Page 94 of Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings 4)
“There’s something I doona understand.” Shaw glanced at Nia to find her watching him silently. “I felt a pull, like something was calling me to a door. I didna hear voices, but that’s what it was. I went to the entrance. Daelya regained consciousness at that time and told me not to open it. I tried to listen to her, but my hand turned the knob anyway. She shoved me away, and then she was gone.”
“Gone?” Tamlyn asked, shock widening her eyes.
Shaw nodded as the memory played in his head. “Something behind that door sucked her in and slammed it closed.”
“The Divine maybe?” Eurwen offered.
Vaughn raised a brow as he met Shaw’s gaze. “Did you see the Divine?”
“Besides the warriors and Daelya, there was only another woman there. She looked important, but she was unconscious when I left to search for Nia.”
Every eye turned to her then. She held his hand with a death grip, but otherwise looked calm. Shaw squeezed her hand. He remained quiet as Nia told her story. She glossed over Amsden’s attack, just as she had with him, but he couldn’t blame her for that.
“I can’t believe they tried to kill you,” Rhi stated angrily.
Shaw moved closer to Nia. He didn’t care what it looked like to everyone else. He only knew he needed to be beside her. “I got to her in time.”
“What’s the plan?” Cullen said. “The fact that Merrill hasna checked in is worrying.”
Con crossed his arms over his chest and looked toward Stonemore. “Merrill is smart. He’s probably laying low and waiting to get out after Shaw’s dramatic exit.”
“That shouldn’t stop him from answering,” Rhi pointed out.
“Two dragons over Stonemore in as many weeks,” Eurwen said with a shake of her head. “We’re trying to avoid a war, but it looks like we’re headed straight into it.”
Shaw lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “That depends on the humans.”
“No,” Rhi said with a shake of her black-haired head. “There’s the Divine, whatever was behind that door, Orgate, the crone, and the invisible enemy we’re still trying to find. We came to fight whatever attacked the dragons, and we’ve stirred up something else entirely.”
A muscle in Cullen’s jaw jumped. “Then the mortals shouldna have murdered defenseless children.”
“Cullen’s right,” Eurwen said. “Brandr and I turned a blind eye to things on the other side of the border for too long. I don’t want a war, neither does he, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be one.”
Shaw frowned as he realized Brandr wasn’t there. “Where is your brother?”
Eurwen swallowed. “Away.”
“Away, where?” Shaw pressed.
“That’s something I’d like to know, as well,” Con stated tightly.
“Brandr, and now Merrill no’ answering.” Vaughn sighed loudly. “I doona like this at all.”
Eurwen shot Vaughn a dark look. “I’ve spoken to Brandr.”
“Then where is he?” Con asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Rhi’s brows furrowed as she looked at her daughter. “Eurwen, where is Brandr?”
Eurwen released a long sigh. “He’s on the other side of the border.”
“I figured,” Con said softly and dropped his arms to his sides.
Eurwen nodded. “He said he had to do it. That he needed to make up for what we failed to do. I should be with him.”
“He’s better off alone,” Rhi said. “I might not like that he is, but he’ll move more freely by himself.”
Vaughn shook his head. “He should’ve let us know before he did that.”
“We would’ve stopped him,” Eurwen said. “What’s done is done. He promised to keep in touch.”
Shaw had had enough of talking. “It’s been a rough day. Nia needs to rest.”
“She can stay with us,” Tamlyn offered.
Con dropped his arms. “That’s a good idea. Shaw, come with us. We’ll start planning our next step.”
Shaw didn’t move. “I’m staying.”
Con searched his gaze for a long, silent minute. Then the King of Kings bowed his head and turned away.
