Page 35 of Dragon King's Cursed Mate

Seraphina, who’d just approached, said, “Have mercy on her. Malakar has her children locked in a castle and has threatened to kill them if she doesn’t act as a spy. She’s never told him anything helpful, and I cast a spell over her so that she could only give him misleading or inconsequential information.”

Irritation flooded him and he glared at her. “You knew that we had a spy and you didn’t come to me.”

“You were busy with other, more important issues. I handled the situation. She cannot tell him anything.” She sighed. “What else can we do? It would be impossible to rescue the children, and if she didn’t report in regularly, he’d torture and kill them.”

Dain crossed his arms over his chest. He was about to speak when Grace hurried over to him. She was trembling and tears welled up in the back of her eyes.

“You wanted to see me, King Dain?”

“What have you got to say for yourself?”

Tears exploded from her eyes, and her words tumbled over themselves as she tried to explain the situation. Luckily, Seraphina had already told him what was going on or he wouldn’t have understood a word of it.

“Please don’t kill me or send me back,” she begged, falling to her knees. “I swear that I’ve never told him anything important.”

“Rise,” Dain commanded. He looked at Seraphina and back at Grace. “Why didn’t you come to me before?”

Grace twisted her hands together. “I was afraid that you would send me back, and then my children and I would be killed.”

“I wish you had a little more faith in me than that,” Dain said. “You will continue reporting to Malakar. Sometimes, I will give you information to feed him that will benefit us.”

“Yes, My Lord. Anything.”

“You’re free to go for now.”

Dain informed the brotherhood of the situation. He knew they weren’t any happier with the situation than he was, but they weren’t willing to risk the lives of the innocents. They’d have to bide their time until they could be rescued.

He felt as though the crumbling walls of the ruins were crowding around him, suffocating him. Dain shifted, making sure he was wearing the amulet, and flew out into the forest. After a couple of hours, he landed by an old cabin that had been used by human hunters.

Dain smelled him before he saw him. The sour smell of old ash and the faintest hint of decay filled the air. Varik appeared out of the shadows.

“Varik.”

The dragon shifter bowed. “My Lord.”

“How did you know where to find me?”

“Malakar has a sorcerer. He doesn’t see like an oracle, but he does do this little thing with water that gives him some information.”

“What do you want?”

“I know you have the oracle with you. I just wanted to tell you that you shouldn’t trust her. She’s not everything that she seems. Seraphina will eventually lead you down the wrong path, and you’ll lose the war.”

“Why would you care?” Dain sneered. “You work for Malakar.”

“I do, but I see what he’s become and what he’s doing. He’s completely evil, and I can’t stomach some of what he’s doing.Some of us close to the king are rooting for you.” Varik looked around. “I must be getting back. Heed my warning, King.”

Dain knew that he couldn’t trust Varik, but for just a moment, the faintest seed of doubt tugged at his gut. How did he know that the oracle didn’t have a secret, hidden agenda?

He quickly pushed the thought away. Seraphina was his fated mate and he could trust her. His life and the lives of millions of others depended upon it.

Jasmine served his supper when he returned. “Seraphina is with the children and a few of the adults, teaching them how to meditate.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled, bowed her head, and left him to eat. Once he was finished, he went to his tent. He didn’t want to talk to Seraphina right now. He needed to think.

Dain tried to meditate, but instead, he fell asleep. He woke up deep in the forest near an ancient tree thought to have magical powers that could be accessed by those who truly had a need.

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