Page 50 of The Storm of the Empire

With Faolan back to whatever he’d been doing, I slipped out of the temple grounds to run towards the cover of the trees, praying to the Goddess no one else noticed me.

Hazel waited anxiously in the trees and wasted no time as I approached. “Well?”

I shook my head. “No eggs.”

“But—”

“They had a small store of storm opals near where you felt them.”

“Fuck,” she growled. “Are you sure you really looked?” she asked, half accusing.

“I’m sure, there’s other shit going on there, but there are no eggs.” I told her, deciding not to say anything about the prisoners. The way this was unfolding I felt sure we would keep stumbling into other dark deeds taking place. It was the nature of the underground most fae never knew existed. We needed to keep our focus on the eggs and find out all we could.

“What are we going to do?”

SEVENTEEN

HAZEL

Iwas exhausted by the time we got back to my parents’ house to wait out the storm hours. After a bad night and then flying Luka to and from the Wild Mountains, it was to be expected, but it was no excuse for my behavior.

It had been a tense flight home because I wasn’t exactly nice to Luka out of frustration, even though deep down, I knew none of this was his fault. The facts were just hard to believe, and part of me still wanted to wonder if Luka had some other motive to make all of this up. But the weight of knowing I could prevent the loss of a dragon sat too heavy on my shoulders to ignore.

We had tea and sat quietly while my family were their usual selves, then I excused myself for a nap. Luka did the same, likely just be out of the way. I wasn’t worried he would leave and try and work alone since the first storm he experienced was enough to make him wait where it was safe.

I felt like I’d already failed Alora as I flopped onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. I’d changed into a light shirt and shorts because the storm was warm, but even that felt like too much. Why was there no comfort anywhere anymore? I tossed and turned, knowing my body needed the rest but unable to get it as I feared what tomorrow would bring.

A sliver of light sliced across my bed as my door edged open. I slid my hand under my pillow, finding the dagger there. The door normally creaked, but not today. Today, it eased with an expert behind it. My heart rate picked up as I slowly worked the knife out so my movement couldn’t be seen. A figure slipped inside, pressing the door closed behind him.

“Are you still awake?” Luka asked before taking a step further.

I exhaled sharply, re-sheathing the knife before he noticed it. “I am.”

He took two long strides across the room and sat on the end of the bed.

So this wasn’t about a distraction. “Did you have something to say? Or were you just lonely?” I failed to keep the edge out of my voice.

“It’s not like you’re sleeping. Did you want me to leave you to your thoughts?” He began to stand up.

“No.” I snapped before taking a deep breath and softening my tone. “What did you come in here for?”

He pulled his knee into his chest, turning to face me. “I know you’re upset.”

“How do you know?” I shot back.

“If you think I couldn’t feel every ounce of tension in your scales as we flew back?—”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“Then…” He drew it out, making sure I wasn’t going to cut him off again. “You were quiet with your family.”

“So?”

“You’re not quiet with your family.”

“How do you know? You had one meal with us.”

“Because I can see it. Your family is so deep. I feel it between all of you. Even they noticed.”

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