Constantine wiped all emotion from his face. “Do you want the same thing that happened on Earth to happen here? Do you want the dragons fighting for their lives again?”
“You know I doona,” Kendrick snapped.
“Should we allow the children with magic to continue being slaughtered? Do we stand idly by and do nothing as other individuals with magic run for their lives so they are no’ killed or enslaved?”
“Nay, we shouldna. But in helping those people, we’re going onto their land. We shouldna be surprised when they fight back.”
Con sighed. “Nay, we shouldna.”
Kendrick was tired of talking about this. “Please tell me you’ve heard from Merrill.”
“Nothing. Brandr has checked in with Eurwen as he continues his trek around the realm. He’s no’ seen or heard anything about Merrill.” He paused. “You should come to Cairnkeep and relay all this information to Eurwen.”
“I’ve been away from my post for too long. Thank you for covering for me.”
Con studied him. “Everything you learned about the elves needs to be shared with others.”
“I know. I just need…a few days.”
“Of course.”
Kendrick waited for Con to leave, but the King of Dragon Kings remained. “I’ll be fine. I just want to be alone.”
“You know we’re here for you.”
“I do.”
With that, Con shifted and flew away. Kendrick breathed a sigh of relief as he returned to dragon form and took to the skies. He made a pass along the border, doing his patrol. He tried not to look across or think about Esha, but he was as successful with that as attempting to stop his heart from beating. After two passes, he gave up and went to sit on the cliff.
Kendrick returned to his human form and let his feet dangle over the side of the rock face as heat waves rippled across the land. He felt something beside him and turned his head to see the Pink.
Ceri unfurled a small wing and touched his arm with it, her emerald eyes meeting his.
“Thank you for going to Cairnkeep,” he said.
He heard a snort in his head. Then she said, “Someone had to watch your back.”
“I knew I’d win you over.” He tried for a teasing tone, but it fell flat.
The Pink tucked her wing against her body and settled beside him.
Kendrick’s gaze drifted toward Esha’s location as he sank deeper into depression.
Chapter Twenty-four
Six weeks later…
Esha entered her tent and slumped into a chair as she dropped her head to her hands. She tried not to think about how long it had been since Kendrick had left. She tried not to think about him at all—but failed miserably. Meditating or awake, he was always on her mind.
She winced as she sat up. The aches and pains from the thieves her squad had fended off did nothing to take her mind off Kendrick. Not a day had gone by without some scuffle or incident since he’d returned to Idrias. Word of him had spread far and wide across Shecrish. She couldn’t enter Rannora or Belanore without a bard singing of Kendrick’s power, or someone debating the bias of elves not being able to visit the dragons as Kendrick had so easily crossed onto their land.
Just as Savita had warned, the elves were divided. Those who wanted the dragons as allies didn’t hesitate to tell her as much, but it was the ones on the opposite side who were the loudest and most vocal—and they seemed to be winning.
For every elf who spoke about the dragons with fear, Esha tried to get them to see the benefits of having the dragons as friends. Somehow, the conversations always turned to Kendrick not being punished for coming to Shecrish, when they were promised death if they crossed the border into Idrias. It was the argument being waged the loudest among those who wanted to ensure that no dragon ever returned.
Esha was exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally. She hadn’t given herself time to mourn Kendrick. Mostly because she knew if she did, she would have to admit how much he meant to her. That would lead to nothing but heartache.
“I found my mate in you.”
Esha squeezed her eyes closed as she heard Kendrick’s voice in her head.
“I love you, Esha. Come with me.”
“Stop,” she demanded in a hoarse whisper as she pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes. Only when she was sure she wouldn’t hear his voice again did Esha lower her arms. She opened her eyes and caught sight of the hem of Savita’s white gown. Esha sat up and looked at her sister. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
Savita said nothing as she walked farther into the tent. She stopped beside the table and ran her finger along the scabbard that held Esha’s sword. “You look tired.”
“A few days of rest would be nice.”
“I wish I could give them to you.”
Esha sat back in the chair and raised a brow at her sister. She was too tired for this. “What is it?”
“Do I need a reason to see my sister?”
“Of late, yes.” It was true. They hadn’t seen much of each other lately. Partly because Esha had been breaking up raids but also because Savita had been spending an exorbitant amount of time traveling back and forth to visit the Conclave.
Savita sighed. “Some of us are actively working to calm things down. It’s taking longer than expected.”
“Is that why you’re with the Conclave so much?”
Savita hesitated before saying, “They ask about you.”
“Of course, they do,” Esha replied sarcastically. “Kendrick is gone. What more do they want from me?”
“They want you to tell them everything Kendrick shared about the dragons.”
Esha got to her feet, anger making her seethe. “No.”
“I’ve had to disclose a few things you told me.”
“You promised you wouldn’t tell anyone. You agreed that they would somehow use it against the dragons.”
Savita lifted a hand to quiet her. “I had to give them something or they were going to bring you in. I didn’t share the story of what originally brought the dragons here. No one needs to know about the goddess. That would be used against the dragons.”
Esha crossed her arms over her chest. She knew Savita was protecting her, but she was still angry about everything. “What did you tell them?”
“How powerful they are, especially the Kings. I told the nightwraith story again and how Kendrick defeated it. I’m not the only one speaking about it. A Dark Elf, Dain, has been very vocal about Kendrick’s usefulness. The way Dain talks, he was at the battle.”
Esha said nothing. She hadn’t seen Dain since Kendrick left. She didn’t even know how to contact him. If she even had time for such things.
“Tarron of the Wood Elves is also speaking highly of Kendrick,” Savita continued. “Tarron is widely respected, so his word carries a lot of weight. His people who witnessed the battle are telling everyone they come across about what Kendrick did. I’m trying to help, Esha.”
Esha dropped her arms to her sides. “I know. It just feels as if it’s a losing battle. All Kendrick did was help. He protected me. Not once did he attack anyone.”
“It isn’t about that.”