Page 56 of The Storm of the Empire

“It’s kind of true in a way. Something did pull me back here. Maybe it was this?” She shrugged. “I don’t know anymore. But still, how are we going to prevent her egg from being taken?”

“If they steal the egg, we have to let it happen and follow them. We can’t start a panic over the priests before Nyx even knows what’s going on. Then they will know we are on to them, and we will never see any of the eggs again.” This was bigger than one egg.

She pressed her lips together.

“You have to promise me, Hazel.”

“I can’t let them do that to her.”

“Hazel,” I warned.

“I don’t know if I can,” she admitted.

“We will see it returned to her, I swear it. But if we stop it from happening, we will never get to find out what they are taken for and where to. And that is a far bigger issue than just one egg. We need this knowledge so that Nyx can put an end to this.”

Hazel nodded slowly in agreement, and I prayed she would be able to stick to the plan.

Hazel’s friendAlora was living at the sands, which was apparently the best place for hatching an egg in the kingdom. Her dwelling was built from stone and set into the hillside where the coast began, which offered protection from the storms.

She had been a flyer until she was excused from her duty to guard her egg—a rare gift from the King’s Army. I guess no one really wanted to argue with a broody dragon who was dead set on nesting in her homeland. So this was her temporary home until her youngling hatched, when she would return to the First Kingdom and retake her place with her youngling in tow.

“Hazel, how lovely to see you! What are you doing here?” Alora greeted her warmly.

“Just back for a visit,” she said offhandedly. She was already showing her nerves. She needed to relax. She glanced at me, and I nodded encouragingly.

“This is my friend, Luka.” she said, introducing me.

“Good to make your acquaintance,” I offered, remembering myself before I adopted a priest’s demeanor. The last few days had become confusing, remembering who I was meant to be at any given time.

Alora fixed me with her gaze, and I felt hunted. “Pleased to meet you.” she said politely but returned her attention to Hazel. “What kind of visit?” she asked, clearly sensing there was a motive.

“I had to see you,” Hazel said. It was clear she didn’t know what to say even though we had come up with a story. This was always the hard part, the lead in without making it too obvious one was leading the conversation. Especially for Hazel, who was not used to adapting to the situation as much as I was.

It took a soft hand and careful finesse.

I brushed Hazel’s fingers with mine for encouragement.

“Why?” Alora asked, tilting her head to the side. She was the most dragon looking fae I’d ever witnessed. From the way her eyes tracked every movement in the room to the way she moved and even the smallest curl of her lips, it all made her feel like a predator. She kept herself between us and her egg at all times.

I almost felt bad for any priests who would even try to take her egg from her. After seeing her, the love and care she had for that youngling already, I wanted to break the neck of every priest that would walk through that door later if stealing it was really their intention.

I’d kill them myself if they got to her egg.

“I keep having dreams…” Hazel looked off in the distance, settling into her part.

“What kind of dreams?” Alora’s eyes flicked to the egg and back to where we sat.

“I dreamt someone tried to take your egg, Alora.” Hazel sucked in a breath. “I didn’t know if I should even tell you, but the dream keeps coming to me. I wouldn’t feel right if anything happened and I didn’t tell you. Maybe it’s just…” She looked down at her hands, twisting them in her lap.

Alora got up, moving to sit next to Hazel. “We have been friends since we were children in the training schools. You can tell me anything.”

“I felt drawn back here. It wouldn’t let me sleep. I flew home and hoped the feeling would subside, but it only grew worse when I got here.” She took Alora’s hands shakily, I knew she hated the lie. “I feel like there is danger. Is there anyone coming to visit other than the females who assist?”

I could tell she wanted to say something about the priests, but it was best not to give all our suspicions away.

“Only the priests to reseal the egg with storm opal later today. But their visit will bring more protection. I’m sure my egg will be safe. You know I’d never leave it unattended with them anyway. It’s mine to protect.”

“Can I stay with you while it’s done?” Hazel’s voice trembled, and I couldn’t tell if it was real or acting. Maybe a bit of both.

---