Page 93 of Silent Jay

REHAN

Tyson and I stood in the general vicinity of each other in a neutral pocket at the edge of earth territory. I didn’t care what the earth dragons said. She was in there. I was quickly running out of diplomatic patience.

Afternoon light streamed through the forest, and a slight sulfuric breeze from the recently erupted volcano rustled the foliage. My mate bond with Jay vibrated before pinching and returning to its normal state.

I side-eyed Tyson, but if the fire prince felt the sensation, he didn’t give any outward sign. Pulling out my ponytail, I smoothed my hair before tying it back up. In addition to giving me a general idea of Jay’s location, our connection ebbed and flowed with her activity. When she was asleep, the sensation connecting us stilled like a mirror lake; awake, it burbled like a brook. I had no idea what this pinching sensation meant, but change was in the air. Instead of fearing it, my blood danced.

Tyson flung a rock across the invisible border and snarled. “She’s fecking mine. How dare earth deny fire anything!”

I didn’t respond. My emotions were split. I wanted Jay with me, not with the fire dragons, but I didn’t want her to be a pieceon Tukaqu's game board. We were in a tricky situation, much more problematic than the hot-headed fire prince would admit.

I side-eyed Tyson again. “You’ve not told a soul you marked her.”

Tyson picked up another rock and tossed it into earth territory. “My family wants her gone. I’ve never wanted something different from my family before. They have to suspect.” He clenched his fist. “I want her at my side.”

I grunted and watched him throw a third stone so hard it went straight through the trunk of a tree. If he got Jay, could he protect her from his own family? Would he? The fire prince didn’t think more than five seconds into the future.

Two figures appeared in the forest's gloom, slowly becoming distinct as they made their way along the dirt path to stand before us.

The twins Ofri and Obadiah had exchanged their toolfill cargo pants from the speed boat for muddy brown and yellow scales. Their broad, aged faces and cold brown eyes looked us over with none of the comradery we’d formed during our time studying the Ley Lines. Then again, I was standing next to the very dragon, attempting to starve their people.

I bowed my head respectfully.

Tyson stepped forward, his toes brushing the border. “Piss off old farts. I need to see my mate immediately.” He shook his fist. “Do not deny me!”

I rubbed my eyes, refusing to be amused or impressed by Tyson’s brash words, and took a deep breath. “Thank you so much for seeing us.”

The twins turned their attention to me, and I ducked my head respectfully.

“We find ourselves in a unique position. Our,” I grimaced as I said the word. “Mate is in your territory and has been for days.I’m sure this is a misunderstanding, but dragon law states that mates can not be kept apart.”

One of the twins leaned close to the other and whispered. The same one raised one hand. “Jaiyana is now mated to our Ogden.”

I took a deep breath. Ogden. The powerful, rune-covered warlock was a good choice, assuming she had a choice. I could deal with this.

A vein throbbed in the fire prince’s forehead as he processed the information. “Who the feck is Jaiyana?”

I gritted my teeth and pictured punching brains back into Tyson’s empty skull.

“We still need to see her. Let this be a dispute between mates.” I held my hand up. “We do not need to bring politics into it.”

One of the twins cleared his throat. “Fire has blocked our supplies, and water circles our skies. You have all but declared war against earth, and we didn’t even know of this human’s existence until hours ago.”

Shame flushed my cheeks, and I pulled out my phone and dialed.

Tukaqu picked up. “This better be good news.”

I nodded. “A solution has been found.”

“That is very neutral phrasing, Rehan. We lose our leverage if she doesn’t come back with you.”

I seethed. “If we push earth further, we will start a war, trust me.”

Tukaqu grunted before his voice echoed in my thoughts, probably every water dragon’s thoughts, declaring peace with the earth dragons and ordering our border guards back to their original posts.

Hanging up, I turned expectantly to Tyson.

The fire prince clenched his fist. “They havemymate. They’ve denied me my basic rights. I will do the same to them.”

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