Karlos pulled a face. “You wanted details of her meeting with Nandag. At least if I’m in charge of the lower dungeons, I can make sure your lady receives clean water, food, and another blanket. I can check on her and let you know when she regains consciousness.”
Leo sucked in a harsh breath, then released it. “Thank you.”
“Karlos, how many soldiers can we count on to look the other way, if we break into the dungeons tomorrow night during the ball?” Jakab asked.
“If you can offer them a bribe, I’d say at least half.” Karlos glanced at Leo, his expression full of apology. “Your parents do not pay well.”
“Organize it,” Leo said. “Let me know how much you need. Getting my hands on money will not be a problem.”
“All right,” Karlos said. “I’ll start my approaches this evening. Should I contact Jakab to let him know your mate is awake?”
“Please,” Leo said, not as confident about Gwenyth’s health as Karlos. This was the second hard knock she’d had. Humans were far weaker than dragons, and he prayed Nan hadn’t damaged his mate beyond repair. Worry forced him to his feet and had him pacing the compact space in Jakab’s apartment. “Thank you for your help.”
“You’re welcome,” Karlos said. “I loathe the way they’re treating your mate. Bullying is not right.”
Jakab stood too. “Leo, your fidgeting is irritating. We might as well start our search for your brothers.”
“What I’d prefer to do is storm the dungeons and rescue my mate,” Leo said.
“That would rate as stupid,” Karlos said. “Let your parents and Nan think you’re going along with their plan. Ease their suspicions, at least until tomorrow. I’d suggest you try to disguise your appearance. Even better, send someone else you trust to gain the information you seek.”
Leo glared at Karlos. “I can’t sit back and do nothing. If it were your mate, you’d want action.”
“Let’s send some of my fellow trainers to locate your brothers and to collect any gossip that arises. We might be better to locate a copy of the castle plans. Find the exact location of the dungeons and the area around them. That might be the better way to release Gwenyth.”
Karlos rubbed his chin. “Jakab is right.”
Even though Leo chafed at the lack of physical activity, he saw sense in the suggestion. Secrets swirled around the castle as thick as mud. But given he was an outsider now, his time was best spent studying the plans and prodding at the castle’s defensive weaknesses.
“Gwenyth,”his dragon whispered.“Hold on. We’re coming for you.”
Leo set his jaw and followed Jakab from his apartment. He and his dragon were of the same accord. They’d do anything to save Gwenyth, even if it meant he needed to exercise patience.
* * * * *
It was a nightmare. Fiery dragons chased her, spurting blistering flames from their toothy maws. She couldn’t tell who to trust, where to run for help. She was tired. So tired, yet she forced her exhausted body to keep moving. If she stopped, she was making her capture easy for the dragons. They’d sprang at her without warning, their red eyes full of malice. She’d run. Of course, she’d run.
Jagged shards dug into her head, her cheek, her chin. Her face blazed with heat and throbbing pain. Her eyes twitched in constant spasms. An old symptom of stress. She fought through physical agony, swam through the cruel darkness that surrounded her. Each breath came in a hoarse gasp, those excruciating too.
Every instinct shouted at her to open her eyes, to fight the lethargy, the raw discomfort. A pained gasp whooshed past her lips, and her body jerked upward. Her eyes opened this time, although her surroundings were poorly lit.
Where the devil was she?
She rose on trembling legs and thrust her hand out when she discovered her balance compromised. Her knuckles smacked against something substantial.
“Ouch,” she muttered. Now something else hurt. Her head thumped in concert.
“Gwenyth,” a male voice called.
It took Gwenyth’s aching brain a while to comprehend and catch up, but her reality squeezed into a semblance of memories. She was married to a dragon shifter, and because of this, his parents had chucked her in the dungeon.
“Gwenyth,” the voice came again, this time carrying concern along with insistence.
“I’m all right, Martinos. Your bitch sister hit me and scrambled my brain.”
He laughed, dusty and dry as if he hadn’t used his throat much. “Tell me about it. I’m almost certain she was in collusion with Leo’s brothers. Surprisingly, we don’t have medical supplies for your face. The best you can do is collect the water dripping off the walls and use it to ease the swelling.”
She gingerly fingered her sore cheek and her aching eye socket. “No wonder my head is pounding.”
