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Seconds later, a shining portal opened in front of them, and Desmond rushed through, eyes wide and magic sparking in his hands like he was prepared to battle.
“Whoa there, cousin.” Holly held out her hands. “We’re fine, we’re fine.”
Desmond let the magic dissipate and then bent over, placing his hands on his knees as he caught his breath. “Damn it, little cousin, I thought you were dying. That orb is for emergencies! You’re going to make me old before my time. The other day Everett told me he saw a gray hair on my head. A gray hair! I’m too young for gray hairs!”
Holly laughed, used to her cousin’s dramatics. “You’ll be fine. And if you do have a gray hair, I’m sure Claire will still love you regardless.”
Desmond straightened slowly, brushing off his shirt and straightening it. He looked around at her mates, at Luca, and at the entrance to the cave. He spun to face Holly again. “You found the hoard.”
“We did. But there’s a problem.” Holly quickly recounted the day’s events from the time they found Luca and the hoard, to the missing ingredients, to their theories on the magic users.
After she finished talking, Desmond stood there in thought for a moment before a wide grin spread across his face. “So you collected another mate then, little cousin. Look at you!”
Holly rolled her eyes. “Out of all of that, that’s what you choose to focus on?”
Desmond wrapped an arm around her shoulders and ruffled her hair like she was twelve years old again. “Of course! I’m like the big brother you never had.”
“And never wanted,” Holly teased back, trying to get him off her.
Luca’s growl had Desmond freezing. The dragon had risen up on his feet from behind the rest of her mates and was eyeing Desmond with a look that saiddanger.
“Easy there, big guy.” Desmond held his hands up. “She’s family.”
“It’s fine, Luca,” Holly soothed. “He’s annoying but unfortunately useful. We need him.”
“Cousin, I’m offended. Is that all I am to you?”
“Fine.” Holly rolled her eyes again. “He’s family. Now can we focus?”
“The ingredients are really missing?” Desmond’s eyes darkened as he became serious.
“Yes. We need Luca checked over to make sure there’s nothing left on him that could harm him, then we’re going to Brandlevine to use it as a home base as we search for the right-hand person.” Holly didn’t say they thought the right-hand person was a witch or wizard—she was going to leave their options open—but part of her agreed with Kallan.
“I can do that,” Desmond said, rubbing his hands together. “Want to come with and make sure he doesn’t eat me?”
Holly tapped her chin with her finger and pretended to think for a few moments. “I guess,” she teased.
Desmond shook his finger at her. “None of that sass now. Don’t forget who taught you how to sass in the first place.”
“You mean who got me in trouble the most growing up?” Holly fired right back.
“Semantics,” Desmond said with a shrug, then they approached Luca, who was still staring distrustfully at Desmond.
“Alright, big guy,” Desmond said. “This won’t hurt at all. I’m just going to use my magic to scan you first and see what we’re working with.”
Luca didn’t back down, and Holly reached up and tapped his nose, getting his attention. “Hey, he’s going to make sure you’re fine so you can come with us.”
That got his attention. He huffed but settled down so Desmond could cast his magic easier. Holly stayed close to Luca but didn’t touch him, not wanting to interfere with Desmond’s magic.
The white shimmer of Desmond’s magic covered Luca from nose to tail, and when it faded, Desmond was frowning.
“What is it?” Holly asked, her stomach sinking.
“Nothing terrible,” Desmond said absentmindedly as he stared at Luca, deep in thought. “There is a spell tying him to the hoard. It capitalized on the natural magic dragons have to protect their hoard.”
“Can you break it?” Kallan asked.
“I can, although it’ll go smoother with Holly’s help.”
