Page 118 of The Mating Claim

“But…”

Kindness shone in her eyes. “It’s all right. He’s Drust’s best friend and cares deeply for him. Tristan knows you two were meant to be together. Call onhim.”

The immortal vanished with the baby as Lacey considered. Ciara was right. It was time to ask the SilverWizard.

So she began pacing the gardens and called onTristan.

The Silver Wizard appeared almostimmediately.

Her eager smile died soon as she saw his solemn expression. Lacey’s hopesplummeted.

“Where is he? Did you find him? Why isn’t he backyet?”

“Slow down,” Tristan said gently. “Let’ssit.”

Sitting was never good. Sitting meant bad news. “No. Tell me, Tristan. Where is he? Why isn’t he back? He promised to comeback.”

Tristan sighed. “He is in the old cave where he spent much of his time before. He believes no one cares what happens to him, despite my pleas and reassurances. I have tried to convince him to leave the Shadow Lands, Lacey. So have the other wizards. He is notbudging.”

Her worst fear. Drust had descended into the underworld, and would remainthere.

“Then what can get him out? Tellme!”

Tristan leaned against a stone statue of a dragon in flight. “A sacrifice of tremendous love. Give it time, Lacey. He may come to hissenses.”

But she knew the wizard was wrong, for the longer Drust remained in that dark place, the longer he would become mired in the past and the despair would drag him down. She missed him likecrazy.

This was no longer about her needs. She had to help him get out of the Shadow Lands before he remained trappedforever.

“Then go back and tell him to shift into his dragon form. He can fly out ofthere.”

Tristan’s gaze was kind. “He cannot, Lacey. To leave he must maintain his human form. I must warn you as well, he lacks sufficient strength to shift into his dragon form anyway. The book’s darkness… drainedhim.”

Drust needed help to fly out of there… but he needed more thanhelp.

He needed something only she could givehim.

“I am sorry, Lacey.” The Silver Wizard laced his hands behind his back. “I apologize for taking your memories of your mother and what she did to you, and for … how you lostDrust.”

“You can make it up to me.” She steeled her nerves. This was it, the moment oftruth.

Tristan’s dark gaze glittered. He was a powerful wizard and probably could read her mind, but right now, she did not care. That did notmatter.

Drustdid.

“Remove my dragonwings.”

Something flickered in his gaze, but his expression remained neutral. “Why? Being a dragon means everything to you. More than your witchblood.”

She thought of all the joy she’d experienced, the freedom of flying when her troubles seemed to great to bear, the thrill of rising above the earth and soaring into the skies when other shifters like Lupines were permanently grounded. Witches could not fly. Maybe on broomsticks, if the myths held true. But dragons like her werespecial.

Different.

“Cut them off and present them to Drust in the Shadow Lands.”A lump clogged her throat. Damn, she had to get this out before she chokedup.

Or worse, lost her nerve, like she had with thebook.

“You say he’s lost and alone. He feels nothing will help him, no one cares. You and the other wizards have failed to coax himout.”