“And you never felt the call from her parents over the years?” Cole asked.
“No. When they left Dragonia, they effectively shut us all out. We had all assumed they died in the war too. If your parents shut off their marks, we wouldn’t be able to find them.”
“So, if I’m glowing, I can call you to me?” Lexi asked.
“Yes. Me and any other dragon. When there were many arach, it was a beautiful spectacle when they all got together to reveal their marks. We had a celebration every year….”
Her wistful words trailed off, and she looked out over the rocky land. Her tail swished behind her on the ground, and her talons bit into the rock as sorrow emanated from her. Cole didnotlike these beasts, but he softened toward this one… a little.
The rest could rot in Hell, but they probably thought the same about him, including Alina. And for all he knew, she was setting them up to die. Once he was in the cave, he and the shadows would be away from her. She could try to kill them then.
Lexi wiggled her fingers at Orin. “The key.”
His brother scowled as he dug it out of his pocket. “And if she tries to eat us after you enter the cave?”
“Give her the key,” Cole commanded, and Orin hesitated before handing it over.
Lexi slid the key into her pocket. “You’ll have to take your chances.” Then she looked at all the others before glancing at Alina. “You’ll be okay with her. I’m not so sure about the chained dragon; you should probably leave before I release it.”
“We’ll be fine,” Del assured her as he squeezed her shoulder. “I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re safe. Take care of yourself.”
“I’m not leaving either,” Sahira stated.
“I’ll erect a shield around us,” Kaylia said. “It will keep us safe.”
“Good,” Lexi said.
“You should all stay out here,” Cole said before looking pointedly at Orin. “Especiallyyou.”
His brother crossed his arms over his chest. “Fine.”
Cole glanced back at Alina; if she tried to kill them, he would make her pay for it. The mark of the dragon was still visible when Cole clasped Lexi’s arm and they entered the cave. The dragon’s talons scratched the rocky floor as they approached; it knew they were coming.
The further they progressed into the cave, the more Lexi’s light dimmed. However, the silver marks and golden glow were still evident as they neared the imprisoned beast.
“What if the marks are gone by the time we get there and it doesn’t recognize me?” she whispered.
“I don’t think they’ll be gone by then.”
Lexi paused before replying. “What if itdoesrecognize me and it’s so pissed off it doesn’t care what I am?”
“Then we’ll have to destroy it.”
She inhaled sharply, and her step faltered. Cole realized his words had come out colder than he’d intended, but the iciness of the shadows he drew to him was creeping through his blood and deeper into his soul.
Still, that was no reason to be so abrupt with her. The shadows already upset her; he couldn’t add to it. And he couldn’t let her know how much they were affecting him.
“We’ll do whatever is necessary to protect you,” he said more gently.
Her next words indicated she wasn’t buying his warmer tone.
“Let the shadows go. We’ll be fine without them.”
“Once we finish with the dragons.”
Lexi shook her head and pushed back a strand of hair that fell into her eye. She started to say more but stopped when the dragon came into view.
Little natural light pierced this deep into the cave, but it was enough for a small glow to emanate from Lexi. Her step slowed as they approached the dragon. The beast’s eyes narrowed before widening. And then its head came off the ground.
