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“Agree.” When she’s free and she spends more time with me and the others, she might heal and wouldn’t need to talk to herself as much. But if she did, I’d still adore her.
We glided over the cliff’s edge, where the trees were dense and thick, but in the distance we found huts and a market buzzing with activity and voices. Already the smell of barbecued meat found me. “Shit, I could eat a horse right now. Put us down here, away from the markets.”
Once we hit the ground and Gage released me, I stumbled forward on my numb legs. Pinpricks swarmed through me as the feeling returned. Leaning against a tree, I clenched my teeth from the tiny biting sensation.
I patted down my shirt, sweaty under my pits and chest from where Gage’s arms had hugged me like belts.
He stood across from me, his wings retracting and tucking into his shoulder blades, the iridescent scales across his body absorbing into his skin and vanishing. Shaking his arms, he stretched his spine from side to side, then kicked out his boots, drawing attention to his black pants held up by a golden flame buckle on a belt.
“Is this where Vanore is?” Gage retrieved a crinkled blue top from his back pocket, unrolled it, and drew it over his head. Its golden buttons were an eyesore.
“Nope. We need to see someone else first so I can track down Vanore easily. I’m going check with a friend who knows people.”
“As long as you think it’ll save us time,” he said. “Don’t want to leave Elliana alone for too long.”
I pictured the witch returning for her and curled my hands into fists. If she laid a hand on her, I’d hunt the witch for the rest of her life.
“Kahlo’s checking on her.” My words growled. This affected so many people, like my sister and pride members still missing, and from what Elliana had told me, they’d been forced into slavery with magic. Was that the witch’s intention all along? Create an army of braindead followers—to do what? Take over our land? Kill us? Except Elliana had also mentioned the man in the cape… the same one who’d dragged my sister away. And if he watched others getting hurt, he was someone supporting the witch. Or even controlling her?
“I gave my word to save Elliana,” I said, but I didn’t voice my other promise about making her mine. I always kept my word and the only thing that would turn me away was if she chose Gage, insisting she only wanted him. For that, I’d admit defeat.
Gage stuck his chest out, staring my way as if I’d challenged him. “I plan to do the same.”
“Good. Then she’s one lucky woman… if we can get back to her in time.” I pushed away from the tree and headed straight ahead.
Gage joined me. “Why’d we have to stop so far away from the markets? I’ve been carrying your huge ass for the past day, so you know, I’m tired.”
“I appreciate your help, but I didn’t want magic users seeing you. Dragons are sought after for ingredients, so I figure this allows us to blend in and avoid attention.”
Without another word, we trekked through the forest with vines hanging from branches, greenery reaching our knees, and the muddy ground softening beneath each footstep. It must have rained recently because the strong scent of soil assaulted my nostrils.
“I read somewhere that lions were the fourth-largest cat… That must hurt not being number one, yet you all claim to be the king of the jungle and all that. Funny how a crossbreed between lions and tigers beat ya.” Gage nudged me and smirked with his mocking expression.
I licked my teeth, because if there was one thing Gage excelled at, it was getting under my skin. “We don’t live in jungles. And ligers are part-lion, part-tiger, so that makes us top spot.” I shoved my fists into the pockets of my pants because Gage wasn’t the first to stereotype us. “Besides, you’re just an evolved snake.”
Gage huffed and cut me a glare. “Bull. We’re the lords of the sky.”
I laughed, rolling my head back, howling. “Haven’t you read the histories where the first races in Haven Realm called dragons flying serpents in their scrolls and paintings? I think they’re onto something.”
“Yeah, not sure how much trust I place in those ancient texts. What did those people know? They believed a sudden change in weather was a demonic warning and would sacrifice virgins to the mountain gods for protection.”
I eyed him as we marched onward. “You realize those so-called gods were dragons, right?”
“Hell, yeah.” His smile stretched to his ears. “My ancestors had it right and were ecstatic. Those girls were not killed, I’m sure.” He winked and climbed over an oversized log.
“Guess when you put it that way, I can see a benefit.” I could excel at such a responsibility.
Voices reached us from up ahead, and we quickened our pace until we emerged from the woodland and entered a bustling market. Homes scattered across the ascending rockface. They’d been built inside the stone with windows carved out and wooden verandahs in front of each place. A few had clothes hanging off the railings. There had to be close to a hundred homes. To our right, Tritonia spilled out below, an abundance of forest and the dark sea farther still, the moon reflecting off the calm waters. In front of us, firefly lanterns swung in the breeze from dozens of poles illuminating their fluttering wings.
Blankets covered the ground, displaying clothes, food, and other supplies for sale and the sellers stood nearby. People were everywhere, carrying bags of merchandise, and dragging kids along with them. Others circled a young boy performing a dance where he bounced up and down as if he had springs for shoes, yet he kept himself still and in control. Those who lived here were a combination of shifters, fae, and a few humans.
The surrounding chatter engulfed us, as did the aromas of food. An older man wearing baggy pants and half a dozen beaded necklaces played a solo on a small drum strung from his neck as he walked through the marketplace.Okay… Whatever floats his boat.The smell of grilled sausages hit my nostrils, and my stomach growled.
“I’m starving.” Gage drifted toward the food stalls, and I was right on his heels, eyeing the chargrilled corn and the grasshoppers on a skewer, but my attention fell on the meat rolled up in flatbread at a small stand nearby.
“Four of your meat wraps,” Gage ordered. “And two home-brewed beers.” He turned to me. “Is two enough?”
I nodded. “You bet.”
