Page 32 of Dragon Blood

Otherwise, she would ensure that Aeleftheria was still on her guard for their next attack, now that so many of those males knew where the archipelago lay. They would come again. It was only a matter of time.

Patience.

I’ve been at this for centuries. What is a few more decades?

Chapter 12

AsharpknockdrewKai’sattention away from the book he read. Jaw tight, he set it aside and strode to open the door, hoping it wasn’t anotherinterview, but braced himself with the likelihood that it was.

Astred hadn’t come, nor had anyone other than the council guards, since they’d dumped him here.

Perhaps today was the day to transfer him to a prison cell. He’d had plenty of time to consider his escape options, which were slim, but not impossible.

Pulling the door open, Kolina faced him, expression tense.

Gut tight, he moved aside, closing the door as soon as she slipped past him.

“Any changes with the queen?”

She held his gaze, her entire body taut as she faced him. “You need to go home.”

Kai jerked his head, then lifted a brow. “This royal guest has finally worn out his welcome with the Council?”

Kolina’s lips compressed. “The queen hasn’t awakened yet. She welcomed you as her personal guest. That’s no small thing, Kai.” She drew a breath, steeling herself. “I’m not sorry I brought you here to see this part of who you are. I’m just sorry that this part can’t seem to loosen its grasp, and that has endangered you. And the timing… it isn’t safe for you to stay here.”

“Will the queen be alright?”

Will Astred?

In light of his recent discovery of her role on this island, his concern for her was well above his worry for himself.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that she might be in danger too, that some dark threat loomed over her.

I can’t leave her.

There was nothing he could do to help her.

The Astred he knew was both titanium strong, and exquisitely fragile when you looked beyond the rough veneer.

He’d felt it in the small silences between them.

Kai also knew she’d never accept his help if he offered it.

It didn’t matter what they’d felt for each other in the past. She’d rejected him, then disappeared from his life.

The night on the beach had been Kai’s goodbye to Astred.

There were never supposed to see each other again after the wedding. Not to mention this absurd situation where he was being held prisoner by her mother’s elders.

“The queen is strong. Her shamans are determined to bring her back to us, and I have faith in their ability. It may take some time.”

“Time that I don’t have.”

Kolina shook her head. “You’re the obvious scapegoat, given current circumstances.”

“That I knew nothing about until a week ago.” He growled, arms crossing his chest.

Her lips compressed.

---