Page 56 of Dragon Unbound (Dragon Kings 3)
“I saw it all from the sky. You were trapped, and your magic answered,” Cullen explained.
“I want all the details,” Sian stated.
Jenefer nodded, shock on her face. “Every detail, Tam.”
Con’s black eyes locked on him, anger simmering below the surface. “You were where?”
“It was to save the children and me,” Tamlyn hurried to reply.
Cullen held Con’s stare.
“You promised,” Brandr stated furiously.
Eurwen sighed heavily. “Did you not hear Tamlyn? He didn’t have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice,” Brandr barked.
Cullen slid his gaze to him. “Really? Go into that room with the bairns and choose which one I should’ve let die? Or how about all of them? That isna who I am. I created a distraction. That’s all.”
“Let’s hope that’s all,” Vaughn said.
Jenefer nodded. “I appreciate Tamlyn and the kids getting back, but I’m worried, too.”
“I’m more concerned with why Cullen fell as if he was attacked.”
He winced at Tamlyn’s words, though he should’ve known she would say something.
“It might be dark outside, but I saw the blood on your clothes and the rip in your shoulder,” Tamlyn said, pointing to the now-healed wound.
Cullen rubbed his hand on the back of his neck and looked at his friends. “Much happened in a short time while we were in Stonemore. Let’s get comfortable so Tamlyn and I can tell all of you.”
Brandr moved back a few paces, snapped his fingers so a fire roared between them, and then lowered himself to the floor. “I’m comfortable.”
Cullen bit back the retort on his lips. There was much about him that reminded Cullen of Con. And Rhi. Brandr had Con’s penetrating look down, but he also had Rhi’s assertiveness. Cullen had to remind himself that Brandr and Eurwen were in charge of this realm, not him, Con, or any of the other Dragon Kings.
And that was hard to swallow.
They all found seating. Then he and Tamlyn began their tale. When they finished, six pairs of eyes stared at them with shock, elation, and fury.
“I would’ve loved to see the priests get what they deserved,” Sian said with a smile.
Con was still. Too still, as he stared at Cullen.
“I always knew you had it in you,” Jenefer told Tamlyn.
Vaughn briefly closed his eyes and lifted a hand in front of him. “Cullen. You knew someone had broken your communication and you stayed?”
“It wasn’t as if he had a choice,” Eurwen said.
Jenefer snorted and said to Eurwen, “I notice that you seem to be the voice of reason with these males.”
“I understand what they’re feeling because I feel it, too. But I want more answers.” Eurwen’s silver gaze landed on him.
Cullen sighed. “You’re right. I didna have a choice. Tamlyn wouldna leave, and I wasna going to go just because I couldna get in touch with any of you.”
“Need I remind you what happened to Varek?” Vaughn asked.
Cullen shook his head slowly. “His being brought here had nothing to do with the enemy we seek.”
“You doona know that,” Brandr said.
Con still stared at him without saying a word. That was never a good sign.
Eurwen caught his gaze. “You said you never saw the enemy?”
“I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Like ripples.”
Brandr’s lips flattened. “I saw something similar before I was attacked.”
“As did I,” Eurwen admitted.
Vaughn’s frown deepened. “Nothing head-on?”
Cullen shook his head. “I was getting my arse soundly kicked when the wildcat arrived. It could see whatever attacked me. Had the wildcat not leapt on it, I’d probably still be fighting it.”
“This invisible adversary didna strike you as it did Eurwen, Brandr, or the other dragons?” Vaughn asked.
“I think it tried. I managed to dodge a few, but I was grazed with something as I flew over the forest. That’s why I fell. My entire body seized.”
Eurwen wrapped her arms around herself. “You can’t move.”
“No matter how much you want to,” Brandr said.
Jenefer looked between them. “Are you saying this thing is invisible and attacks dragons?”
“Aye,” Cullen replied.
Tamlyn was pale, her eyes large in her face as she stared at him. “How long until this thing starts going after the rest of us?”
“Depends on what it wants.” Con’s voice filled the silence.
