“Come now,” I admonished, using our mental link. “They’repart of the reason you were freed from that madman’s chains. Show a little appreciation.”
“You are being rude, using the link in front of your guests,” Serafina said out loud, and I barked a laugh. I’d almost forgotten she could hear us.
“What just happened?” Drazen asked.
“Nothing.” I shifted my gaze to Serafina. No need to tell them all our secrets. “Will you track down Myrna and have her prepare a meal for our guests?”
“Because suddenly I’m the castle steward?” Serafina scowled. “Sure. I’ll be right back.”
The moment she was out of earshot, Drazen waggled his dark brows. “So, you and the girl?”
“Touch her, I’ll turn you into dragon chow,” I snarled, my beast rousing.
From his place across the room, Alaric contributed a low growl to back up the threat.
Drazen held up his hands. “Understood. Can’t blame a fellow for asking.”
“Excuse my brother,” Kronk grumbled. “He is slow to comprehend things. Anyone could see the attractive female is Thorne’s mate.”
“Hold on now!” I barked, Alaric’s irritation prickling the base of my skull. “Serafina and I are not together.”
“Strange.” Kronk scratched his bald head. “I am skilled at interpreting body language, and rarely wrong about these things. You have consummated your union, haven’t you?”
Sweat slicked my forehead. I glanced at my brother to find his dark glare leveled on me, chest glowing faintly.
I cleared my throat, gesturing at the table. “Shall we?”
Drazen and Kronk dropped into their seats, Kronk’s bulk making the wood creak.
“Nice place you have here. It yours?” Drazen craned his neck, eyeing the dirt and disrepair.
“In a manner of speaking,” I said simply, claiming the head of the table.
Kronk closed his eyes, his rugged face an expression of constipation, then snapped them open again. “There is an entire kingdom hidden within the walls of this mountain. Along with tunnels that burrow deep into the ground.”
Flames save me. Despite having such a thick skull, the athos was getting right to the heart of things. So much for keeping secrets.
Drazen narrowed his eyes, tapping his chin. “We have a pair of Draconis brothers. One who shifts. One who does not. An abandoned kingdom concealed by a mountain. In a land void of magic.” He lurched upright. “Flarking hell.Blackwing. I knew I’d heard that name before. This is the Lost Kingdom of Pyrrhus. Which makes you both royalty.”
His gaze swept the room again, lingering on the cracked walls and rubble. “What happened here?”
“A discussion for another day.” Or never. I tightened my jaw. “Right now, we have other issues to focus on.”
“Like Speck,” Serafina chimed in, chest heaving. Her cheeks glowed as if she’d sprinted to find Myrna, then raced back, afraid of being left out.
“What did I miss?” She flopped into a chair, confirming as much.
“Absolutely nothing.” I shot Kronk a warning glare I hoped he’d pick up on with his tremendous gift of intuition.
“What is a Speck?” Kronk asked instead.
“An innocent young man who’s like a brother to me. He labored as a shepherd for the high lord of Nefarr.” Pain tightened her smile, turning it brittle. “Wendigos captured him during the attack.”
“Ah.” Drazen’s tone softened. “He’s the one we’re rescuing.”
She twisted her hands in her lap. “That is my hope.”
“Great, then. What’s the plan?” Drazen leaned back in his chair, folding his arms.
