“You wouldn’t. I’d catch you.” He nudged aside a curtain of fern fronds. “So…” His tone turned casual, but the word poised like a dagger. “How long have you known Eracier? How did you meet?”
She expected the question and still wasn’t prepared for the twisting of her gut. “Feels like forever.” She nudged a pebble off the path with her toe. “We…well, we ran into each other while I was…”Fleeing for my life.“…on holiday in his part of the world.”
Europe and Asia were all connected landmasses, weren’t they?
“So, you and he are…?”
With the memory of Race’s scorching kiss earlier imprinted on her mouth, she swallowed hard, then forced a smile and shrugged. “We’re just friends.”
“Oh, good.” Koal exhaled, fogging the air. “Dragons are notoriously possessive. Threaten what they’ve claimed and—” He snapped taloned fingers, the sound crackling like ice. “They maul first, think later. That black dragon, especially—stories still whisper his name all across Lemuria.” He scanned the trees, his nostrils flaring at every rustle. “Best for me to tread lightly.”
“No worries, Koal, you’re perfectly safe.” She smiled up at him. Koal was really sweet, like a big, happy puppy. “Race’s stubborn, but he’s not going to eat his own friend.”
“Friend?” His expression grew contemplative. “It’s been too many millennia. Time changes much, but some bonds…” He glanced back in the direction they came from, his jaw tensing. “We hope he sees that and remembers who he was before…”
“Before what?” she asked.
He shook his head. “It’s his story to share.”
Of course, he just had to be a dragon with principles.
They walked in silence. For the first time since stumbling into this dragon-ruled wilderness, her thoughts drifted to the life she’d left behind—her job, her volunteer work at the animal shelter, and the gossip-hungry locals because of who her ex was.
Now the memory tasted like someone else’s story, faint and faraway, almost dust-dry.
The sound of burbling water, faint yet clear, drifted to her. Koal pushed a dew-laden branch aside, then gestured ahead of them. “There.”
The forest thinned, revealing a ribbon-like stream, with mirror-bright pebbles visible on its bed. Water hissed softly over stone, and it was not as narrow as Koal made it out to be.
Grateful for the secluded spot, she glanced at him. “Is it all right if I wash up as well?”
“Yes, sure.” He nodded. “Ten minutes?”
“Make it fifteen. Where’ll you be?”
“Near enough to hear you call. I’ll hunt.”
Ash’s fingers tingled with her powers, and she flexed them, exhaling a plume of white breath. “All right. See you in fifteen—oh, and thank you for the berries.”
Koal nodded with a pleased smile and padded off, the branches sighing shut behind him. Silence settled, yet not quite—water babbled, a raven croaked in the distance, and the dullpop of ice crystals loosening under the sunlight echoed in the still air.
Better that than roaring dragons.
Ash took care of her needs first, the cold air nipping every exposed inch of skin. Ugh. Her sorry backside was officially done with the dragon realm and its lack of amenities.
She stripped and bathed, hissing as the icy water bit her skin. Teeth chattering, she scrubbed up fast, grateful for the lavender soap she bought in Nyxholt.
A few minutes later, wearing the clothes she’d purchased, she stuffed her things into her backpack and shouldered it.
“Koal?” she called out, her voice echoing off the dark trunks. “I’ve finished.”
Silence.
Worry crept through her as she eyed the dense shadows between the looming, utterly still bleed-cedars. The air grew heavier, as though the trees themselves held their breath.
Unease clawed its way up her throat. Did he leave her here on purpose? Another ploy to get Race to agree to their plans?
A twig snapped in the underbrush.
