Page 73 of Dragon Mine (Dragon Kings 2)
“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.
