Page 49 of Dragon Unbound (Dragon Kings 3)
He smiled at her and took her hand. “I’ll be helping with the rescue, as well.”
“Honestly, I’ll be happy not to have to climb that wall by myself again.” She let him pull her against him. Tamlyn placed her other hand on his chest as she gazed into his brown eyes. “You’re risking a lot to help me.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “We have the advantage right now. This may be the only time we have it.”
“What about your watcher?”
“It’s probably nothing.”
She quirked a brow at him. “Really? You’re going to try that?”
Cullen laughed softly and glanced away. “You have enough worries.”
“We’ve built trust. Don’t destroy that by trying to protect me. Lying isn’t protecting.”
“Point taken,” he said softly. “I’ve got a bad feeling all the way around. With whoever had eyes on me, a trap for you, and us getting out of the city.”
She swallowed and tamped down the fear that’d begun to claw its way back. “Like you said, we have the advantage.”
Bells began to toll loudly. They exchanged a look and rushed to the window but saw nothing. Cullen strode to the door and opened it.
“Hey,” Cullen called. “What’s going on with the bells?”
“Someone has brought in children with magic,” said a disembodied voice.
Tamlyn’s stomach dropped to her feet. Had he just said children?
“More than one?” Cullen asked.
Tamlyn couldn’t make out what the man said next. Cullen then shut the door and faced her.
“What?” she asked. “How many?”
He slowly walked to her without looking away. “Five.”
“Five?” She covered her mouth with her hand, dazed by the news. Her arm dropped to her side as she looked helplessly around the room.
Cullen moved to stand before her. He cupped her face with his hands, forcing her to look at him. “Like I said, it’s a trap.”
“What do we do?”
“Nothing.”
She blinked up at him, wondering if he was addled. “I have to do something.”
“We do nothing right now,” he told her in a soothing voice. “There’s nothing we can do.”
“We can plan.”
He ran his palms down her arms and took her hands in his. “We’ll most likely have a long night. You willna help yourself or the children if you allow worry to consume you.”
“Too late,” she snapped pithily.
Cullen grinned despite her tone. “Your mind needs to be clear and focused.”
“I don’t know how to do that. All I know to do is what I’ve been doing.”
“How did you first figure out how to get into the city?”
She started to answer but hesitated. “I’m not sure.”
“Is that how the woman who rescued you got you out?”
The harder she tried to remember, the further the memory receded. “I-I’m not sure. Maybe. I don’t remember much of that night.”
“You were young, aye?”
“And scared.”
He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. “You knew how to get into the city somehow. My guess is the Banshee who freed you.”
It made sense, but for some reason, Tamlyn didn’t think that was the answer. She didn’t know why, just a feeling within her. She didn’t say more to Cullen since she couldn’t explain anything.
“I have a few ideas,” he said.
Tamlyn leaned back to look at him. “Tell me.”
He brought her to the model of the city. Despite his order not to worry, she couldn’t help it. Neither of them knew the city or its occupants well. She had been inside the walls, but she had been focused on getting in, reaching the kids, and getting out. She listened as he went through two plans. One where they stayed together, and another where they split up.
She shook her head. “I don’t like us splitting up.”
“It might be the only option.”
That’s when it dawned on her. “Because you think someone is here for you?”
“This could be the person who has killed dragons. He nearly killed Eurwen, and he injured Brandr. Had Con not been there, Brandr might verra well have died.”
“You want to face this person on your own? I don’t think that’s smart.”
Cullen flashed her a charming smile. “I came to get information on a new enemy. I didna expect to come face-to-face with them, but I’m prepared if I do.”
“You didn’t think they were those with magic either, did you?”
He briefly looked away. “I should have. We all should’ve. Maybe the others did and didna tell me. It makes sense. Dragons are no’ easy to kill.”
“You said Eurwen and Brandr were hurt.”
“Aye,” he replied with a nod.
“She’s a Queen and he’s a King. How could they have been hurt? You said only Kings could kill Kings. Is there a Dragon King on our side you don’t know about?”
Cullen’s brow furrowed in thought. “Fuck me.”
