Page 21 of Dragon Mine (Dragon Kings 2)
“Knowing what happened with us and the mortals colored your view of them.”
“Are you really telling me that if you had it to do all over again, you wouldn’t do things differently?”
He twisted his lips. “Maybe. It’s easy to say that now, but it wasna so black and white when we were going through all of it. But that story is for another time. You were telling yours.”
“It wasn’t just my brother and me who were wary of the humans. The dragons were, as well. They all knew the stories of why their ancestors had come to this realm. Their hatred runs deep.”
“How do they feel about Jeyra being here?”
Eurwen had hoped he wouldn’t ask that question. “Let’s just say it’s a good thing she’s with a Dragon King.”
“I thought you might say something like that. The other Kings on Earth need to know this.”
“I understand why the rest of you need to come here and see the dragons firsthand, but I hope you also appreciate how things have changed for the dragons since leaving your realm.”
He nodded slowly and gave her a reassuring smile. “I’ll make sure of it. Con needs to know this, too.”
“I intended to tell him, but things didn’t go as planned.”
“Things rarely ever do.”
She chuckled. “That’s very true.”
“So, the dragons were no’ happy with the mortals being here.”
“That’s another reason we put up the barrier. Brandr and I ordered the dragons never to cross it. A few disobeyed and wreaked havoc on the humans. We disciplined them, of course. It wasn’t easy, but Brandr and I made things work. There were no excuses, no leniencies for either the humans or the dragons. Finally, eventually, things calmed down. Everyone stayed on their side of the barrier.”
Vaughn smiled, his eyes crinkling in the corners. “Impressive.”
“Not that impressive since you now know about the recent dragon rescue from the human city.”
He wrinkled his nose and half-heartedly shrugged. “It was resolved. When did you start visiting Earth?”
“Before the humans came. Brandr and I wanted to see our parents and your world for ourselves. We never stayed longer than a few hours.”
“Did you see Dreagan?”
“From a distance,” she said with a nod. “The magic there is so strong.”
Pride shone in his Persian blue eyes. “That’s why we chose it as the Dragon Kings’ home.”
“The pact I had with my brother was that we would never speak to any of the Kings.”
“Ever?” Vaughn asked in surprise.
She smiled sadly. “Ever.”
“No’ even your father?”
Eurwen shook her head. “After a while, we began splitting up so one of us was always here with the dragons. Neither of us asked the other what they did while on Earth. I think we both assumed that we did the same things as we had done together.”
“Except, you didna.”
“No.” She swallowed and glanced away. “I’ve never kept a secret from my brother. Until my time with you.”
Surprise flashed in Vaughn’s eyes. “You didna tell him?”
“Not until today.”
“I gather he didna take it well?”
“Not in the least.” She didn’t want to talk about Brandr and his thoughts right now. “I never intended to meet you. Or any of the Kings. I followed Rhi around a few times in recent years, watching her shop and get her nails done. But you…that night…” She shrugged. “I couldn’t have walked away had I wanted to.”
Vaughn linked his fingers with hers. “And in the morning?”
“I woke in your arms. I didn’t want to leave, but I knew if I didn’t, you’d wake and start asking me questions.”
“Like how I didna know you were part dragon?”
She winced, scrunching her face. She got up to walk off some of the energy building inside her. She paced, glancing at him to see his expression. “That was my doing. When I knew I couldn’t walk away from you, I used magic to shield myself from you.”
