Page 41 of Dragon’s Rogue

She nodded briefly, and then took a deep breath, pushing all thoughts of the past away. Dwelling on it didn’t help. She’d learned that a long damn time ago.

“So are you going to tell me why this dragonfly you’re looking for is so important?” she asked instead. “Or is that not your secret to tell, either?”

That came out snarkier than she intended. She was still on edge from thinking about her parents, that was all. Why should she care if he confided in her?

He gazed at her, his eyes delving into her soul, and she felt a hint of the dragonflies’ song trembling in her belly. Zane handed her the music box, but he didn’t drop his hand. Instead, he brushed it over her cheek, very gently, like dragonfly wings.

She almost grasped his hand and held onto it. But she didn’t.

Then he said, “Once upon a time…”

Blaze shook her head. “I want the truth,” she said. “Not a fairy tale.”

He held her gaze. “It might as well be a fairy tale. You won’t believe it.”

It wasn’t just something to say. He really didn’t think she’d believe him.

But then, there were a lot of people who wouldn’t believe her story either. “Okay,” she said. “Bring it on. Does it have a wolf in it? I like wolves. And please don’t make the witch the bad guy. I’m so over that.”

He shook his head, but he was smiling now. “No bad witches,” he said. “No wolves, either, but it has dragons. Which are way cooler. And it has magic, and courage, and tragedy.”

“And happily ever after?” She suspected that would be a no, but it would be nice if somebody’s story had a happily ever after. Hers sure as hell wasn’t going to.

“Don’t know,” he said. “This might be one of those choose your own adventures.” He led her over to the couch that sat against one wall, where she gave her clients tea and bargained like hell for every piece she sold.

They sat down, and Blaze set the music box on the side table. When she turned around again, Zane took her hand and held it in both of his. The urge to pull it away fought with that now-familiar but still disturbing urge to curl up against him and bask in his warmth. Caught between desires, she did neither. She just sat there, fingers curved around his, and listened.

“Once up on a time,” he said, the dimple flashing in his cheek again, “all the worlds were ruled by the Elder Draken. They were ancient and strong, with magical powers beyond what you or I can imagine. The greatest and most fearsome of these were the First Ones, the Draken Lords, huge and terrifying, powerful and cruel and selfish. Their fiery breath could burn whole mountains to ash, and their wars carved great chasms in the land.”

It sounded like a typical creation myth, but there was a ring of truth in Zane’s voice. As far as he was concerned, this wasn’t myth. It was real. Blaze settled back on the couch, her hand still in Zane’s.

“As time went on, humans and shifters became more numerous and powerful, and they grew tired of living in terror of the Draken Lords. So they called together all the Draken and sorcerers and shifters with the strongest magic. They realized it was impossible for them to kill the Draken Lords, so they did the next best thing.

“They went to war on the Draken Lords, one after the other, and imprisoned them deep in the earth, caged with magic. The Draken Lords fought and raged, the earth heaving and cracking underneath them. Mountains rose up above them, mountains with their roots forever on fire.”

“Volcanoes,” Blaze breathed, caught up in the story. Then common sense reasserted itself. “You’re trying to tell me that volcanoes are actually imprisoned Draken Lords?”

Zane nodded. “Some are, anyway. With terrible magics that took hundreds of Draken and sorcerers and shifters, they subdued the Draken Lords in their tombs, lulling them into a deep sleep. Many of the allies died in the attempt, but in the end, the Draken Lords were all vanquished. The allies forged magical Seals of immense power to keep the Draken Lords from waking, and to keep their prisons locked. For if they ever wake up and break free, they will destroy humankind and shifters, and everything they’ve built.”

Blaze felt a shiver go down her spine. Still, it couldn’t be true. Could it? “But… volcanoes are studied and monitored by scientists all over the world. Wouldn’t they, umm, notice the giant dragons?”

“Do scientists notice all the other magic all around them? You’re a witch. You could walk down the street with a cloaking spell, and no one would see you.”

“Yeah, but dragons are…”

“Different?”

“I was going to say—big. Really, really big.”

“Yeah,” Zane said. “As it happens, the only way to create the powerful magic of the Draken Lords’ tombs was to position them at a nexus between this world and the Dragonlands, where all worlds began. They’re still there—the ones where the Seals haven’t been broken. Or stolen.” He wound his fingers through hers. “If the Seals are missing, the magic weakens and the Draken Lord eventually breaks free. Not a thing we want to have happen. They have to be found and put back.”

Whoa. “Are you trying to tell me you’re hunting for the Seals to a Draken Lord’s tomb?”

Zane nodded.

“That’s…”

“Unbelievable?” he asked. His tone was dry.