of
Rhune?”
“Melisande tells me Rhune
has left behind Forsaken Mountain,” General Solan said grimly into the growing
silence as the dragons looked around. “He seems to be heading for Seatown but
she knows not why.” He was already moving as he spoke, heading for the nearest
launching point to follow. Most of the group moved to join him, as relieved as
Furee to have a purpose. Asha and Braedon seemed to be having some kind of
confab in the silent way of mates. Then Asha called to the departing knights
while Braedon cursed. “We came here to warn you that the healers were in
danger. Riva most of all. But Graedon is looking for healers. It means Rhune
could be a target, despite his youth and undeveloped power.”
Furee who had been
following his general with the other knights halted in his tracks, and reached
instinctively to see that Riva was safe.
She was distracted but
secure in the next room. Everyone else had stopped as well. General Solan
narrowed his eyes at the seer and then looked at Furee, his own eyes of silver
mercury seething.
“Lux, Cree, and Archer,
you are with me. We fly for Seatown. Furee stays at Forsaken with his mate.”
Braedon looked up and then his flashing eyes zeroed in on Furee but Solan was
still giving orders. “Balin, Adair, find Ryall and let him know the danger to
Shehar, then stay with them as added protection.” He looked at Aarion. “It
would be wise to abandon Isolation at present. There are too many unmarked
entrances in the Earth and we do not have the forces to back you for the
moment.”
Aarion nodded grimly. “I
would stay at Forsaken if you are in agreement. It is unlikely Graedon can
find a way through Kinkaid’s defenses, but there are too many here he would
target if he could, and both Kinkaid and Ladon will be distracted for a bit.”
“Agreed.” He looked at
Asha and Braedon.
“We stay with my sister,”
Braedon said, his voice grim, his eyes molten fire and directed at Furee.
Solan gave Furee one more
look that was a touch happy for him and a touch commiserating, then he was
gone. The dragons and mages alike followed him to their assignments and every
one of the dragon knights gave Furee the same look. Happy for him to have
found his mate and laughing at his present situation just the same, leaving
Furee to deal with his angry fire mage brother-in -law.
“You mated my sister?”
Braedon’s voice was the first thing heard after everyone had shuffled out.
Aarion made a choking noise that sounded a lot like a laugh before he turned to
walk over to the high windows down the long hallway. He didn’t even bother
offering an excuse for his departure. He just left the line of fire as far as
he could without actually leaving. It was good the rest of them were finding
this entertaining. Braedon certainly didn’t, and as much as it meant to have
claimed Riva as his own, he would not have traded her suffering for his, even
knowing the end result.
Furee studied the other
man’s face. The agitation behind the question was as obvious as the fire
starting to coast up the mage’s arms. Asha touched that fire and the flames
disappeared as if they had never been.
Furee caught the look on
the seer’s face and knew she was aware of what had happened and had chosen not
to tell her mate. She nodded her head at him, her eyes swirling ice. Furee
clenched his jaw, knowing what he had to say and how it would sound. And he
would be unable to defend himself because he was in full agreement with the
fire mage. He should not have touched her. He could not even claim she was
unharmed. He more than anyone else knew that she had nearly died to save him.
Died in fire. Her worst fear realized. It was only her inherent strength that
kept her from being damaged mentally by his attack. He deserved whatever the fire
mage wanted to do to him.
“When I was battling at
Isolation, I was infected with a
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