Gweneth stood and strode to Niran, where he hovered in the air.“The festival is not as important as finding your missing people.”
Niran sighed.“Sheera and Leeam are your age, a young couple who wish to bind.They are good.Responsible.This behavior is most uncharacteristic.”
“Ellard and I would be happy to help.”
“Thank you, Gweneth.I will provide a vehicle for your use.”He glanced at Ransom.“Perhaps they could search near the mountains.Both Sheera and Leeam have visited the area with a gathering group.If Ellard and Gweneth comb that region, it would make our search thorough and keep everyone else away from danger.”
Gweneth frowned at his response.“What danger?”
“The mountain range where we get the stones from to make our jewelry emits resonance,” Ransom said.“It is dangerous to dragon shifters and too much can send us mad.Too much glittery.”
“But how can you make jewelry if the stone is dangerous to you and your people?”
“It’s the mountain ranges that are the problem.Too much rock in one area.The small stones we work with can make our younger dragons go a bit silly but eventually develop immunity.The mountain ranges, however…” He shrugged.“Not possible.Even the older dragons can’t fly over the region.”
“Will Ellard and I be safe?We want to live to attend the festival.”
“My people suffer no ill effects.I think you will be safe,” Niran said.
Ransom scowled.“We fall out of the sky if we get too close.It’s not dignified for a dragon to fall on his arse.”
A chuckle burst from Gweneth, and she clapped her hand over her mouth.When he didn’t get huffy, she uncovered her smirk.“And the glittery?”
Ransom shrugged this time, the beginnings of a smile twitching at his sensual lips.“Dragons love jewels.We possess a natural gift to find valuable stones, and that can be…distracting,” he ended with a rueful shrug.“Older dragons find the lure easier to resist, but the younger shifters do not have the same ability to resist the glittery.Niran, I’ll set the younger dragons to search the grids closer to the town.Don’t worry, friend.We will find your people.”
“This glittery physically disables a dragon shifter?”
“Yes,” Ransom said, shifting firmly back into his chieftain status.
He planned their search with military precision, and Gweneth couldn’t help thinking how much the dragon man resembled Ry.Why couldn’t her feline pay attention to him instead of grumpy and distrustful Ellard?And this glittery thing.It sounded like a weakness, something an enemy could exploit, given the opportunity.Every muscle in his body had tensed at her last question, and he’d changed the subject.She should mention this to Lynx and Shiloh.The thought brought a flash of disloyalty, even though she hadn’t known any of the dragons for long.They’d made her feel welcome, and she liked them.She’d need to consider this for longer, and she wouldn’t tell Ellard.Immediately, her brain fastened back on her main problem.
Ellard.
She sighed and, for the first time, started to doubt herself.Was she doing this for the right reasons?Her background, her family life—perhaps she was overcompensating and trying to force feelings and emotions where they should never go.Maybe she should give up and move on with her life.She had options.Something to think about during the next few cycles.
Ellard entered the dining room at that point, and her feline stood to attention, aware of his presence before her.Something else to ponder.Did she trust the feline who had remained silent until she met Ellard?Perhaps she should rely on her intellect instead.
“Good cycle, Ellard,” she said with an incline of her head.“Niran’s nephew and his friend are still missing, and I volunteered to help with the search.”
Ellard sat beside Gryffnn.“Of course.We would be happy to help.”
“Thanks,” Ransom said.“I want you and Gweneth to fly over this sector here.”He tapped the chart he’d retrieved from another room and set it on the table.“It’s mostly jungle and mountains.I doubt you’ll find the youngsters there, but we should do a thorough search to set Niran’s mind at rest.”
“No problem,” Ellard said.
“How long will it take us?”Gweneth asked.
“Given good weather, you should be there and back by blacklight.”Ransom studied them both, worry creasing his brow.“You might experience turbulence due to the debris shower.Since you strayed into it, we have tracked the progress of the field.It has moved and is now closer to that side of the planet.I’m not sure how difficult that will make your search.”
“Ellard?What do you think?”
“I hate the idea of two Incorporeal people out there alone,” Ellard said.“We’ll fly as close as we can to our search area.If necessary, we’ll land and search on foot.”
Ransom gave a curt nod, but Gweneth sensed his approval.Satisfaction and pride bloomed in her chest until she wondered if her frame could hold it inside without an explosion.While Ellard appeared grumpy and remained uncommunicative at times, his heart kept her coming back.She knew a little of the events that had occurred during the war with the House of Cawdor.Males with damaged pride roared like wounded beests.This, according to Amme, and after observing the species, she had to agree.Yes, she’d keep persevering.And Sable…well, if she lost to the half-dragon woman, so be it.At least she wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Niran blinked into prominence, dragging her thoughts from her romantic life.“The ship is ready for you.It’s full of safety equipment and food supplies.”The male wrung his hands and couldn’t seem to sit still.“I pray we find them this cycle.My sister…” He trailed off, his voice hoarse and strained with worry.
Gweneth grasped his arm as he flitted past, tugging him to a stop.“Niran, we will find your people.”
