Page 129 of Ensnared

Azar heads, unerringly, toward the George R. Brown Convention Center. They’ll be where they felt the most blessed.

“It seemed like a lot were near us,” I say.

They’re moving, he says. But I don’t want to bring them to me. I prefer to meet them.

Smart. Basic psychology with predators: don’t let them stalk you.

Exactly.

We don’t bolt over there, but we don’t take a circuitous route either, and within moments, we’re drawing near. Like the Chase Tower, dragons are winging through the air, gathering in the courtyard below, and bellowing to one another.

But unlike at the tower, there’s a bright red dragon down below. I didn’t think anyone could be more beautiful than Azar—maybe he’s not. But this new red dragon is substantially larger.

If Azar’s the size of a whale, this new dragon’s a battleship.

And he looks built for destruction.

He has twice as many horns, and when he opens his mouth to bellow at us, his teeth look bigger, sharper, and more plentiful.

We rarely kill with our teeth, Liz.

I know he’s right. “You’re stunning,” I say. “I didn’t mean anything.”

Hyperion’s my older brother.

Oh, geez. Family reunions are always pretty awful, but it could be worse, right?

Remember I told you that only one blessed knows my real identity?

“The female who raised you, right?” There’s a slender silver dragon right next to Hyperion, and she’s all graceful lines and moonlit scales. Compared to Ocharta, she looks like a graceful ballerina. That must be her, and I can’t wait to meet her.

Not only because of how Azar’s spoken about her, but also because she’s the only person from his past whom he doesn’t seem to hate or fear. If anyone else needed to come, I can’t imagine anyone better.

When we finally land, it’s not next to the silver dragon or his brother. It’s on the ground, near the tiny lake in front of the convention center. Kinder Lake, I think it’s called.

Euphrasia. Azar’s tone is so affectionate, there’s no doubt in my mind that the smallish blue dragon at the edge of the lake is the Blessed who raised him. I didn’t expect a water dragon, though I’m not sure why. Maybe because I’ve spent the least amount of time with them.

Azar. She smiles, and her already nicely shaped face lights up. I was so delighted when your dad asked me to come.

Earth is different than I expected, he says. But it has some beauty, too.

The massive red dragon hops down, hitting the ground with tremendous force and walking toward us with ponderous steps.

I see Hyperion also came. Azar sounds grim.

Your father was hoping to have heard from you by now.

I sent him two messages.

Euphrasia smirks. The first said you were safe, and the next said you hadn’t found it yet.

With absolutely no direction or explanation other than ‘retrieve the heart,’ is he really shocked it’s taking time?

He had high hopes, Euphrasia says. You know he’s always boasting about you.

Brother! Hyperion’s close enough to see clearly now, and his features are fine, just like Azar’s, but he’s not quite as sharp somehow, like his edges were buffed or smoothed. Father sends his regards.

Azar sighs. And what other orders does he send?