Page 70 of Dragon Blood

He did have a part. Somehow.

The king of the Watchmen looked up from his laptop set on a heavily carved centuries old teak desk.

“Joey told you we were coming?” Bayn said to his brother.

“She did. It’s been a long time, Kai,” He turned to Astred. “Princess Astred Arakkil.”

She stood, shoulders level, taking in his measure, though she dipped her head. “Your Majesty.”

“I’m not so formal in here. Out there is another matter.” He jerked his chin toward the door.

She smiled. “I prefer captain to princess, but here we are.”

The king’s brow lifted. “Ah, a kindred soul. Well met. I had to trade in my beloved airship for this post.”

“My condolences, your highness. I hope to be spared that particular grief for many years yet. With your help, of course?”

“Clipper?”

“Galleon. Seventeenth century.”

Dai Zen whistled. “Classic.”

“She is my pride and joy. Her crew is incomparable.”

“Of course.” His eyes twinkled. “I do believe I recall some rumors of a pirate princess sailing the seas. Red sails?”

“Guilty.”

“The stone,” Bayn reminded them.

The king turned his assessing gaze from Astred to Kai and back again, thoughtful. “You want me to give you the stone?” His attention narrowed on her, asked the obvious but seeking something more in her answer.

“Want it? Hell no. Need it? Maybe. Hopefully not, but Ms. Kane insisted that I may need it to stop a traitor from annihilating my mother, if she decides to try to break into the vault.” She drew a breath. “As far as I’m concerned, no one ever knew where it was, therefore it’s safest here. But if my mother’s life is at risk, I have to do what I can to stop this threat.”

“Even if it means putting everything else at risk.”

“Preferably not.”

“They’ve been to the Nexus.”

The king’s gaze shot to Bayn. “You witnessed this?”

“No, Odson called me. Heidi Brandt oversaw it while the Wardens conducted the ritual.”

The king nodded. “And you?” His gaze pierced Kai.

“I made the journey with her.”

The king exchanged looks with his brother, studying Kai for an eternal moment before he seemed to make some decision. “You’ll make the next with her, too.” To Bayn, he said. “Summon Wu Keone Sun. He has work to do. They’ll need to prepare.”

Startled, shock straightened Kai’s spine.

Bayn nodded, looking between Kai and Astred, “I’ll be back with your father and his retinue as soon as possible. In the meantime, you two should settle in and rest up. You remember the way to your room, Kai?”

“Yes.”

“Good, Princess Astred will be given the stateroom at the end of that wing. You’ll see her to it?”

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