Page 23 of Winter's Dragons. Frozen Flames
"Well, don't you think it's odd? The fact that she chose to possess this tengu, to begin with? Had she not done so, you would have never known she was free, not immediately at least, which would've given her more time to recover from her captivity or allowed her to take you by surprise with an attack. But she didn't do that. Why?"
"Where did her demonic magic even come from?" Kerryn mused. "I mean, if she is an ice elemental like you said, shouldn't her magic be more akin to yours? It's obviously not."
They had a point. The demonic magic hadn't been all that surprising, but I hadn't been aware that Snegurka could use it to possess people. As far as I knew, she'd never done it before. And if it was a new ability, why had she chosen to target Karasu with it, now of all times?
"The nature of her magic has something to do with the enchantment she cast to summon her soulmate. As I've mentioned in the past, the spell itself originates from Ton Daímon, and it's incompatible with the nature of an ice elemental, which is what drove her mad, to begin with. But I've never seen her possess anyone before, and it is odd that she attacked Karasu. What could she hope to gain by doing such a thing?"
"She's jealous," Brigid suddenly blurted out. "That's what this is about."
Everyone, including me, turned to look at Kerryn's mother. "Jealous?"
"Isn't it obvious, Your Majesty? This whole thing supposedly started because the Snegurka creature was looking for love through a dangerous enchantment. And now, here you are, having found your own soulmates. Of course she will be interested in getting in your way. The tengu was merely a convenient method of entering the palace, perhaps to find out more about them."
Dread rose inside me as I realized Brigid was correct. Karasu had been carrying my letter to Pandora in which I'd asked her for advice regarding my relationship with my dragons. It stood to reason that Snegurka wanted to use the information against me.
My worst enemy was interested in making my lovers a target, and I'd exposed them to her magic outright. I had just sworn to myself that I would protect my dragons from her viciousness, and I was already failing.
"This doesn't have to be a bad thing, treasure," Raijin said. "If it's us she's after, we could lure her out from wherever she's hiding. Then you could go through with your part of the plan, and extract her magic. Problem solved."
Kerryn and Emmerich were already nodding before Raijin could even finish speaking. I gaped at them in horror, wondering how they could have misinterpreted the situation so badly. "Are you serious? Brigid just said that Snegurka will be after you and your response is to lower your guard and taunt her to come after you?"
"It's expedient, efficient and simple," Kerryn replied. "You like simple plans, don't you, treasure?"
"I like keeping you alive more!" I shouted at him.
Our argument might have escalated further had Noboru not decided to intervene. "Let's not be so hasty. There's no reason why our sons should be in danger at all. It's highly unlikely that this Snegurka creature can distinguish one dragon male from the other, as long as they belong to the same species. Here's what I propose. Isebrand, Devin and I can go look for her throughout your realm. Our sons can remain by your side, as is appropriate for males to do under such circumstances. Our females can serve as reinforcements and keep an eye on your lair, in case she dares to come here again."
I had to admit that I could see the sense in Noboru's approach, and it would mean my soulmates wouldn't have to act as bait. However, it would expose the older dragons to danger, and I wasn't sure I was comfortable with that. They weren't in the least bit familiar with Tou Cheimóna and they couldn't just fly around blindly and hope for the best. And if they did find Snegurka, what then?
On the other hand, there was also Jack to consider. Jack's bond with Lerna wasn't common knowledge, but if Snegurka found out about it, she'd try to attack him once again. She might still be weakened from her imprisonment and therefore bound to our realm, but Lerna's garrison was not far from the border, and it wasn't out of the question that Snegurka could reach him there.
Taking everything into account, I finally made a decision. "It is a good plan," I said, "but it's very risky for you."
"Oh, we know, but we're not worried," Devin answered. "It is our duty as males to protect our mates, realm, and hatchlings. This might not be our realm, but at least temporarily, it's close enough."
The words reminded me a lot of the first dinner I'd shared with my dragons. Their parents might not have been as dedicated to me as my soulmates were, but clearly, they wanted to make sure Emmerich, Raijin, and Kerryn didn't get hurt because of my inability to deal with a matter that should have never stayed unaddressed for so long.
I couldn't ignore the resource they represented, even if I felt they would be no match for Snegurka. "Taking such a huge risk may yet be unnecessary. However, there is something you might be able to help me with."
I'd already sent December to check up on the prison as soon as I had realized I could neither summon Mariko nor locate her and Oki. I knew that wherever they might be, Snegurka must've gotten to them both. Since they were undead, the two of them could not be easily destroyed, and that provided me with some comfort, but at the same time, I could not underestimate Snegurka.
Somehow, she'd made it past the ward at her prison door. Somehow, she'd bypassed all the security measures my father had set. If that was the case, who knew what else she could've done to the two people who'd been her jailers for so long?
I had to let Jack and my sisters know Snegurka was free. Since we were stuck without messengers and had yet to find an easier solution to communicate across long distances, I'd have to use the dragons. Once I gave them the directions they would need and spoke with my lieutenants, I would go investigate the prison myself. I could not wait for December to return.
Come to think of it, why was it taking so long for February and January to report to me? At least ten minutes had passed since I'd spoken to my third lieutenant.
As if summoned by my thoughts, February burst into my quarters, wild-eyed and in a panic. Alarm exploded through me as soon as I saw him. "What is it, February? What's happened?"
"Your Majesty, we've just received word from The Bridge of Melting Snowflakes! The amarok pack... The amarok pack stationed there has been attacked."
****
Emmerich
It was difficult to explain the horror that exploded through all of us upon receiving February's news. While the tengu's injury had been bad, it had not hit me all that hard, not emotionally. I'd been upset, yes, but only because my female deemed it her responsibility to fix the whole mess and refused to let us aid her. It hadn't helped that I hadn't been entirely sure she was wrong in making these demands.
My anger had escalated at the news of what Cassia had been forced to go through at such a young age, but taking her in my arms had helped. It had comforted me to feel her body against my own, to know that she was safe, real and away from any threat to her life.
