Page 106 of Daman

After Lev entered the barrier, I guided Daman forward.

“We go together,” he said, holding my hand tighter.

“Together.”

And then we stepped through.

Chapter Seventeen

Daman

The sun shone through the treetops of the maple grove and warmed my cheeks. Green grass below me and blue sky above. The drastic change from dreary winter to summer was a shock to the senses.

We reached a clearing filled with log cabins and fire pits where men cooked meat. A stream rushed in the distance, and children played in the field, kicking a ball. Voices and laughter mingled in the air.

“They must have an elemental stone too,” Warrin said, briefly closing his eyes. I loved how the sun hit his strong features and kissed his pale lashes.

“It belonged to Balaur,” Gusion said.

“Balaur is real?” I asked in amazement. He was the dragon Lycus and I had often spoken of, one who was said to watch over Dacia from his place among the stars.

Gusion gave a sad nod. “He’s no longer with us. Lucifer killed him in the final battle of the war.”

“Why would Lucifer want to kill a dragon?”

“Because Balaur was protecting this.” Gusion touched his necklace. “Protecting me.”

“I don’t understand.” My head was about to explode. How did he know about Lucifer? Who was he? More importantly,whatwas he? “When I first met you, you were alone in a cave. Living in solitude.”

“Aye. I was.” He nodded. “Balaur came to me after Rome took Dacia. An alliance was struck between us. Dacia was gone, but hope was still alive, as long as the key remained hidden.” Sadness filled his gray eyes. “We spent ten years together before Lucifer took him from me. What I wouldn’t give for just one more day.”

“You loved him.”

“Love seems like too small of a word to describe my feelings for him. He was the wings that made me soar and the air that filled my lungs. A part of me died when his soul left this world.”

I moved closer to Warrin. What Gusion described was exactly how I felt about my own dragon. “You mentioned a key.”

“Yes. We’ll get to that shortly. But first, a reunion is in order.”

A reunion? Before I could ask what he meant, Gusion walked away, heading toward an orchard of trees.

“You’re Dacian?” a man with pale blond hair asked me. His honey-colored eyes matched those of the alpha from earlier. He wore jeans, no shirt or shoes. Something about him was familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on why.

“I am.”

“Sorry about threatening you and your men,” he said. “With war on the horizon, we’re suspicious of any non-humans who enter the forest.”

“You’re the white wolf.” I studied him. He stood several inches taller than me with sun-kissed skin, a lean waist, and toned muscles. Strong, but not as impressive as I’d imagined. “Surely not the one from legend.”

He smiled. “No. The original white wolf was Callan. He died fighting Lucifer’s army many years ago. It’s how Gusion and I became acquainted. He lost his mate, and I lost my father. My chosen father anyway. My name is Lycus.”

The breath rushed from my lungs, and I examined his face more intently. A light dusting of freckles trickled across the tops of his cheeks and his nose, and bursts of orange surrounded the honey irises of his eyes. I remembered my friend from so long ago, smiling as I told him stories about wolves and dragons, his freckled nose crinkling.

“Lycus?” I whispered in disbelief.

He cocked his head. “I feel as though we’ve met before. Tell me your name.”

“Daman.”