Rock Bottom (Dragon Within #4) by Kyra Dune Read Free Book Online Page B

guys think?”
         “I don’t
like this situation in the least,” Brandy said. “But you do need training. And
though Zack has been doing a fairly adequate job, I expect Megara has a better
understanding of your... powers. It may be she can help you.”
         Derek
nodded. “I agree. Besides this is a safe place for all of us. At least for the
time being.”
         “I’m all
for not going back to the cabin,” Hannah said. “A girl could go crazy in a
place like that.”
         Curtis
shrugged. “You know it makes no difference to me. Wherever you go, I go.”
         I glanced
at Zack. “What about you?”
         “Does it
matter what I think? Sounds to me like you’ve had your mind made up for you.”
         Wow. Kind
of harsh, huh? So Zack was mad again. Nothing new about that. “I make up my own
mind,” I said, “but after everything we’ve been through together I guess we’re
kind of like a family. And that means everybody gets a say. Even you.”
         Something
flashed through his eyes, but it was there and gone before I could figure out
what it might be. “What do I care? I was getting tired of trying to train you
anyway.”
         I turned
away so he wouldn’t see how his words hurt me. “So it’s settled. We stay.”
         “Good,”
Megara said, “Jonah will show you to your room. It’ll be a bit crowded, I
imagine. I was only planning on Abigail. But after living in that cabin you’ll
likely settle in all right. I’ll give you some time to think over what I’ve
said. I need you to have control of your powers before you’ll be of any use to
me anyway.”
         I
couldn’t decide whether I should be glad she was giving me time to think, or
insulted that she considered me to be useless.
         We all
filed out of the office after Jonah, who led us through the bunker to a room
that in a way kind of reminded me of the cabin. It had better, and more, furniture,
but it was still only two rooms. No kitchen, so I supposed we were expected to
eat in the cafeteria. But it did have running water in the bathroom and after
having spent so much time taking cold baths, I was looking forward to a hot
shower. You don’t know how important a thing like that is until you have to
live without it.
         “I’ll see
about getting you some more cots.” Jonah eyeballed the bedroom. “I’d bet we can
fit six of them in fine.”
         “Five,”
Zack said. “I’m not staying here.”
         I tried
to catch his eye, but he cut his gaze away from mine. “What are you talking
about? Are you... are you going to leave?” That little flutter of panic got ten
times stronger. It was like my chest was full of birds trying to break out of
their cage.
          “I want a different room,” he said, still
not looking at me. “That’s all. Something private.”
         Jonah
shrugged. “There are some barracks on the other side of the bunker. Tiny, but
they’d do for a single person. Most of the people here are families.”      
          It was
right on the tip of my tongue to ask him why he didn’t want to stay with us. I
could hear in my head the needy tone that would be in my voice if I let myself
ask him that question. I didn’t want him to hear it too. So I pressed my mouth
shut to stop the words. And when he left with Jonah, I pretended not to care.
                                                       

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                               CHAPTER FIVE  

 
       
         Over the
next week, the couch became my best friend. We were practically inseparable.
Forget going to the cafeteria to eat; I talked my brother into bringing my food
to the room, where I ate on the couch and pretended I was back home. Meanwhile,
he and the others were getting out among the dragons and getting to know
people. Which was