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She did. She didn’t know why she was so tense. Something wasn’t right; she could feel it like a nettle that was wedged in such a way it couldn’t be seen, just felt enough for it to be bothersome.
Resisting the urge to resume pacing, her fingers drummed her knee trying to rein in her agitation. “With the mating bond started, they can’t destroy him.”
The older woman looked up from her sheaf of papers, her brow furrowed, “if they deem him a threat to our people, he will be destroyed.” She shrugged, “probably not until you’ve conceived, and the heat has passed.”
Kymri’s heart flailed in her chest. She didn’t want to conceive. She wanted Jori alive.
She was on her feet pacing again, trying to figure out a way to keep him safe as well as protect her people.
Dammit, she shouldn’t have to protect one from the other. But she did have to. “What do you see as my options?” she asked the older woman.
She replaced the reports on her desk giving Kymri her full attention again, steepling her fingers as she thought. “His motivation for coming here was to expose us, he can’t be trusted not to once he leaves.”
Kymri considered trying to convince him to keep their secret. Would he? Could she show him how important their safety was and that protecting their existence depended on invisibility? Could she plead with him? She’d never pleaded with anyone in her life and it left an acrid sensation in the back of her throat. If it meant having Jori, and protecting her queen and her people too, she would do it.
There was a knock on the door before Zayli entered.
“Madame, Guardian Marli hasn’t returned from her patrol, and we’re unable to locate her.”
“When did she fly out?”
“Two patrol rotations ago.” She turned an accusatory glare on Kymri. “We weren’t sure if she was following Kymri’s example and lingering during her route. She hasn’t returned as yet, and follow up patrols haven’t been able to find a sign of her. She’s disappeared.”
“She wouldn’t do that.” Kymri shot to her feet, heart pounding, “Madame, let me help find her. We can send out two patrols of three guardians arching in opposite directions to cover more air at a faster rate.”
Her superior considered her a moment then gave a sharp nod.
She and Zayli jogged back to the guard tower to prepare for flight.
“You should stay behind, you’re too distracted,” Zayli snarled at Kymri.
“My loyalty was never in question.”
“Wasn’t it? Really, Kymri? Looks to me like you put a human male before the concerns of your people.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“As far as the rest of us are concerned, it was. We can’t trust you’ll have our back.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Zayli stopped, forcing Kymri to do likewise, “Yeah? And what will you do when we find out Marli’s disappearance has something to do with him?”
“Why would it?”
“He had back up batteries for his equipment stowed aboard his plane, Kymri. He still had the capability to expose us and still does, so long as he is breathing. Your selfish stupidity puts all of us, and our queen, at risk.”
Kymri’s heart dropped. She drew a breath and resumed jogging toward the guard tower, Zayli close behind.
As soon as they reached the tower, Kymri gave the orders to prepare for spiral-net search pattern and several of the crew immediately came forward to prepare.
They stripped off their cotton garb in the change room and stepped onto the platform in threes with enough space between them to shift. Kymri stood in center position and had begun shifting into her dragon form when a dull, deep pain knotted her lower stomach, dropping her to her knees.
The women flanking her turned in concern, but she held out a hand to stay them, her body quivering, the magic swirling around her. It felt different, like she’d suddenly been altered. The knot in her belly tightened, then relaxed a fraction. Something remained. It felt like someone lodged their fist through her belly.
Able to catch her breath despite the discomfort, she completed the shift, letting her magic run its course through her body until her dragon joined the two to either side of her. They launched and veered into their search flight pattern, moving counter clockwise to their usual patrol pattern. The crew following would take the usual route, fanned out to cover more air as they went. They would cross paths with each revolution.
Kymri prayed they found Marli.
