Page 115 of The Keeper of the Kingdoms

“Run and tell Archon we are heading to the clinic,” Jaxus said, nodding for me to fall into step with him.

Silas chewed his cheek. “I don’t think they’ll like that.”

Jaxus lifted both brows. “What do you know?”

Silas didn’t say right away, shifting from foot to foot.

Jaxus crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m still your commander.”

“Are you though?” Silas said, with a hint of amusement in his voice.

“Spill it.”

“Archon didn’t sound too happy you were back, which is why he went to report himself.”

Jaxus scoffed. “He would. He can come find me. You’re not responsible for my actions, nor are you charged with keeping an eye on me. Go report. Do your duty.”

Silas hesitated.

“You won’t be in trouble,” Jaxus assured him.

“Okay,” Silas took off.

“What was that about?” I asked when Silas disappeared over the ridge.

“They aren’t happy I’ve brought you here. Like I said, this place is fiercely protected on purpose, and that’s why I couldn’t talk about it.” It still weighed on him.

“Who is Emrys?” I asked.

“A healer friend of mine. I trust him with my life and if anyone knows about what we are looking for it would be him.”

“I thought you said there were only dragons here—” I cut myself off. The things he’d told me were starting to add up. Of course dragons did everything here if they were all dragons. “I’ve never heard of dragons with healing magic.”

“There is a lot more to dragons than just being unthinking flyers. I was trying to get that across in the capital. We are capable of so much more.” His words elicited a feeling in my chest. I’d dismissed him entirely because of the way I viewed the world while his was so different. I hadn’t even been here half a candle mark and I knew it.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, falling into step beside him.

He glanced over but didn’t speak right away. “I’m sorry I had to keep it from you.”

“I don’t know how you managed,” I whispered as we approached a large green tent on the edge of a small village surrounding an inlet. It looked like a fishing village, like those I’d visited in the River Kingdom, built mostly around the water. Boats were anchored at nearly every home. “How many people live here?”

“Not too many in this village. There are a lot more in our city, Kerani, further up the river, closer to the mountains.”

“Excuse me?” I said. “A city?”

“Yes, Firefly. This is a little more than a fishing village.”

“I just thought since you said you were from a remote village, this was what you meant.”

“We came up with a story to explain where I’d come from when I decided to go with Nyx. I wasn’t meant to find my mate and end up lying to you.” Remorse twisted in his expression.

I didn’t know how to feel. Part of me didn’t blame him, he couldn’t have expected to meet me, but there was a part of me that held on to doubt. It made me wish I still had Kol in my life. I’d lost him and almost Nyx, too. Sometimes, it felt like I had no one left who was safe.

I didn’t have time to dwell on it because Jaxus pulled back the thick canvas flap of the tent to let me pass through.

Inside the little sanctuary the scent of home hit me. Just like Gran’s workshop. I closed my eyes for a second, letting the happiness wash over me.

Jaxus’ fingertips brushed over the small of my back. “This is where I learned what I know.”

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