“And if you’re caught?” Con asked.
“I willna get caught.”
“I’ll have his back,” Hector added.
“Nay,” Con and Alasdair replied in unison.
Con raised his hand to quiet Hector before saying, “I’d prefer the two of you go, but it will be better if Alasdair searches on his own.”
“And if he disappears?” Hector demanded, a muscle jumping in his jaw. “The invisible foe we’re here to find is still out there. For all we know, it has Merrill. Or worse.”
No one had dared to insinuate that Merrill was dead. Before Zora, the only thing that could kill a Dragon King was another King. But their new enemy had killed other dragons. It had harmed a few Kings, though it hadn’t taken a King’s life. Yet.
Con’s lips pressed into a hard line. “Zora was created in Earth’s image, but so much is different. I understand why Eurwen and Brandr didn’t leave the border they created for the dragons, but by not exploring, there is much they doona know about the realm. It’s why Brandr is out there now.”
“And why we need to find Merrill,” Alasdair added.
Con nodded slowly. “Check in with Cullen every six hours. With Tamlyn and him set up in Iron Hall outside our borders, it makes for a good go-between. If Cullen doesna answer when you check in, I want your word that you’ll return immediately. I willna send another King out there to vanish.”
“I give you my word,” Alasdair replied.
Hector’s nostrils flared in agitation. “He shouldna be going alone.”
“You may yet join him,” Con said. “For now, Alasdair will be on his own.” His gaze returned to Alasdair. “When will you set out?”
Alasdair briefly looked toward the celebration. He wasn’t in the mood for a party, no matter the reason. And he didn’t want to bring anyone down. “Now.”
“And if you see our enemy—”
“I’ll alert you,” Alasdair promised.
Con ran a hand down his face. “Go, then. I’ll fill in Eurwen and Brandr.”
“We get to tell Eurwen now,” Hector said as he motioned toward the new construction.
Alasdair and Con looked in that direction to see Con’s mate, Rhi, and their daughter headed toward them. Rhi had her long, black hair pulled away from her face, her silver Fae eyes looking from Con to Alasdair to Hector and back again. Eurwen had Con’s blond hair and Rhi’s silver eyes, which missed nothing.
“I know that look,” Rhi said as she came up beside Con. “What are you up to?”
He wrapped an arm around her and gave her a quick kiss. “Planning.”
“Which one of you is going after Merrill?” Eurwen demanded as she cut her gaze from Hector to Alasdair.
Alasdair bowed his head. “That would be me.”
She stared at him for a long moment, exactly how Con had earlier. “You know the risks?”
“Aye,” he answered.
“Brandr and I thought that if we ignored the humans, the things that happened on Earth wouldn’t occur here. We were wrong. We’ve tried to avoid a war, and that is still our aim. But…”
Alasdair said, “I’ll defend myself if attacked, but I’ll do my utmost no’ to rile the humans anywhere, especially those from Stonemore. I doona intend to venture into the city. I hope I doona have to set foot in it. No’ after what others have shared about their encounters there. I’ll also be checking in with Cullen often.”
Eurwen swallowed as she shrugged. “My brother is out there somewhere, doing whatever it is he’s doing. Merrill is missing, and now you want to leave. That being said, I’m well aware that you’re a Dragon King. You aren’t asking permission. I want to refuse simply because none of us knows what’s out there.”
“That’s why Brandr left. It’s why I need to go,” he told her.
Eurwen exchanged a look with Con. “We may no’ like this, but we realize it’s the right thing to do. Just come back.”
“If he doesna, I’ll be the one finding him,” Hector stated firmly.
Alasdair clasped his friend’s shoulder. “You’d better.”
After a short discussion regarding the path he would take, Alasdair bid farewell to the group and shifted. He spread his wings as he leapt into the air. He wanted to look back at the dragons one more time, but it was just too painful. Alasdair kept his attention in front of him as Cairnkeep faded behind him.
When he finally reached the border, he landed and returned to human form. He stood naked beneath the sun. On Earth, the Kings had gone out of their way not to use magic if they didn’t have to. They had homes all over with clothes stashed for each of them. They didn’t have that luxury on Zora, which meant calling to their magic more. It seemed almost frivolous to use magic for such mundane things. But at the same time, it also felt good to use what came naturally to them.
Alasdair couldn’t wear the jeans, shirt, and boots from Earth. Instead, he chose a black linen tunic with a row of buttons along the right side to the neck and long sleeves that he rolled to his elbows. He left the top buttons undone and tucked the tunic into black pants. His boots were soft black leather that came up to his knees. He chose not to wear weapons, preferring a black bag to carry food, water, and whatever else he might need instead.
Then he stepped over the undetectable border as magic briefly skated over him, leaving the land of the dragons behind.
CHAPTER TWO
The shadow of the nearby mountains brought twilight on early. Lotti hurriedly picked a few more berries to take back to her home. She froze when she heard the clink of armor. Her blood turned to ice as her heart raced. Everything in her told her to flee. She dropped the berries and ran back to her cottage, hoping she had time to grab her things before the soldiers arrived.
She spotted the squad and slid behind a tree. They were from Stonemore. Her fingers dug into the bark as she fought to remain calm. She swallowed thickly and leaned to peer around the trunk. The men surrounded the small cottage she’d happened upon two months ago.
A soldier kicked open the door, and several others streamed inside behind him. She could hear them going through her meager belongings. There was no way she could get her things now. If she remained, there was more of a chance of them finding her. She had no choice but to run.
Because there was no way she would go to Stonemore. Not under any circumstances.
She put her back to the tree and winced as she heard the soldiers tearing up the inside of what had been her home. It wasn’t the first time she’d had to start over, and it wouldn’t be the last. But she had liked the cottage more than any place she had been before. She had hoped she would be able to weather the winter here, but she hadn’t even gotten through summer.
But how had they found it? She kept away from others, and it wasn’t anywhere near the city. If the soldiers ventured outside the walls of the mountain city, then they were looking for someone.
Lotti peeked around the tree one last time. Once she was sure no one looked her way, she took off, staying low to keep out of sight and using the growing shadows to disguise herself as she left the grove of trees. She didn’t stop until the stitch in her side forced her to. She bent over, bracing her hands on her knees and sucking in huge mouthfuls of air. That was when she took stock of her location. Ferdon Woods. Fear had sent her running and kept a tight hold on her so she didn’t pay attention to where she was headed.