Page 93 of Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings 4)
Shaw felt Cullen’s gaze on him, as well. He licked his lips, ready to answer when Vaughn announced his arrival in his head. Shaw squeezed Nia’s hand. “Come with me, please. I’m going to deliver the story, and I know the others will want to hear from you, too.”
“I’ll get Tamlyn,” Cullen said as he ran back to the canyon and jumped to the bottom.
Nia gave a curious glance to the wildcat. “Is that a pet?”
“I’m no’ sure what Nari is, but she helped Cullen, and she’s been here ever since.” Shaw began to walk toward the border, but Nia tugged on his hand to stop him when she spotted the dragons coming their way. “They willna harm you.”
She swallowed nervously. “No human is supposed to cross the border.”
“You’re with me,” he said with a smile. “That makes all the difference.”
Nia’s look told him she wasn’t entirely sure that was true, but she didn’t resist when he began moving again. As they walked, Shaw looked toward the forest. His enhanced hearing could still detect sounds of fighting from Stonemore. He tried once more to contact Merrill. When his friend didn’t respond, worry soured him.
Shaw looked forward again before crossing the border. Nia paused, still holding his hand. She looked down to see a golden aura surrounding the arm that protruded from the barrier.
“It’s a magical barricade that alerts when someone has crossed it,” he told her.
Nia took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes closed as she walked through it. Once on the other side, she opened her eyes and looked behind her. “I didn’t feel anything.”
“You’re no’ supposed to.”
Her attention shifted to the dragons who approached.
“The gold dragon? Is that…Con?” Nia asked in a whisper.
Shaw nodded. “With his mate Rhi riding him.”
“Peach with gold wings. Is that Eurwen?”
“Aye. The teal dragon is Vaughn, her mate.”
Nia blew out a breath. “I never thought to see one dragon. Now, I’ve met three and am about to meet three more.”
The ground trembled as Vaughn, Eurwen, and Con landed. The three shifted into human form, careful to call clothes as they did. Shaw pulled Nia with him as they all began walking toward the group that met them halfway, along with Cullen and Tamlyn.
“Where’s Merrill?” Con demanded.
Shaw shrugged. “I didna see him. I’ve been calling for him since I was inside the citadel.”
“You actually got in?” Vaughn asked.
Shaw looked into Vaughn’s blue eyes and nodded. “It was a trap.”
“Why does it always have to be a trap?” Rhi asked in frustration.
Shaw looked at each of them. “There was a woman there, Daelya. I saw recognition in her eyes. She told me to run.”
“Did you know her?” Eurwen asked.
“Never seen her before, but she knew me. Perhaps she was the one able to detect magic. I didna get a chance to inquire.”
Con’s voice was calm as he asked, “What kind of trap?”
“About two dozen warriors from Orgate were waiting to attack,” Shaw explained. “I tried to reach out to Cullen, Merrill, anyone.”
Cullen frowned. “I didna hear anything.”
“None of us did,” Vaughn added.
Shaw ran a hand over his jaw. “I couldna call my sword at first, either. It wasna that I had my magic taken, but it was dulled. That’s the best way I can explain it.”
“But you did get your sword eventually?” Eurwen asked.
Shaw nodded.
“Obviously, you bested the warriors.” Con was pleased with that.
Shaw grunted, wishing he had more of them to fight. “They’re angry Jeyra turned from them to us. At least those warriors were. None are alive to report back to Orgate.”
“That may or may not be a good thing,” Eurwen said as she exchanged a look with Vaughn.
Shaw agreed. “I went to shift to finish off what warriors remained when there was an explosion. I have no idea where it came from, but it was in the room with me. I caught hold of the balcony and pulled myself to find everyone dead or unconscious. Until the leader of the warriors appeared, and we had a discussion that ended with his death.” Shaw paused, thinking of the door and the unease that had gripped him then—and now.
Rhi’s silver eyes held concern. “What else? You’re holding something back.”
