“That would be a crime,” I agreed with a smile, feeling lighter than I had in days.
Something behind him caught my eye and the smile was instantly wiped from my face.
Stryker spun and we both stared at the small island coming into view ahead, with a tall black smoke cloud hovering above it.
“Is that supposed to be there?” I asked.
“No,” he growled.
“Is that where we’re going?”
“Yes,” he said. “But when I left the Shadow Heart there three years ago, the island wasn’t on fire.”
Great. Just when I thought things were getting easy.
It took another half-hour of sailing before we actually reached the shore.When we did, Stryker tied up the boat to a wooden post sticking out of the sand and then carried me to shore so that my feet wouldn’t get wet as there was no proper dock.
“You’re really trying to win me back, aren’t you?” I asked him and he chuckled, sliding me down his body slowly before setting me down onto the sand. “I thought I already had,” he answered playfully.
I smiled and then a deep growl emanated from the woods. The smell of smoke hit my nose and I winced. Stryker held his finger to his lips indicating I needed to be quiet and then took my hand, leading me into the woods. We stepped over fallen logs and scorched earth until we reached a meadow and Stryker stopped. Peering through the trees I noticed a rocky outcrop and a yawning cave.
Lying in front of the cave opening was a giant winged beast. He was sleeping and around him piles of wood burned. The deep growl I’d heard moments ago was actually the creature snoring. His hulking body was made of black scales and his head bore two knobby horns with a tail of serrated spikes.
Stryker went rigid, backing away slowly, turning and not stopping until we were back where we’d tied up the boat. The sun was setting and I was shocked to find fear in Stryker’s eyes when I peered up at him.
“What is that thing?” I asked.
“It’s a shadow dragon,” he breathed, looking at the boat like he wanted to flee. “They’re attracted to objects of great power and will defend them to the death. It must have found the Shadow Heart.”
My stomach dropped. “Okay … so now it’s protecting it?”
He nodded. “Did the Wise Ones say there was another way?”
Whoa. If he was asking that, it meant that this shadow dragon was more dangerous than I’d thought.
“I can’t leave here without it, Stryker. It’s the only way to stop the curse and save my people. To save Ethereum too.”
He nodded and then removed his boots and shirt and pulled a sword from his belt.
My eyebrows shot up.
Stryker’s broad shoulders tapered into a narrow waist. He was steel covered in flesh. Everything about him radiated strength and as the warm rays of the dying sun danced over the dips and valleys of his muscular chest, I became jealous of the light.
“What are you doing?”
He peered at me with a gloomy expression. “Preparing for the fight of my life. Shadow dragons wake at sunset and they feed on … shadows. My power will be useless against him.”
Oh stars. That was possibly the worst thing he could have said.
“Feed on shadows?” I wanted to make sure I understood that correctly.
He nodded. “They only make them stronger. So get ready, darling, because getting the Shadow Heart back will cost me.”
I faltered. “Well, maybe we should think about this. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
He glanced up at the setting sun. “We’re out of time and options. You need it and I’m going to get it for you. Stay here.” He gave me a chaste kiss and then ran into the forest.
Aww, he thought I was going to stay behind like a damsel in distress. That was cute.
