“Will be as soon as I can hold you.”
Liza pushed herself to her feet, despite protests from her battered body. She spotted Leo’s green form flying in her direction and waved her arms even though her biceps and triceps protested the action. Six other dragons followed him at a slower pace, and Liza stared in amazement, wanting to pinch herself.
Leo landed and shifted. Liza hustled to meet him halfway, and it was the best feeling in the world when his arms enclosed her, and he held her in his protective embrace.
“My lodestone,”he murmured for her ears. “I promise never to drop you again.”
“Twice in one day was terrifying.”
“For both of us.”
The dragons landed on the sand, each dragon shifting to reveal five males and one female.
“This is Liza, my mate,” Leo said, and she thrilled to the possessive and proud note in his words. “Liza, this is Blaze, my battle companion, Rafael, and Griffith. They’re brothers.” He glanced at the other dragons in askance.
“Brigitte and Gattock,” Blaze said. “Cousins.”
The dragon men and woman all had light brown hair, some with blond streaks, brown eyes of various shades and the strong, fit bodies typical of the dragons she’d met so far. Luckily, they were also friendly.
“A human mate,” Rafael said, although he wasn’t a smartarse or rude about her human status. “Where did you meet?”
“Ah,” Leo said. “It’s a long story.”
“Condense it,” Rafael said in a terse voice. “I want to know why the guard dragons from your castle are attacking you and your mate.”
So Leo told them about flying through the barrier and Liza driving off the road. Part of Liza thought they’d doubt Leo, but the men stared at each other. He told them of his parents arranging a betrothal for him and the subsequent events that had led him and Liza to flee to Perfume Isle.
“That’s interesting. We were out here early searching for Sasha, our sister. She’s missing,” Blaze said. “She argued with our mother and went for a flight to cool off. She told Mother she intended to visit her friend. Three weeks ago now. No one has seen her since.”
“Could that be the answer?” Rafael asked. “Somehow, she crossed through the barrier.”
“Did she go flying in the afternoon?” Leo asked.
“Yes.” Blaze nodded, his gaze intent.
“Same time as me. I was flying parallel to the mainland. After I plucked Liza from her steel box, I almost ended up trapped. The barrier grew thicker, and I had to force my way through. I don’t know how long the barrier was down or if this has been happening for a while.”
“By Lodar!” Rafael cursed.
The others shared a glance.
Blaze scowled. “If our sister is trapped on the mainland, that’d explain everything.”
“My daughter is there too,” Liza said.
“That’s why we’re here,” Leo said. “We hoped you might have answers to help us get to the mainland or at least make a plan.”
Rafael grunted and clapped Leo over the back. “No knowledge but dozens of questions. Come home with us, and we can talk further. I have to return to the House of Ghan tonight, but Blaze and Griffith will look after you. My parents will wish to hear your tale too.”
“Thank you,” Leo said. “Liza and I would welcome a safe place to rest.”
* * * * *
Later that night, after a hot meal and repeated tellings of their story, Liza lay in Leo’s arms in one of the many bedrooms in the Mountholden’s family mansion.
“Can’t sleep, my lodestone?”
“Every muscle in my body aches, but my thoughts won’t cease scurrying around inside my head.”
