by Rinelle Grey
“That’s true,” he agreed. “But it’s all the more reason I need to get there as soon as possible, so I don’t lose my lead. I can’t sit around and do nothing all day. I’ll fly down there.”
It was a ridiculous suggestion, and he knew it, even before Rylee pulled her hand back from his, put them on her hips, and glared at him. “You’re going to fly from Dragon Island to Mungaloo in broad daylight?” Her tight lips said exactly what she thought of that idea.
But Calrian wasn’t fooled. It wasn’t anger she was hiding, it was worry.
He put a hand on her shoulder. “Not during the day,” he conceded. “I’ll wait until dark. That’s only a few hours away now.”
“And how long do you think it will take to get there?” Rylee demanded. “That’s over fifteen hundred kilometres. It would take me nearly twenty hours to drive it, so it’s going to take you at least that long to fly, possibly longer. You can’t possibly do it in one night, and you can’t fly during the day, so it will take you even longer than waiting until tomorrow morning for a plane.”
There was no disputing Rylee’s calculations. Calrian’s heart sank. But he wasn’t going to give up. “I’ll swim then,” he said determinedly. “If I stay far underwater I can swim during the day and be there even sooner.”
“Mora can’t,” Rylee said firmly. “And you can’t do it without taking a break either.” Her voice softened. “I know it’s hard to wait, Calrian, but it’s the fastest way to get there, really.”
Calrian searched for other options, his mind working frantically. “Hayrian can fly me in the helicopter,” he insisted. “Or I can drive. Or take the boat.” He waved a hand to indicate their motorboat.
There had to be a way. Waiting couldn’t possibly be the fastest option, not when his body craved for him to do something, anything, to find his brother as quickly as possible.
“If the planes are grounded, Hayrian can’t fly either,” Rylee pointed out. “And you haven’t had more than a few hours driving practice, let alone a licence. And before you suggest Mora can drive, she can’t drive for twenty hours straight. Even ten hours straight with an overnight break would be pushing it, and tomorrow’s plane will still beat you.”
His mate’s voice was firm. She wasn’t going to listen to any more arguments.
And Calrian was all out anyway. He knew she was right, there was no way to get there faster. But tomorrow morning seemed like years away. So much could happen in that time, and Calrian had no choice but to sit here and wait while his brother was potentially weak and vulnerable.
Rylee’s expression softened. “If flights aren’t running again tomorrow, I’ll drive you,” she promised.
Calrian didn’t want to accept the truth, even though he had no choice. He heaved a sigh of frustration, but held up his hands in surrender. “All right. I’ll wait until tomorrow.”
“Good.” Rylee’s face was still a little mutinous, but her tense stance relaxed slightly.
She stared at the jetty as Hayrian pulled in alongside it and tied off the boat.
They were home. But right now his home brought him little comfort. As much as Calrian loved Dragon Island, being here when his duties as a Rian prince required him to be elsewhere just made his guilt worse. He was safe and sound while his brother was out there alone.
But as he walked up the path to their home next to his mate, Rylee’s presence soothed some of his agitation. He was doing all he could. And as things heated up, finding Verrian was only going to become more difficult. The few days he’d thought it would take stretched out longer.
He had no idea how long he’d be away from his mate, so they might as well enjoy this last night together.
Chapter 61
Rylee ordered takeout from the Fins and Ships for an early dinner. No matter how much she tried to pretend this was a normal day, she just couldn’t focus. Cooking seemed impossible.
Besides, she didn’t want to waste any time preparing food when she could be spending it with Calrian.
Secretly, she was a little glad the flight had been cancelled. With the news of Ultrima flying around the city, unfazed by being seen, the worries she’d soothed earlier returned full force. This was far bigger than they’d first guessed, and she suspected it was only going to get bigger.
This last night with Calrian felt like a gift, and she wasn’t going to waste a precious second of it.
Calrian seemed to be of the same mind. He delegated all his usual tasks to one of the children, instead sticking by her side. His only concession to the events that would drag him away from her eventually was to constantly check the news for anything new. But every site only regurgitated the same images and text over and over.
Until they sat down to eat. Then, just as Rylee put the food on the table in front of them, Rowan piped up with, “I think we should turn the news on.”
“What is it?” Calrian and Rylee asked at the exact same moment.
But whereas Calrian’s voice sounded eager, Rylee’s heart sank. She didn’t want more news that would draw Calrian that little bit further away from her. Even though she knew he had to go, she just wanted to enjoy this last night together as a family.
But that wasn’t to be. Rowan picked up the remote and switched the television on. Everyone stared in disbelief at the image on the screen.
Rylee recognised the scene immediately, even though it was growing late—Ultrima’s mountain.
Spotlights lit up the darkness bright as day even though the video was being broadcast from somewhere in the trees to one side of the area surrounded by the police.
And there, in the centre of it all, stood Ultrima.
Rylee recognised him easily in human form. She’d never forget his face. Lit by spotlights, he seemed unaware of the plethora of guns pointed at him, guns that could have ripped him apart in human or dragon form.
The ticker below the image read, “Terrorist hideout surrounded by police.”
Rylee couldn’t believe they were still going with that story, though she had to admit there were no dragons in the scene right now. If she didn’t already know, she wouldn’t have guessed Ultrima was a dragon.
“Just what is he up to?” Calrian asked curiously, his eyes not leaving the screen.
Rylee had lost him already. The whole evening would be taken up with everyone sitting here glued to the screen. The children were already moving their chairs for a better view and bringing their plates with them.
Family dinner was over.
Rylee tried not to feel resentful of the fact that, once again, Ultrima was tearing her life apart. Or at least, not be annoyed that her whole family was succumbing to the drama. She reminded herself that Ultrima’s public stunt would have repercussions for her family for the rest of their lives.
They needed to know what was happening, even she couldn’t deny that.
Biting back a sigh, she moved her own chair so she could watch too.
“My people have no grievance with yours.” Ultrima’s voice rang out through the trees, unnaturally loud. “If you leave us alone, we will leave you alone.”
Rylee shook her head in disbelief, drawn in in spite of herself. She exchanged a speaking look with Calrian. This would be amusing if nothing else.
“Well, he did keep his word to us,” Calrian said reasonably. “Maybe he speaks the truth.”
Maybe. Stranger things had happened.
But Rylee couldn’t help suspecting that whether he spoke the truth or not, Ultrima had an ulterior motive. Unlike his stunt over the city, this felt like it might just be leading towards something.
She couldn’t see how it could benefit him though, and a lot of reasons why it would constrain his actions. Now the world was aware of Ultrima’s existence, he couldn’t really keep going around killing other dragons willy-nilly. Could he?
A policeman with a megaphone stepped up and said loudly, “Were you the one responsible for the… craft… flying over our city earlier today?”
Rylee wasn’t s
urprised the police were nervous. They had no idea what sort of power Ultrima had. It was rather brave for them to be there at all. But then again, what choice did they have? It wasn’t like they could leave this job to someone else.
Ultrima, on the other hand, seemed completely comfortable with the situation. In fact, he laughed. “Yes. I flew over your city today. But as you can attest, I didn’t hurt anyone. Not any humans anyway.”
Then he looked towards the trees, almost directly towards the camera as though he knew someone was hiding there. So Ultrima had gone to the city for a reason. But what was it?
Despite herself, Rylee couldn’t help being intrigued. Watching the scene at this distance almost felt like watching a TV drama. It was less frightening than it was fascinating. What would happen next?
Rylee wasn’t disappointed. She gasped in shock as the camera panned left and caught Verrian, completely naked, holding an unconscious woman in his arms.
Calrian did more than gasp. He was on his feet, staring at the screen. “Verrian,” he said out loud. He held out his hand towards the screen, almost as if he thought he could warn his brother. As if he could stop him walking straight into the lair of their enemy.
But Verrian, completely unaware of his brother’s anguish, kept walking forwards, saying loudly to the cameras and onlookers alike, “I’m the one Ultrima was after. As a dragon, I was able to heal from the wounds he inflicted, but Lisa can’t.” He walked forwards to stand directly in front of Ultrima. “If you truly wish humans no harm, then tell your life dragon to heal her.”
Everyone in Rylee’s living room gasped.
“Life dragon?” Calrian blurted out. He glanced over at Mora, and Rylee knew what he was thinking even before he spoke into her mind. “I’m sorry, I had no idea. I would never have suggested taking Mora if I had known Ultrima had his own life dragon.”
“I know,” Rylee assured him.
The world shifted around her. Again. And Rylee couldn’t help feeling like she stood in the middle of an earthquake. Or quicksand.
But the scene on the television didn’t stop for them to catch up with what was happening. The participants continued to act out their drama, completely unaware of Rylee and Calrian watching.
“What’s in it for me?” Ultrima crossed his arms and stared haughtily at Verrian.
Rylee held her breath. What would happen if Ultrima blasted Calrian’s brother right there in front of everyone? Would the police fire? Would it be the end of their enemy?
But Ultrima didn’t blast him, just as he hadn’t blasted Rylee and Calrian all those years ago. Instead he listened as Verrian said, “You get a chance to prove your good will to the humans.”
Verrian was clever. Rylee had to give him that. But she wasn’t surprised. Calrian could talk anyone around to what he wanted the same way. She snuck a look at her mate, his eyes not leaving the screen.
She wondered if he was thinking what she was thinking—that Verrian must care deeply for the human in his arms if he was prepared to face his enemy, to beg Ultrima to help her.
Predictably, Ultrima wasn’t terribly cooperative. “Do you think I care about the humans’ regard? Enough to help my enemy?”
The determination in Verrian’s eyes faltered for a moment. He glanced down at the woman he loved, anguish on his face.
But Ultrima continued, though his voice was hard to make out. Hayrian turned the volume up, and even then, Rylee had to lean forwards to catch the quiet words.
“There is something I want far more than the humans’ regard.”
Rylee guessed what was coming next. The same thing Ultrima had tried to bargain for with them. The question was, how would Verrian react? How desperate was he?
She wasn’t surprised when Verrian knew exactly what Ultrima wanted and didn’t even hesitate in his reply. “My sister’s love is not mine to bargain with,” he said immediately, his voice loud and firm.
Ultrima kept pushing. “Not even to save your lifemate?”
“Lifemate?” Calrian stared over at Rylee. “My brother is mated to a human woman?” he said directly into her mind.
Rylee knew what he was thinking. He hadn’t said it, but she knew he’d been concerned about his family’s reaction to him mating a human. Despite the fact that he’d always tried to keep it from her, she knew he worried they wouldn’t accept her.
She’d worried about it too.
Perhaps though, that wouldn’t be a problem after all.
If Verrian survived.
Rylee had to admit, she was more hopeful for a positive outcome than she had been when he’d first walked out into the clearing. Maybe Calrian wouldn’t need to rush to Mungaloo after all. Although even if this were sorted here tonight, he’d want to see his brother.
But if Ultrima wasn’t chasing Verrian, the risk to Calrian was far lower. Maybe Mora could even stay here, in relative safety, and a long way away from the Trima life dragon. She gave another shiver at the fact that they’d now lost two advantages.
“No one can force someone to love another, no matter how honourable the reason.” Verrian’s voice was strong, sure.
There were a lot of similarities between the two brothers. Rylee hoped she got the chance to meet Verrian. She suspected she’d like him.
Ultrima’s piercing eyes bored into Verrian. “How about the reverse? Does anyone have the right to stop someone loving another?”
What did he mean? Calrian’s sister had rejected him. No one had stopped her from loving him. Had they?
She looked over at Calrian, and he shrugged. “Ultrima twists the story to be what he wants it to be. Sarian was quite clear she didn’t wish to mate him.” A frown creased his forehead. “Though she might have only done so out of obligation to her clan.”
For the first time, Rylee felt a twinge of sympathy for the Trima dragon. She could sort of understand what he was going through. When she’d realised she was falling in love with Calrian, she’d been terrified he would leave her out of duty to his clan. Would, in fact, refuse to get involved in the first place.
But she’d never have even considered attacking him or his family over it.
On screen, Verrian was standing up and defying Ultrima, even though his mate was dying in his arms. “No. But my sister made her feelings known quite clearly. You were the one who chose to ignore them.”
Rylee bit her lip. It was probably not the best thing to say to an enemy dragon right now, especially not when Verrian was trying to get his help. But she wasn’t surprised Calrian’s brother was as brave as he was. She held her breath as Ultrima stared at Verrian.
“Okay,” the Trima leader said abruptly. “I’ll offer you a different deal.”
Verrian nodded. “I’m listening.”
“I’ll heal your mate so long as you agree never to see her again.”
“What?” Rylee demanded. She looked over at Calrian. Did he have any idea what was going on? But he just shrugged again, his eyes glued to the screen.
“What?” Verrian said, unaware that he’d echoed Rylee’s words. Unaware that his brother and his family were even watching. His face was anguished, and he stared down at the woman in his arms.
Rylee could almost feel his pain. Give up his mate to save her? What a terrible choice.
“Not so impressed by never being able to see the woman you love again?” Ultrima said mockingly. “If you love her, surely her being alive is more important than whether you get to see her or not?”
Verrian was silent for a long moment, and miles away in Rylee’s living room, everyone held their breath.
“Go on. You know you have to,” Calrian urged his brother through the screen. Rylee could see the tears in his eyes, and she reached out to squeeze his hand. “We’ll find a way to fix it later, you know we will.”
Verrian opened his mouth to speak, then swallowed, and said, “I agree under one condition.” His voice was hoarse and raspy.
“What?”
“That I get to see her once after she’s
healed. I want to know she’s really okay.”
“Of course,” Ultrima inclined his head as though granting a favour.
Rylee ground her teeth. What a bitter old man. He was determined to hurt everyone just because he’d been hurt. Didn’t he see that this was different? Or did he think he had the right to anything he wanted? She wished she could gather up Verrian, give him a big hug, and then spit in the old dragon’s face.
But no one was there to defend Verrian, or to offer him any other choice, so he took the only option open to him. “Then I’ll do it.”
Ultrima waved a hand, and a woman stepped forwards. Her pure white hair and pale blue eyes reminded Rylee of her daughter, though it was hard to think this woman shared any similarity to her kind, caring daughter. The Trima life dragon knew the feelings of everyone in that clearing, yet still she choose to side with Ultrima.
Verrian gently laid Lisa on the ground in front of the life dragon. The human woman, Verrian’s lifemate if Ultrima were to be believed, lay there lifeless. Rylee stared, her heart in her mouth.
She knew life dragons had amazing healing magic. She’d seen Mora heal many cuts and scrapes, but this was different. This woman’s wounds were far more serious. Could the life dragon really save her life?
If she didn’t, Calrian would lose his brother right there on TV in front of them.
Chapter 62
Calrian couldn’t take his eyes off the television. His heart ached, and adrenaline coursed through his body. Standing still took every bit of willpower he had. He might not have managed it even then, except there wasn’t anything else he could do. All he could do was watch helplessly as the events unfolded thousands of miles away.
The life dragon, Ultrima’s life dragon, bent over Lisa’s unconscious form while Verrian watched anxiously. She laid her hands over the wounds on Verrian’s lifemate’s chest and stared at her unconscious face.
Calrian held his breath. It would work. It had to work. Life dragon magic was powerful, even if he had never seen it heal wounds this severe. That was just because there had never been a need. Dragons didn’t need healing since they had the Mesmer sleep to heal their wounds.