Page 27 of Dragon Blood (Dragon Island #3)

S eated in the high-backed chairs of King Dai Zen Long’s private sitting room, Astred glanced at Kai over her steaming gilded teacup.

The hard set of his jaw, fists on thighs, with his tea left untouched on the table, the way he refused to look at her, told her how angry he was.

Her body still trembled from the experience. The fear hovered at her nape at just how close she’d been to losing Kai to the stone’s power. It had been a risk. She could have lost everything right there.

She’d heeded her instinct to offer it up to him, Though, not because she was testing him, but because he’d needed to test himself. In that moment, he’d proven himself to these men who’d guided him his whole life.

Dai Zen and Bai Yun both ignored Kai as they exchanged concerns over the next steps. Ultimately, the stone’s fate was Astred’s decision, but neither was so sure that Astred’s retrieval and return of the stone was the right step, especially now that they knew that its original owner was still vying to usurp power on the island.

Beside Kai, Keone maintained his silence. The rest of his retinue awaited him in the courtyard, which she had learned consisted of Kai’s cousins, aunties and some other clan novices training in the art of shadow magic.

A talent he’d never mentioned to her. But why would he? He’d told her as little about himself as she’d told him of her life, beyond the harbor they’d met near. The only reason she’d known he was even a shifter, tiger and dragon, was because of his unique scents.

She flicked her gaze back to his aged father. Kymri’s father. Kolina’s lover. Tiger shifters aged slower than humans, much quicker than dragons.

Does Kolina love him still?

Kai looked so much like him. The way he held his body, the set of his mouth, the flash of intelligence in his dark eyes. Even the tenor of his voice, a little rougher, a little softer with age, but still undeniably powerful when used to control magic. A magic strong enough to hide the stone from Kai’s awareness until the shadows faded from it.

Astred’s throat tightened as the memory of his incredible resistance to the stone’s powerful call, as it challenged every fiber of his essence.

Until he looked into Astred’s eyes.

Her whole body had frozen, breath bated, heart racing, to see if he’d act against her.

She recalled the stories of the Dragon Star.

‘Trust him,’ her dragon had whispered, mustering the image of Astred and Kai’s dragons curled around one another in the Nexus. Of their binding, in the sparkling glade not so far from here. The bond alone would not prevent him from acting if he chose to, but it called him back to her, reminding him of their love and their promises.

Whatever he found in her eyes eased the conflict, his fight for resistance no longer necessary. He’d slipped the key to incredible power into the palm of her hand.

He could have embraced it, denied her, broken the trust of those around him. The Aeleftherian seal was within reach. With each artifact in hand, he could have taken the island and control of the Great Mother’s sanctuary.

He hadn’t.

Kai had placed all power in Astred’s hands.

Her gaze caressed the lines of his taut face.

The stone vibrated, soft yet insistent against her chest bone from within the protective layers of shadow and scales.

I’m not sure I could have done the same…

She put her cup down. “My mother, Oracle of the Great Mother, sent me the dream vision, putting me on the path to your door. I do not have the training to interpret the images inflicted on me, but my instinct tells me that this is what I must do.”

She met Keone’s gaze across from her. After a long moment, he simply nodded.

“I didn’t know of the Star Stone’s existence—not really. Nor was I aware that my mother sent Kolina here. This story was relegated to just that. Stories. Legends.”

Her entire generation had grown up ignorant of the threat from within their own people.

Her fingers grazed over the fabric covering the scales hiding the stone beneath. “I must trust that you will safeguard the seal as you protected the stone, while I sort out what lies ahead. Because I don’t know what that is.”

Master Chan appeared at the door, wordlessly drawing Dai Zen’s attention.

At the king’s nod, the older man approached, whispering his message for the king’s ear alone.

King Dai Zen Long paled, dark eyes snapping to Astred.

Aeleftheria? Her mother?

Trepidation streaked down her spine at his expression, worry gripping her throat as her fingers ghosted her empty pocket for her phone.

They’d been waiting for word from Kane, but had left their phones outside the sacred temple in Master Chan’s care during the shadow ceremony to retrieve the stone and give the seal into safe keeping.

She stood, the sound of her own blood chugging through her body was deafening.

Everyone else followed suit as he spoke. “The Consortium are headed en masse for Aeleftheria.

“Do they have a seal?” Bayn growled.

“Undetermined if they have it on hand, but we suspect that may be the case.”

“How long before they arrive? We’re a full day’s travel away,” Kai paced, “I have a local business colleague with a private long-range jet that owes me a few favors. That should at least get us to the right side of the Atlantic coast.” He left to retrieve his phone.

“We will increase the warding on the temple chamber, rendering the seal undetectable, should the enemy turn their gaze to us,” Keone said.

“Few know that Kai and I are here, let alone why.”

“That may be true, but we must not be undercautious at times like these,” he replied.

He’s right, of course.

Kai returned, tucking his phone into his pocket, handing Astred and Bayn their devices. “We’re set. He’s calling in his aircrew.”

“That must be some favor he owed you,” Astred gaped.

Kai nodded without elaborating. “Yes, and we’re still not square yet.” The corner of his lips curled as his eyes twinkled.

“Take my car.” The king had removed his ceremonial robes, unbuttoning the top of the collar of his shirt as he led the way back through the compound to his office. From there, a door tucked into a far corner proved to be a private passage to a large garage.

Astred gaped at the beautifully preserved antiquated airship displayed at one end. The rest of the space held two lines of highly polished cars, old and new. From a nearby cupboard, he selected a set of keys, tossing them to Bayn. “Don’t scratch her.”

Bayn glanced at the fob in his hand, pressing the button. Headlights flashed a third of the way down the left side, drawing their attention to a sleek dark teal sports car. “A Gemera.” He grinned at his brother.

“Not even a nick. She just came in last week.”

“You should have told me you ordered one. I’d have come to visit sooner.” Bayn opened the driver’s door and settled in. The engine roared to life. “Nice,” he purred.

“Shotgun,” Astred rushed forward. “Kai, you can navigate from the back seat.”

Kai rolled his eyes as he slid into the car, shutting the door.

Bayn immediately hit the gas, and they were on their way to a private airstrip less than an hour’s drive away.

They might be able to knock an hour or two off their journey, but they were still out of reach of immediate action.

Astred closed her eyes, losing herself in the sensation of the growling engine and smooth sweeps along the winding roads.

Warm fingers caressed her shoulder. She grasped Kai’s hand.

Whatever was coming, she wouldn’t face it alone.

She just prayed they weren’t too late.