Page 16 of Her Two Dragons

DIGGING UP DIRT

DARIUS

Walking back to the dig site was like walking on air.

If walking on air involved hauling a steel rod in his pants.

Darius still couldn’t quite believe how fast things progressed with Michelle, and how amazing it had been. She was so responsive, so delectable, all he wanted to do was head back to her tent and make her come again. And again.

The only thing the prince was struggling with was her infatuation with Khalid, and Khal’s infatuation with her. It was hard enough to imagine telling his father he’d been mated to a human, but it would be a million times worse telling his best friend that the woman he liked was destined to be someone else’s mate.

“Hey, where’s Michelle?” Khal jogged over, concern on his face. “She said she had a headache, and I think one of us should go check on her.”

“She’s resting. I’m sure she’ll be fine. Nothing we need to use our abilities to sort out.” He sighed. “No, what we need to do is get down into that structure and find a quiet place where we could reach out to the spirits beyond. Find out if there are any dragons who lived here, and if they can tell us anything about the Obsidian Moon.” Darius ran his hand through his hair, hoping it wasn’t painfully obvious what he’d just done with Michelle. “We need to get any dragon artifacts out of here before the humans stumble on them.”

Khal nodded. “I can create a distraction in the main room if you want to find your way down deeper.” He tilted his head curiously, looking at Darius with an odd look in his eyes. “Is everything okay with you? You seem distracted.”

Gods, could he tell? Did he know, even now, how Darius’s heartstone glowed for Michelle? “It’s nothing. Cedric’s arrival set me on edge. I don’t want to think of what could happen to the people here, if he thinks we’re hiding something.”

“People like Michelle?” Khal smiled softly. “If you want me to stop spending time with her, just ask. You’re the closest thing I have to a brother. You know I’d do anything for you.”

Darius shook his head, unwilling to make the request, even though he’d basically begged Michelle to do the same thing. “She is a strong-willed woman. She can make her own choices. If she wishes to spend time with you, I can’t imagine a better friend for her.”

Khal dropped his gaze to his boots like he was suddenly nervous. “I don’t know if I can just be her friend. I feel the pull, Darius. I think she might be my mate. Human or not, I want to find out.” He kicked at an invisible rock in the sand. “I mean, you kissed her. You’d know if she was your mate, right?”

Darius silently cursed. “Yeah, I’d know.” I do know. “Tonight. When we all settle around the fire. Take her aside. See if she lights up your heartstone.”

He hated giving Khalid permission, but he also didn’t feel like he could dash the man’s hopes. Khalid would know soon enough, and then he’d deal with the aftermath.

The rest of their walk to the open door heading down under the sand was spent in silence, and Darius was glad that Khalid didn’t keep pressing the issue. He wanted his friend to be happy. If he could hold onto that happiness for just a few hours more, Darius was more than willing to let him.

As soon as they were in the structure, Khalid projected, Do what you have to do. I’ll delay everyone up here as long as I can.

Darius didn’t stick around to see what trouble Khalid would cause. He just made his way around the outer rim of the room, looking for a pathway that would take him far from the others.

Even without a flashlight, Darius didn’t have any trouble navigating through the halls, using his heightened sight to his advantage. It didn’t take him long to find a room with a stone door that he could mostly close.

Settling cross-legged on the floor, he closed his eyes and let his mind reach out, searching the ancient structure for any sign of the spirits of old. Lapis lazuli dragons lived their lives with a tether to the spirit plane, a connection stronger than any human medium, and places like this were closer to the past than most.

If anyone is here who wishes to speak, I will listen.

He lost track of how long he sat in the dark, trying to keep focused on his task, rather than the slight lingering taste of Michelle on his lips.

He heard the wings first. Too large, too powerful to be a bird, he knew it had to be a dragon.

Son of lapis lazuli, what brings you here today, to commune with those dead and long since buried? You will find none but me within these walls, and I doubt very much that I am who you seek.The voice was husky and low, but undeniably female, and it sent shivers down his spine.

Darius opened his eyes to see the form of a huge black dragon, pulsating like she was made of whisps of smoke. You’re an obsidian dragon.

And you try my patience, boy.She snarled, and it felt like the whole room shook with her. Why are you here?

Darius wanted to scowl, to question why she was so angry, but he knew he would only have a limited amount of time before he would be missed. I’m looking for dragon artifacts, things that need to be hidden from the humans who opened this place. Help me keep them hidden.

She laughed. Why should I help the clan that helped destroy my people? I should seal you in here and let the sands of time ravage you until you’re nothing more than lapis dust.

What? No. Darius shook his head. I am prince of the Lapis Clan. I know our history well.

Do you? I was queen of the Obsidian Clan. The strongest of us all. And your clan, lapis scum one and all, buried my heartstone here, away from me, out of reach of my mates. Sealed in a tomb that only one has the power to open. Do you know what it’s like to lose your mind, your body, to the craze, little dragon prince? She swirled, disappearing for a moment as whisps of smoke danced all around the room, as if she were having a hard time holding herself together.

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