Page 109 of Rescued By The Dragon

Roan turned swiftly and jogged toward the cabins.

I didn’t like the look on his face or the fact that he was so adamant about not helping us.

Zerk was perched on the edge of the lounge chair outside, with a book opened on his lap and a cup of coffee resting on his knee. “I take it the wolves came. I can smell them,” he said, crinkling his nose.

“Yes, they are in the cabins for the night. I’ve given them strict orders to stay there. If Father sees them, or one of the other guards, he’ll be pissed I went behind his back.”

Zerk shrugged. “Justifiably. He is the king.”

“Thank you for that Zerk.”

Standing up, he gave me a sheepish look and tossed the book onto the lounge. “Do you want to know what I learned or not?”

Amara walked out onto the balcony with a mug of coffee. “I do.”

Zerk sighed heavily. “Sirens originated from the water. They spent decades there. When humans began to catch them and drag them to land, they began to evolve. Their powers began to grow and evolve as well. Their hatred for other species grew. It seems each siren can hypnotize someone. Which means I’m going to need a way to block it. That’s going to be the biggest defense we can offer the warriors that are fighting. A defense against their hypnotizing abilities. And because some sirens have certain powers, and others do not, we can only train for the ones we know.”

Leaning against the doorframe, I asked, “Which are?”

Zerk gave me a grim look. “Disappearing. Levitation. Shape-shifting, which is another one I’m a little worried about,” he sighed. “Then some can change your mindset. You could be fighting in the battle and the next thing you know you’re floating in the ocean.”

With each word, my stomach sank lower into my stomach. “So you’re telling me they can practically do anything?”

He scratched his unruly head of hair. “They are very powerful. Almost like immortals but without the living forever.”

Amara cleared her throat.

“What are their weaknesses?” Amara asked.

The corner of Zerk’s mouth tugged into a smirk. “That’s one thing on our side, Amara. Fire.”

“Let’s burn down their forest,” I suggested.

“There are children there, Dorran. I know you well enough to know you wouldn’t hurt a child.”

He was right. I wouldn’t.

“So, they get here and the dragon guards soak them with fire?”

“Perhaps,” Zerk said. “I doubt they’ll come in giving you the chance to do so.”

Amara stepped over to me and looped her arm around mine. “That gives us a fighting chance.”

I looked down, cupped my palm around the back of her head, and nodded. “You’re right, it does, Little Mouse. It also tells me they will have a plan. We need to be ready for anything.”

Amara nodded.

“That’s all the reading I can do today. I’m going to head home and try to get something ready to block the hypnotism. I’ll see you both in the morning.”

Amara reached out and grabbed his wrist. “Thank you for all of your help.”

Zerk patted her arm. “Absolutely.”

Amara waited until Zerk shut the door. “Let’s eat. I popped a casserole into the oven when we got here.”

She seemed so nonchalant about the revelation.

Whistling to get a guard’s attention, I pointed toward the base of the mountain. “Can you all rotate on watching the cabins? I have some wolves staying down there. I need to make sure they stay inside.”

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