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Nods came from all across the table. Renya even had trouble remembering who knew what.

“Renya now possesses her full powers, and has trained underneath Cressida. Cressida believes that Renya is on her side, and loyal to her. She is under the illusion that she is being held against her will. Cyrus, Renya’s father, who is also the King of the Sun Realm, worked with Almory this afternoon to place a protection spell over the lodge and the town. As long as we reside here, it’s cloaked and Cressida cannot find anyone in the village. It’s the same spell that has kept the Sun Realm safe for all these years.”

Only Tumwalt looked surprised by that knowledge. Grayden continued, “with the help of the Tidal and Twilight Kingdoms, as well as the Spring—”

Beauty’s roar came from outside, shaking the ornate snowflake chandelier in the ceiling.

Renya’s eyes widened. “Something’s wrong,” she said, rising from her chair and quickly running out of the dining hall towards the garden. Her dress trailed behind, and Grayden and the others were on her heels.

She threw open the solid oak doors and saw Beauty, just behind the boundaries of the lodge, pinning something to the ground. Or, rather, someone. A cry of pain echoed through the area, and Renya raced to see who Beauty had trapped under her talons.

Brandle, face white as snow, was screaming, his arms and shoulders pinched down by the juvenile dragon. Beauty’s teeth were bared, and Renya could see her hot saliva dripping onto Brandle’s cheek.

“Help me!” Brandle screeched, wispy magic floating from his fingertips, but nothing substantial coming forth.

Renya moved forward, unsure of what to do. Before she could decide, Cyrus stepped forward and bound Brandle with his golden strands, holding him in place.

“Renya, call off Beauty. He’s no good to us if she rips him to shreds.

“Beauty, come here.”

The dragon picked up her head, and looked at Renya, and then back at Brandle. A low, guttural growl came from the back of her throat as she continued to stare down Brandle.

“Beauty!”

Reluctantly, Beauty moved aside and sauntered over to Renya, where she sat on her hind legs and looked at Renya expectedly. She sighed, then gave her a pat on her head. “Good girl, Beauty.” The dragon purred and swished her large tail before glaring back at Brandle.

“How did he get in here?” Phillippe asked, staring at Brandle and then at Beauty.

Before anyone could answer, Renya saw a blur move past her at full speed.

Grayden was on the snow-covered ground, a knife raised to Brandle’s throat.

“I warned you, if you touched one hair on my mate’s head, I would slit your throat. And now I’m going to fulfill that promise.” He raised his hand, but Renya quickly reached out with her magic and froze him in place.

Beauty let out a large bleat, as if she was disappointed that the carnage had been stopped.

“Grayden, you can’t kill him. Not yet. He could be useful to us.” Renya looked at Brandle, his clothes torn and tattered and multiple scratches adorning his arms, no doubt from Beauty's razor-sharp talons.

Renya released Grayden, and the second he was free, he growled and moved to attack Brandle once more.

“Grayden!”

He got up angrily and threw the knife into a nearby tree, planting it several inches into the bark. Without looking at Renya, he stormed off back inside the lodge.

“That was intense,” Selenia said, approaching Renya cautiously. “And you have a dragon now? When was that fact going to come out?”

“Sorry, everyone. I know she’s a handful—”

At this, Beauty snorted and laid down near Renya’s feet.

“—but I don’t know what else to do with her.”

“She’s a great asset to us, Renya,” Phillippe said. “But how did Brandle end up here?”

Cyrus cleared his throat. “I’m guessing she found him outside of the perimeter of the spell boundary line. Since she was within the boundary when I cast the spell, she’s able to bring people in. From the looks of him, she must have dragged him around a bit.

Beauty purred again, looking pleased with herself. Brandle continued to squirm in his bonds, his eyes darting around.