Page 114 of The Mating Claim

“Falling for a younger woman. How young? Oh, only a few hundred years or so,” Sebastian chimedin.

“Will you two stop it?” Skylar told them. She approached Drust, took his hands. “Uncle Drust, what is truly troublingyou?”

Ah Skylar, so intuitive. So much love in her heart. He looked her straight in the eye. “I have to descend into the Shadow Lands once more. There is a slight chance, a very slight one, I may not return. In any case, while I am gone, I need you to look after Lacey forme.”

And then Alex, who had visited him in his cursed loneliness in the Shadow Lands, paled. Alex, the Shadow Jumper, with the unique ability to move between the mortal plain and the afterword, until Drust had removed it fromhim.

“Damnit Uncle Drust, why? That place… it’s hell for you,” Alexsputtered.

Now he knew how upset Alex was, for no more “Pops.”

“A necessary hell. I am a powerful immortal now, Alex.” He went to his great-grandson and put his hands on Alex’s broad shoulders. “I will find a way out, do not worry about that. There is something I must do. Lacey is quite important to me, and because of that, she is vulnerable to other dragons who might try to use her to gain influence… or hold her as a hostage. The less other dragons know about her importance to me, thebetter.”

“That’s why you needed privacy to speak with us,” Sebastianrealized.

He studied their faces as he released Alex. “Do I have your word to care for Lacey while I am gone, if she needsanything?”

Four heads noddedvigorously.

“She’ll stay at our place,” Sebastian decided. “Much less formal than the palace where the king and queenare.”

Pleased, he nodded. “Excellent. Lacey is not much on… formality. Orrulers.”

He couldn’t help a smile atthat.

“But we’ll be there to help as much as possible,” Emma piped in. “Whatever she needs, Uncle Drust. I may be a princess now, and the future queen of our clan, but I’m notformal.”

“Nor am I,” Alexadded.

He drew in a deep breath, relieved that his kin would be there forLacey.

“Do I have your word you will show her my vault, and give her access to all the treasure within in, for her to take whatever shewishes?”

This was far more risky, for dragons adored their treasure and their gold. Drust’s collection had built up over the years by his descendants, but it was still his by right to do with as hepleased.

“Of course,” said Sebastian. “Whatever you wish, we’ll doit.”

The other threenodded.

Drust glanced at the faint light in the sky. “I must return now. Know this. I love all of you. You are my blood, and you carry on my lineage. Never forget where you came from, but never forget you are all unique and have your own destinies tofollow.”

He hugged each one of them, saving Alex for last. Dear Alex, who worried about him. Then he dematerialized back to his castle, knowing they could find their wayhome.

They always had before, and they alwayswould.

Even if he never saw themagain…

Chapter 24

Lacey did not wantto wait to do what she must. She’d spent the night sleeping deeply, suspecting Drust had done something to make it so. But shortly after dawn streaked the sky in hues of red and gold, she awoke wrapped in his arms. He was awake, lookingtroubled.

She showered quickly, did not eat, politely refusing the breakfast the chef cooked. What was the point? Her stomach was knotted,anyway.

“Let’s do this,” she told Drust. “Where is the damnthing?”

Drust vanished and returned shortly, bearing the book. It had turned black. Black as the evil within it, and the world would be if she did not destroyit.

“Take me to the entrance of the ShadowLands.”