Page 92 of Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings 4)
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX
Shaw was a wreck. His emotions were all over the place. He wanted to return to Stonemore and find Amsden and incinerate him in dragon fire, but at the same time, Shaw didn’t want to be apart from Nia.
When he saw her go over the balcony, he’d never known such fear, never felt such panic. He couldn’t get to her fast enough. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw how close the ground had been before he finally reached her. He had barely gotten to her in time. A few more seconds and…
Now, she was the one comforting him.
He was scared and confused about his feelings, but he had to tell her. He had to get them out. Once said, he would never get them back, but that didn’t stop him. Fortunately, Cullen interrupted them.
Shaw pulled his gaze from Nia’s and looked over her head to find Cullen at the top of the canyon, the wildcat, Nari, at his side. Shaw drew in a steadying breath. It had to be Nia’s near-death that had him about to confess…something. He needed time to think, to consider before he did anything rash.
“It’s Cullen,” he told Nia. “We’re at the canyon I told you about. You’ll be safe here.”
She gripped his arms, her fingers digging into his muscles. “Me? What about you?”
“There are some who need to be dealt with.” Shaw motioned Cullen to them.
Nia shook her head, an argument on her lips.
“What the fuck happened?” Cullen demanded as he drew near.
Shaw forced himself to release Nia and ran a hand down his face. “Too much. I called for Con to come with Brandr and Eurwen.”
Cullen’s face was grim as he nodded. “And Merrill?”
“I doona know. I’ve been calling for him since I was inside the citadel.” Shaw looked at Nia. “Did you see Merrill?”
“No,” she said with a shake of her head.
For the first time, Shaw smelled the tinge of blood from her. He bent closer and saw the traces of blood at her hairline. “What happened? Who hurt you?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“The fuck it doesna,” he bellowed.
Cullen put a hand on him. “Easy, brother.”
Shaw shoved him away. “Doona dare tell me what to do. You were no’ there. You didna see them toss her off the balcony to her death.”
Cullen’s head snapped to Nia as his brows drew together. Nia wrapped her arms around her middle and stared at the ground.
Shaw briefly closed his eyes and tried to rein in his fury. Then he looked at Nia. “Please, tell me what happened.”
“Amsden happened.” She lifted her chin and met his gaze. “He tried to…you know.”
Yeah, Shaw knew. And he would fucking kill the bastard.
Nia smiled when she said, “I used what I learned from you. I kicked him in the groin and punched him in the throat. It felt amazing.”
“Good for you,” Cullen said with a nod.
Shaw was glad that Cullen had spoken because no words were getting past his wrath. Nia would never give him details, but he didn’t need them. Shaw knew exactly what kinds of things the steward would’ve done to her.
“It was Sadie,” Nia said.
Shaw was jerked from his thoughts. His gaze focused on Nia’s face. “What?”
“She found me when I was trying to leave the citadel. Another courtesan gave me a change of clothes and cleaned the blood from me so I wouldn’t be stopped. I thought I could get out and find Merrill, but Sadie shouted for the soldiers. She told them I brought you to the citadel. The soldiers refused to hear that the Divine had ordered me to do it.”
Shaw reached for her hand and felt a small measure of peace when she wrapped her fingers around him. “They wanted blood. Nothing anyone said would’ve stopped them.”
“Did you see the Divine?” Nia asked.
