Page 86 of Dragon Blood

“I do, my mother—who’s in prison—does, and Zayli,” Kymri said, “and my grandmother.”

“And Kai,” Odson added as his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Kymri looked up at him. “Yes, Kai too. But she wouldn’t—he’s male. My grandmother? But still, why?”

“I gotta take this. It’s Kane.” He punched the button to accept the incoming call.

“Odson? Where are you?”

“Katoa’s council room.”

“Good, you’ve caught them up?”

“Yes, I—,”

“Put me on Speaker.”

“Done.”

“You need to prepare. We hit the menagerie, but the Consortium had already cleared out. We rescued a few survivors that are all in really bad shape from their failed experiments.”

“Prepare for what?” Jori demanded.

“The Consortium. The spy that Marli apprehended and we took custody of was tagged with a spelled tracking crystal. Her sister was nearly dead, but she’s regained consciousness.”

“And?”

“She says the Consortium recruited the male dragons that left the mountain.”

“Fuck,” Jori spat, raking a hand through his hair. “Fuck!”

“What else, Joey?” Elora approached Odson’s phone.

“Zadora Steelscale.”

Odson never heard such regret in Jolena Kane’s voice.

Elora reached for the phone. “Has something happened to the matron?”

Joey was quiet for so long, Odson wasn’t sure she was still on the line.

“No, Elora. It looks as though Matron Steelscale is the traitor that evaded Marli that day.”

“Impossible,” Kymri surged forward. “There is no way that she’s a traitor.”

“Sam Egan identified her.”

Odson gaped. Elora’s expression mirrored his own disbelief as they listened.

“She’s lying. There’s no way my grandmother would betray Aeleftheria like that. She would never work with the Consortium.”

“That may be, but Egan’s ability allowed her to shape shift into Matron Steelscale’s likeness. Unfortunately, I witnessed it myself—a thing I never want to see again if it can be helped. Egan needs direct DNA access to do that. And according to Marli’s report, they fought, injuring one another. It’s plausible.”

“She could have gotten that DNA some other way. From someone else, to frame her.”

“It’s possible.” Joey allowed. “But you all still need to prepare for what the Consortium may do next. Egan’s sister said they left with the stolen seal, intending to finish what Egan failed to do.”

“Do they have someone that’s blood bound to it?” Jori’s complexion had paled by several shades.

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