinity. It took a little effort, but Trin finally managed to work the piece of jewelry over the dragon’s claws and down to an approximation of where her wrist would be. Just seeing Emmy’s face as she stared down reverentially at the red-paste jewels made Trinity want to both laugh and cry.
“You deserve this, Emmy,” she whispered, softly so the microphone couldn’t pick it up. Some things were still just between her and her dragon. “I only wish I could give you more.”
You’ve given me everything, Fire Kissed. So much more than I deserve.
Trinity’s mouth dropped open. Had Emmy just…
“Did you just say something?” she whispered, suddenly wishing they weren’t live on TV.
Emmy looked a little sheepish. Caleb’s been helping me, she confessed. Turns out a bond between dragon and Fire Kissed can be broken—but never severed completely. And with the right exercises…
Trinity’s heart leapt in her chest. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
I didn’t know if it would work. And I didn’t want to disappoint you if it didn’t. I’ve already disappointed you so many times…
“Oh, Emmy!” Trinity cried, throwing her arms around the dragon. “You have never disappointed me. Never ever, ever!” She buried her face in the dragon’s neck, unable to stop the happy sobs. And when Emmy nuzzled her back with her snout, her heart felt so full, she was half-convinced it would burst from her chest.
“Uh, Trinity?” Luke broke in. “Not to interrupt this happy moment, but…”
Trinity blushed, pulling away from Emmy and giving him an apologetic look. After all, to the rest of them and everyone watching, she might as well have been talking to herself. There would be all the time in the world to talk to Emmy later. Right now, the dragon’s public awaited.
“Sorry,” she said, turning to the cameras with a laugh. “It’s time for Emmy’s real present. The one you all helped us make for her.” She turned to Rashida. “I think she’s ready! Let’s do this!”
The camera panned over to the large tarp, and Rashida and Trevor walked over, grabbing the ends and yanking it away. Trin watched, laughing, as Emmy’s eyes grew wide as saucers as she stared down at the most massive pile of raw meat any of them had ever seen. It was a mountain of meat.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Trin teased. “Bon appétit!”
She watched Emmy start over to the pile, drool dripping from her massive jaws. Her heart swelled in her chest. That was her dragon. Her beautiful dragon.
They were still destined, she and Emmy. And nothing could tear them apart.
She turned back to the broadcast. “Thank you all for tuning in to help us celebrate Emmy’s online anniversary. As always your support is—”
“Excuse me, everyone? May we have your attention please?”
What? Trinity turned, surprised at the sudden interruption. She’d been about to introduce the fan videos so that Emmy could eat in peace. That’s what they’d rehearsed anyway. So who was that, speaking over a bullhorn now? It sounded almost like—
“Caleb?” she called out. Her heart pounded uneasily in her chest, though she wasn’t sure why.
“Before Emmy digs in, we have another surprise for her,” Caleb continued from wherever he was hiding.
Trinity watched as Emmy paused from her meal, looking up with uneasy eyes. The scales on the back of her neck seemed to rise, giving her the look of a threatened dog. A low warning growl emerged from the back of her throat as she nervously began to scan the skies.
Trinity shot a look to Luke. He started to shrug, then stopped short, his eyes focusing on something above her. Concerned, Trin followed his gaze, heart in her throat, looking up at the sky and…
“Oh my God!” she cried. “Are those…dragons?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
What the…?
Trinity watched, along with everyone else, as two young dragons the size of small horses swooped down from the sky, weaving in and out of each other’s flight paths as if showing off for the cameras. One was pink with purple wings and the other as black as Trinity’s eyes with golden sparks that seemed to dance over the ebony scales.
Dragons. How