Page 29 of The Omega Slave

Attiker finally took charge of the conversation when Kamir and Gerry started discussing the proper care of ginger leaf for herbal tea, and briefed Gerry on what had happened with Eldara, even showing Gerry Tsaria’s arm. “Did you bring what we needed?”

Kamir cocked his head. “What is it?” he asked when Gerry pulled on two huge gloves and reached into a pouch he had slung over one shoulder.

“Aye,” Gerry confirmed and brought out something that looked like an egg, but much bigger.

Kamir gasped. “Is that what I think it is?”

Gerry beamed. Tsaria looked at Attiker for any sort of explanation. “This is a dragon lily pod,” Attiker said.

Nope, he was no wiser.

Kamir seemed to sense his confusion. “Dragon lilies are one of the rarest and most sought-after plants. People will pay fortunes to get them. They can only be grown in red rock and at such extremely high temperatures, it’s nearly impossible.”

“Which is great,” Tsaria said, running out of patience and sick of feeling ignorant. “But what has that to do with me?”

“I’d like you to take the pod,” Gerry said and reached over. Kamir gasped.

“Gloves!” But it was in his hands before he’d registered what Kamir and Attiker both shouted. Tsaria turned the pod over in his hands and then absorbed the silence in the room. Hastening to reassure Kamir, he smiled.

“It’s just warm.”

“No, it really isn’t,” Attiker said and shot Gerry an exasperated look. He had no idea why that was significant, but Tsaria balanced the pod on his outstretched palm because it seemed to tremble slightly.

As they were watching, the pod cracked like an egg and a root poked out. Tsaria gazed in stunned fascination as more roots followed and grew. Small buds formed on the end of two stems and then seemed to explode into bloom. “They’re beautiful,” Tsaria said in awe and glanced at Gerry.

Gerry grunted, a smile peeking out, and he looked at Attiker in triumph. “You were right.”

Attiker’s answering smile was apologetic and, carefully with the use of the gloves, Gerry retrieved the plant and then bid his goodbyes, almost begging Tsaria to visit his greenhouses as soon as he could.

He glanced at both Kamir and Attiker, then sighed. “Would anyone like to tell me what is going on?”

Attiker chuckled then sat and poured himself some wine. Kamir took some, but Tsaria refused when offered.

“So, there’s a legend Gerry told me,” Attiker started. “It could be ridiculous, but it explains a lot.”

Tsaria waited and didn’t object when Kamir took his hand.

“Eldara called youDragoran. According to what I have been able to find out, Dragor was the name of the legendary King of Dragons when they were all-powerful. Dragoran actually means of Dragor’s blood.”

Tsaria laughed, because he wished for whatever Attiker was drinking, and it surely wasn’t just wine. But Attiker clutched his other arm, ignoring the growl from Kamir, which was startling in itself. “She bowed to you. You wear her sigils. And you touched a pod that would ordinarily give you barely treatable burns.”

“But I’m no dragon,” he protested.

“No,” Attiker agreed. “But apparently you have the ability to change another into one. Eldara said that was why she couldn’t sense an animal in Kamir before.” He looked at Kamir. “We’ve come further in understanding even if not in actions. Whatever Tsaria is doesn’t change the fact that you need to change on the dark of the moon, or a lot of children will die.”

And it was only nine days away.

What in seven hells was he supposed to do?

Chapter thirteen

Kamir made sure he was sitting close to Tsaria when they met in the private office belonging to Raz. Food and drink were served, then cleared away, leaving Raz, Attiker, Mansala, Veda, the dowager queen, Tam, and Ash. Carter, the trusted palace chamberlain, was also there, and after a few minutes a man he didn’t know slipped into the room and bowed his head when Raz glanced his way, then took a seat. He was introduced as Captain Thakeray. Finally, Gerry was shown inside, removing his cap and bowing to the king. Tsaria found it quite amusing when he’d referred to him as a “lad” not too long ago.

Attiker summarized what had happened with Eldara, while everyone seemed to sit in shocked silence.

Raz glanced at his grandmother. “Have you heard of this?”

She shook her head. “The only story passed down to me was of Prince Algred and his dragon-shifter omega. I’ve never heard of aDragoran.”

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