by Donna Grant
The times she did, she found herself near Dreagan in hopes of seeing him. When she didn’t, she was relieved. Because she had known even then that she wouldn’t have been able to stay away. With every trip where she didn’t see him, she was able to keep her secret from Brandr—and keep lying to herself.
Emotion choked Eurwen. She had been lying. She knew that she wanted to be with Vaughn. Knew she wanted that connection between mates. Not following her heart had led her to centuries of melancholy and unrest, all because she realized that Brandr would fight her about a Dragon King on Zora. And she couldn’t live on Earth.
Admitting the truth to herself still didn’t work out the problems. Even if she got away from the entity holding her, she didn’t want to ask Vaughn to give up his realm. And she didn’t want to give up hers. How could they have a relationship if they couldn’t even work out where to live?
Then there was Brandr. He might have relented and allowed Con and the others to aid in the hunt for who’d attacked Nundro, but that didn’t mean her brother’s will had softened when it came to the Kings. Her lying about Vaughn, creating the doorway so their parents could come through, and then going to Dreagan without telling him had created a wedge between them. One she wasn’t sure could be mended.
Brandr had never been so cold to her before. For the majority of their lives, they’d only had each other. They were each other’s family. It didn’t matter that they had parents, because Rhi and Con hadn’t been there when they were growing up or when they found Zora. There was even a point where they hadn’t wanted anything from Erith. The goddess hadn’t pushed them, even though she could have.
Now, Eurwen wondered if Erith should have pushed them. But that would be blaming someone else. She and Brandr had made the decisions and taken action. They were the ones to blame for not knowing their parents or the Dragon Kings. At one time, the anger she and Brandr had felt had driven all of their decisions. Now, looking back, Eurwen saw how petty and childish it all was.
Fear clawed at her because she wasn’t sure she would get a chance to tell Vaughn or her parents how she really felt, regardless of what her brother thought. She shouldn’t worry about admitting what was in her heart just because it might upset Brandr. And he should do the same.
When had everything become so confusing? Eurwen screamed Vaughn’s name in her head, anxious to get to him.
That’s when she heard the laughter.
The sight of multiple dragons lying dead was all too familiar to Vaughn. There was scorched earth everywhere, the product of dragon fire. Constantine was on the ground in human form, leaning over someone. Varek went one way, and V the other, searching for the culprits.
Vaughn saw a Red struggling to get to its feet. He landed beside it. “Wait. Con can heal you.”
The Red turned its white eyes to him and slowly lay on the ground, its breath laborious. “So much pain,” said the male.
“Be easy. It willna be long,” Vaughn said. Then he shouted, “Con!”
When Con didn’t reply, Vaughn looked at him to find the King of Kings leaning over Brandr.
No, Vaughn thought. Eurwen and Brandr couldn’t both be hurt. He watched Brandr, silently willing him to move. Then Brandr’s arm lifted to rub at his brow. Relief surged through Vaughn. Con then rose and hurried to him and the Red.
“Just relax,” Con told the Red as he approached and put his hand over one of the many wounds.
Vaughn backed away and shifted to human form while looking for other survivors. Unfortunately, the rest of the dragons were dead. Including all four generals. Vaughn turned his head to Brandr, who sat with his legs bent and his elbows resting on his knees as his hands held his head.
“Shite,” V said in Vaughn’s head. “Something terrible happened here.”
Varek circled above Vaughn. “It’s a good thing Con was here.”
“Do either of you see anything?” Vaughn asked.
“No’ a bloody thing,” V replied.
Con finished with the Red. The dragon got to his feet and bowed his head to Con and then Vaughn before flying away. Con turned to Vaughn as V and Varek landed behind him and shifted.
“What happened?” Vaughn asked.
Con ran a hand down his face, showing his weariness. “I had a difficult time tracking Brandr because he didna want to be found. I heard the dragons’ screams of pain. That’s what led me here. I saw Brandr and his generals breathing fire in all directions while hovering over these fallen dragons.
“Did you see anyone?” Varek asked Brandr.
Brandr got to his feet and walked to them. “There wasna anyone to see. But we were attacked. One by one, my generals fell. I watched them plummet from the sky as I continued looking for the enemy.”
The anger and remorse in Brandr’s words and on his face was something every King had experienced.
“Many of the dragons were already dead when we arrived,” Brandr continued as he ran a hand down his face dejectedly. “A few were still alive, but the instant they moved, another round of magic came at them.”
Vaughn caught his gaze. “From which direction?”
“Everywhere,” Con answered.
V blinked in surprise. “Everywhere? Like you were surrounded?”
“That’s what it seemed like,” Brandr said. “I kept telling my generals to move around more. When they started getting hit, I knew I had to find whoever was doing this and stop them before they killed more.”
Con briefly closed his eyes. “That’s when I saw Brandr get struck.”
Now Vaughn understood the bellow Con had let out. “Did you see your attacker?”
“I wish,” Brandr said with a snort.
Con raked a hand through his blond hair. “I got to Brandr before he fell unconscious. That might be the difference between him and Eurwen.”
“She still isna awake?” Brandr asked, concern clouding his eyes.
Vaughn shook his head. “No’ yet. There’s a lot we all need to catch up on.”
“First, we need to take care of these dragons,” V said.
For the next hour, the five of them returned the dragons to their families. It was a somber affair that left all of them drained as the worry of another attack festered. Brandr sent out a message to all dragons to be on the lookout for attacks and to remain in the heart of their territory until the assailants could be found and stopped.
With that finished, they returned to Cairnkeep and gathered together in Brandr’s cottage. They spent the evening meal catching everyone up on everything that had occurred.
“Do you think Sateen will come through for us?” Con asked.
Varek shrugged. “I trust her.”
“I do, as well,” Vaughn added.
Brandr glanced at the bed. “I’m a little more worried about Eurwen.”
Vaughn got up from the table and walked to the bed. “I’ve got an idea. I doona know if it’ll work, but it’s worth a try.”
“Do it,” Rhi said.
Brandr jumped to his feet. “Hold on. What are you talking about?”
“My power is dream manipulation. Ever since Eurwen and I first met, I searched for her everywhere. I never found her, but each night during sleep, we were together. I thought they were only dreams until I spoke with her after coming here. It was real. Somehow, the connection we forged so long ago allowed us to find each other in a different way.”
Brandr was silent for a moment. “You believe she’s your mate.”
“I know she is,” Vaughn replied.
Brandr looked at his sister and nodded. “Do it.”
“Let’s leave them to it,” Con said.
Everyone filed out of the cottage except for Brandr. Vaughn studied Eurwen’s brother. There had been a lot of changes for the twins. Most Eurwen had sought herself. Brandr was trying to keep things the way they were, but unfortunately, that couldn’t happen. You couldn’t stop change.
“I doona like you,” Brandr said.
Vaughn bowed his head. “I know.�
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“It isna personal. I doona like any Kings.”
“You doona know us.”
Brandr drew in a breath, his nostrils flaring. “My sister saw something in you. I trust her with my life. She chose you, and while I may no’ like it, I’ll no’ stand in your way. I’m trusting you now.”
“I would die for her. I’ll no’ let anything happen to her.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“I would expect nothing less.”
Brandr’s shoulders dropped slightly. He bowed his head to Vaughn before leaving the cottage. Vaughn turned to the bed and looked at Eurwen. He could almost believe that she was sleeping. That all he needed to do was touch her, and she would wake, looking up at him with her beautiful silver eyes.
He walked to the bed and sat before stretching out beside her. Vaughn took her hand in his and turned his head toward her. “We’ve always found each other in dreams. Find me now.”
Vaughn closed his eyes. He didn’t wait for sleep. Instead, he released his power and searched for Eurwen’s dreams. He was shocked to discover that something was already there. He couldn’t tell if it was distorting Eurwen’s thoughts or if it was only watching. Regardless, the being was there.
Vaughn moved cautiously. He could manipulate dreams, not search someone’s mind. That was Tristan’s power, and it was too bad that he wasn’t here to help. All Vaughn could do was seek Eurwen’s dreams and attempt to talk to her. He wasn’t sure how successful he’d be since something had taken up residence in her mind. How, Vaughn didn’t know.
Before he went deeper, he wanted to let the others know what he’d found. He connected to Con, Brandr, V, and Varek. “Something is in Eurwen’s mind. I can no’ see if it has done anything. I doona know how long it’ll be before it notices me.”
“Doona test it, then,” V said. “End this now. We’ll wake Eurwen another way.”
Varek made a sound in the back of his throat. “How? Vaughn may be the only one who can reach her.”
“None of us can tell you what to do,” Con told him. “The decision is ultimately up to you. I doona want to lose my daughter or you.”
Brandr said, “Perhaps you shouldna be there alone.”
“Even if all of you were here, none of you would be able to do anything to help should something happen,” Vaughn told them.
Con sighed. “You’re going ahead with this. It’s what I’d do. It’s what any of us would do for our mates. Can you give us anything on what you sense is there? Is it a particular kind of magic?”
Vaughn reached out with his magic, trying to discern anything, only to come up empty. He was frustrated, but he tried not to let the emotion grow because it would only make things more difficult. “I can only tell that something is there. I can no’ perceive if it’s a person or magic. Whatever it is could verra well be keeping her unconscious, which would mean only one thing.”
“It wants whatever is in her mind,” Brandr said.
V murmured, “Bloody hell.”
“But Brandr is here,” Varek pointed out. “Whatever Eurwen knows, he does, as well.”
Con blew out a breath. “We doona know what this being is. We doona know what magic was used. We doona know why it’s targeting dragons. How can we begin to determine what it wants from anyone, much less Eurwen?”
“It’s why I have to go in,” Vaughn said.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The fear that rolled through Eurwen was cloying, like tar. The more she felt it, the more it clung to her. She’d known she wasn’t alone but hearing the laughter without seeing anything was…terrifying.
It wasn’t a reaction she was familiar with. The only thing that had come close was when she and Brandr had first come to Zora and had seen the dragons in such disarray. But this was different. Very different. She feared for her life now.
Being half-Fae and half-dragon meant there was much she didn’t know about herself. Dragons and Fae both lived extremely long lives. Dragon Kings were immortal until the magic found someone else to take their position. She didn’t consider herself a Dragon Queen, not like Melisse. But…maybe she was.
Eurwen frowned as something dark and malevolent went through her. It was the same sensation she’d had after hearing the laughter and the voice after she’d been struck. She wasn’t sure why her thoughts had gone to Melisse, but she didn’t like it. She turned her thoughts away, thinking of the feel of the sun on her scales.
That’s when she sensed a light near her. She wasn’t sure how she knew it was Vaughn, but she did. Excitement rose, choking her as tears stung her eyes. She’d known he would come.
She waited to hear him, feel him, and as each heartbeat passed, she grew concerned. Something was very, very wrong. How had she missed it? She had gotten a touch of it a few times, but now that she took stock of her body, she was able to recognize what she’d missed. Why hadn’t she fought to move her limbs more? Why had she accepted that her eyes wouldn’t open? Why had she allowed herself to delve deep into her thoughts when she should’ve been guarding herself?
A tear slipped out of her eye and fell onto her cheek to roll to her temple and then into her hair. She and Brandr had ruled Zora for eons without many hiccups. No other beings had attacked, and they had kept the mortals contained. That had led her—and no doubt, Brandr—to believe that they were powerful beings.
They were getting a taste of what it meant to be attacked now—truly attacked.
And she was failing miserably.
She turned toward the light, instinctively reaching for Vaughn. He had always been there. Even when she hadn’t realized it. She had pushed him away, ignoring what her heart told her. How could she have been so stupid? If only she could go back and change things. All those centuries without him. Without hearing his voice, seeing his smile, feeling his arms around her.
Eurwen released a breath and felt another tear come. She didn’t deserve Vaughn. He should be with a woman who recognized his big heart, his gentleness, and his strength. He wasn’t showy. His vigor was subtle, and in many ways, more potent because of it.
He used his intelligence and ability to listen to do great things for Dreagan. It was why Con always sent Vaughn to negotiate. Anyone who believed they could take advantage of Vaughn was soon put in their place. He was the type of man who would support her instead of controlling her. He would have her back in all things because he knew that she would have his.
“Vaughn.”
As if her thoughts had conjured him, he stepped out of the darkness. “I’m here, lass.”
Her shoulders shook as more tears came. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“You doona have to wait any longer.”
Eurwen was surprised to discover that she could move her arm. She reached out to Vaughn, needing his touch.
“Eurwen, no.”
She frowned as she saw a second Vaughn. She looked between the two. “What is going on?”
The first Vaughn caught her eyes. “You know me, Eurwen.”
“Lass,” the second Vaughn said. “Look at me. See me.”
As she looked between them, she realized that she wasn’t seeing them with her eyes. They were in her mind. It caught her so off guard that she didn’t know what to think. She had felt trapped, so she believed she was. To the extent that she hadn’t thought to use her magic. Worse, she was afraid to try now.
Her gaze moved between the two Vaughns. She shook her head, unable to tell one from the other. Then a third appeared. And a fourth. More and more emerged as if from thin air. All identical to the first in every way. She lost count of how many Vaughns there were. Each of them asking her to choose him.
Eurwen subtly called to her magic. It moved through her, answering her immediately. Nothing felt amiss, but at the moment, she didn’t trust anything. Eurwen surrounded herself with a shield of magic to protect herself from attacks. Or, she should have. She still didn’t understand how she had been wounded. Nothing should’ve gotten through her armor. Regar
dless, she was going to use magic now. She had no other choice.
She tuned the numerous Vaughns out. It was obvious that whatever was with her used her thoughts against her. Well, she wouldn’t let it happen anymore. Whatever this was might hinder her movements, but she didn’t need her body or her voice to command her magic. She just needed her mind.
The Vaughns were incessant. She wanted to scream at them to shut up, but she knew it wouldn’t do any good. They kept talking while trying to get her attention. It was maddening and frustrating. As she turned away, she saw something. She moved back a step and caught the sight of him through the others.
Their gazes locked. He was dressed differently, and he wasn’t talking. This Vaughn winked at her. That’s when she knew it was the real Vaughn. He stayed back, letting her find him on her own. It was exactly something he would do. She wondered why he hadn’t tried to come to her. So far, the Vaughns didn’t seem to notice him. She debated going to him but ultimately decided against it. It was possible the Vaughns might attack.
Eurwen had thought she was in her head, but if Vaughn were here, that meant this was a dream. Erith had told her how Usaeil had trapped her nephew, Xaneth, in his mind. Was that what had happened here? More troubling was that she didn’t know if her magic actually worked since this was a dream. Or where her body was in reality.
Her stomach tightened. Vaughn could manipulate dreams. Was he responsible for this? Surely, not. He cared for her. He would never hurt her. Would he?
Strong arms came around her from behind. Warm breath fanned her neck as his lips pressed against her skin. “You’ll never be lost to me if I can find you here.”
She looked to the Vaughn behind the others. He was gone. Was this him now? Eurwen turned in his arms and searched his face.
“It’s me,” he said as he held her gaze.
She wanted to believe him, but she had been wrong before. What if she was wrong again? It was as if she were in a maze that she couldn’t get out of.