Page 15 of Dragon Unbound (Dragon Kings 3)
Eurwen said, “You won’t. She understands why we shouldn’t get involved. There’s a delicate balance here. It took some time for Brandr and I to get it this way. To disrupt that would send everything into chaos.”
Cullen glanced to his left where he spotted dragons in the distance. He didn’t want to alter the dragons’ lives. They deserved a peaceful place to live after everything their ancestors had gone through on Earth. “I agree.”
“Good,” Eurwen said.
Cullen’s gaze slid to her. “I would sooner cut off my own arm than do anything to harm what the dragons have here. But I can no’ call myself a King and stand by without helping innocents.”
“Cullen, wait,” Vaughn said.
He cut his eyes to Vaughn, silencing him instantly. “I knew there were humans here with magic, and I understood that they didna live with those without. But I wasna aware of them being hunted or harmed.” He turned back to Eurwen. “Were you?”
Her silence was answer enough.
“Eurwen,” Vaughn said, his brow furrowed deeply.
They could speak later. Cullen still needed answers. “How do you know?”
Eurwen hesitated before blowing out a breath as if defeated. “There have been times Brandr and I walked among the humans. We wanted them far away from us and the dragons, but we needed to make sure they understood how dangerous it was to go near the barricade that separated our two cultures.”
“I’d have done the same,” Vaughn replied.
Cullen glanced at his friend before asking Eurwen, “Then you know Stonemore?”
She nodded woodenly. “Unfortunately. That city is one of the oldest and grandest of all the metropolises, but the people there are unforgiving. Orgate accepted those who lived longer like Jeyra and used them as warriors. Had she been in Stonemore, they would’ve killed her.”
“Jeyradoesna have magic,” Vaughn said. “She simply ages differently.”
“Stonemorians see those with any kind of special ability—like unnatural aging—as the enemy.”
Cullen tucked that information away. “Did you tell the people to fear dragons?”
She thought about that a moment. “We warned those in leadership positions to make sure their people didn’t cross the threshold into our domain. We let them know harm would come to them.”
“Did you tell them to fear Dragon Kings?”
Her frown deepened. “We never said anything about Dragon Kings.”
“Someone had to,” Vaughn said. “Jeyra knew about them. It’s why she sought out the crone to pull one to the realm to be punished.”
Eurwen threw up her hands. “We wanted the humans to know that it was better for everyone if they stuck to their land. Did we want them to fear crossing the barrier? Absolutely. But we never said anything about Dragon Kings. Why would we? We ruled here, not any of you.”
“You’re a Dragon Queen. Brandr is a King,” Vaughn added.
Cullen scrubbed a hand over his chin. “Tamlyn and her friends showed real terror when I told them who I was. Tamlyn told me she was taught from an early age to fear all dragons, but especially Dragon Kings.”
“I don’t know where the humans are getting that information,” Eurwen said.
Vaughn twisted his lips. “I think we need to find out.”
Cullen looked between them. “I have to help the children.”
“I’m not sure there’s a way to do that and not start a war,” Vaughn said.
Eurwen swallowed as she shrugged. “There isn’t.”
“We’re dragons. With magic,” Cullen reminded them. “We can do it.”
Vaughn eyed Eurwen, surprise in his voice when he asked, “You’re seriously considering it?”
“He’s right,” she said and jerked her thumb to Cullen. “It’s one thing for cities to ban those with magic. It’s something else entirely to kill them. I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t care what the humans did to each other. But when helpless children are involved, I can’t pretend any longer.”
Cullen didn’t celebrate her statement. Though he was delighted to have someone on his side, he knew things wouldn’t be easy. “Con and Brandr are going to be livid.”
“Which is why there can’t be anything to disrupt the balance here,” Eurwen told him. “Nothing. The minute there is, you return. I want your word, or I won’t help.”
Vaughn visibly winced. “Honey, hold up a moment. I told you my concerns because I thought you might agree with my sentiment.”
“Obviously, I do,” she retorted. She quirked a brow. “You knew there was a chance I would go against Brandr.”
Cullen understood what Vaughn was getting at. “Brandr has adjusted his thinking to allow some Kings onto Zora to help battle this new enemy, though it goes against everything both of you agreed on.”
“Eons ago,” Eurwen added.
