I didn’t want to see Randolph, but I knew the meeting was unavoidable. I also knew I had to get it over with. Although I’d lost all sense of time in my dragon form, I knew time was ticking. I needed to get to Hailey, and I needed to do it quickly.

My meeting came sooner than I expected. I heard loud, heavy footsteps, and moments later a gray-haired man leaning heavily on a cane hobbled in.

“He’s not emerald.” He coughed, hesitating near the doorway.

“He’s close enough, and I can work on his fire.” Veronica shifted her weight from foot to foot.

“We need emerald.”

“There are no more emerald Dragos. I’ve searched everywhere.”

“Then search harder. Or get the information from this one.”

This wasn’t Randolf. It couldn’t be. At least he wasn’t the Randolf I remembered. The one I knew was young with a full head of black hair with a deep purple hue. Demons didn’t age quickly. If it was him, he’d completely changed his appearance.

“There are no more. What can I do to convince you of this?” Veronica sighed. “It’s taken me years to get this far.”

“Work harder.”

“Time is running out. We both know it.”

The old man shook his head. “No. There is always enough time.”

“Have you looked at yourself recently?” Dara asked.

He threw his cane across the room striking Dara across her face with it.

Her hand flew to her face. The old man stalked toward her. “I look the way I do because of you two. I have given you everything, and you have given me nothing. Maybe your third can do better. Where is she?”

“We can retrieve her for you at any time.” Dara removed her hand revealing a deep red gash. Normally I would have felt bad, but considering the kind of things Dara would do to innocents, she didn’t deserve my sympathy.

“Then do it!” The old man screamed. “And find me the emerald one!”

“Sir, this one will work. Shouldn’t we at least try?” Veronica took a step back from Randolph as she spoke.

“I may be a demon but that doesn’t mean I wish to kill for sport. Well, at least not these days.” Darkness swept over his face. “Besides, he may still prove useful.”

“Can I use him to help collect the girl?” Veronica asked. “He may be helpful.”

“I don’t care what you do. Get your third and find the emerald. I know it’s out there. I’ve seen it in my dreams.”

Dara sniggered.

“What about my words amuses you?” Randolph stepped toward her.

“Sorry. But you are a demon talking about your dreams. You don’t dream.” She hooked her thumb in the pocket of her black pants.

“But I do.” He walked toward her slowly, his eyes blazing. “If I didn’t need you, I’d kill you.”

“But you do need me.” She lifted her chin.

“Of course he needs you. Everyone needs you.” Daniel picked that very bad time to speak.

“What was that?” Randolph turned toward the human.

“He’s programmed that way. Ignore him.” Her hands fell to her sides.

“Programmed? He’s a human.” Randolf stepped toward him. “You’ve enchanted him.”

“Impressive, isn’t it?” A smile returned to Dara’s face.

“Destroy it.” He flicked his hand.

“I thought you didn’t like to needlessly kill?” There was a slight quiver in her voice. Did she care for this human? Did she even have it in her to care?

“I was talking about high-level supernatural creatures. Not humans.” He spit at Daniel’s feet.

The fire started to build inside me. The small embers doubled, and then tripled.

“Wait. What if I can make him useful?” Once again Dara sounded like she actually cared for the human. Wonders would never cease.

“And how are you going to do that?” Randolph leaned heavily on a new cane he must have pulled from thin air. Demon magic was a powerful and terrible thing.

“I can make him do anything, and yet from the outside he merely appears human. Most creatures would never sense the magic. We can use him.”

Randolph swatted the air. “You could always make others.”

“But that would take time and waste my magic.”

“You will destroy him when the mission is completed.”

“Which won’t be long,” Veronica interjected. “We’re getting close.”

“Why are you still here?” Randolph barked. “I thought you were leaving to get the third?”

“Oh.” Veronica visibly startled. “I’m leaving.”

“Wait.” Randolph held up his hand. “Take him with you.”

“The human?” Veronica’s forehead furrowed.

“No. Him.” Randolph gestured to the door.

A thin orange and white cat strutted into the room.

“A cat?” Veronica laughed. “Are you serious?”

“I could eat you in one bite.” The cat spoke, narrowing his eyes.

The voice was one I knew well. It belonged to a cat who’d helped us save Hailey’s brother and his mate. Glendale, the cat, stared at me and then at Randolph. “You are collecting dragons now?”

“He’s the closest I could get to the emerald.” Veronica sighed. “I figure you would understand as you’re supposed to somehow help me.”

“I decide who I help.” Glendale stared off in the distance.

“Glendale…” Randolph shook his head.

Glendale stretched, his back arching. “You are so uptight and no fun anymore. I need better friends.”

Was Glendale really working for Randolf? I knew he was a demon, but I thought he’d have better taste in associates. Either he’d fooled us when he helped us, or he was fooling Randolf now. I really hoped it was the latter, but luck hadn’t been my friend lately. I wouldn’t get my hopes up.

“Pray, tell me what I’ll be doing to help this time.” He flicked his tail in the direction of Veronica.

“They found their third. You are going to help retrieve her before Veronica messes things up.”

“Ok. Simple enough.”

“But we are also bringing the dragon with us,” Veronica added.

“Why?” Glendale asked, boredom dripping from his voice.

“Because our third has a specific interest in this dragon.”

“So you really made it, huh?” He studied me. “Took a Drago and turned him into one of these?”

“Yes. Impressive, isn’t it? He’s also fully under my control.”

“Fully?” Glendale glanced at the scorched walls and floor. “I see.”

“He got a little angry, but we took care of it right away. He understands what’s at stake.”

“And what’s at stake?”

“The love of his life.” She looked right into my eyes as she talked. “He knows I will torture her and make him watch if he doesn’t behave.”

“A little harsh, maybe?” Glendale inclined his head toward her.

“No harsher than I need to be.”

He looked away. “Ok. Let’s go.”

“Can I come?” Dara popped up on her toes.

“No,” Randolph grunted. “I have other things for you to do.”

“What things?”

“Does it matter? Would you refuse anything I requested?”

Dara shook her head. “Of course not.”

“I made you what you are for a reason. I have many uses for you. Don’t fool yourself and think you are any better than that human toy you made.” He glared at where Daniel stood with a contented expression on his face. He had no clue what was going on. Poor guy. I wondered how he’d attracted Dara’s attention to begin with.

“Human toy?” Glendale lifted his head. “Where?”

“That one over there.” Randolph gestured to where Daniel stood.

Glendale walked over. “Interesting.”

Interesting? More like barbaric.

“Why’d you pick such an ugly one?”

“Excuse me?” Dara jerked her head back.

“I assume you could have woven your magic on any man or woman. Why pick ugly?”

“He isn’t ugly. He’s handsome.” Dara blanched. “How dare you suggest that.”

“I’m only speaking the truth. Am I right?” Glendale looked around the room. “Someone back me up here. Dragon? You have to agree? Right? He’s ugly.”

“You little shit.” She reached for him, but he easily stepped away.

“Randolph, your witch is threatening me.”

“I assume you can take care of her yourself.” Randolph chuckled.

“I am not his witch.” Dara snapped.

“Oh yeah? I just heard you agree you’d do whatever he wanted. That makes you his witch.”

“And you’re any better? You’re doing anything he says.”

Glendale laughed. And he laughed. He laughed so hard he fell over on his back. “Come on. No one else is going to laugh at this one? Like I would do whatever Randolph says.”

Randolph shook his head. “You’ve made your point, Glendale.”

“You are going to let him treat you that way?” Dara put a hand on her chest. “You are going to let a cat disrespect you?”

Randolph adjusted his hand around the top of his cane. “Glendale has his quirks, but his expertise is quite astounding. Besides he cleans his own litter box.”

Glendale hissed. “Watch it, Randolph.” He then flicked his tail in Veronica’s direction. “You ready? And warn me if you’re going to change into your other look. I’ve had enough ugly for one day.”

Dara glared. “The only thing ugly in this room is you.”

Glendale hissed, and Dara was suddenly tossed across the room as if by an invisible hand. Her back slammed into a stone wall. Now that was something new for Glendale. I was quite aware he was way more than a cat—a Helzin Demon to be exact—but he usually did a better job controlling his anger. “No one calls me ugly.”

“You can throw the heat but can’t take any yourself?” Her eyes narrowed. Moments later she started to make a choking sound.

“That’s enough, Glendale.” Randolph waved his cane. “Please, if you don’t mind I’d like to see the third now.”

“Sure.” Glendale turned his head to the side and Dara fell to the floor. She gasped for air, finally uttering a curse as she rose to her feet.

“All right, V, let’s take this dragon. Remind me where we’re going.”

“It’s a maze. I’ll show you.”

“A maze?” Randolph scowled. “What is that supposed to mean? Have you been playing games?”

“No. I’m using it for training.”

“What kind of training?”

“You know, get her used to difficult situations. I don’t think she’s had all that much experience.”

“She’s a Pteron. She doesn’t need more experience. Female Pterons have special traits already.”

“Ok. Well, putting her in the maze didn’t hurt.”

“Too much.” Dara laughed.

She fell to the ground again.

Glendale laughed.

“What was that for?”

“Just for fun.”

I wasn’t sure what to make of this meeting with Glendale, but at least he was shelling out some pressure on Dara. I sure as heck was tired of sitting back and listening to her.

“Have a nice trip.” Randolph nodded in our direction before he walked out of the room. “Follow.” He yelled out.

Dara stumbled to her feet, grabbed Daniel’s arm, and started walking. She stopped to send one glance back at the smirking cat.

He grinned back before turning to Veronica. “Tell me where we’re going. I can get us there faster.”

She shook her head. “It’s not far.”

“I can travel faster than the speed of light if necessary.”

“Randolph said time wasn’t an issue right now.” She pressed her lips together.

“Then he was wrong. Time is always an issue.”

“Since when are you and Randolph working together?” She put a hand on her hip.

“That’s none of your business.” Glendale lay down.

“It is since I’m supposed to trust you.”

“Who said you had to trust me? I don’t even trust myself.” He swatted at something in the air.

“Fine. The maze is underneath us.”

Glendale grinned. “OK, folks it’s time for a little ride.”

I’d gone on a ride with Glendale before, and I wasn’t looking forward to it. Thankfully, I knew what to expect.

He touched my wing and Veronica’s hand. My ears popped as a strong whirl of wind wrapped around us. The gust of wind grew as an equally powerful light blinded me. A few seconds later we fell into a heap on a stone floor. It didn’t hurt. One benefit of my dragon form was my body was stronger than ever. I’d always been able to heal quickly, but this was different. I wasn’t even hurt. When I stood up I found a dent in the floor where I’d fallen.

There was a whoosh, and then Veronica lit a lamp. She scrambled to her feet after kicking off her red high heels. “Ugh. And you implied your means of travel was superior to mine.”

“I never said it was superior; I said it was quicker. If you had a watch on you’d realize no time actually passed.”

“I’m not taking the return trip with you.”

“Ok. Your choice.”

I felt her. I felt a pull in my heart, and I could barely breathe. Hailey was there. I needed her. She needed me. I’d always felt a connection to Hailey, but this was something else.

“Where is she?” Glendale swished his tail back and forth.

“She’s in here somewhere. I’m sure we’ll find them soon.” Veronica’s voice lilted.

“Them?” Glendale licked his paw.

“Them.” Veronica gave a satisfied smile. “I suppose I forgot to mention that.”

“Not that it matters to me.”

“Don’t you want to know who else is here?”

“Not really.” Glendale was very good at looking bored. I guess it came naturally when your usual form was a cat.