Page 34 of Devoted to the Dragon

Vandera’s face falls as she studies the spell on the page, bending to inspect it. “Why isthisone the Thunder? It’s got additions that aren’t in the original. It’s like a second layer to the spell.”

I point at the runes at the top of the page and the symbol beside them, denoting the purpose. “It isn’t. It’s like a note. This means ‘use for the Blue Moon Thunder.’”

She gives me a dubious look. “Uhh, Di, that’s my point.”

“It’s really not. I know you know magical runes, but this isn’t written in the formal language. It’s a note made by my grandmother. This is a reference to the Blue Moon Thunder, and it must be how she tweaked the circle for the event.”

She throws her hands up. “What the heck is a Blue Moon Thunder? How many Thunders did your kinky-ass dragons have?”

I smile at her put-out expression. “It was a Thunder that happened every Blue Moon lunar cycle. Regular Moon Circles were used to call the Thunder each month between the hordes and the packs. But all shifters—not just wolves and dragons—hosted a Blue Moon Thunder for the special Blue Moon that happens every few years. This note tells us this is the circle my grandmother used for the gathering.”

Vandera looks at her book and back at my grandmother's, running her palm above the pages, eyes closed. The pages rustle, and she shivers. “I think this could work. The spell is about balance between four points.”

“Maybe, but it would need to be for a Blue Moon, and besides, it was used when all shifters came together. It harnessed our joint power.”

She taps the book, her clever mind trying to puzzle out the magic. “Are there other shifters besides wolves and dragons left? No, right?”

My dragon’s hiss leaps from my mouth. “The serpents remain.”

Vandera’s eyes widen. “Right. Your sister and the end of the original shifter world. So, they’re out.” She paces. “Krakens? Maybe adding their magic could boost ours?”

“One survived the Shifter Wars, but he lost… everything.” I think of Bjorn, who battled the knight crusaders with me long ago, and hope that the broken kraken met his end or found a new beginning. “When we decided to rebuild, he refused. He believed he needed to live in exile for failing to protect his family. I haven’t seen him in many centuries.”

Vandera blows out a long huff. “Well, that’s sad. Shit.” She loses her wind and closes the book. “I thought I had something.”

I pull her into a hug. “It was a good idea. Thank you for trying.”

“I know you have to go.” She hugs me tighter. “If the Council tries anything, torch them and ask questions later.”

“Got any gut feelings about it?” I ask before I can stop myself. I can do light spells and crystal work, but Vandera’s ability to tap into magic is more powerful than any I’ve seen since I was a girl.

“Yes,” she mumbles into my hair, the sound pathetic.

“You want to share them?” I ask with a laugh.

She squeezes. “You need to go. And I think it’s going to end badly.”

My dragon chuffs in agreement.

Chapter 16

Randi

Gunnar is pacing by the SUV as I approach. When he sees me emerge from the forest, he breaks into a run.

After leaving Vandera, I flew emergency supplies to a small cave on the river just outside North Pass. It was Gunnar’s idea to create a forest checkpoint in case something goes very wrong. Fennik was right to give him the tattoo. He may be new to the guard and a sweet pup, but Gunnar is more than capable.

When he gets to me, he picks me up and spins me around in a hug, his hold bordering on too tight. “Thank fuck. I was starting to worry.”

“Vandera had an idea. It made me late,” I explain.

He shakes his head, losing his form to his wolf and fur sprouting before he regains control. “I don’t like it. Let’s not split up again. It makes me twitchy.”

I run my hands through his hair. “I’m fine, I promise. Let’s do this, pup.”

He shakes his head yes, then no.

I laugh and wiggle from his hold. “I need clothes, and we need to get on the road.”

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