Page 116 of The Storm of the Empire

“Any joy?” I knew it was a stupid question.

“No. Just more loose ends,” Nyx sighed.

“We were just talking about the eggs,” Luka said.

“What about them?”

“I just keep coming back to the fact that they must be taking them to Kerani. It’s the only thing that makes any sense. According to Faolan, they’ve had this one isolated breeding pool for centuries. How else would they still be surviving if they’re not getting new blood somehow?”

“Is this about Alora’s egg again?” I watched him with so much love. I knew he was starting to obsess over it because he promised we wouldn’t let it out of our sight, and it was gone. But that was not on him, and he didn’t need that extra pressure right now.

“It’s about all the eggs, but yes. I promised you we’d get it back. I’m just trying to find a way.”

“But we have no idea if they even went there. Never mind how to get in to take a look.”

“I talked to Faolan. He knows the tunnels. He could guide us,” Luka offered. “And it’s the only place the egg could be. Think about it. It’s still near the storms, so it could get the charge to stay healthy.”

Both Nyx and I gaped at him.

“You’re serious about trying to get in?”

“I’m serious about finding out what is going on and saving the stolen eggs if we can. “

Nyx shook his head. “If the King finds you or any of the dragons missing again, I don’t know what he will do. He can’t be reasoned with.”

“I was just talking to Jaxus about finding some time for Luka and me to work on his power. Maybe he could provide a reason for us to be gone for the day, but—” I cut myself off and shook my head. “I don’t know why I’m trying to help you put something like this together, I think it’s a bad idea to go into such a place when we don’t even know the eggs are there.”

“But if they are, we could save them!” Had he gone mad?

“And we could also get ourselves killed.” I couldn’t believe he was entertaining this.

Luka looked at me then with such pity. Like he was already accepting the idea that his days were numbered with this power he couldn’t control. I refused to entertain that notion, though.

I stepped towards him and took his face in my hands. “We will find a way to get through this,” I promised him. “You need to keep positive and not throw yourself into things because you feel you have to do some good at any cost.”

He started to argue but then went rigid. His jaw tightened, and his eyes went that frosty white.

“Luka?” I stroked his cheek. He didn’t respond. “Luka!” I shook him gently.

Nothing.

Then I remembered what Kiera suggested and decided I had nothing to lose by trying it here in the healer’s wing. At least help was not far away.

I centered myself and felt for his power. It was gathered in his chest, and I could feel the control it had over him. He didn’t have the strength to pull back from it. I reached my power into him and drew his, pushing it into the stones at our feet to get it away from his body. There was so much! I kept drawing and drawing, afraid that at any moment I would reach the bottom of his reserve, and he would be left with nothing, But as the load got lighter, I felt him regaining control. Was it working?

Luka was still lost in the episode. His brow forming a deep crease. His unseeing eyes scanned the space between us, and his breath came in short pants. Then he gasped and finally snapped out of it, leaving all of us confused.

But then he spoke: “I know where the egg is.”

“How?” I asked, but of course I knew.

“I saw it.”

“Foresight isn’t firm. Things can change,” Nyx warned, looking as leery as I felt.

“It doesn’t matter. Now that I’ve seen it, we have to try.” He looked at me to back him up, pleading with his eyes. “We can’t leave Alora’s egg there knowing where it is. If you don’t want to go, I will go alone.”

I jerked back. “Absolutely not! I won’t let you go alone.”

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