Betrayed (Dragon Shifter Book 3)

by Naomi Sparks

  Once Lex stops talking, Surem keeps watching him. For a moment, his gaze moves over to Hannah, standing just behind and to the side of him. She still looks weak, even with the venom being so recently given. I hope maybe that will be enough to sway him, but eventually, he shakes his head.

  "I'm sorry. We cannot help you." His voice is even, maybe a little sad, but the look in his eyes says he will not change his mind.

  But before Lex or anyone can open their mouth to persuade him, Lysandra steps forward. She's still smiling and bouncing, and I wonder if she's always this full of energy or if today is something special. "I'll do it. She can have a pint of my blood. That should be enough, right?"

  Even though she must be at least a couple of decades old, she still makes me think of a teenager. If I close my eyes and listen to her, I can easily picture her sitting in a cafe somewhere, chewing bubblegum and taping away on a cellphone. That thought brings a smile to my face. It just emphasizes how alike the Fae and Dragons are to the humans. We're a little older and longer-lived, but we're very much the same.

  Clearly, this is not the reaction Surem and Katia are expecting. They both stare at her, open-mouthed, not speaking or moving for a moment. Katia is the first person to get her wits back. She steps forward and takes her sister's hands. "Lysandra. I'm not sure this is such a good idea." I can see the pain in her eyes as she says the words.

  I can tell she wants to help Hannah, but she doesn't want to risk her sister's life.

  Surem however, doesn't seem to have that same thought process. He just shakes his head, leaning back on his throne as he looks down at Lysandra. "Don't be silly, child. We do not know what sharing blood will do to either of you."

  Lysandra, acting like a true teenager, just shrugs. "So? I'm willing to take the risk. Hannah might die without our help. I don't want that to happen. Not again."

  I'm curious what she means by not again, and when I glance over at Katia, her face has fallen and she looks stricken. Something has definitely happened in their past, and I make a mental note to ask about it once we're in a more private setting.

  When I glance over at Hannah, I see her nodding, hope in her eyes. She so desperately wants this. And I know it's not even to save her life, either. It's all for the baby, and for Lex. She knows if she dies, Lex will too. And I'm not sure what the rest of us will do without Lex.

  Surem is still frowning. I can see his hands twitching, and I know he's itching to exert his power, to silence Lysandra and send her away. But the look in his eyes tells me he knows that will be a mistake. Lysandra won't take well to being told no, just like any teenager, and worse, if word gets out to the rest of the enclave, there's no telling how they'll react.

  Finally, he lets out a sigh, shaking his head. "Fine, but we shall consult our healer first. I will not needlessly risk your life if there is no benefit."

  Lysandra frowns, but after looking over at her elder sister, she finally relents and nods. "Fine."

  "And I guess you are all welcome to stay here, within the barrier, in the meantime. It will be safer for both you and us if you're not camped outside, drawing attention to yourselves," Surem adds, though I can see it pains him to say so.

  Lex steps forward, ever the diplomat. "Thank you. We very much appreciate your hospitality."

  Surem nods then turns to Katia. "Show them where they may set up their tents," he instructs, effectively dismissing us.

  Katia leads us out, keeping a tight hold on her sister as she leads us. She's not amused by Lysandra's stunt, even if she does want to help us. I can see that war in her head. She wants to help us but not at the expense of her sister.

  We wind through tents and small wooden buildings, and I try to take in as much of the area as I can. Everything gives off the air of a nomadic tribe of an ancient society. There are only a few of the wooden structures around, and even those look designed to come apart and moved at a moment's notice.

  As far as I can tell, their entire enclave is designed to be self-sufficient. There's not a lot of modern equipment around, but I spot the occasional person with a cellphone or a child with a game device. I can also see small solar panels set out around tents they used to charge their devices. I doubt they have little as far as tech goes, but it seems like they're not entirely living in the past.

  I have so many questions about this place. It's hard to contain myself as I follow along next to Katia, my head on a swivel. I'm glad I'm not feeling the same mating lust as the others since while I'm drawn toward Katia, I'm able to focus on everything else at the same time.

  Finally, we reach the edge of the camp. I notice there's only one other tent in the immediate area, and when I raise an eyebrow, Katia shrugs. "That's the tent Lysandra and I share," she says to my inquisitive look. Then, she turns to face Lex and the others. "There's plenty of room for you guys to get your stuff set up here. If you head back to where we came in, the sentry posted there will assist you in getting through the barrier."

  "Thank you," Lex says, smiling at her. Unlike his thanking of Surem, which had been purely diplomatic, I can see true appreciation in his eyes. It looks like he understands Katia isn't our enemy, that she wants to help us. Then, Surem and the others head off back toward where our own camp is set up, to break everything down and bring it inside the barrier.

  Ezra, however, I notice slips off with Katia's sister. Lysandra is giggling, leaning close to Ezra, and he's smiling at her. I shake my head as I watch the two of them, wondering if it's a good idea to let them go or if it's just going to anger Surem even more. Katia remains quiet, so I decide to just ignore it now and deal with it later if it becomes an issue.

  "How long have you lived here?" I ask Katia, once the others have wandered off. She raises an eyebrow, then heads toward a well, talking as she walks. "My entire life. I was born here. My mother assisted Surem in setting up the enclave to keep everyone safe."

  "Where is your mother now?" I ask since this is the first time she's mentioned the woman.

  Katia's mouth draws into a tight line. She keeps her gaze focused ahead, rushing to look over at me. "She died. In childbirth with Lysandra. Her birth with me had been tough, but she was determined to have another child. She knew how few Fae remained outside of the Clutch, and she wanted to do her part to ensure the survival of our kind."

  I wince. Her words are measured and even, but I can tell how much it hurts her to think about that. Now I understand why she wants to help Hannah so badly. She doesn't want Hannah to experience the same thing her mother did. I can only imagine how tough it would've been, sitting there unable to do something while her mother died.

  It also explains why she's so protective of Lysandra. Her mother gave her life to have Lysandra, and Katia won't let that sacrifice go to waste.

  "We really appreciate your sister volunteering to help us," I tell her. I want her to understand that her mother's sacrifice to have Lysandra will also help Hannah and her baby survive as well. "Please know this isn't something we ask lightly. It is our only way to keep Hannah safe."

  Katia nods and her expression softens a bit. When we reach the well, she picks up two cups, then lowers a ladle into the well and spoons out water, filling both cups before handing one to me.

  The water is crystal clear and cool to the touch. I look at her in amazement, wondering how they dug a well in the middle of the desert.

  "It's enchanted," Katia says with a smile. It's obvious she read my mind and knows exactly what I'm thinking. "With how we move around, it would be too much effort to dig wells out here. It's not like New Mexico is known for its abundant supply of water."

  "How does it work?" Something like this would be immensely useful. We're no less nomadic than this enclave is, though we have to rely more on human civilization than they do. Having something like this would really go a long way toward helping keep us off the grid, away from Amasis.

  But Katia shrugs. "I'm not sure, to be honest. It's not something I ever learned. One of the other women maintains these f
or us. I'm sure you could ask her if you'd like, though they need to be recharged every so often, which will make them difficult for you and your friends to use if you don't have that ability."

  "Thank you," I say, nodding. What she says is true, but it's still worth investigating. Maybe if it's a small group of us using it, it won't need to be recharged as often.

  Katia downs her water then sets the cup down. I do the same. I should get back to the others, but I can't bring myself to leave her. I want to stay here, talking with her for hours on end like we did last night. There are so many things I want to know. And not just about the enclave either. There's so much about her I want to learn.

  Standing only inches away from her, my eyes locked on hers, I Can't resist any longer. I reach out and pull her toward me. Her eyes go wide in shock, but she doesn't push away. Nor does she when I lean down and press my lips to hers. But when I break the kiss, she backs away and draws in a quick breath.

  For a moment, Katia's quiet, then she shakes her head. "Please don't do that again," she says before turning and walking away without another word.

  I stay there, staring at her retreating back. My heart pounds I watch her go, and I fight back the urge to chase after her. I curse myself for letting my urges get the better of me.

  Still, as I watch her go, it doesn't feel like she's angry with me, just flustered.

  6

  Katia

  The wind rushes through my hair as I walk toward Tyko's tent. I know I should slow down and take it easy, especially since I didn't get any sleep last night, but I refuse to. I want to put as much distance between myself and Galen as possible, not comfortable with the feelings welling up inside me. I barely know the guy, and yet, when he pulled me into his arms like that, it's like my brain just shut down and stopped responding. It wasn't until after the kiss ended that everything started coming back to life inside me and now, I can seem to get my heart to stop racing.

  So, I keep rushing toward Tyko, hoping if I put my mind toward something productive, I'll be able to stop thinking about Galen for at least a little while.

  Tyko is sitting in the center of his tent, a small pot sitting atop a fire. The walls of his tent are lined with wooden shelves, filled with all sorts of books and scrolls, most of which are far older than I am. And yet, a few are modern medical books, procured during our occasional jaunts into towns and cities to restock supplies. He looks every bit like a witch out of lore, with his bubbling pot and his ancient books. I think he does it on purpose. I don't put it past Tyko's odd sense of humor to do something like that. Hell, for all I know, he's the whole reason for that superstition.

  He looks up when I walk in and smiles broadly. He stands and abandons whatever he's working on and walks over to me, his arms wide. "Katia! It's so good to see you," he says as he hugs me.

  I chuckle and hug him back, shaking my head. The old man acts like it's been months since I've seen him, even though I run across him at least once a day. The camp isn't that big, after all, and I rarely venture outside it. "It's good to see you, too," I say though, meaning every one of those words. I owe this man so much for everything he's done for me and Lysandra over the years.

  "Come, sit," he says, guiding me over to the cushions he has set out near the fire. It's warm in his tent, even warmer than it is outside, but I can't refuse him. Sometimes I wonder if he keeps his tent hot like this to discourage people from visiting him unless their need is great. He's dedicated his life to helping people, but I know better than anyone he's much fonder of research into the healing arts than actually dealing with people.

  And sometimes, I don't blame him either.

  "What brings you to me today?" he asks, smiling broadly.

  I fill him in on everything that's happened thus far. Though Surem leads the camp, Tyko is one of the oldest here and many listen to his advice on matters. I'm hoping he will agree with what Lex and Hannah need and convince Surem to help. Part of me hopes he has a way to help the poor woman without Lysandra needing to intervene, but as long as it's safe for Lysandra, I'm not against that plan either.

  But I'm not willing to let Lysandra go through with anything until I've heard Tyko's opinion. Surem is right. There's a risk the mixing of their bloods could do something unexpected for both of them, and I want to do everything I can to lessen that risk. As much as I want to help Hannah and her unborn child, I'm not going to put Lysandra's life on the line to do it.

  Tyko frowns as he listens, stroking his long, white beard. His brow is tightly knitted in thought as he listens intently. He doesn't interrupt as I tell him everything, from the moment the Fire Riders arrived until now.

  "Well," Tyko says after a long sigh. "I do not foresee a problem with the procedure. However, I do not believe it will be as simple as just taking blood from Lysandra and injecting it into the human woman. But, I cannot say for sure since it is not a procedure I've ever done before myself."

  And yet, I can see a light in his eyes. He's intrigued by this to say the least. Medical knowledge is something he covets, something he's dedicated hundreds of years to studying. Whether it's helping people through magic, through nature, or through science, it all fascinates him.

  "Do you think we should go through with it then?" I ask, holding my breath as I wait for his answer. I want to believe it will not be an issue for either woman, but I want to hear it from Tyko first.

  Tyko shakes his head, which surprises me a little. "No, not yet. Give me some time to research this matter first. I want to determine if it's something simply biological, such as injecting the blood into the human woman's bloodstream, or if it's a bit more magical in nature, Lysandra giving some of her life essences to help bolster the human's own strength."

  His request is reasonable, and I nod. "Thank you, Tyko," I say, standing. "I'll let the others know. You'll come find me once you have an answer?"

  Tyko smiles and nods. He stands, slowly, then wraps his arms around me once more. "I know you fear for Lysandra, but I have to say I am proud of the two of you. These people are not of our clan, but you both still step forward to try and assist them. You make an old man proud. And I know your mother would be proud, too. Just because we hide behind our barrier, does not mean we do not have a duty to help those beyond it still."

  "Thank you," I say, from the bottom of my heart. "It means a lot to hear that from you."

  I hug Tyko once more, then slip out of his tent and back into the slightly cooler heat of the desert. I have no idea how he can spend so much time in that stifling heat. A giggle slips from my lips if I wonder if maybe he's part dragon too and maybe that's why he likes things so warm all the time.

  I'm only a few tents away when I nearly walk straight into Surem. He smiles at me as he catches me when I stumble trying to stop myself. If he's coming this way, then he must be on his way to see Tyko, to ask him for his opinion on the matter. Just because Surem's against this, doesn't mean he will go back on his word to consult the enclave's healer.

  "I just spoke with Tyko on the matter," I tell him, relaying what Tyko told me.

  "Thank you for saving me the effort," Surem says, smiling at me. He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me against him. His body heat rushes over me, making me sweat almost as much as being in Tyko's tent. "I know you think I'm being too harsh by denying their request for aid, but I have to think of the enclave first. If we aid them and they tell others we helped, then our secret could be exposed. They may not mean us harm, but if Amasis finds out we're here, he will stop at nothing until he controls us. All of us."

  "I understand," I tell him, meeting his gaze. And I really do. But that doesn't mean I can just stand by and do nothing while the woman dies. And if she dies because refused them help, will we not be making enemies of the Fire Riders as well? Won't they want revenge on us? I keep those words to myself though, not wanting to start an argument with him in the middle of our encampment. Discussions like this are best kept private.

  Surem takes a deep breath before he co
ntinues. "The dragons must leave, soon. I will allow them to remain here while Tyko does his research, but after that, they need to move on."

  This time, as I look into his eyes, I don't see his concern for our people behind his words. It's as if I'm the center of his focus right then, and I understand where those words are coming from, why he's been digging his heels against every plan we've put forward. He can sense the connection growing between me and Galen. And he doesn't want me to fall in love with the dragon, rather than him.

  I break the embrace and back away from Surem, shaking my head. I meet his gaze, keeping my shoulders squared and my voice even. "I will not marry you," I say, conviction behind each word. "I'm sorry, Surem but I cannot do it."

  Surem frowns at me and shakes his head. No matter how many times I tell him, he refuses to accept it. "You know this is the only logical answer," he tells me. His voice says he doesn't understand why I keep denying him.

  And I'm too tired of explaining myself, tired of telling him I won't choose a mate based on logic. I want to find a mate I enjoy being with one I get along with. And as much as I respect Surem as a warrior and a leader, he's not the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. So, I just shake my head and walk away, leaving him frowning after me.

  I need to get away from the camp for a while, just get out and clear my head. I ignore the comings and goings all around me and just walk, heading for the barrier. I know I should go back to my tent and rest or go do something to help with the Fire Riders, but I can't do either of those things. I just need to escape for a while, to get away from everything and try to let my brain calm down.

  It doesn't take long to slip out of the camp into the open desert. The moment I'm through the barrier, all the voices fade away, leaving me in blissful silence. I let out a sigh of relief as my shoulders relax. I love the enclave, I really do, but sometimes I just need a break from it all, a chance to forget about everything that depends on me, everything that I need to get done.