by Donna Grant
The dragon then got to its feet and faced her and Brandr. Eurwen felt a soft nudge in her mind. She opened a channel to hear Nundro say, “That was closer than I want to admit.”
“What happened?” Brandr asked.
The general shook his great head. “I didna see or hear anything. I was returning from following the mortals when the pain shot through me. My wings wouldna work, and I began falling. I landed here.”
Eurwen glanced up at the other dragons. “Was anyone with you?”
“I was alone,” the general answered.
Brandr glanced at her. “I wasna far when Nundro cried out. Neither were these dragons.”
“I wish I could tell you what happened and how,” Nundro said. “I doona want this happening to anyone else.”
Brandr smiled at him. “You’ve earned some rest. Return to your family.”
Before Nundro left, he paused once more and bowed his head to Con. Eurwen watched a muscle in Brandr’s jaw twitch. Con had saved Nundro’s life. Brandr should be thankful instead of worrying that their father wanted to take over.
“I take it nothing like this has ever happened before?” Con asked Brandr and her.
Brandr refused to speak. Eurwen gave him a dark look before she faced her father. “No.”
Con slowly studied the area. “Does this have anything to do with what you felt when you came through the doorway?”
“Possibly. Brandr knows more about it than I do.” She inwardly patted herself on the back when she saw her brother’s nostrils flare in anger.
Con looked at Brandr. “You have capable dragons at your disposal. However, I’m offering my, Vaughn’s, and V’s services while we’re here. More eyes can never hurt.”
Eurwen was surprised when Brandr didn’t immediately refuse. The fact that he hesitated told her how worried he was. She didn’t understand why he had kept it all to himself instead of sharing with her, but now wasn’t the time to ask him about it. She would do that when they were alone.
“I’ll take you up on that offer,” Brandr replied.
The dragons overhead began disbursing until only Vaughn remained. He didn’t land, and Eurwen was thankful for that. Brandr had been pushed to his limits today. Sooner or later, he would have to talk to Vaughn, though. Just as he would have to talk to her.
Thank you, she mouthed to Brandr when he looked her way. He shrugged, but it was a step he had refused to take before.
Brandr cleared his throat and turned his head to Con. “Thank you for saving Nundro. He’s no’ just a good general. He’s also my friend.”
“I know that feeling well,” Con said and raised his gaze to Vaughn.
The hairs on the back of Eurwen’s neck prickled with awareness. She whirled around to look behind her, but there was nothing.
“What is it?” Con and Brandr asked at the same time.
She rubbed the back of her neck. “I don’t know. I could’ve sworn someone was there.”
A large shadow moved over them as Vaughn swept across the sky and soared about twenty feet above the ground before flapping his wings and darting upward and then turning back to face them.
“Nothing,” Vaughn told them.
Brandr touched her arm. “Perhaps it’s better if we return home and put a plan in place.”
“I agree,” Con said.
Eurwen gave the area one more look before shifting and jumping into the air. When she saw that Con, Brandr, and Vaughn were flying with her, she could only stare in amazement. This wasn’t something she’d ever thought to see.
When they returned to Cairnkeep, they didn’t immediately tell Rhi, Claire, or V what had occurred. They all spent time cooing at the newest addition to the Dreagan family. Eurwen had never been this close to a human infant before. She was in awe of the little creature, as well as a bit scared of it.
“Want to hold her?” Claire asked her.
Rhi smiled, nodding. “Go on. I’ve taken my fair share already.”
Eurwen shook her head and stepped back, bumping into Vaughn, who steadied her. “Not now.”
“I understand,” Claire said with a grin. Then her brown eyes swung to Brandr. “Thank you. I don’t know what you did, but I somehow know that you saved Pearl’s life.”
Everyone turned to her brother. Eurwen had never seen him nervous before. It was like Brandr didn’t like the attention, which wasn’t like her brother at all. “What did you do?” she asked.
Brandr looked at each of them. “The only way I can explain it is that it was almost as if the bairn called to me. I went to Claire, and that’s when I felt it.”
“Felt what?” V asked, concern filling his face.
Rhi nodded. “Yes, felt what? We all tried our magic to help, but nothing seemed to work.”
“Because that’s what she was counting on,” Brandr said.
Eurwen shrugged. “Who?”
“Usaeil,” he replied.
Con fisted his hands. “Will we never escape that bitch?”
Eurwen noticed the curious way Brandr watched the bairn. “What did you feel?” she pressed.
“Dark Fae magic,” Brandr responded. “It was holding the babe in place, refusing to allow her to be born.”
“Oh, God,” Claire said breathlessly, her eyes clouding with tears as she looked down at her daughter.
Fury rolled off V in waves. “I knew Usaeil would do something like this to us. Brandr, we owe you a debt we can never repay. We can no’ thank you enough.”
“About that,” Con said.
Vaughn added, “Something is going on here. We told Brandr and Eurwen we’d help.”
“I’ll do whatever is needed,” V said.
Rhi nodded. “Me, too.”
“Someone has to watch over Claire,” V stated.
Rhi grinned. “No one will get near her or your daughter. I promise you that.”
“Said like a queen,” Con replied with a grin.
Eurwen saw the loving exchange and leaned back against Vaughn. He squeezed her hand, letting her know that he would be there. A flutter of happiness filled her stomach. She wasn’t used to such emotions. Sure, she’d dreamed of feeling them someday, but to actually have it? She worried whether it was real. Or did she experience it simply because she wanted it so desperately?
Brandr interrupted her thoughts as he began describing the attack that had just happened to Nundro. When he reached the part where Con had healed the general, Rhi’s face softened into a smile as she looked at her mate.
“Were mortals responsible?” V asked.
Eurwen shook her head. “While the border isn’t too far from that area, it wasn’t near enough for any humans to attack and run without being seen.”
“Unless they had help,” Rhi pointed out.
Con shook his head. “The area was grassland as far as the eye could see. If someone had been there, we would’ve seen movement when we approached. There was nothing.”
“There’s the crone,” Brandr said.
Eurwen blinked. “The one who pulled Varek to our realm? You’re still searching for her?”
“I want to know how she did it and why,” Brandr replied.
Vaughn scratched his neck. “I would, too. If she did it once, she could do it again. We want to make sure she can no’.”
“Did anyone know that someone on this realm could do such magic?” Claire asked.
Eurwen and Brandr looked at each other before shaking their heads in unison.
“Either she’s been hiding…” Rhi began.
Con crossed his arms over his chest. “Or biding her time.”
“Neither option is good,” V said.
Eurwen shrugged. “Perhaps she’s running from something. Jeyra said that no one with magic was allowed in Orgate. Maybe the crone was once a part of the human city and had to leave.”
“Or she could be a powerful being threatening us,” Brandr replied. “That’s why I want to find her.”
Eurwen threw up her hands in irritation. “You ask
ed Jeyra multiple times. She told you that the crone found her. If you continue hunting the crone as you have, you may never find her.”
“We’ll find her,” V stated.
Brandr raised his brows as he shrugged. “We have to know if she’s the one who attacked Nundro.”
Eurwen nodded slowly. “If she is, she’ll answer for it. But first, we need to find out why. To focus solely on her is foolish. It could’ve been anyone.”
“Especially if there are mortals on this realm with magic,” Vaughn added.
Con dropped his arms. “Then we need to start planning how to do this.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Vaughn watched the sunset from atop the mountain near Eurwen’s cottage. They had spent hours going over different strategies until a plan formed. His gaze tracked the various dragons as they flew all around him. He noted they liked to stay near Cairnkeep, and he couldn’t blame them.
“I wondered where you went,” Eurwen said as she walked up.
He glanced at her and smiled. “I didna expect to come to Zora for battle. I hope we didna bring this to your realm.”
Eurwen sighed loudly. “No doubt that’s exactly what my brother thinks, but I don’t believe it. Brandr even admitted that he’d felt something off for a few days, which meant it was before you came.”
“As in when Varek was brought here?”
“Maybe,” she answered with a shrug.
“Or once he got free of the mortals.”
Eurwen’s lips twisted. “Possibly.”
Vaughn nodded and returned his attention to the dragons. “On Earth, clans stayed together. It wasna that they were no’ allowed to mix, they just didna. Mainly because it was hard for any dragon no’ of that clan to fit in. Here, all colors mingle.”
“This is a different realm. The way things were on your planet was how they needed to be. When Brandr and I first came here, we learned from some of the eldest dragons that they began keeping clans separate because that’s how it had always been. Without Kings, however—”
“Things fell apart,” he finished.
She twisted her lips in a rueful smile. “Yes. Now, this is what works for them here.”
“I’ll never grow tired of watching and hearing them.”
Eurwen moved closer, her shoulder brushing his. “I’m glad you’re here. The generals and the army are good, but they aren’t Kings.”
“We’re going to figure out what’s going on,” Vaughn promised as he looked down at her.
“Yes, we will.”
They stood in silence for some time, watching the dragons. The sun descended behind the mountains, and the colorful sky gave way to a pale blue that finally faded to black. But Vaughn’s thoughts weren’t on the striking scenery.
“I think you should remove the doorway to Earth,” Vaughn said.
Eurwen’s head whipped to him. “Why?”
“We need to make sure the evil from our realm isna passing to this one.”
“Or can’t get from here to yours.”
Vaughn nodded once as he looked at her. “Exactly. Another doorway can be constructed later.”
“Should we send Claire and the bairn through first?”
“No.”
Her eyebrows shot up on her forehead. “If something’s here, Earth would be safer for them.”
“We doona know what’s here. No one has seen the infant, and it needs to stay that way until we can decipher what is going on.”
“In case whatever this is, tries to attach itself to the baby. Bloody hell. I didn’t even think of that.”
Vaughn glanced at the cottage. “Unfortunately, we’ve come across all kinds of evil. I’ve learned no’ to assume anything.”
“Apparently, I have a lot to learn.”
He reached for her hand. “I’m glad you’ve no’ had the battles we have. They leave scars that are hidden and never fully heal.”
“But when something does come, you know how to handle it. Look at all the battles the Kings have won.”
“Because we work together. We move as one cohesive unit.”
She grinned. “It also helps that you’re all excellent warriors.”
“Aye, it does,” he said with a chuckle.
“Give me a second,” she said before disappearing. A heartbeat later, she was back. “The doorway is gone.”
“It’s for the best.”
Her fingers found his again as her smile dropped. “We’ve had peace for many, many years. I foolishly believed we would always have it, simply by us not making the same mistakes as…”
Her voice trailed off. Vaughn looked at her and said, “As we did.”
“Yes,” she replied in a soft voice.
“That isna a bad way to do things. However, new mistakes will inevitably be made. I’m no’ saying anyone has made a mistake. I’m merely pointing out facts.”
She let out a breath. “You’re right. It’s something Brandr and I have discussed. We do the best we can.”
“That’s all anyone can do.”
“If we learn that the mortals are responsible for Nundro’s attack, we will retaliate.”
Vaughn had feared she would say such words. “That isna the answer.”
“You think we should stand by and not punish the one who hurt one of us?”
“That isna what I said. You may no’ have made the same vows about protecting the humans as we did, but by wiping them out, you’ll change something within yourself—and every dragon who helps—forever. You’ll never be able to come back from that.”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “We don’t have the same magic you do on Earth. Nothing here will remove Brandr and me from our positions.”
“Your morality will be compromised. And if you doona think that’s a big deal, then it proves that you have no idea of the true consequences of what you’re talking about.”
“I won’t allow humans to jeopardize what we have here,” she argued.
Vaughn faced her. “I’m no’ asking you to. I’m asking you to find a way to make peace for everyone.”
“This is our realm. Why should we compromise?”
He could’ve given her a million reasons, but they all sounded hollow to him. Being with the dragons again had brought back all the Kings had sacrificed for the mortals to live. Being on Zora made Vaughn wish that things had turned out differently on Earth.
“I know what you’re saying,” Eurwen continued. “I’ve thought about it myself. But at the end of the day, I have to look out for the dragons. They shouldn’t have to find another home or fight for another one.”
Vaughn couldn’t argue with that. He nodded and faced forward. Then, he did a double take when he saw a speck of pink in the night sky. To his shock, there was more than one pink dragon. There were over a dozen.
“I can no’ believe my eyes,” he murmured.
“The Pinks?”
“We thought they were extinct, killed by humans.”
Eurwen shook her head. “Eggs were found on their land as the dragons were called across the bridge. The dragons gathered up all they could find and brought them when they left your realm.”
Vaughn’s throat clogged with emotion as he saw the Pinks fly around the mountain and then disappear. “All this time, we believed they were no more. We mourned them, wishing we could’ve done something to prevent their slaughter.”
“They’ve thrived here. All the dragons have.”
“The Pinks are alive. Varek said as much, but I didna truly believe him. I thought maybe one had managed to live, but an entire clan? It’s more than we could’ve hoped for.”
Eurwen hugged his arm against her. “There will always be dragons. I’m going to make sure of it.”
“Me, too,” he said as he looked down at her.
“Do you wish to stay out here tonight?”
Vaughn glanced at her cottage. “Your place is taken, and I think Brandr would rather eat glass than allow me inside his place.”
“You
’re growing on him.”
He snorted. “I highly doubt that. However, he does know that us helping right now is for everyone’s benefit. I’m glad he accepted Con’s offer.”
“Me, too,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “I love my twin, but he can be obstinate at times. I wasn’t going to refuse Con. Brandr knew that.”
“Maybe us working together will create a bond. I know it will make Con and Rhi happy.”
Eurwen looked up at him. “And me.”
He swallowed and leaned down to press his lips to hers. “Let’s sleep under the stars.”
“So you can see the dragons?”
Vaughn shook his head as he grinned. “So I can see the stars shining in your eyes.”
“You know just the right things to say.”
“I’m saying what’s in my heart. The things I’ve wanted to say since our first night together.”
She cupped his cheek with her free hand. “You make me feel special. As if I’m the only woman in the world.”
“In the universe,” he corrected. “And that’s because you are.”
Her lips curved into a smile. “Let’s find someplace more private.”
“The loch?” he suggested.
“You read my mind.”
They ran to the edge of the cliff and jumped, shifting and flying toward the loch, side by side.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The feel of Vaughn’s lips on her temple woke Eurwen from her dreams. She smiled to find herself curled tightly against his side. “Not yet,” she murmured.
He laughed softly. “I can do many things, but I can no’ stop the sun from rising.”
All she wanted was to have the day to herself to do whatever she wanted with Vaughn. No interruptions, no battles to fight. Nothing but the two of them. She’d let that slip away from her when they had been at Dreagan.
“We can return,” he said.
She rolled onto her back and turned her head to him. It had been a glorious night. Even better than their first on Zora. It made her wonder why she had ever tried to keep him at a distance. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stay away from him. “We definitely will. I’ve found I quite like sleeping beneath the stars with you.”
