Her eyes go impossibly wide. “You did?”
“How is it your fault, Harper?” Auri asks in confusion.
“Because they saw Red,” I tell her and then look across the table. “The Dragon Kingdom has enemies above and below them. The Northern ones are brutal and cruel. The ones from the south aren’t as bad, though no less a threat. They teamed up and came against the Dragon Kingdom. That’s why we’re here.”
“I don’t get it,” Farrah says in confusion. “What’s that got to do with you?”
I glance over at Auri, hating that I have to tell the next part of this story. “I was stupid.”
“Okaaaay,” Farrah says, drawing the word out.
“I needed to talk to Rauk about this war actually, and he kept leaving. I thought he was just avoiding me, so I followed him. Then the guys from Southmere showed up; after that, the Northerners showed up and killed the Southmerians and were threatening to do the same with me.” I take in Farrah’s face. “Yeah. Anyway, Redara showed up, and then Rauk showed up. He sort of killed them all, but somebody somewhere saw Redara because then both crazy groups attacked.”
Farrah’s eyes are so wide now. “They’re after you, Harper? Is that why Rauk sent you both here?”
I snort. “Uh, no. Rauk would gladly hand me over to them.”
“No, he wouldn’t,” Auri says quietly.
I drop my hand on her shoulder. “Agree to disagree, Kiddo.”
“No, the real reason we came is because our friend Auri here is way too popular. They keep trying to use her as bait to get Rauk to do what they want.”
Farrah shakes her head and rolls her eyes. “That neverworks.”
“Yeah, but we got tired of her being bait. When both the Northernersandthe Southmerians attacked and used Auri for their battle cry, we knew it was time to get her out of there. So, here we are.”
Farrah continues to stare at me. “So, let me get this straight. He refuses to help us here with our,” she pauses and glances at Auri before continuing. “Our problem, but he has no problem sending you both here for protection?”
It’s quiet for a moment. “Technically, I’m the one that pushed to come here.”
Farrah blinks. “Are you defending him?”
“Rauk? Yeah, no.”
Chapter 31
“It sure sounds like you are,” Farrah pushes.
“I’m not sure how it sounds that way, but I can assure you I’m not.”
“I just don’t think you realize how bad it’s gotten, especially in the Jaguar Kingdom,” she argues.
“I was there,” I argue. “I’m not saying that it hasn’t gotten worse, but give me some credit. I was there and saw firsthand how bad it is.”
“Yeah, well that was before,” Farrah adds.
“Before what?” I ask in confusion.
“Before Kinsley got pregnant.”
I stare at her as the words she just said buzz around in my head. “Wow, they didn’t waste much time,” I say with a smirk.
“Be serious, Harper,” Farrah snaps.
I stare at my friend, trying to make sense of things. I don’t want to say anything that I’m going to regret. Instead, I look over at Auri. “You done eating?” She nods, and I gather our plates.
“Thanks, Harper,” she says quietly.
