House of Leights (Secret Keepers #3)(58)

In some ways they had been preparing me well to live without them, but I still wouldn’t like it.

My parents exchanged a look before they both turned back to me. “We’ll go wherever you are,” my mom said in her gentle way. “If you stay here in Overworld, in House of Leights with Chase, then that is where we will stay as well.”

That response actually stunned me. It showed me the real truth of what they’d been saying to me all along. They’d taken the government jobs as a means of keeping me safe. I was their first priority.

Turning to observe Chase’s profile, I realized that I hadn’t given much thought to where we would live. I mean … I wasn’t sure I was ready for the whole “move in together” thing yet. But at the same time, I didn’t want to be separated from him.

“You’re bonded, that’s like marriage to the Daelighters,” my father added, reading my expression. “It would be normal for you to stay with Chase now.”

“I … yes, you’re right. It’s just fast, you know.”

Chase wrapped an arm around me and I calmed. “Maya is going to finish school, and then decide about college,” he told them. “Because she has to be protected, she’ll have to transfer to Daelighter territory. But she doesn’t have to make any other life-changing decisions.” He brushed a hand along my spine and heat trailed after it. “I have a home in Daelight Crescent. All of the overlord families do. You’re welcome to use it any time you want.”

My breathing was even, and when we stepped into the valley floor I threw my arms around him. “Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you for being patient with me.”

He leaned down and kissed the top of my head. “I will always wait for you to be ready. Being a team means considering all players.”

“I would prefer to stay on Earth,” my mom said, surprising me. “At least for another few years. So I’m glad that’s an option.”

Brad huffed. “I’m going to start looking for colleges in Oregon,” he declared. “No way is everyone living over here having fun without me.”

My dad gave him a solid back pat, which didn’t seem to bother my beefed-up best friend. “I’ll talk to your parents,” he said to Brad. “They might be okay with you finishing up the school year with Maya in Astoria.”

Brad and I locked eyes, excitement bubbling within me. That would be amazing. Surely they wouldn’t care; they were barely home at all. Before we could celebrate the possibility of staying together, Lexen burst our bubble, bringing us all back to the reality of this situation.

“This is our last chance,” he started. “If Laous gets to the starslight stone before us, he will be very powerful. He will destroy the treaty, and possibly both worlds. Failure is not an option.”

There was a flapping sound, and all eyes turned toward the sky. All eyes except Lexen’s, because apparently he didn’t need to see a dragon lazily soaring through the air toward us.

Jesus, take the wheel. What was happening?

The creature was a brilliant white that almost hurt my eyes to stare directly at, and massive, like three elephants in length and width. Its head looked to be bigger than my entire body.

“What’s Qenita doing here?” Emma asked, shielding her eyes so she could stare up at her. “Do we need her?”

Lexen turned, a smile pushing up his lips as he stared at the majestic beast in the sky. “She’s bringing Xander. He’s been dealing with some unrest in House of Royale. They’re having trouble with his sister and her new partner, so he wasn’t able to get away until now.”

I was interested in finally meeting the last of the overlord quartet – and the possible mate of the fourth secret keeper. If he could ever stop playing the field long enough to fall for her, of course. After my experience with Chase, I was pretty sure fate was stronger and cleverer than this Xander. He had no hope.

I’d worry about the Royale overlord after he landed, though. Until then, I was all about the dragon. Because … uh … dragons. A creature, until this very moment, that had been reserved for television and movies.

Callie echoed my thoughts: “Did we just stumble into a fantasy world? Because I can see a dragon. Everyone else can as well … right?”

“Right,” was the return murmur from more than one person.

Lexen moved forward, heading toward a little clearing of green grass that must have been the dragon’s landing ground. I didn’t follow, because as fascinating as she was, she was also absolutely terrifying. Qenita could eat me in one bite. Whole.

Yeah, I was perfectly happy staring from back here.

Despite her huge size, she landed with so much grace that she barely even made a sound. Her wings tucked in behind her, and a tall blond man jumped off. Lexen and Xander did a quick guy-hug, pat-on-the-back-thing, before they both placed their hands on the dragon, speaking to her, and then her wings were out again and she was soaring back into the sky. By the time the two overlords made their way to us, Qenita was nothing more than a pinprick above.

Which was scary when one thought about trying to hide from a possible dragon attack. They could be a tiny dot above, and seconds later would be right on your butt. Made me want to shuffle a little closer to Lexen, the dragon lord.

Xander greeted Daniel in the same way he had Lexen, then he crossed to Chase. After their hug and back pats, Chase reached for me, bringing me closer. “This is Maya, the third secret keeper. She wears a bonded mark, blessed by the Galinta.”