“Run!” I hissed softly, yanking the King of Dragons around the corner after our other two companions. “Pixies are coming.Run!”
King Elon’s molten green reptilian eyes stared in alarm, and then he glowered straight at the dragon king, knowing damned well who had caused this catastrophe, before he turned and fled, his long legs working hard.
We raced after him. Minnie stayed steady beside me while I kept a firm grip on the King of Dragons’ shirt—stillnot letting him go—and rushed alongside her. I almost fell once when the top of King Ula’s large feet kicked the underside of mine, but surprisingly, he caught me before I kissed the ground and set me back on my feet. Then we ran again as fast as we could, turning and charging down another hallway.
Did we know where we were going?
Absolutely not.
But, dammit all, we were going places.
This place was a corridor of glass artifacts protected under glass boxes on top of glass pedestals, and I stared in horror at all the breakable Fae priceless objects. I rasped in astonishment, “We’ve entered the path of mistakes and tears.”
Swerving to the center of the hall, directing Minnie in front of me, I pulled the dragon down the middle,awayfrom all the objects his massive body would destroy.
“I know that one!” King Ula whispered harshly, pointing over my shoulder at what looked like a glass candle, wick included. “It’ll take care of the pixies.”
“Are yousure?” I slowed reluctantly, stopped in front of the enclosure, and demanded quietly, “What is it?”
“The Candle of Dreams,” he whispered gutturally. “If you light it and say a name—or even a faction—it sends a dark dream to them.”
Minnie stopped farther down the corridor, with the gorgon king paused at the very end, both staring back at us, trying to understand why we weren’t moving.
Hearing the buzz of pests coming closer, I made a fast decision and yanked the glass enclosure off. I lit the flame with a simple thought and demanded clearly, “Pixies.”
“Blow it out,” King Ula said quickly.
I bent and blew a swift breath, puffing the flame out—doing precisely what he said instead of eliminating it with my royal firepower. Then I shoved the enclosure back on, grabbed the dragon king’s shirt again, and moved back to the center of the room, and abruptly the incoming buzzing stopped.
“How long does it last?” I questioned softly.
“I don’t know.”
“What?” I whispered harshly. “What if it’s a lifetime?”
“It’s not that long, asshole. I’veheardit lasts a few hours, but that was only rumor.” His solid golden eyes stared into mine. “I don’t think you wish me to say a number as truth when it’s only castoff knowledge.”
I grunted, agreeing with that. “Let us hope it’s long enough to make a rescue but quick enough it won’t make them dead.”
He snorted under his breath. “They won’t know it was you; do not fret.” The King of Dragons waved at our waiting and relieved companions. “Shall we?”
Sighing softly, I began marching forward and leading the dragon king. I whispered, “That was a good catch. Thank you, King Ula.”
The dragon king grunted. “You are welcome.” He snorted under his breath. “I thought it might be wise to do something before your soul mate decided I was expendable again.”
My lips twitched. “Accurately so.”
Advice from a father:
Use your bathroom at home.
We finally found doors leading to areas unknown, having worked our way through what seemed like a never-ending maze of artifacts.
I glared at the dragon king, whispering, “Are you positive you don’t know where they would be kept?”
“The Ancient Archive is one of my father’s favorite places, so, clearly, I rarely came here.” King Ula shook his head. “But every room I’ve been in wouldn’t work for containing two royals.”
Rubbing at my forehead and grimacing at the grime flaking off my skin, I muttered softly, “Mayhap the bowels of this building have a dungeon?”
