And in all the mess, Adrian suspected that the two sides were unaware something more sinister was happening. Magic was a rare thing in this world. Dragons had it. Gods had it. And a select few chosen had it. What would happen if those three were to gather? Could Ruben and his lackeys really hope to control them?
A firm hand landed on Adrian’s shoulder and smoothed down his back. He peered at Haru standing beside him, a concerned expression on his handsome face.
“What are you thinking?” Haru’s fingers rested on his waist, curling around his side.
“I’m worried about Shey. This is bigger and more dangerous than we were expecting when we set out from Stormbreak.”
“It is.”
“What if we can’t reach him in time?” Adrian slid the tip of his tongue through his mouth, touching each tooth as he weighed his next words. “I worry…what if Caelan sent the wrong person? Wouldn’t it have been better if he had come with Drayce, Eno, and Rayne? They’ve tackled gods and dragons and politics. I’m some punk with some street smarts turned soldier. I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Haru was silent for a moment before shifting, turning his body so that he was standing perpendicular to Adrian. “I have some thoughts. Will you listen to them?”
Adrian nodded. The dragon might have a strange point of view, but he was smart and well-versed in dragon clan politics, which didn’t seem to be all that different from human politics.
“Caelan and the others handling this is impossible. Many of the kingdoms are in turmoil following the battle with the gods. Erya needs Caelan’s calming presence in Stormbreak. It also helps Caspagir, Ilon, and my home. Even New Rosanthe breathes easier with Caelan in Stormbreak. Wishing that he were anywhere else is wasted energy.
“Second, you paint yourself as being less than Caelan. This is not the first time you’ve said these words to me. But it is not fair to judge yourself against what you’ve seen Caelan accomplish. When he began his journey at the behest of the gods, he didn’t know that he could outsmart gods, dragons, and scheming politicians. He did not know what he could do until he had to do it. The day he left Stormbreak, he had only the wisdom of a prince and a soldier. You have left Stormbreak with the wisdom of a punk and a soldier. You still stand near the beginning of this hard road. I am confident that you will succeed because you must. Besides, Caelan had a dragon at his side, and you have a dragon at your side.”
Adrian snorted, letting the smile fighting to break free cross his lips. Haru could be very persuasive.
“And finally, we both know Prince Shey. He is not a passive person. The prince is an excellent tactician, a skilled fighter, and possesses the power of the God of Storms. If he is being held by these people, I believe it is because he wishes to be there.”
With a gasp, Adrian’s head jerked toward Haru, and he turned to face him. “Seriously? You think he’s chosen to be a prisoner?”
“I think it is a possibility. If you had the power of storms at your fingertips, would you be easy to hold?”
That was a very good point. Adrian had continuously imagined Shey trapped in a prison somewhere, sitting in the dark and unable to move. But that wasn’t fucking Shey. Not unless he chose to be like that. Prince Shey was like Caelan, Drayce, and the others. He was a fighter.
“Shey won’t be killed,” Haru stated, his words overflowing with confidence.
“Agreed, but revealing that he has magic from Kaes is dangerous. Far worse than death can happen to him if they discover the truth prior to his escape.”
“That is why we must find him before that happens.” Haru smirked and placed a hand under Adrian’s chin, tipping his head up so that he was forced to meet Haru’s eyes. Normally midnight-blue eyes seemed to grow lighter in the setting sunlight coming through the window, almost as if they glowed as he watched Adrian. “After we retrieve Shey and send him home, you will request a lengthy vacation from your duties.”
“I will, huh?” Adrian rolled his eyes, and Haru pinched his chin, pulling his gaze back.
“Yes, you will. For your break, I will bring you to my clan where I will teach you to be a dragon.”
A rough laugh broke from Adrian’s throat, but he couldn’t deny that his heart also sped up at the promise. A trip to the Isle of Stone. Staying with the Omari clan. It sounded like heavento him. But he couldn’t let Haru know that. He was afraid Haru would scoop him up and fly him to his home right this second, Shey be damned.
“And what lessons do you have in mind? Lazing about in the sun and preening?”
“There is that. I will also teach you the Omari clan’s ancient fighting techniques.”
Okay, that sounded promising.
“I will also teach you how to make love like a dragon.” Haru’s voice dipped low, feeling as if it were slipping inside his ear and caressing all the dark, secret parts of his body.
Adrian laughed, but the sound came out choked. “Yeah, whatever. We’ll see. Let’s focus on saving Shey first.”
He turned and walked into the large hotel room in search of something to drink to wet his suddenly dry mouth.
“You are my mate, Adrian. You will be mine.”
Haru spoke so quietly Adrian wasn’t sure he was supposed to hear those words, but they left a burning mark on his soul all the same. It felt as if he couldn’t escape the dragon’s claim. And maybe he didn’t want to.
CHAPTER 16
