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He let out a dark chuckle and sat forward, forearms rested on his thighs. “You know I thought the same thing. You’re quite striking to look at but I know I’ve seen you somewhere before, and remember I said I wanted the truth or no stone.”

“Before we tell you anything, we need to know if you have it,” Piper said.

“I do and I’ve told no one else where it’s hidden.”

Sweat beaded on Layala’s back. What if he could detect lies? He seemed sure of himself, as if he’d know if she or Piper lied. “I have been here before. Once,” Layala said. “To Newarden.” She suddenly remembered seeing his auburn hair, screaming at the ledge of the fountain for his soldiers to attack the oncoming pale ones and to leave her. “I saw you near the fountain then. I’m sure we shared a look.”

He stared into her eyes. Even if he was a little drunk, it was as if he could discern truth or lie. She could almost see the thoughts flying through his mind as if he were trying to recall the moment. The breeze from the balcony whisked into the room and the fresh air cooled the sweat glistening on her body.

Finally, he nodded. “Why do you want the stone?”

“I want to know the truth about who I am. Things have been—kept from me.” She tried to tell the truth without giving anything away. And it was true. She wanted to know why she could bring the Black Mage back or if she was the one to destroy the curse of the pale ones.

Brunard leaned back again and tilted his glass of wine until it was gone. “I’m afraid it doesn’t work on its own. Something I didn’t discover until recently.”

“What does that mean?” Piper asked.

“It means after I held the thing in my hands and tried everything I could imagine to get it to do something—anything, nothing happened. So I did some in-depth research. Turns out for it to work it has to connect with a scepter which was deliberately kept separate from the stone. And only two mages can get it to work even with both. This is a power the ancients didn’t want us to have.”

Layala glanced down at the book. A scepter was drawn there… Of course, fate wouldn’t allow this to be simple. She wanted to use it for good. Why couldn’t the Maker be on their side in this? “And who has the scepter?” Layala asked.

“The dragon king, according to my great grandfather’s journal. A place I dare not venture. I’d rather not be eaten.”

As in Varlett’s king? Could things get any worse? Both Piper and Layala sat in stunned silence. To face even one dragon had led to disaster. How many dragon shifters could be in the dragon court? Would they be attacked there? Would they be allowed to enter? They stayed in their mountains and didn’t associate with the rest of Adalon.

“I had a similar reaction.”

“We’ll risk going there,” Piper said. “But we need the stone. What do you want for it?”

With a mischievous smile, he stared into his empty glass of wine then set it on the table. He lifted his gaze to Layala. “I want you, in my bed.”

Layala’s heart nearly jumped into her throat. “No.”

“Then you can’t have it.”

“You can have me,” Piper blurted out and stood.

Layala almost gasped. She stared wide-eyed at Piper. She couldn’t possibly bed Brunard for the stone. Who’s to say he would even give it over afterward?

“A most generous offer, lovely,” Brunard said but his eyes flicked back to Layala. His stare was hard and uncomfortable as if he could undress her with a look, as if he saw her as nothing more than a vessel for pleasure. “But I want that pretty mouth wrapped around my cock and then I want to ride you until you scream my name—Lady Lightbringer. That’s who you are, isn’t it? I want Thane to hear us in the afterlife.”

Holy shit, he knew. And he was trying to draw Thane out or testing to see if he was here. He must be, or at the very least, if he believed Thane to be dead, he wanted what he thought once belonged to his enemy. “If you know who I am, you know exactly what I am capable of, and I’ll cut off your cock before it ever comes anywhere near me.” Layala stood, fury surging through her. “And if you don’t give me the stone, I’ll make sure you suffer as much as Thane did before I kill you. It will be you screaming my name, begging me to stop the pain.”

Piper was as still as a statue beside her. Brunard stared at Layala, but that lustful hunger shifted. She could almost smell the fear leeching out from him. He was trying to decide if she was serious or not, maybe debating on his chances of winning against her. It was rare for a female to have the power to kill and make commands of a lord like Brunard, and she could see he didn’t like it.

Faint screams from outside, drifting in from the balcony, broke their staring contest. Had her brief use of magic breaking the lock triggered a pale-one attack? The rising of shrills and shrieks and… loud snapping trees, intensified.What is happening out there?Pale ones couldn’t tear apart trees.

With a puzzled look, Brunard stood, facing the balcony. Thane burst through the curtains, sword in hand and a ferocious scowl. With a wave of his hand Brunard flew and slammed into the wall, pinned there by an invisible force. The woodland Elf Lord wore an expression mixed with fury and surprise.

“What’s going on?” Layala followed him as he stalked across the room.

“Varlett has arrived.” He smiled wickedly at Brunard and slid his blade’s edge to his throat. “Hello, old friend. Where is the stone?”

“Go lick donkey dick.”

Thane smirked. “I was hoping you’d say something like that.” With a quick jerk, he slid the blade across flesh and a well of blood bubbled up and spilled down to his collarbone. Brunard winced but that stubborn set to his jaw remained. “The next slice will kill you. I don’t have time for your horseshit. Where is the stone?”

Screams and cries for help grew louder outside. Layala fidgeted nervously with the chain around her belly. She peeked over her shoulder—how long before Varlett came flying in through the balcony? Or maybe she’d tear off the front doors of the place and kill everyone inside.