Page 37 of Shadows of Light
Lexi squeezed her hands together as the coyotes stopped howling. The ensuing quiet was unnerving. “We have no idea where he is or how to track him.”
“We believe he’s still in Dragonia,” Maverick said.
“He wouldn’t go far from you,” Brokk said. “And, with the shadows’ help, he could slip past the guards protecting the portals in Dragonia without them noticing. I have no idea how to locate him in Dragonia; maybe the witches can help us.”
“They said they couldn’t track him before,” Del reminded him.
“That was when we didn’t think Cole was in Dragonia. Things might be different if he’s closer.”
“Maybe Sahira could take her tracking spell off me while they’re at it,” Orin muttered.
Feeling the first tiny bit of hope for the first time in weeks, Lexi agreed with them. “Okay, let’s see what Kaylia and Sahira can do.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
Before she could opena portal for them to leave to see Kaylia and her aunt, a portal opened in the sky and Alina swept through it. The beautiful red dragon soared over their heads before banking to the right and coming back toward them.
When Alina landed, earth skidded up beneath her feet, and she ran for a few feet before finally settling to a stop. Lexi had never seen the speaker make such an ungraceful landing before and knew something was wrong before Alina spoke.
“Wendigos are invading Dragonia,” Alina said with more urgency than Lexi had ever heard her use before.
Her heart leapt into her throat at this revelation and the idea of those monsters enteringherrealm again. They’d just gotten some semblance of normalcy back, and now they were trying to destroy it.
“We have to stop them,” Lexi breathed.
Without thinking, she sprinted away from the others and raced toward the speaker. Before she could reach the dragon, a hand gripped her wrist and pulled her back.
She yanked on her wrist but couldn’t get it free as she spun to face Brokk. From behind him, the others rushed forward to join them.
“Let us handle this!” Brokk shouted. “You should return to the palace and stay somewhere safe.”
“Let me go!”
Brokk glanced around before reluctantly releasing her. She realized he feared that Cole, or his shadows, lurked nearby. And if they decided Brokk was a threat to her, they would destroy him.
“I’m not going to argue about this,” Lexi stated. “I am the queen of Dragonia and all of the realms; I won’t hide while lives are in jeopardy, and Iwillfight to keep everyone safe.”
“And if you die, they’ll all suffer when some new asshole claims the throne.”
“Then destroy the throne before they can claim it.”
“That’s not possible,” Alina murmured. “It’s protected by powerful magics and cannot be eradicated.”
“Of course it can’t.” Lexi sighed. “But it doesn’t matter; I won’t be like the Lord. I will not hide while others die for me.”
“You can stay with me. You’ll be safe then.”
“I’m not staying out of this battle,” Lexi retorted.
“I would never suggest such a thing, my queen,” Alina said. “Nor would I ever sit out a battle. But if you are on me and in the air, you’ll be part of the battle and watch as the wendigos die.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” her dad said.
Lexi pondered this before nodding. She wasn’t thrilled with the idea of climbing back on a dragon, but it would be nice to have a front-row seat to the death of those things.
“Then let’s go,” she said.
She spun away from the others and closed the distance between her and the speaker. When Alina bent her neck down, Lexi scrambled up her leg, grabbed one of the spikes running along her neck, and hoisted herself onto the dragon’s back.
