by Donna Grant
V pulled up his knees and wrapped his arms loosely around them. “Camlo, did the animals happen to see where the sword was taken?”
“No,” Camlo replied.
Sabina shifted her head to look at her brother. “Can you ask them?”
Camlo’s lips twisted into a frown. “They don’t like us here.”
That got Roman’s attention. “Here, as in Iceland? Or here, as in this mountain?”
Camlo shrugged, either unable to discern the answer or unwilling to say. Which didn’t help at all.
Roman thought about the cavern with the drawings. He could’ve taken their group to any part of Iceland, but he’d brought everyone here simply because it was uninhabited and the chance of being seen was remote.
He didn’t like the idea that the Druids and Fae had put things in motion so that he would come to this part of the island. Yet, there were other mountains around. How would they know he’d choose this one? How did they know he’d find the cavern? There had been no magic within the rocks. He’d searched for it before entering the mountain. So how had everything happened?
“Fuck,” he ground out as it all came to him. He looked at V.
His friend’s face was filled with remorse. “I figured it out a moment ago.”
“What?” Sabina asked in confusion.
V turned his head to her. “Roman has been trying to piece together how everything has happened since we arrived. Dragon Kings can sense other magic, and neither of us felt anything when we entered the mountain. So it can no’ be a spell waiting for someone to activate it. There is no magic here. I’m the trigger. It’s what the Fae and Druids did to me that has set everything in motion since we arrived.”
“I don’t understand,” she murmured.
Roman rested a hand on the wall and leaned against the rocks. “This group knew we’d never enter a mountain where we felt their magic without first destroying every spell they put in place. They put all the spells within V, and they initiated once we entered the cave.”
“Bad things,” Camlo said in a soft voice.
“Verra,” V added.
Sabina looked from her brother to V to Roman. “Then what do we do? Turn back?”
“Nay,” Roman said.
V’s head snapped to him. “No one is going farther but me.”
“This group doesna want you to find your sword,” Roman said to V. “Let that sink in a moment. Then think about what has happened in the wee bit of time we’ve been here. They know our vow to the mortals. They know we wouldna allow them to go with us.”
“And if you go alone, you fail,” Sabina finished.
V got to his feet and stared aghast at Sabina. “If you or Camlo go with us, you will likely die.”
“Why don’t they want you to have your sword?” Sabina asked. “That question keeps going through my mind. The Fae and Druids had to know that you could return the dragons. They had to know that your sword would locate your brethren so you could see how they are.”
Roman dug his fingers into the rock as a deep apprehension filled him. The Kings had no idea where the dragons were. They didn’t know if any had survived or if they were all killed. What if…?
No. He refused to even think that the Druids and Fae had anything to do with the fate of the dragons. Because if they did, that meant the group’s hand in things had begun long before any of the Kings even realized it.
One way to get an answer was to find V’s sword.
Roman dropped his arm and looked at each of the others. “We have to go forward.”
“Aye,” V said. “I’m going.”
“We do this together,” Roman stated as he moved in front of his friend.
“Then what’s the next step?” Sabina asked loudly before V could argue.
V threw up his hands before letting them slap against his legs as he turned away in exasperation.
Roman knew his friend was upset, but he wasn’t about to let V go on this quest alone. Nor would Roman let anything happen to Camlo or Sabina. He and V had saved Sabina once. They could do it again.
He thought about the metals running through the mountain. He heard their songs easily, and would follow them when searching for the particular metal they sought. But he had an idea. Roman returned his hand to the wall and let the songs fill him as he closed his eyes.
They were so numerous and loud that he had to shut them off when he wasn’t actively searching, otherwise, they deafened him to everything else. As the melody of the metals filled him, he singled out each one and followed it, mapping it in his mind.
It didn’t take him long to realize that there were tunnels that snaked all around them. Some passages had been created by humans, but most were lava tubes. The longer he tracked the metals, the more he realized that many had a large deposit several meters below them.
His eyes opened to find the others watching him. His gaze slid to V as he grinned. “I just mapped the mountain.”
V’s brows shot up in his forehead. “Have you done that before?”
“I’ve never had a need. The fact that there are so many metals within it allowed such a feat. The mountain is considerable in size with many tunnels formed from lava beneath. There are others, however, that were cut through the rock by something else.”
V’s lips flattened. “Mortals? Or Fae?”
“They all lead down,” Roman finished with a shrug.
Sabina’s dark eyes were troubled as she asked, “To what?”
“Metals run throughout the earth, zigzagging this way and that. But here, in this mountain, there is a place where many of them gather in large quantities before shooting off again.” Roman lowered his arm. “The gathering area is a good size.”
V asked, “Can you see what’s in it?”
“I only see the lines drawn by the metals,” Roman replied. “It’s how I can tell when there are passageways or caverns, because of the places without the metals.”
V rubbed an eye before glancing at Sabina and Camlo. “Then we just need to decide which way to go.”
“Bad things,” Camlo repeated.
Sabina pushed herself up on one elbow and smiled at him. “We know, but we’re prepared this time.”
“I need more of the Druid-Fae magic gone and my memories returned,” V said suddenly.
Roman frowned as he slowly shook his head when it dawned on him what V was saying. “Do you really want to take the chance that you’ll pass out for hours again?”
“We have to know where to go,” V said. “I doona wish to wander the mountain for weeks or months. Or years.”
“No. No,” Camlo said, shaking his head.
Roman didn’t like the idea of V being unconscious again for any period of time. The mountain itself had no trace of Druid or Fae magic, but the group had been there. And it left a bad taste in Roman’s mouth.
No matter where V went, his mere presence could activate something that then triggered that violent, appalling combination of Druid and Fae magic. But there was something about the cavern that made Roman feel as if they were being watched. He’d felt that way ever since they returned from the other cave with the drawings.
He wanted away from it. As far as he could get. And he wanted the others with him. If Sabina, Camlo, and V remained, he had no doubt that bad things would indeed happen.
“Roman, it’s my sword,” V said. “It was taken from me by forces I didna remember until recently. There may be something else in my memories that could help us.”
Sabina sat up, swaying slightly. “What about telling the other Kings what’s going on? Shouldn’t they know?”
“Probably,” V answered before looking Roman’s way.
Roman had been sure of things when he and V left Dreagan. He’d known it would take time, but he was prepared for any eventuality.
Or so he’d thought.
Since meeting Camlo and Sabina, everything was coming unraveled, as if he had no control over anything anymore. He was second-guessing every decision, and overthink
ing everything else.
Yet, Sabina was right. His brethren needed to know what they’d discovered in case … well, in case of the worst.
“Tell them while I’m passed out,” V said.
Damn. They were back to that again. “I doona like this cavern.”
“I feel it, too,” V murmured.
Sabina frowned. “Feel what?”
“The eyes,” Camlo said. “Watching us.”
“Then why the hell are we still here?” she demanded, outraged.
Roman inhaled and released it as he stared at her.
She rolled her eyes. “Because Camlo and I are mortal and you’re worried about us?”
“The tunnels are dangerous,” V said.
Sabina slowly climbed to her feet. “Everything is.”
“You need more time to rest,” Roman said.
She shook her head while issuing a sarcastic laugh. “Nope. Let’s go.”
“Wait,” Roman said as he hurried to her, reaching for her as she tipped to the side.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Why did being in Roman’s arms make her feel so good? Sabina leaned her shoulder against him as the room finally stopped spinning. He held her tightly, securely. And she knew that she was safe.
Despite the attempt on her life earlier.
It was a crazy, weird sensation. To be both petrified from coming so close to death, yet also completely protected from the unseen horrors.
Roman rested his chin atop her head. “You shouldna have gotten up.”
“We can’t stay here. You said so.”
“I was hasty.”
Her gaze moved to V, who was watching them with his head cocked to the side as if the entire scene pleased him. How … odd. Then again, there was so much about the Dragon Kings that she couldn’t quite wrap her head around.
Okay. That was a lie. But that’s what made them so appealing.
Or, at least, why she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off Roman.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
She felt horrible. Her chest still hurt, and her head continued to buzz but, worst of all, was the weakness that she couldn’t seem to shake off. “Better.”
He chuckled softly. “Liar.”
Sabina found herself smiling. And she noticed that V was staring at her intently. She cleared her throat and glanced at her brother. Everyone was on edge, though Roman and V hid it better than she did.
“She’s right,” V suddenly said. “We need to do something.”
Camlo wrung his hands as he rose and began to pace. “Bad things. Bad things.”
Sabina didn’t know if her brother meant that bad things would happen if they remained in the cavern or if they continued onward. Or both.
“I know,” Roman said tightly.
She kept her gaze on her brother. “Camlo? What do we do?”
He halted and looked at her, blinking as the shock of her question went through him. After a long pause, his eyes swung to V. “See more,” he said and held out his hand.
V shot Camlo a grin. “Are you sure?”
“What do you see when my brother touches you?” Sabina asked V before Camlo could answer.
V’s head turned to her. “Glimpses of the past. That’s what allowed me to realize that the Druid and Fae magic was there, which then gave me what I needed to begin breaking through their spells. That’s why I’m unconscious for so long afterward.”
“Oh.” That was the only thing she could think to say after such a statement. “And will removing the magic help us find your sword?”
The Dragon King slid his blue eyes to Roman before he shrugged. “It certainly can no’ hurt.”
“Do it,” Roman told him.
Sabina gripped Roman’s hand as V turned to Camlo. Her brother walked to V and grasped the Dragon King’s arm. Except, this time, V didn’t faint.
V winked at Camlo. “Thank you.”
“Well?” Roman asked.
V gave a shake of his head, regret linking his face. “Nothing.”
Sabina then held out her hand. “Try me. Camlo is only half Romani.”
Without hesitation, V walked around the fire. He took her outstretched hand. The jolt that went through Sabina caused her to jerk, and Roman held her tighter. V yanked his hand away and looked down at his fingers with a frown.
“What happened?” Roman asked.
V’s blue eyes glittered as he met her gaze. “Amazing.”
“V,” Roman said in a dangerous voice.
Sabina shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not sure what happened. I felt something go through me.”
“But no’ when I touch you?” Roman asked.
She glanced at him and shook her head. “Not like that, no.”
Because she certainly did feel something with Roman. It was warm and tingly and felt so good.
“Again,” V said as he held out his arm.
Roman shifted, turning her away from V. “No’ until you tell me what happened. I doona want either of you hurt.”
“I wasna hurt,” V said. “The connection of her Romani blood to the spells put on me by the Druids and Fae is … substantial.”
The more Sabina learned, the more she was sure her ancestors were involved with the Fae and Druids who were after the Dragon Kings. She might have learned about the Kings when she was a child and didn’t hear their full story until a day ago, but the dragons hadn’t hurt her.
The Kings hadn’t hurt anyone in all the time they’d been on Earth. Why provoke them? Why would a group go after them?
She really wished she could hear her ancestors’ side of things. She only had Roman’s and V’s word to go on. And for some unfathomable reason, she believed them. Mostly because they had been nothing but kind. And the simple fact that the Kings hadn’t taken over the world and killed every human had a lot to do with her trust.
No matter how long she lived, she would never forget the sight of Roman in his true form. He was simply glorious, in a frightening and beautiful way.
“Take my hand,” she told V.
Whatever was going to happen, someone had to take the first step. That now seemed up to her. She braced herself when V lifted his arm. Their fingers grazed, and once more, a jolt went through her.
Sabina gasped and closed her eyes as all sound was suddenly sucked away. When she opened her eyes, she was inside a cave, but it wasn’t the one she had been standing in. There was no fire, but she could see despite the dimness. She turned and saw a form sprawled on the ground. She frowned when she realized it was V.
He lay naked on his stomach as if he’d just collapsed. His hair was long, the dark locks spread around him, partially covering the large dragon tattoo on his back. Her gaze was jerked from the tat when his finger twitched as if he were fighting whatever was happening to him. She could hear a man screaming, but it sounded distant.
She heard something behind her and spun, looking for Roman and Camlo, but they were nowhere in sight. When she spotted the entrance, she walked to it and looked out over the land.
There was no ice, no snow. The moon hung low and full in the sky, shining upon the land with such force that it looked almost like daylight. Her gaze moved lower down the mountain and past the thick forest to the houses in the distance.
She wished she could see more because it looked like a village of some sort. But a glance down showed that the only way for her to leave the cave was to fall several hundred feet.
That’s when she heard a sound. She squatted and looked closer to find that it was six men climbing up the side of the mountain.
Sabina was so shocked that she jerked and fell back on her butt. She scrambled to her feet again and whirled around to V. Tripping, she righted herself and rushed to him, falling to her knees beside him.
“V. You need to wake up,” she said and shoved his shoulder, unable to move him more than an inch or two. “V. V! Did you hear me? Wake up!”
His head shifted toward her, but he didn’t open his eyes.
&
nbsp; Sabina grabbed his hands and pulled them over his head as she attempted to drag him somewhere the men couldn’t find him. Gritting her teeth, she pulled with all her might but only managed to move V a few inches.
“Shit,” she grumbled. “You’re heavy.”
She did a double-take when she saw something out of the corner of her eye. As soon as she saw the sword, she froze. That’s when she knew that, somehow, she’d gone back in time. She didn’t know if she was there in reality, or if this were just a glimpse of the past.
Though the fact that she could touch V wasn’t keeping her calm. Because if this were a vision, would she be able to touch him?
Her stomach roiled viciously as fear iced her blood. She didn’t know what to do. Did she hide the sword? Would that do any good? Where were the Druids and Fae?
V’s fingers suddenly wrapped painfully around her wrist. She looked down at him to find his blue eyes open and staring at her.
“V,” she said
A frown furrowed his brow. He released her and rolled onto his side then pushed himself into a seated position while braced to the side with his hands.
The men were getting closer. She could hear them, and by the way V’s head snapped up, he did, too.
“Get behind me,” he ordered.
“They’re here for your sword.”
V gave a loud snort. “They willna be getting it.”
It took a moment for Sabina to realize that they were speaking in Romanian. She swallowed and decided to do as V said. Sabina moved behind him. Then she turned her head toward the sword. If she prevented her ancestors from taking it, then perhaps the Druid and Fae magic wouldn’t have V in its hold.
But it also meant that she’d never meet Roman.
She walked toward the weapon and gazed at it in wonder. It was huge. She honestly wondered if she could lift it, even with both hands. She knew next to nothing about swords, but she recognized the craftsmanship of it.
The blade itself was as wide as her palm. There was a Celtic-looking design near the top. The guard looked as if each side were a dragon claw, curved downward toward the blade. The grip was just as beautiful and intricate and appeared to be fashioned after dragon scales. The pommel was made up of double dragon heads, facing away from each other, their mouths open, showing their teeth.
