“It’s fine. Really. It’s fine.” Amusement rippled through Caelan’s voice. “We’re only a few hours behind you, so it’s not early. I’ve been hoping you’d call soon. How are things going?”
Adrian swallowed hard. There was static on the line. Residual magic from the God Wars in the Ordas still made things like phone calls across the continent difficult. The odds of the call cutting out were high. Adrian didn’t have time to beat about the bush. “Not good. We found his two companions dead, but no solid sign ofhim. We followed a lead to Voxmore, but it was a dead end. Things are…weird here. Unsettled. Dangerous.”
As he spoke, Haru shifted on the mattress, sliding his long legs alongside Adrian so that he was wrapped almost completely around him. His arms circled Adrian’s waist, and he rested his lips against his shoulder in silent, unwavering support.
“Are you safe? Injured? Haru?”
“We’re both safe and unharmed.”
Caelan’s heavy sigh stretched through the room, bringing a hint of a smile to Adrian’s lips. It was weird to think that the king of Erya was genuinely concerned for his well-being, but it was easier to believe that his friend Cael was worried.
“I’m sorry. I think you sent the wrong person. This has been overwhelming. I don’t know where to dig,” Adrian admitted, his voice growing rough. Haru’s arms tightened, and it was like being wrapped in a fierce, protective cocoon.
“No, this is my fault,” Caelan argued. “I sent you ill-equipped for the task ahead of you. My first concern was speed. But how were you to succeed? It’s not as if he were going to be standing on a street corner, waving a big yellow flag to catch your attention.”
There was a low snort followed by Drayce’s sarcastic voice, proving that the king’s fiancé was also listening in to their call. “Yeah, like that wouldn’t have gotten him killed.”
An unexpected ache throbbed in the center of Adrian’s chest, and his throat grew dry. Hearing both Caelan and Drayce at the same time left him feeling unexpectedly homesick. The only things missing were Rayne’s dry, sharp words and the low rumble of Eno’s teasing answer. The rest of the family he’d been adopted into as they risked life and limb to save the world.
“Do you remember Vitor?” Caelan inquired.
Adrian stiffened at the mention of Erya’s spymaster. They’d met the so-called Gray Fox in Brightspire when investigating the Ilon government and searching for the fifth godstone. Haru shifted, moving so that he could peer at Adrian and shoot him a questioning glance. The dragon had never met him, which was probably a good thing.
“I do,” Adrian answered a bit cautiously.
“I’ve sent him to you. He possesses deep knowledge of the area and should be able to help you with your digging. Return to Bellcairn if you’re not there now and wait in Pinepass Heights. He will find you.”
Adrian nodded. “Got it.” Pinepass Heights was a nicer part of town without being in the rich, gated districts. Maybe a little less looking over their shoulder.
“Also, whileheis important, both of you are important to me. Do you understand?”
Adrian’s grin returned, and heat grew in the pit of his stomach. He got the message. Caelan wanted them to find and rescue Prince Shey, but he didn’t want them throwing away their lives to get him.
“Don’t worry. I will bring Adrian and him home safely,” Haru chimed in.
“Thank you. I—” Caelan’s voice cut off, and the screen flashed, showing the call had been cut off. The magic of the old gods had decided they’d talked long enough.
Adrian swallowed a sigh. It was for the best. They’d gotten the help they needed. Any longer, and Adrian would have been tempted to ask for some palace gossip. Rayne and Eno had to be back from their honeymoon.
“Guess we’re returning to Bellcairn,” Adrian murmured, pulling free of Haru’s arms to climb to his feet.
The dragon shot him a petulant glare, but it cleared almost as quickly as it formed. “Who is this Vitor?”
Adrian smirked. “A spy.”
Haru’s eyes lit up. Yes, things should go much smoother for them now. At the very least, it promised to get much more interesting.
CHAPTER 10
Omari Haru
“Are you sure this is the right guy?” Haru asked in a low voice.
A choking noise escaped Adrian, and the lips of the man in question twitched in a near smile, proving that maybe Haru had not spoken as quietly as he’d thought.
“Yes,” Adrian groaned, once again pushing Haru away to put some space between them. However, it wasn’t the standard arm’s length Adrian usually opted for. No, the Erya royal guard had shoved him onlyhalfthat distance. That was progress. At the very least, proof that Adrian had enjoyed their private time together.
“It’s okay. It’s not the first time I’ve gotten that reaction.” The man with the bland brown hair and slight frame cocked his head to the side and smirked. “It is interesting that the last time it happened, it was another dragon who raised the question. I wonder if that means your race is naturally distrustful of newcomers.”
