The Dragon Shifter’s Desire by Harmony Raines
Chapter Thirty-Five – Larisa
“What do you think?” Jacintha stood back and cast a critical eye over Larisa.
“I’m not sure what exactly I’m supposed to look like,” she admitted.
“Egan!” Jacintha called. “Can you grab one of those old books you used to like to read and bring it here?”
Larisa stared at her image in the mirror. Dressed in a long flowing dress that Jacintha had dug out of the back of her closet and with her hair intricately braided, she looked very feminine. Only now staring at her reflection did she realize she spent most of her life in jeans or pants that stood up to her active lifestyle.
“I can’t remember the last time I wore a dress.” Larisa pinched the dress fabric between her thumb and fingers and lifted it an inch or two off the floor before swishing it back and forth.
“You look beautiful,” Jacintha praised, “but there’s nothing wrong with wearing what suits your lifestyle. And you don’t need to wear clothes like this to be a woman.”
“I guess it doesn’t help that I never had a female role model. My dad raised me alongside my brother.” She chewed her bottom lip. “Maybe I wanted to fit in with them.”
“Wow!” Egan came into his mom’s bedroom with a book in his hand. “Here.”
“Your father used to read this to you.” Jacintha held the book in both hands and stared down at the cover, her mouth turned down at the corners as her chin trembled but then she breathed out hard. With a flick of her wrist, she opened the book and flipped through the pages.
Larisa risked a glance at Egan who was staring down at the book, his eyes out of focus. Was he remembering his father and the times they shared together? She envied him for those memories, but she didn’t begrudge them. She was happy he had memories of his father. Something to hold onto.
“Here.” Jacintha held the book out to Larisa, it was open on a page which showed a hand-drawn illustration of a silver-haired woman with a willowy figure.
“I have a few more curves.” She leaned forward and stared at the image before returning her gaze to the mirror. The dress wasn’t the only thing that made her look more feminine. Jacintha had used makeup to transform Larisa’s features. Smoky shading around her eyes made the blue of her irises pop. Her lips were plump, and her cheekbones sculpted. The overall effect was eerily similar to the picture in the book.
“The curves look good. I always thought elves looked as if they needed to gain a few pounds.” Jacintha accepted the book back from Larisa. “I have a cloak you can borrow. That will complete the look.”
“Thank you.” Larisa turned to face Jacintha. “It’s kind of you to help me.”
“It’s not kindness,” Jacintha answered bitterly. “I want you to succeed where my people have failed. I want you to expose the dirty underbelly of the Dragon Lord of Cairnnor.” Her breath shuddered through her body as she left the room.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset her.” Larisa’s eyes pricked with tears, and she lifted her hand to brush her hand across her eyes, but Egan grabbed hold of her wrist.
“Don’t undo my mom’s magic.” He smiled sadly at her and let go of her hand.
“Sorry. Again.” She looked down at the floor while she composed herself.
“You don’t have to keep apologizing,” Egan assured her. “My mom is easily upset. She has been ever since... It’s like my father’s death tore her apart and she can’t hold her emotions inside.”
“I know what that’s like. My dad is the same although he hides it better. But it’s like there’s a part of him that’s been exposed and now there’s no way to conceal it.” Her gaze was drawn back to the mirror. “If this works, perhaps we’ll all be able to start healing.”
“Perhaps.” He nodded toward her. “You look stunning, by the way. I wish Ivan was here to see you.”
“It’s not Ivan I have to impress.” She turned from side to side. “Do you think Argothorn will fall under my spell?”
“Yes.” Egan stepped toward the doorway. “We should go downstairs. We need to leave.”
With a last look in the mirror, she followed him out of Jacintha’s bedroom and along the hallway. Jacintha was downstairs, it sounded as if she was rummaging in a closet. Perhaps Larisa would have to manage without the cloak after all.
“What about my stuff?” Larisa asked.
“Mom will pack it up for you and I’ll come grab it before I go to the pits.” Egan placed his foot on the first stair, but Larisa grabbed him by the hand and stopped him from going any farther.
“Promise me you’ll be careful.” She didn’t like the idea of Egan risking his life even though she understood his need to help avenge his father’s death.
“I’ll be careful.” He nodded and smiled wistfully. “My father was a great diplomat. It’s time I found out if I really am like him as people tell me.”
“Good luck.” She hugged him and he stiffened for a moment before he relaxed and hugged her back.
“You, too.” He kissed her cheek before turning around and hurrying downstairs.
“I just have to grab something from my pack.” Larisa wheeled around and ran back to the bedroom. Carefully taking the knife Gilliam had given her out of the pack, she slipped it onto the belt around her waist, hoping the ornate leather was strong enough. Then she arranged the folds of the material around the sheath to conceal the weapon before heading back downstairs to the others.
“Ah, here it is.” Jacintha brushed her hair back from her face as she stepped away from the closet and held up a midnight blue cloak made of a rich velvet material. “I wore this to a formal dinner once. Your father loved the color.” She held it up against Larisa. “It emphasizes your eyes.”
“Maybe if he just stares into my eyes, I can hypnotize him into going to the pits.” Larisa lifted her hair as Jacintha placed the cloak over her shoulders.
“Ready?” Egan edged toward the front door as if he couldn’t wait to leave. Perhaps he simply wanted to get her far away from his mom. Larisa could sympathize with him, if her presence was discovered, it would put Jacintha in danger.
Larisa nodded. “Thank you so much, Jacintha.”
“Thank you.” Jacintha grabbed hold of Larisa and hugged her tightly. “Take care of yourself. Don’t do anything crazy.”
Larisa laughed as she buried her face in Jacintha’s shoulder. “Crazy? I have no idea what you mean.” A breath shuddered through her body as she straightened up. She didn’t want to let go of Jacintha, her comforting hug reminded Larisa of her father and a wave of homesickness washed over her.
“You’re a hero, Larisa.” Jacintha sniffed loudly and wiped her eyes. “And, in my experience, heroes often end up...getting hurt.”
She was certain Jacintha was going to say end up dead but then changed her mind. But the word was there in Larisa’s head, thumping to a steady beat. “I’ll be careful.”
She turned around and went to the door. With a nod to his mom, Egan turned the handle and opened the door, leading her outside. Night had fallen, the darkness covering the world around them. There were no streetlights, no lights at all, only the stars above them.
“Incredible, isn’t it?” Egan stared up at the sky. “I’ve always loved flying at night.”
“It is incredible,” she agreed. “And so are you. For helping us.”
He chuckled. “Don’t paint me as your hero. I’m doing this for me and my mom more than anyone else.”
“You’re doing this for your father.” Larisa kept close to Egan as they headed back toward the road. “For his memory.”
Egan stopped walking and faced her. “My father is dead. What happens here doesn’t affect him. But it does affect my mom.”
“She loves your father very much.” Larisa studied Egan’s face, cast in shadows by the darkness.
“Did your dad ever move on and find love again?” Egan swung around and continued on toward the road.
“No. And he and my mom weren’t mates. I can only imagine how hard it must be for your mom.” Larisa placed her hand on his arm, and he tensed. “I’m not a shifter but I can still sense the connection between me and Ivan.”
“One day I might be lucky enough to find my mate and then I’ll truly understand the bond. Until then, I’ll take your word for it.” He stepped onto the road and turned in a circle. “Okay, this is where our next adventure begins, Larisa.”
“An adventure.” She smiled crookedly. “Is that what this is?”
“Life is an adventure.” He tilted his head to one side and looked up at the stars. “At least that’s what my dad used to say.”
“Then let’s take this first step together.” She reached for his hand and squeezed it gently as she led him a little way away from the house. “This is going to work out all right.”
He looked down at the road and scuffed his foot across the surface. “I wish I could share your optimism.”
“I’m optimistic for us both.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for risking your life to come to Wishing Moon Bay. I believe that if anyone is the hero, it’s you.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t have a lot to lose.”
“I think you’re modest.” She let go of his hand and stepped back. “Which isn’t something I’d expected to find in a dragon shifter from Cairnnor.”
“I’m full of surprises.” The air shimmered around him before it snapped and popped, and he disappeared. She held her breath as she stood alone on the road in the world filled with dragons. Then she let it out in one gasp as Egan’s dragon appeared before her.
“Hey there.” She held up her hand and approached slowly with her head down. The dragon sniffed her before rubbing his cheek along her arm. “Are you ready?”
He closed his eyes and bowed his head before crouching down so she could scramble onto his back. Larisa was getting used to mounting a dragon and sprang up effortlessly before settling down on Egan’s broad back. It still felt strange to ride him instead of Ivan, but the surge of power beneath her as he leaped into the air gave her an incredible thrill.
She held on tightly as he flew low over the forest surrounding the farmhouse. They were so close to the tips of the trees that they bowed with each downbeat of his wings. A lake appeared in the distance and Egan flew over it, his dragon skimming the surface as he opened his mouth and scooped up a mouthful of water.
In any other circumstances, Larisa would have thrown her head back and yelled out in happiness. This was what it felt like to be alive. But the reason for their flight dampened her joy and she swallowed her yell as she focused on what was to come.
Too soon the tower came into view, and she flexed her fingers, ready to dismount as soon as Egan touched down. She wanted the dragon shifter well clear of the tower by the time she climbed into Argothorn’s apartment. To keep him safe, she needed to give Egan a chance to put some distance between them.
Their whole plan would fail if Egan was stopped and detained before he got a chance to gather the council members together at the fire pits. Larisa turned to look in the direction of Wishing Moon Bay. Were the others on their way?
Had they found a boat to take them across the ocean?
Egan’s dragon banked left and flew close to the steep mountainside. In the distance, she could see another dragon silhouetted against the sky as he stood on top of a high cliff. The dragon must be able to sense her, but he gave no sign of pursuit as they raced past.
Then Egan climbed steeply, heading directly for the tower. Larisa rolled her shoulders and circled her feet to get feeling back into them. Egan had told her there was a ledge about fifty feet below the tower window. From there she would climb to the window that led into Argothorn’s apartment.
If she was careful, she should get in without being seen. However, a dragon guard patrolled the tower at regular intervals. She’d have to be careful.
Larisa wished she’d asked Grandma Hannah for a spell of concealment, too.
Egan dropped suddenly and Larisa was instantly alert. This was it. She was on her own.
She held onto the horn on the dragon’s back as she swung her leg behind her and slid down his side. Egan had gotten within ten feet of the ground but only for a few seconds, she had to jump.
Letting go was one of the hardest things she’d ever done. Her fingers froze and she had to will herself to open them and drop to the ground.
If she didn’t let go, this would all be for nothing.
Larisa opened her fingers and took a leap of faith. Because this was her fate.