by Donna Grant
“Camlo, please,” she begged. “I want to go to bed.”
He looked at her, his eyes clear and bright in the moonlight. “Go. I’m safe.”
She leaned her head back to glance at the sky once more. No matter how hard she looked, she didn’t see anything again. She had wanted to see something, that’s why her mind played tricks on her. There was nothing up there but planes and satellites with their blinking lights.
“Don’t stay too late,” she said and tugged on his arm.
Without taking his eyes from the sky, he leaned to the side and let her place a kiss on his cheek. Sabina gave him a pat and turned to make her way to the door.
When she came out to look for Camlo, he hadn’t been in the yard. Nothing had been there. She was sure of that. Just as she reached the door, she heard Camlo laughing and clapping his hands.
She whirled around to see what had excited him so, but there was nothing there. Her brother had never displayed such behavior before. His mind might be that of a child’s, but he wasn’t insane.
That could only mean that he did indeed see something. She shivered and hurried into the house. After removing the boots, jacket, and pants, she climbed into bed again and found herself staring at the ceiling, wondering what her brother had witnessed.
And what she had caught a glimpse of.
She tossed and turned for hours, listening to hear if some wild creature might be outside. It was the wee hours of the morning before Camlo finally came into the house. She heard him lock the door and noticed he was singing softly to himself as he walked into his bedroom.
He only sang when he was his happiest. Within minutes, he was snoring. Sabina closed her eyes and sighed.
The next sound she heard was the rooster at dawn. She groaned, rolled onto her back, and threw an arm over her eyes. Just a few more minutes of sleep. That’s all she wanted.
Camlo’s whistling as he rose and dressed had her angrily grabbing her pillow and placing it over her head as she screamed into it. It wasn’t her brother’s fault that she hadn’t gotten any sleep, but it aggravated her that he could get up with so little rest. And to add insult to injury, he was chipper about it.
The cat began to walk back and forth on her bladder as a way of getting Sabina up. She set aside the pillow and sat up to glare daggers at the feline. “Fine. I’ll get up. And next time you’re sleeping, I’m waking your lazy butt up. Don’t think I won’t,” she said when the cat turned its back to her and began grooming itself.
“Just wait,” Sabina threatened as she threw off the covers and got to her feet.
She dressed, repeatedly yawning before stumbling into the kitchen. While the coffee brewed, she poured the cat food and stood with her eyes closed while waiting for the coffee to finish.
As soon as it did, she fixed herself a cup and sat at the kitchen table. With one hand propped up to hold her head, she closed her eyes and drank every drop of the java.
Now able to open her eyes almost normally, she poured a second cup. Only then did she pop four frozen waffles into the toaster for Camlo.
She went to the table she used as her desk and checked her emails. Camlo came in to grab his breakfast as she answered messages and tended to business stuff. She watched him leave with a big smile on his face.
Sabina finished the second earring from the day before and wrapped it up to take into town. She grabbed it and two other boxes and put them into the rusty vehicle that passed for her car. She wasn’t sure how it still ran, but she was thankful that it did. The mechanic in town was a friend of her stepdad, so he made sure to keep the car running—while giving her a discount on the costs.
“I’ve got to run to mail some packages,” she told Camlo as he milked the cows. “I’m thinking of picking up food for lunch.”
He grinned at her. “Really?”
“Anything in particular you want?”
He shrugged and gave the cow a pat. “Whatever. You know what I like.”
“I’ll be back soon,” she told him and returned to the car.
She got into the vehicle and backed up, but before she drove off, she looked up. Her brother had been staring toward the mountains. Not the ones nearest them, but the ones in the distance.
It didn’t take her long to drop the packages off, pick up a few necessities, and then grab lunch before she returned home. She dropped everything on the table and put away the groceries before she went looking for Camlo.
He was behind the barn, staring off in the direction of the mountains that he’d been looking at the previous night. When he saw her, he pointed at the peaks. “You can’t see them now, Bina, but they’re coming.”
“Who?”
Camlo’s lips split into a grin. “It’s a surprise.”
“Another bear? Or wolf?”
He laughed and shook his head. “Something even better.”
“Better?” she repeated, her worrying growing. “Lunch is inside.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I hate that I can’t see them until tonight.”
“So they’re nocturnal?”
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Well, if you want to watch them tonight, you need to keep up your strength. That means you need to come inside and eat.”
“Can’t we eat out here? It’s a nice day,” he implored.
She could never deny him. “Okay. I’ll get the food.”
“Yay,” he said and pumped his fist excitedly.
Sabina put her hand on his cheek. Her brother was so handsome. If his mind were right, he would already be married and starting a family of his own. But he was trapped in a child’s mind.
“I’m happy,” he told her, gazing at her with his big, dark eyes.
“I’m glad.”
“You should be happy, too.”
Her face went slack. “Oh, honey. I am.”
Instead of replying, he returned his attention to the mountains. Sabina sighed and turned away. When she came back with the food and drinks, Camlo had spread a blanket on the ground and was sitting on it with the mangy dog from the day before about twenty feet away, watching them.
Camlo reached for the food. They were so lucky to have such a good life. She didn’t know how long it would last, but she would revel in every second she had of it.
Because no matter how bright the sun shone, there was always a storm coming sooner or later.
CHAPTER FIVE
This was much worse than he thought. Roman rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. He and V spent the night starting from the southern-most part of the mountains and working their way over the peaks.
Neither of them expected to find anything that first night, but it was still a blow to V. Roman watched him standing at the edge of the cave they’d found.
V remembered nothing of it, but Roman found evidence that dragons had used it. That didn’t necessarily mean it was V’s, but it also didn’t mean it wasn’t.
Roman walked to stand beside his friend. The view from the top of the mountain was spectacular. “I visited you here once, but I doona remember such beauty.”
“The only place that can rival the splendor of the Carpathian Mountains is Dreagan,” V replied. “How could I forget all of this?”
His words were tinged with anger but also fear. Roman couldn’t imagine what V was feeling. Before Roman had become a Dragon King, he knew there was nothing on this realm that could rival them in power.
For untold millennia, that truth had stood.
Until now.
If Dmitri and Faith hadn’t found the dragon skeleton and then the small wooden dragon, there would be no doubt in Roman’s mind that they were still the strongest.
But the combination of drough, mie, Dark Fae, and Light Fae magic was a potent mix.
“Doona,” V said as his head swung to him.
Roman gave a shake of his head in confusion. “What?”
“Contact Con.”
He lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug. “I’m no’ sure we c
an do this alone.”
“Con has enough worries.”
“He at least needs to know about your memories.”
V shook his head. “No’ yet.”
“All right.” Roman wasn’t sure that was a good idea, but he would do as his friend asked for the moment.
“We could have the entire mountain range searched in a few days if we didna have to hide in the darkness.”
Roman grinned at him. “You could if people didna see bats when you shifted.”
V rolled his eyes as he shook his head. “Doona tempt me.”
Roman wanted to pat himself on the back when he spotted the ghost of a smile on V’s face. V had been solemn from the moment they arrived in Romania, and it had only gotten worse once they were in the mountains.
It was almost as if the closer V got to the place he called home, the further his memories retreated. At this rate, V would tip into his madness sooner rather than later.
“Shall we remain here until nightfall?” Roman asked.
V snorted. “No’ bloody likely.”
“We might miss something.”
“Then we backtrack when we’re in the air.” V’s gaze was fierce as he stared at Roman. “Someone took this place from me. Stripped my mind of it. But I feel it here,” he said and jabbed at his chest over his heart with a finger. “They couldna take that.”
Roman kicked at a rock that went bouncing down the mountain. “Lead the way.”
V jumped the twenty feet down from the cave, landing with ease. Roman followed, and then they were off. They walked among the tall spruce and over boulders pushing up through the ground.
Several times, V halted and looked at something, his brow furrowed as if a memory teased him with answers. One such time, they halted near a peak where a razor-sharp boulder reached toward the clouds.
It was a place Roman would land if he were in dragon form. And no doubt V had done exactly that. The fact that it had caught V’s attention was a good sign. Maybe now that he was here, walking among the land that had been his, the magic that shrouded his memories could be broken.
Neither of them had questioned why V had been targeted. The answer was simple. Why had it taken them so long to realize it, though? As soon as V’s sword was stolen, it should have been obvious. But all the Kings could think about was the fact that the mortals didn’t know what V’s sword could do.
Perhaps they hadn’t. But someone certainly did.
“Dmitri,” Roman called through their link.
Almost immediately, Dmitri replied, “Aye. How is everything coming? Have you found the sword yet?”
“I’m afraid no’.”
“Is V all right?”
The worry in Dmitri’s voice reflected how Roman felt. “For now. We’ve stumbled across something. I could be reaching, but it seems to connect.”
“What connects?”
Roman watched as V leapt into the air and landed atop a boulder. V squatted and looked into the distance.
“V doesna remember anything about the Carpathians.”
“Nothing?” Dmitri asked softly.
“I thought once he was here, he’d recall where he was when the sword was taken, but he can no’. It’s like his memories were stolen.”
“We know a Druid can manage that kind of magic,” Dmitri said. “Eilish did it to Kinsey and Esther, but on a Dragon King? I doona believe a Druid’s magic can do it.”
“No’ alone.”
There was a slight pause. “Fuck me. The bloody wooden dragon wasna enough, was it? There had to be more.”
“V doesna want Con to know with everything else that’s going on.”
“Usaeil,” Dmitri said, distaste dripping from each syllable.
Roman didn’t take his eyes off V. He worried that his friend might shift, but Roman wouldn’t stop him. The torment plaguing V was too painful to watch.
“Tell me exactly what’s going on,” Dmitri stated.
“V can recall nothing of this place. He can, however, tell me in detail what the men who came into his cave and stole his sword looked like.”
“Part of me had hoped that he would remember once there, that it was all the centuries of dragon sleep and his fury over losing his sword that made him forget.” Dmitri snorted loudly. “The more you tell me, the more I see why you think it might be magic. I’d have come to the same conclusion. And we know just what the magic from the wooden dragon can do to us.”
Apprehension slid over Roman. “So, we’re no’ as invincible as we’ve always thought.”
“Apparently, no’. Do you need help with V?”
“We’re good at the moment. Has Rhi found out anything about those responsible for the magic of the wooden dragon?”
Dmitri sighed. “She returned to Skye. Everyone hopes that she might find something with the Druids there.”
“What of the MacLeod Druids? Has Isla gotten any answers from the Ancients?”
“Shite. If only. It seems the more anyone tries to learn anything, the less there is to find.”
Roman blew out a breath. “No’ the news I was hoping for.”
“Yeah, well, yours wasna what I wanted to hear either.”
“I thought with Mikkel gone and Ulrik back at Dreagan, that everything would return to normal.”
“You expect there to be normal with the Usaeil problem? And did you forget the Dark Fae?”
Roman rolled his eyes. “How could I? With Balladyn now leading the Dark, things could get ugly thanks to the tiff between him and Rhi. But we’ve fought the Dark before. I’m no’ worried about them.”
“Perhaps that’s our problem. We’ve no’ been concerned, thinking they can no’ do any major damage.”
“When, obviously, they can when they get Druids to help.”
“Keep me posted on V.”
“Of course,” Roman said as he severed the link.
V suddenly stood and lifted his face skyward. Roman didn’t call out, didn’t remind him that they couldn’t shift now. V knew all of it, and if he wanted to fly the mountains, then Roman wouldn’t stop him.
To his surprise, V vaulted from the boulder to land beside him. He said not a word as he continued walking. Up and down the mountainsides they hiked.
Whenever they found a cave, they made their way to it and looked inside. Each time, V’s expression tightened.
Roman halted when he spotted a brown bear. The large animal eyed them, understanding immediately who the dominant ones were. V strode past Roman and walked right up to the bear, stopping only a few feet from the animal.
The beast lifted its head and let out a roar before it turned and sauntered away. V didn’t follow. He stood on the slope of the mountain and looked toward the valley.
Roman made his way to V. “We could have Tristan look in your mind.”
“Why?” V asked indifferently. “To tell me what we already know?” Ice blue eyes turned to Roman. “We’re no’ alone here.”
Roman frowned before his head jerked down the mountain. He saw the large man meandering idly through the trees, the bear headed straight for him. Roman started to call out, but V put a hand on his arm.
“Wait,” V said.
Roman gaped at him. “You want the mortal to be killed?”
“Use your magic, Roman. This human is different.”
Roman turned back to the man to see that he’d halted and was looking at the bear with a smile on his face. To Roman’s shock, the bear walked straight up to the man and rubbed his large head against him.
The mortal scratched the animal’s ears before his gaze lifted and met Roman’s. Remembering V’s words, Roman used his magic to feel the area. All he encountered was peace and innocence—not something he often felt with mortals.
The man lifted his hand and waved at them. V walked past Roman toward the human. Roman could have remained where he was, but he was intrigued. He had to know if the bear was a pet, or if the human had a gift. It wasn’t uncommon, but there were many mortals who chose not
to accept such talents.
Several steps behind V, Roman watched as the bear swung its head toward them before wandering off. The man smiled after the animal. As V neared him, the human’s attention shifted.
“I knew you’d come,” the man said in Romanian, his smile wide.
The mortal stood as tall as Roman and V, his shoulders wide and his arms thick with muscles. He had black hair that was too long on top and kept falling into his face.
“I saw both of you last night,” he continued, nodding enthusiastically.
V smiled at the mortal and asked in Romanian, “Did you now?”
“I watched all night.”
There was a childlike innocence about the man. Roman instantly liked him. Their magic allowed them to speak any language, but he was curious so he made sure to speak in English. “You saw both of us?”
The man’s dark eyes swung to him. “Yes. Light blue,” he replied in English and pointed at Roman. Then he motioned to V and said, “Copper.”
Roman raised a brow at the ease in which the man answered in English.
“What’s your name?” V asked.
The man straightened and grinned. “Camlo.”
V then pointed to the retreating bear. “Is he your pet?”
Camlo gave him a look that said V’s words were crazy. “He’s a wild animal. Not a pet, but a friend.”
“You talk to them,” Roman said.
Camlo’s smile widened. “I do. Some think I’m crazy, but Bina tells me I’m not.”
“Bina?” V asked.
“My sister.” Camlo turned and motioned down the mountain.
Roman spotted a house with a barn through the trees. “Did your sister see us?”
Camlo laughed as he shook his head. “Nope.”
“Do the animals talk to you, too?” V asked.
Camlo’s smile dropped, and he took a step back as wariness stole over him.
“You doona have to be frightened of us,” Roman said calmly.
“I know,” Camlo replied.
V said, “Then you can tell us if the animals talk to you.”
It was several tense moments before Camlo said, “They do.”
“Incredible,” V murmured.
“Camlo, step away,” said a rich, throaty, feminine voice that made Roman’s balls tighten at the sound.
