We both stared at each other, panting as we struggled to catch our breath.
Dain did the same. Such a large man shouldn’t look like a frightened animal, and yet that was exactly what he resembled. The whites of his eyes shone as he watched the proceedings, making me aware of my undignified position.
“Well…” My voice sounded ridiculously prim, but I couldn’t seem to help it. “That was… very stimulating.”
“Stimulating?” Lance moved restlessly beneath me. “I’ll show you?—”
The carriage rolled to a stop and a muffled voice called out, “University!”
“Do we stay in here until you’ve kissed all four of us?” Lorien’s smile was one part hopeful, one part mischief. “Because I’d pay good coin?—
“We’ve arrived.” I scrambled to get free of Lance, suddenly fearful the driver would wrench open the carriage doors and see us at play. “And I didn’t bring any coins to pay the driver!”
“Why would you?” Lance seemed like a completely different man as he reached over and opened the door, then leapt out. A hand was held out for me to take, which I admit I clung to. My legs were like rubber. “You’re my girl, so it’smyjob to protect you, provide for you.” A coin was tossed the driver’s way, and the man looked at it, then tipped his hat our way with thanks. “Now, where are we off to? You never said.”
The card was pulled from my pocket and we read it together.
“Professor Neal Sinclair.” It was then I saw the multitude of large buildings around us. Young people moved from one building to the next, carrying bags stuffed with paper, or piles of books. “I wouldn’t have the faintest idea where to find him.”
“That I can help with. Dad used to teach fencing to some of the students.” Lance offered me his arm with a smile and I took it gladly. “This way, I think.”
Chapter 55
Dain
I should’ve been miles away from here right now.
It was something I’d thought about more than once, but seeing my brothers kiss Fern consolidated that need. Going to bed last night, I had it all planned out. Get a good night’s sleep, pack my gear, then throw it on Argent’s back before getting clear of the keep.
So why was I still here?
Not because I wanted to sit beside Lance and Fern as they kissed. If I’d had any sort of indication that was how I’d spend my day, nothing would’ve stopped me from flying with Argent away from Wyrmpeak. Watching the lieutenant slide his fingers into her hair and wonder how that felt. Was her hair as silky as it looked? Then there was the moment when her eyes went wide in shock, when surely she’d slap Lance for the imposition, but instead…
She melted into him, into his embrace and his kiss, and I was left staring. Listening to every little sound she made, waiting for the inevitable grunt of disgust and unable to work out what the hell to do when it didn’t come. The carriage came rolling to a stop, but it felt like I was still floating forward, untethered. Misery wasa black dog and it nipped at my heels, following me out of the carriage and onto the university campus as I trailed after the others.
All because I’d had another vision about Fern.
When I blinked, I caught glimpses of it. Usually my visions were distressingly crisp, showing me every detail of what would happen with little interest in how it affected me. The fact that last night’s dream was just a random jumble of things somehow made it worse. Dragons so big, they blotted out the sun. Scales glittered, fangs flashed, and where was Fern? Standing there like a frightened rabbit, frozen in their path. Which meant I was left to scan the buildings and the crowds rather than making a break for it.
Nothing will harm your mate.Argent’s certainty was a perfect counterpoint to my own fears.Not dragon, not human.
The possibility of it. The fact that every vision I had came true unless I worked hard to avoid fate. That’s what had me following them deeper into the complex.
“Gods, what kind of beast was that?”
Now. Now was the moment when disaster would strike.
My head jerked up as my heart started to race. Hand already on my sword, I fell into a loose stance, ready to tackle whatever danger had suddenly appeared. My teeth ground together when I saw what Lorien meant. The sign said this was the Centre for Dragon Studies, and the entrance was fashioned from a skull far larger than any I’d seen apart from Drathnor’s. To visit the place you had to walk through the open jaws, entering the building where the beast’s gullet should’ve been. I shook my head as I straightened up and then used that rush of adrenaline to march past.
“A big one, idiot.”
All that anger disappeared when I took my first step in between the jaws. As I looked up, it wasn’t white bone I saw. A gaping red maw. Needle sharp teeth. Burying themselves in Fern and then?—
“Rawr!”
I was jerked out of the vision by Lorien launching himself at me, but his smile died when I whirled around to snarl at him. It felt like I was the dragon now. Fury roared through me, corrosive and hot and ready to melt my brother’s flesh from his bones.
When he stumbled back.
