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She dragged her dulling gaze to the soldiers, almost regretting what came next.
“Who are you?” the tallest of the males demanded. “How did you enter Nova? You do not belong here.”
Showtime. “Help me,” she cried. “Please! He abducted me. Held me captive. Help,” she repeated weakly, just before her world went dark.
Neeka awoke in a soft but unfamiliar bed. She lifted her arms over her head and arched her spine as she gazed about. A mental spotlight switched on, illuminating specific memories. The trip to Nova. Being held in Rathbone’s arms. Their capture.
I made it into the palace as hoped?
The room she occupied screamed “wealth” and “privilege.” The vanity was made entirely of crystal. Each wall depicted a detailed and colorful mural featuring the birth of a star. A priceless array of precious gems studded the hearth. Purple velvet swathed a pair of rocking chairs. The extravagant desk appeared carved from an Enchanted Elm, the rarest of trees.
She eased into an upright position, surprised to experience zero pain. Totally healed already?
Movement caught her attention, and she craned her head, spotting a dragon shifter pacing near the foot of the bed, dressed in a similar getup to hers. Female dragons were praised for their incredible ferocity, though this one looked like a delicate snack and a half. Long silver hair flowed in stunning waves, the perfect complement to the blue swirls branded in her pale skin. Icy blue eyes possessed a serpent-like slit for pupils, with yellow glowing around their edges.
The female noticed her and skidded to a halt. “She has awakened,” she called.
Neeka’s nerves throbbed. Here it was. The moment of truth. Would her plan crash and burn?
An armed warrior with black hair and warm brown skin dressed in leather strode into the chamber. He, too, was a dragon shifter with slitted pupils and those telltale blue swirls etched into his flesh. While the lady appeared delicate, even fragile, his strength was on full display.
He stopped at the foot of the bed and met Neeka’s gaze, his features revealing nothing of his thoughts. “I am Kanta, and the female is Rowan. You are?”
“Neeka, harpy extraordinaire, and dearest friend to your Commander’s treasured wife, Taliyah.” Fingers crossed she spoke true. Not that she feared he might confer with the Astra to confirm or deny her story. Not a chance. At least not until after her departure. The odds were stacked in her favor, anyway. The Astra believed those they left in charge could oversee the safety of the world without assistance. Otherwise, why leave? And there was no way Kanta would reach out for help; a warrior of his stature hated to make himself appear weak.
He absorbed the information she’d presented without a flicker of emotion, bowed to her, and said, “Rowan, fetch refreshments for our honored guest.”
The female raced from the chamber without beheading him for forgetting to ask nicely. Weird.
Wait. “You believe me?” Neeka snapped her fingers. “Just like that? What if I’m tricking you for some unknown reason?”
“You are not. I’m able to detect lies.” He pulled a pen from his pocket and handed it to her. “This is yours. We took it from you. I apologize.”
Not a pen, but an ordinary red marker? Why had she brought this? “Thank you.”
A nod of acknowledgement. “I’m pleased to tell you the male who abducted you is being held in the dungeon, where he will stay.”
“Thank you,” she repeated, and she meant it. Steps one and two of her plan achieved! She’d entered the impenetrable fortress without suspicion and neutralized Rathbone without endangering his life. Not much, anyway.
Now for step three. Finding the infamous Hall of Secrets without triggering an alarm. Someone somewhere in all the worlds had mentioned the location of the fabled elixir she sought, and she intended to listen to the conversation ASAP.
Rathbone was probably gonna be a wee bit miffed by the time she got around to step four—his rescue—but he would get over it as soon as she explained step five. Retrieving a bone. Which she would do, buying time to then fetch the elixir.
“—is he, and how did he enter Nova?” Kanta was asking as she refocused on his face.
Neeka guessed his first question. “He is Rathbone the Only, King of Agonies, and he possesses a key stolen from Azar the Memory Keeper.” Because she’d been sure to stuff said ring into Rathbone’s pocket soon after their arrival. “They’re at war. Both males want me so bad, they keep thieving me away from each other. It’s maddening, I tell you. Maddening!”
Finally, a reaction. Kanta stiffened, scales momentary growing over his skin. A sign of pure rage. “No harm will come to you here. We will guard you with our lives, I swear it.”
So he wasn’t going to protest? Nor tell her how his internal lie detector assured him there was no way two such amazing warriors were fighting over her? Well. She shimmied her shoulders and raised her chin. “I accept your protection as my due.”
The door opened and Rowan reentered, carrying a tray filled with covered dishes. The shifter set the food upon the desk.
“—make yourself at home here,” Kanta was saying. Dang it, Neeka needed to do better about focusing. “You have earned the food simply by being our honored guest. If there’s anything you require, Rowan is yours to command.”
He understood her dietary restrictions. Nice. “After I eat, I’d love a tour,” she announced, stuffing the marker in her pocket.
“Then a tour you shall have. See to it, Rowan.” He offered a stiff nod, spun on his heel, and marched from the room.
