Odem, I can feel you. The connection is stronger,Ronan called out to me.
Can you tell me anything about where you are?
I think I’m in a cave, there’s an echo. I’m blindfolded and my hands are tied. There were two dragons, but I’ve only heard one of them since they dropped me off.
Brothers, keep an eye out. Ronan is near and he said one of his captors isn’t in the cave with him.
I see him!Caro called out.It’s Emerson’s father.
Capture him!Ionus declared.
Kill him!Caro growled.
Think with your head and not your heart, Caro!Ionus demanded.
It’s not your mate he’s after.
Caro had a point. This was both our mates they wanted. If Ionus were in our predicament I’d like to believe he’d feel otherwise. Especially with two unborn eggs at stake.
Mattias and I circled the valley between the mountains which were far too close to our homes and life sources.
We’ve been spotted,Mattias called out,he flew out of the cavern on the left. I’ll take him, you go see if Ronan is in there.
I flew straight into the cave, determined to take out anyone or anything that stood between me and my pregnant mate.
Ronan?
Still here.
Deeper into the cave I went, comforted by the fact this one dead ended and didn’t lead toward our tunnels.
Brothers, this cave is far too close to home. They must know we live near here. We can’t let any of them go.
Did you find Ronan?Ionus asked.
Not yet, but I can feel him.
Mattias, join Caro and Quint. Emerson’s father is proving to be quite a fighter.
Aye.
Ronan was alive. If they harmed a single hair on his head, they’d not live to tell the tale.
Chapter Eight
Ronan
“Quit wiggling around,” my captor snapped. “You won’t get free, but you will upset our alpha if you damage those eggs.”
“You’re out of your ever-loving mind if you think any of you have any say about anything to do with my eggs!” I snarled, lashing out with my feet when I heard him approach.
Feeling my foot connect with his body sent a surge of satisfaction through me.
“OWWW! Damn you!” my captor howled.
“You keep away from me unless you want me to aim higher next time,” I threatened.
“I am going to laugh when they take those eggs away from you,” he hissed. “You have no idea how valuable the eggs and mate of a protector are. The eggs will be raised into the kind of warriors who will raze the world so dragons can reign supreme again. You, on the other hand, are even more valuable, becauseyour death will mean the death of your mate, which will cripple the protectors and cut their power. They will never be able to defeat us after that.”
