Page 82 of Dragon Mine (Dragon Kings 2)
Chapter Thirty-One
Eurwen knew she was in trouble. It felt as if she were bound, but she couldn’t figure out with what. No matter how hard she tried to use her limbs, they wouldn’t work. She strained, listening for anyone.
Hoping Vaughn was near.
Nothing but silence and darkness surrounded her. Yet, she knew she wasn’t alone. Something was with her. She recalled the words she’d heard before she fell unconscious. Eurwen didn’t know who the entity was. The voice was difficult to pinpoint as either male or female, but it was pure evil. Of that, she had no doubt.
She didn’t know how or why the being was on Zora, but she hoped the others would figure it out soon. She wanted to go back with them, to argue with Brandr, to see Vaughn’s Persian blue eyes, watching her with desire and longing. To hear Rhi’s laughter and talk more with Con.
First, she had to get away from her capture. At least, her body no longer hurt. Her wound must have healed itself. That would make fighting against whoever held her easier. Because she would fight. She would get free.
And back to Vaughn.
* * *
The moment the human-dragon border came into view, Vaughn began his descent. He landed, shifting to his human form. Once Varek alit, and Jeyra slid off his back, the two joined him.
“This way,” Jeyra said and began jogging.
Vaughn followed the couple across the stream. The instant they were on the other side, Jeyra started to run. Vaughn and Varek kept pace with her. They could’ve gone faster, but they wouldn’t leave her behind.
Finally, Vaughn spotted the forest giving way to open space. Soon, he heard the sounds of a decent-sized city. Then he spotted the tall barrier and the gate that surrounded the town. Neither Jeyra nor Varek paused when they walked from the trees, simply headed straight for the entrance. Few took notice of them until they drew closer to the opened gates.
Vaughn saw the guards in the tower eyeing them with foreboding. “We’ve got eyes.”
“They’ll notify the council that we’ve arrived,” Jeyra said.
Varek met Vaughn’s gaze over Jeyra’s head. “At least magic can be used in the city now.”
Vaughn let his gaze wander around the numerous people walking in and out of the gates. They all wore the same type of clothing as Jeyra. Slim-fitting pants tucked into high boots, sleeveless tops, and armbands on each biceps in an array of yellow to brown tones. He and Varek couldn’t have stood out more had they tried.
Conversations halted as they passed while more and more gazes fell upon them. Vaughn noted that not everyone carried weapons, but those who did certainly appeared to know how to use them. Jeyra nodded to a trio of female warriors, but they turned their backs to her. Vaughn couldn’t imagine that was easy to bear, but Jeyra kept her chin up and her shoulders squared.
He saw that none of the buildings were higher than three stories. While the architecture wasn’t as advanced as the humans’ of Earth, there was still skill in the designs and craftsmanship that Vaughn couldn’t deny.
The streets began clearing as word of their arrival spread. No longer did they have to weave through the crowds. Instead, the three of them walked shoulder to shoulder down the road as everyone looked on. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant feeling. All Vaughn could think about was Varek and how they’d held him in the city’s prison for weeks.
And the dragons they’d tortured.
Rage started to build, compounded by the morning’s attack and Eurwen, who had yet to wake. It was all Vaughn could do to keep control of it before it erupted, and he took it out on the mortals. It was easy to blame them. After all, they had been responsible for so much on Earth. They could do the same on Zora.
Yet, if his years had taught him anything, it was to get the facts first. And that’s exactly what he planned to do in Orgate.
A petite woman bent with age, her white hair pulled into an intricate bun, walked out onto the road with the help of a cane. She faced them, a smile on her wrinkled face. “I wondered when I would see you two again.”
“Sateen,” Jeyra said with a bright smile as she hurried to the frail woman.
They embraced before Jeyra stepped aside, and Sateen raised a thin, white brow at Varek, her faded gray eyes watching him. “Are you just going to stand there?”
“I wouldna dream of it,” Varek answered with a laugh as he approached and bent to hug the councilwoman. He straightened and stepped to the side, “Sateen, this is my friend, Vaughn.”
Sateen’s intense eyes slid to him as she looked him up and down. “Another Dragon King. Why do I get the feeling your arrival isn’t a social call?”
Vaughn bowed his head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Jeyra and Varek spoke highly of you.”
The elder councilwoman quirked her brow, waiting for him to answer her question.
Vaughn met her gaze, liking her instantly. “Can we go somewhere private?”
“Welcome to Orgate,” she said. “The only truly private place is my home. Follow me.”
Jeyra walked beside the councilwoman as Vaughn and Varek trailed slightly behind them.
“The people here doona know what to think of our arrival,” Varek said.
Vaughn glanced at those lining the road. “They look to be frightened of what we might do.”
“We are Dragon Kings. They’ve been told to fear dragons, and especially Kings.”
