“Well, if they’ve pulled us back in time, how do we return?My brothers can’t rescue me here.I was looking forward to seeing them kick your shapely butt.”
“You look at my backside?”
Scarlett tilted her chin, giving him more sass.“And that’s the part of the conversation he grasps.What part of mean, vengeful brothers did you miss?”
“I’m a dragon.”
“Color me impressed.”She had the cheek to yawn before she forked up a piece of meat, stuck it in her mouth, and chewed.
“I have fire.”Ransom winced inwardly.Gryffnn would roar with laughter if he heard this discussion.
“You’re ill,” she countered, going for the jugular.“You’re not at full capacity, and you need me along to help save your butt.”
“You’re a female.”
Her green eyes narrowed, and her hair seemed to ruffle.An angry growl escaped her, and she reminded him of Camryn and Jannike, both feisty feline shapeshifters.He blinked and watched Scarlett calmly eat her meal.
“I might be female, but we have different strengths.We’re mentally stronger than males.When are we leaving?”
The change of subject was welcome because she was right.Their situation would worsen if the prince entered Scarlett’s mind.The Maphra race enjoyed tropical climates, according to Daenys.What if they attempted to force Scarlett to move them to the planet of Tiraq with its higher population and proximity to other planets?
“We depart once our ship is repaired,” Ransom said.“Daenys promised her people would work late until we could fly again.”
“You had long conversations without me,” Scarlett accused.
“It’s best if you don’t have full information.The locals who live in the area we are traveling through are mind-delvers.Did you hear the stones and mountains sing when you visited Narenda?”
“No.”Scarlett regarded him with a steady gaze, waiting.
“You’re lucky.My people are susceptible, and even short exposure can kill us.I told you I was in a coma.”
“Then why are you returning to the area?Why not stay in a safe place?Or, if you must travel there for your raw materials, send someone to do it for you as you’ve done in the past.”
“I must stop the resonance.”
“How?”
“The solution will come to me.”
“Well, that’s a plan.”Scarlett sniffed, the tiny sound showing her disapproval.
Ransom drank, the herby scent and taste of his beverage telling him Mistress Aelene had added medicinal plants to aid his health.It wasn’t disgusting, so he kept drinking.When Scarlett maintained her frown, he swallowed the dregs.“You think I’m crazy, but I have to do something.The Maphra rule their side of Narenda.They’ve murdered the Elevenoss with the resonance.They’ve almost annihilated another tribe of Elevenoss allies by feeding on them, and soon, they’ll discover a way to feast on my clan.I can’t allow that.Even if I die trying, at least I’m taking action to fix the problem my father ignored.Can’t you be happy to receive the raw stones you wanted?”
And he’d given her a partial truth again.
“This resonance—can you describe it for me again?I mean specifically what happens when it traps you or one of the Elevenoss folk.”
Ransom shuddered, his gaze turning glassy.“I mentioned singing, and that’s what it’s like at first.The song is sweet and bespells, but the tune morphs.It becomes higher and strident.Once the music gets to that stage, it’s too late to pull away.When it happened to me, my body stopped functioning.The high-pitch sound still plucks at my brain.Eventually, it’s too much, and the affected being blacks out.I lay in a coma for half a rotation.”He didn’t mention it was she who’d dragged him from his coma—or rather, the prince had decided he wanted this brilliant, striking woman who was stealing stones.
“You mentioned the Maphra race killed off most of the Elevenoss, and they did that with resonance,” Scarlett said.
“Yes,” Daenys said from the doorway.“The Maphra designed resonance with us in mind.With my people, the effect is different.We hear the noise—the song—and when we go closer to investigate, we hear a pop.That’s the resonance digging into our minds, and once that happens, the Maphra can feed on our energy.They drain us dry until we are husks.”
“What happens, then?”Scarlett asked.
“We disintegrate.It’s a painful way to die.The Maphra show no mercy to their enemies,” Daenys said.“They must be stopped.”
Scarlett glanced at him.“Ransom is one man.The resonance is already sapping his strength.Oh, frying fungus!I’m so stupid.The Maphra people are feeding on you.That’s why you’re sick and weak.I don’t understand why you’d willingly place yourself in danger by confronting these people.”She sounded worried on his behalf, and that caused his heart to leap with pleasure.“Or why you’re dragging me along.”
