“Our flight leaves in two hours,” Dena said, walking Xilon out of the police station. “Are you hungry?”

“Thank you for your kindness and the borrowed clothes.” He touched the edge of the shirt with the image of a four men painted across it. How did she get the paint not to rub off? “But I'll take a quick meal then I need to return home.”

Dena nodded. “I understand. But the closest lightning storm on our continent will be outside of New Orleans tonight.”

“And that's where we're heading.”

“Yup. I live near the swamp, myself. Let's grab some brunch here, cause airplane food is horrible if they even give you more than pretzels.”

Her accent sounded different than Simpson's or anyone else he'd met here. More like Ash’s. “Do you know a Grams or Ash... Ashley?”

“No, sorry.” Dena frowned and led him to a building with a red blinking sign in front of its door. “Chinese okay?”

He shrugged.

* * *

An hour later, Xilon leaned against the chair. Eight empty plates of food in front of him. The waitress stood in the corner, shaking her head as in disbelief.

“Don't worry about them,” Dena said. “C'mon, we've got a plane to catch.”

At the airport, Xilon had never seen so many humans together in one place. Men, women, and children of every size and shape dashed hither and fro. Many pushed their way past Xilon until Dena yanked on his arm moving him to yet another line.

Finally, they bordered the plane. Excitement and worry drilled into him. Would he be able to get to the lightning in time? And would he revert back to his Renjerian form when he landed on his home planet? He had to let everyone know that Taurian's blood had worked. Which meant that his blood should be able to transform others into shifters too. The females and elderly and anyone who wanted to flee and live among the humans would be able to.

The image of Ash fiercely swinging her sword and fighting the Tryns so bravely made him yearn her. He wanted to apologize to her. Tell her how special and amazing he thought she was.

“You okay?” Dena asked. “I have some tranquilizer if you need any while we fly.”

He snorted out a laugh. “A Renjerian afraid of flying?”

The metal contraption shimmied forward, his seat rattled like it would break apart. Wait, humans didn't have the ability to fly. Why was he trusting them with his life? He dug his fingers into the sides of his seat.

After a lurch, they crept into the air. The strap around Xilon's waist and the air pressure of their takeoff angle keeping him plastered into his seat.

“Crap, are you okay?” Dena glanced at him, then dug into her bag. “Here, this will help. I rigged a TwinJect for my mild peanut allergy with a sedative.”

Before he could protest, she stabbed a pen to his arm that felt like a needle.

“What was that?” His tongue felt heavy.

“Just something to help you sleep for the trip. Until you get used to flying and trust the pilots.”

“I...was...fine.” Why was it getting harder to talk?

“Yeah, well I can't afford to have to explain why you've bent the metal of your armrests, okay?” She patted his hand. “Next time you fly it'll be easier and less stressful.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but darkness pressed into his vision.

* * *

Groggy, Xilon rubbed his eyes, his head pounding. A taste like he'd licked a stinky vorsbee lingered on his tongue.

He sat up inside a moving vehicle. The road stretched before him with buildings lining either side. Dena drove in the front seat.

“Where are we?” he asked.

“New Orleans. I'll drive you to my place and the storm should hit in a few hours. Taurian said he'd try and meet us before then, but he'll have to catch a storm in Australia and use his dragon form to fly here. I don't think he will make it in time.”

“Is Australia another city?” He'd never heard of it before. Then again, he hadn't knew about Boston or New Orleans either.

“Uh, no. It's another country…a continent.”

Had the Earth grown since he was last here? They turned onto a street clogged with other vehicles.

“Why aren't we going?” he asked. Nausea boiled in his gut. He needed to get this foul taste out of his mouth before he got sick.

“Sorry. Traffic.” Dena turned to him from the front seat. “Probably a wreck up ahead, but we are approaching rush hour.”

“How is this rushing? We aren't going anywhere?” His stomach lurched.

“Are you okay? You look pale.”

“Air. I need air.”

She leaped outside and opened his door. “Okay, why don't you wait out here on the bench over there and I'll go snag you some Pepto.” She pointed to a red wooden bench.

He climbed out and went to the bench.

Dena disappeared around the corner.

His head pounded, but he closed his eyes and forced the bile down. After several breaths, the pain changed to a subtle pressure.

An elderly couple holding hands shuffled closer. When they looked at the bench and Xilon and a worried expression pinched the woman's brow.

“Please, sit.” Xilon stood. “I need to stretch my legs anyway.”

“Thank you, sir.” The man nodded.

“Any time.” Xilon headed in the direction he'd seen Dena go.

People milled about past the shops and buildings. A cluster of them waited at a sign post. Xilon didn't see Dena anywhere. Maybe he should head back to the bench.

He turned to leave when an emblem down the street caught his attention. A black painted skull the same as the one on the back of Ash's coat. It couldn't be a coincidence. Had to be somehow related to her or they would at least know where Ash lived and he would know where to bring her remains back.

He quickened his pace to the wooden building standing out among the brick.

At the door, he knocked, his stomach twisting again.

A young man opened the door. His skin the same dark shade as Ash’s. Was he related to her? Or was this her mate and love? Jealousy burned hot in his gut. His firebreath scorching the back of his throat.

“Whatever you're selling, we don't want none.”

“Ash... Ashley,” Xilon's throat tightened trying not to burn the place down. “She lives here with you?”

“Fuck! Are you a detective? Sorry man, I was expecting someone in a suit.” He opened the door wide. “Ash has been missing for almost two days and that ain't like her. She tells us when she's gonna be late. Grams isn’t well.” He shook his head. “She took it hard, thinking Ash was kidnapped or something.”

Xilon smiled. He'd found Ash's Grams. “Taken by whom?”

The man rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, demons, but Grams had always been eccentric.”

“So do you think she left of her own accord?” Xilon followed the man into a room with two couches covered with colorful shawls.

“I don't know. Grams said the front door was wide open and a rainstorm swept through. Oh, and the fridge was opened too and Ash's purse was laying on the table.”

“Is Grams awake?” Xilon asked. “I'd like to speak with her.”

“Sure, follow me.” Down a small hallway, they stopped in front of a painted red door. The man knocked. “Grams? A detective is here to speak with you.”

A muffled reply answered.

“Go on inside.” He pushed open the door.

Xilon entered the dark room. A woman with a rattling breath laid on the bed. Her eyes closed and he feared her asleep.

“Come in, dragon. I’ve been waiting for you.”

He froze. How did she know?

“From the moment you crossed my threshold, you set off my wards.” She opened her eyes and moved to sit.

Xilon rushed forward and tucked her pillows under her to help her.

“Don’t think helping me is going to save you.” She waggled a finger at him. “My great-granddaughter is missing and my instincts tell me she’s in danger.”

He cringed. “Sorry, but—”

“Call me, Grams.” She coughed. “Are you the match for my Ash? The one Taurian promised me?”

Xilon stiffened. “What do you mean?” Was the man not Ash’s lover? Had Taurian promised this woman that Ash would be bonded with someone else? Another Renjerian?

“I made him promise me a dragon prince for her and if he did not deliver, she would be sent to Renjer.” Grams shifted. “Is that where she is now? Are you her suitor come to ask my permission to marry her?”

“No. I’m sorry.” He swallowed the boulder pressing into this throat. “She-she died in a forest fire, one that my brothers caused to kill the Tryns.” His heart clenched. “I-I tried to stop them, to warn them that she was there, but I’d been injured and they didn’t listen to me. Whatever I can do to make it up to you, I will. I’d planned to bring her body back to you to say goodbye and you could mourn. I never wanted this to happen. I failed her…and you.”

The old woman closed her eyes, mumbling under her breath, rocking back and forth on the bed.

Xilon stood, his insides twisted into hardened knots. “I’ll return with her remains for you to bury.”

“Wait, dragon!” the old woman called out after him. “Go and find my Ashley. The spirits say she is not dead yet, but she will be once night falls in your world.”

Was the old woman right? Was Ash alive, but in trouble? The idea of Tryns hurting her made his heart freeze in his chest. He had to get to her. Had to help her and make her safe. He had a chance and he wasn’t going to below it.

Hope and unease fought inside him. He raced to the door and outside. The hint of a storm tasting like static on his tongue. Please don’t let me be too late a second time.