Page 84 of Devoted to the Dragon

Chapter 40

Fennik

Gunnar’s expression is pure terror, his eyes wild. Knox lies limp in his arms. The serpent is gaunt, his face a map of crawling lines that scream sickness.

Fuck. Maybe we’re too late.I don’t know what the hell is wrong with Knox, but our best bet is to get him across that line right now.

I join Gunnar, hand on his back, ushering him to the border. I already tried to get to her once. After she flew us here, she seemed calmer. She built her nest and finally seemed satisfied. I left the nest briefly because she asked me to find the bag of memory stones Knox gave her.

The moment I heard her fiery roar, I was scrambling, pleading for her to let me in. When I tried to cross, my arm got burned, but it isn’t a regular fire. It’s icy, filled with numbing magic.

“Cross together like she said,” I command, keeping Gunnar tucked against me. “All three of us.”

He nods, and we move on my count. The fire stings, splinters of ice digging into my skin. We crash into an invisible barrier, the magic exploding and sending us against the cavern wall. Ittakes me a moment to right myself. When I do, it feels as though the world is spinning.

Gunnar’s hair is full of ice crystals, and his arms are burned, but Knox remains cradled to his chest. “I don’t get it. All three mates are here.” He looks at me, eyes pleading to make it right. “Why can’t we cross? We have her marks.”

“It’s a magical boundary. Remember she told us her dragon would offer a challenge? This must be it.” I help Gunnar up on shaky feet, checking him over and offering to take Knox.

“I’ve got him.” He’s adamant, jaw tight, pushing past me into the outer chamber.

One last glance at our dragon tells me she wants me to follow. She nudges her snout toward the door, wings flapping insistently.

“We’ll take care of him,” I promise, following Gunnar. If it doesn’t simply take our three claw marks to get us inside, maybe it has something to do with the state of Knox. “You found him like that?”

How could he be so sick in less than twenty-four hours? Was he poisoned? Attacked? I think through options, trying to find my way around the obvious answer.

My pup nods, hands trembling as he lays the serpent on the wooden table. “He was in the nest.” He looks at me, eyes full of remorse and voice shaking. “I’m sorry… I should?—”

I grab his neck, digging my thumb to apply enough pressure to quiet some of his panic. “No. You did good, pup, and we’re not playing the blame game.”

His forehead falls to mine, and he takes a deep breath. “Okay. Okay. I’m getting my shit together.”

I squeeze his neck once more in reassurance before starting in on my questions. “Did you see anything? Any vials or?—”

“No. Just her nest. The lake was quiet—like, freaky quiet.”

“Get Vandera on the phone, put her on speaker. Tell her what you know,” I direct, looking over Knox and trying to find a bite mark or injury. The serpent is too cold.

Using my claw, I shred his shirt, wincing when I see the state of his rune.This is the source of the sickness.My gut sinks, following that thought to its end. I was hoping it was anything other than this.

I hear Gunnar explaining to Vandera, but I cut in. “It’s his mating rune. It’s diseased. That’s what is making him sick.”

Vandera curses. “It sounds like a rejection of the mating bond. Where is Randi? Is she sick?”

“She’sher dragon, and her nest is booby-trapped,” Gunnar says, peering back into the other room. “Currently, she’s not hissing or breathing fire at anyone.”

“Well, damn.”

“No shit,” Gunnar mumbles.

“What happens to him will affect her?” I ask, my eyes unable to leave the rune.

It should be glowing when he’s so near his mate. It’s faded, as though all the color has leaked out. The skin around the rune has turned purple and black. The deep bruising spreads down his chest. I don’t need Vandera to tell me this is a broken heart.

She takes a moment. “I’ve only read about bond sickness with rejected mates, but it’s not good. The closer you can get them physically, the better.” The sound of papers rustling lets me know she’s searching for answers. “Has her dragon said anything? Started to change colors? Has her scent deepened?”

“Yes, all of that,” Gunnar says, pacing behind me. He won’t look at the serpent. His eyes are anywhere but on Knox, and his scent reeks of guilt.

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