Page 76 of Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings 4)
Shaw turned his head to her and shrugged. “He’s obviously using someone with magic. There could be others. I willna know until I stand before him.”
“Alone,” she said, her stomach clenching with dread.
“Alone.”
“What about Merrill?”
Shaw placed his hands on the table and leaned on them. “He’s here. He’s being followed. Some are obvious, but others are no’. You doona need to worry about Merrill. He already has his plans.”
“To get away?”
“To get out and bring reinforcements if needed. To get to me if necessary. I’m sharing everything I learn about the citadel with him.”
She walked to a chair and curled a leg under her before sitting. “That makes me feel a little better.”
“Cullen is nearby, and other Kings could be here within moments. You doona need to worry.”
Nia studied his face as he looked over the plans once more. “You’re worried.”
His gaze lifted to hers. “I’m being prepared. We know next to nothing about the Divine. No one who has seen him will speak of him. No one can say anything about him because they only hear whispers and rumors. We have nothing to go on. That means I have to think of everything.”
“As good as you are, you can’t think of every possibility.”
“I have to try. Too many lives are at stake.”
Nia parted her lips to speak, but the tolling of the bells at the temple interrupted her.
Shaw straightened as he glanced toward a window. “What is that for?”
“It signals they’ve discovered a child with magic.” The fury that stole through Shaw made her shiver. Not out of fear for herself, but for anyone stupid enough to get in his way. “You can’t intervene.”
“Why the bloody hell no’?” he bit out.
She gave him a flat look. “You know why. They’re watching us. And Merrill. The city might not know that children were rescued, but the priests, soldiers, and the Divine do. They’ll be on heightened alert.”
“No’ to mention, it could be a ploy to see if Merrill or I react.”
“Exactly. We have to keep to the plan.”
Shaw fisted his hands, a muscle in his jaw jumping. “I doona like it.”
“Neither do I. But what choice do we have?”
He turned his back to the window. “There’s one thing I’ve no’ told you.”
“What?”
“Every dragon is born with magic.”
“You told me that.”
He shook his head. “Aye, we have magic, but each of us is born with a special ability to go along with it. For Merrill, he can breathe a beam of searing light. Con can heal anyone of anything except death.”
“What can you do?”
“I can create illusions.”
“What does that mean?”
He twisted his lips. “It means that I can use my power to make others see something else entirely than what’s real.”
She smiled for the first time that day. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Now I’m not worried about you going to see the Divine.”
“I wouldna go that far, lass. There are all kinds of magic out there. I never go into battle and underestimate my opponent. Your leader wants me to come to him. That tells me he thinks he has an advantage. He might. He might no’. I willna know until I get there.”
And just like that, the churning in her stomach returned. Nia didn’t know if she would survive the anxiety coursing through her. “How long do you think we have?”
“No’ long.”
“I was told to bring you to the citadel when I was sure you had fallen in love with me. We get to set the day.”
He smiled sadly. “We have a day. Two, tops. Then, they’ll send for us.”
“That isn’t how things are supposed to happen.”
