Page 40

“Does it have a few bedrooms? I’ve got some people I’d like you to meet.

” Avera glanced back at the ship and Gustav frowned at the man and woman who disembarked using the gangplank.

The pair were much too pretty to be hanging with pirates, and at the same time, their appearance had something off about it.

The man, who held himself like a lord despite his less-than-wealthy garments, eyed Gustav before saying, “You must be the Grand Rook I’ve heard about. I am Argent.”

“Where are you from?” Gustav blurted. He couldn’t place the slight accent or physical traits. Who the heck had purple eyes?

Argent’s lips curved. “I come from a very hot place.”

“Hello.” The female stepped forward. “I am Starlight, also from a hot place,” she added with a secretive smile.

“Could you be any less subtle?” Avera huffed.

To which Argent shrugged. “I presume he wanted the truth.”

“A truth that requires explanation, so behave until I get that chance,” Avera admonished, deepening the mystery of the strangers.

“Always ruining my fun,” Argent complained.

“There, there.” Starlight patted his arm. “Soon enough all will be awed by our greatness.”

Avera rolled her eyes. “I don’t have time for this.”

“Let’s get you settled,” Josslyn interjected. “I’ll have Kor send over some stew and fresh bread.”

“And wine!” Argent piped in. “The quality kind, not the piss that is barely past the fermentation stage.”

Gustav coughed. “Best you’ll get is ale that is a step below piss.”

The pretty man pursed his lips. “How disappointing.”

Gustav first led Avera to the stable where Luna just about kicked down the stall door in her eagerness to greet her mistress. Avera hugged her around the neck and the horse nuzzled her hair.

“I’ll be back later with treats,” Avera whispered before leaving.

They departed the barn and headed for the nearby residence he and Josslyn had claimed, the former merchant’s home much too large for two people, but it was ideally situated in the center of the town close to the inn where Gustav spent most of his time.

Not drinking, but rather meeting with newcomers and holding impromptu meetings with those who’d joined the informal militia.

The inside of the home, shabby like the rest of the town, did offer a parlor with almost enough seating for everyone.

The pirate—who claimed to be a Verlorian lord—stood behind Avera’s chair.

The strangers took the divan by the window, while Josslyn took the last seat.

Gustav propped himself by the fireplace.

“So, what happened? How did you end up married to the thug that abducted you?” Gustav didn’t hold back.

Avera took in a deep breath and started talking.

And talking.

Gustav listened in disbelief at the description of what had happened to Verlora. In anger when he heard about her abduction on the emperor’s orders followed by jaw-dropped astonishment at what the stones truly were.

“Dragons are fucking real?”

“Yes, and nothing like we’ve been told in the stories passed down.

” Avera paused, her fingers knotted in her lap before she then went on to speak of what she’d learned about Zhos.

How the entity couldn’t be killed by anything of their world, merely banished.

How the dragons refused to aid this time round.

When she paused, Gustav rubbed his chin. “So you’re telling me we ain’t got a way to fight this thing unless we convince the dragons to help.”

“Not likely to happen,” Argent muttered.

“Surely they see it’s in their best interest,” Gustav argued.

“It’s best for humans,” Starlight corrected, her terminology odd.

“I can’t blame them” Avera replied softly. “They were trapped for a thousand years. Betrayed by those they trusted. Even if they did agree to use their blood once more to immobilize Zhos, how can we expect one of them to give their life flying Zhos through the rift?”

“There’s got to be something we can do,” Gustav exclaimed as he tried to sort through the dumping of information. “We’re barely holding on. It won’t be long before Zhos either controls our minds or kills us all.”

“Which would be unfortunate, but the citizens of this world had a thousand years to come up with a solution.”

Avera shot Argent a glance. “And found none, as you well know.”

“I doubt they tried very hard,” Argent argued.

It had Gustav eyeing the fellow, wondering at his presence and negative demeanor. “You still haven’t told me who these two are.”

“Because it’s going to sound quite impossible.”

“More impossible than a fog that captures minds, water that turns into monsters, actual fucking dragons, and an evil entity that will destroy the world?” Gustav huffed.

A wry smile tugged Avera’s lips. “Very well. You want to know who Argent and Starlight are? While they might appear human right now, they are actually dragons.”

Gustav burst out laughing and might have kept guffawing if Argent didn’t fix him with eyes that slitted and glowed and, in a voice less than human, said, “Tread carefully old man. I’m hungry after my voyage.”

To which Starlight added, “You always did like your meat more seasoned. Me, I like them young and fresh.”

Gulp.