Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 136009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“He’s right,” Wynter said with a sigh.
Kerrigan ran a hand back over her braided hair. “We need you safe.”
Fordham looked aghast at her agreement, but she tugged on the bond with reassurances. She’d thought that Fordham had gone along with all the planning a little too easily. She shouldn’t have been surprised that he was here again, ready to take off into danger. That was what they were good at after all.
“It’s just a stealth mission. We will be in and out with the scholar in no time.”
His forehead touched hers, and he brushed their lips together. “Get in, get out, and don’t be seen. By order of your king.”
Dozan tipped him a mocking salute. Wynter nodded once.
Kerrigan turned to Dozan. “You’ve flown on Tieran before?”
“He and I are acquainted.”
“I am the smaller of the two dragons,” Tieran said into their minds. “He would be better as a second on Netta if she will have him.”
“I will,” Netta said.
Wynter and Dozan exchanged a look, a smirk on his lips, a frown on hers. Someone could have cut the tension with a spoon.
“Fine,” Wynter said. “You’re with me.”
Kerrigan hid her smile as she headed toward Tieran. Those two were circling each other like vultures over carrion. She climbed onto Tieran’s back and settled in.
“We’re heading due west, just outside Death’s Valley,” Kerrigan told them. “We’ll land before we get there and hike to our quarry. Stay on Tieran’s flank.”
Wynter sank into her seat on the back of Netta, and a second later, Dozan settled in behind her, his hands going to her hips. Wynter was as stiff as a board while Dozan clearly relished her discomfort. Not that it was a discomfort because she wanted him to stop. Kerrigan could see that on her features, and Kerrigan didn’t know what was holding Wynter back. But good for her for making Dozan do all the chasing. He deserved that.
“Happy hunting,” Fordham said to them.
And then Tieran dove off the edge of the aerie into the pitch-black sky beyond. Kerrigan wanted to hold her arms out and scream her delight as they plummeted toward the rocky ground below, but it wasn’t that kind of flight.
Tieran was already mad enough at her that he hadn’t been there for her equinox spirit dive. He and Netta had celebrated the holiday in a traditional dragon celebration that they’d both ignored questions about. She didn’t know if that meant they were making more dragon eggs or if it was an actual secret. Considering Tieran had lost his mate to the horrors of the dragon tournament, she’d have been perfectly happy for him if it were the former.
A half hour later, a small encampment appeared on the horizon. Tieran and Netta dove low to avoid notice in case anyone was awake and landed in an outcropping of hills some distance away.
“So what’s the plan, boss?” Dozan asked.
“I’m meeting Audria. She has no idea that you’re going to be here, and I want to keep it that way.”
Just in case she betrayed us. It was the unspoken thing hovering between them. That this might all be a setup. Kerrigan wouldn’t know until she got there, but she’d been practicing and had a backup plan just in case.
“We have our mission,” Wynter said with a nod.
Kerrigan, Wynter, and Dozan left the dragons behind and headed through the hills toward the group of Society members. When they crested the nearest hill, they got a full look into the valley beyond. Kerrigan released a long breath. A part of her had been worried that Audria was lying to her, but in a circle in the middle of the valley were four dragons of various sizes and colors, surrounding the tents of five Fae. She recognized Evien at once. Audria’s dragon had bright purple scales, and even before she had belonged to Audria, Kerrigan had been her friend in the House of Dragons. Roake’s dragon, Luxor, was there as well. Sapphire blue and incredibly muscular, he was easy to spot. She didn’t recognize any of the other dragons, but it was enough to prove Audria’s tale, though not enough to prove it wasn’t a diversion or a way to sniff Kerrigan out.
“They’re still sleeping,” Wynter whispered.
“Good,” Kerrigan said.
Wynter clasped her hand. “I’ll see you on the other side.”
Dozan grinned as he followed Wynter out of sight.
Kerrigan hunkered down. They’d come early to the meetup so that she could verify she wasn’t walking into a trap, but she still wasn’t sure that was the case.
There was a fire burning at the center of the camp, and Kerrigan saw a Fae she didn’t recognize shake Audria awake. She jumped up as if she’d been hit, but it was just her turn to take over the watch.
This was the tricky part. Did they trust her to go on a watch by herself? She’d said that she could get them to agree to it, but Kerrigan didn’t know. Audria took up position for her watch, glancing back once at the guy she’d relieved. Kerrigan was about to head lower into the valley when Roake stirred.