“He what?”
“You heard me. Their leader died in a skirmish long before I came here. There is no Mountain Meadows.” It was possible that no one in the human world knew of Teron’s father meeting a violent end, since the portals were closed. Teron would’ve taken his place as leader of the court if there’d been a court left to lead.
“That’s not true. We would have known.”
“Curtis, put the gun down. I have to go.” Especially if Leon was now on his way to intercept Jules. Instances came to mind: Curtis’s friend ducking when he caught sight of Elouan. The cryptic message on Curtis’s computer.I think we found them.Had they been actively hunting Jules and his guardians? How had they found them when a spell had shielded them?
When Moira let the spell drop. Now she was dead, and she’d taken any protection with her. “His guardians were murdered." More innocent victims to avenge. "What makes you think they won’t kill Jules too?”Oh, Goddess, no!
“No. They said they wouldn’t.” Curtis didn’t sound so confident now. His gaze strayed to Elouan’s neck. The gun fell from his limp hand. Tears streamed down his face. “You’re telling the truth, aren’t you?” He sobbed, “I’m sorry! I didn’t think they were going to kill anybody!”
Elouan launched himself, knocking Curtis to the floor with a full-body tackle, going against every instinct to protect anyone weaker.
Curtis fought. “No! You don’t understand! They’ll probably kill me if I fail!”
Elouan grabbed the gun off the floor, rearing back on his haunches. “Who’ll kill you?”
“The dragons. Some here are organized. The mage is going to take us back to reclaim our home world. Change the archaic laws.”
“What archaic laws? You’ve never been there. The dragon world has its own traditions and culture. Those who don’t like it were always free to leave, but the Terran dragons can’t expect to just go back there and take over. You know only what others have told you, and they lied to you.”
Leon? Whom Elouan considered a friend? Had he been wrong about everyone he knew?
“Everything is planned. We’ll replace all current kings with more worthy candidates.”
Curtis didn’t understand how Adrakus worked. “More worthy? The Goddess of Fire wouldn’t make them kings if they weren't worthy, although some later proved themselves otherwise.” And Urien hadn’t been Goddess-blessed.
“Goddess of Fire?” Curtis spat. “Superstitious nonsense. They…we’re going to start a new order.”
“You said someone would kill you.” If Curtis’s life was in danger, Elouan might summon a bit of sympathy.
“This is my part. To keep you from interfering with the omega.”
Every one of Elouan’s alpha instincts screamed, Protect!Curtis was an omega, after all. Elouan gritted his teeth.
Curtis once more looked at Elouan’s neck. “That bite. It’s a mating bite. You and Jules?”
“Yes. Me and Jules.”
All the fight went out of Curtis. Horror filled his eyes. “If he dies, you might die too.”
“More than likely.” The words barely came out from between Elouan’s gritted teeth.
Curtis sobbed. “Go! I don’t care if they kill me. You can’t die. You…you’re the only dragon who ever treated me like I was somebody.”
An idea jolted Elouan. “You said a portal opened.”
“Yes.”
“Then the ban has been lifted and there might be more.” Dare Elouan hope? “Curtis, listen to me. Do you remember the night we met?”
“How could I forget?”
“Go. The mage who brought me should be there. Tell him I sent you. No one will hurt you as long as there’s breath in my body.”
Hope shone in Curtis’s eyes. “I swear.”
Elouan scrambled to his feet and pulled Curtis up.
