Page 155 of Ash

Cara seemed to sense he’d worked through it. “Someone of your talents will always be in demand, Tyrez. But while you explore your options, you need a home. You are always welcome with me, but I know you find human habitation too confining.” She cast her gaze out over the pool. “I come here to meditate. The place restores my soul.” She gestured behind her. “The gate can drop you at my garden in seconds. I think, with a few modifications, the cave would make a lovely Dragon lair. I’m sure Ash and Dani would agree.”

AshandDani? He glanced at her. Ash might never recover enough to have a relationship with him. From what he’d seen so far, Dani didn’t want one. But he didn’t feel up to discussing it with a nosy Watcher. Instead, he said, “I doubt Dani would want to live in the middle of a jungle.”

Cara’s brows raised. “Have you asked her? She’s been living in the human equivalent all her life.”

Tyrez glanced around. The cave had definite possibilities, and the lack of human habitation meant he could fly as a Dragon during the day.

If he could no longer live in the palace, he’d have to create one of his own.

The Watcher was staring at him, and when he nodded, her smile lit up like the sunbeams from above. She spun around and headed back into the cave.

“Okay, big guy, we have a meeting to attend. Chop, chop. We need wings.”

Tyrez shook his head, took one last look around, and followed her.

35

“Tyrez. Cara.” Jacques greeted them as he waited beneath the arbor in Cara’s garden. “The others have already gone through, but I decided to wait for you.”

“Razir?” Tyrez asked.

“He’s with them.”

A small portion of the knot in Tyrez’s gut loosened. He hadn’t been sure his brother would come. With the Emperor’s uncertain temperament as of late, he risked much by doing so.

Jacques fell in beside them as Cara led the way down another lesser used path.

The Satyr cleared his throat. “So, my big friend. Have you thought about what you are going to do for a job?”

Shards, not him too. Why were so many concerned for his future?

Cara turned, ever so slightly, her lips twitching. “Your friends are worried about you.”

Friends? He glanced down to the Satyr. When had Jacques become more than just a means to an end?

Then he remembered the Satyr feeding Dani Dragon tears while he struggled to save her life. At some point in all this, Tyrez had acquired the loyalty of a creature who didn’t offer such lightly.

Jacques raised a furry brow at him.

Tyrez cleared his throat. “I’m strong. Maybe I can move things?”

Jacques’s eyes widened. “Mon amie, that would be a tragic waste of your abilities.”

Cara didn’t respond, but the set of her shoulders showed she was listening closely.

Tyrez sighed. “So what do you think I should be doing?”

“Legion Dragons aren’t just warriors. You hunt and seek as well. I suggest you focus on those skills.”

Tyrez stopped and stared at the Satyr. “Seek? Hunt? Hunt what?”

Jacques sighed. “Missing people. Thieves. Murderers. The realms are desperate for someone who has the skills to track these individuals down.”

Tyrez frowned at him. “You’ve tackled missing person cases. Have you done more than that?”

“I lack the ability to do more than get the intel,” he pointed out. “Apprehending such individuals is beyond me.” He grinned up at the Dragon. “But if we combined our skill sets, think of what we could accomplish!”

“Are you saying I should become a bounty hunter?” Tyrez stared at him with no small amount of incredulity.

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