Page 8 of Battle of Evyndral

“Do you think shifting would help?”

Cassi scanned the area. “It’s possible, but what if I’m seen?”

“Can you not invoke a cloaking spell?”

Brushing a loose tendril of hair behind her ear, Cassi shrugged. “I should be able to. I’m going to try because my dragon is restless. If I feel the poison receding, I’ll take to the sky and have a look around. See if there’s somewhere better for us to wait on the Queen’s summons.”

Yari wasn’t sure that was a good idea, but Cassi knew her dragon and what she was capable of.

“Don’t risk it if you feel off.”

Cassi nodded, then walked far enough away that she could take to her beast without her wings knocking Yari to the ground. Yari had watched the process hundreds of times, but it never ceased to amaze her. One second, her friend resembled Yari, sans pointed ears, and in the next, she was a massive red beast. Cassi was still a young dragon. As she aged, her scales wouldchange into the shimmering kaleidoscope of her parents’ scales, indicating royalty. Rhoan’s scales were deep blue, and his, too, would change the older he got.

Cassi dug her front talons into the ground, her large head nodding once, then flapped her wings. The gust pushed at Yari, but she kept her feet planted as the princess lifted into the air. Okay, so she felt well enough to fly. That was good. Yari shielded her eyes from the sun as she kept them on her charge, waiting for Cassi to cloak herself. It happened briefly, her large body flickering in and out of view. Cassi did a few small loops before going farther out. Yari began walking the same direction, but when Cassi’s wings stuttered, Yari took off at full speed. “Cassi!” Yari cursed under her breath as she sprinted faster than she ever had. Her armor held her back, but she couldn’t stop to remove it. “No!” Her breath caught in her throat as Cassi’s dragon plummeted from the sky. She would never make it in time. Not that she could stop a full-sized dragon from falling. As she ran, Yari kept her eyes on the princess. Out of nowhere, four winged beings flew toward Cassi, and Yari pulled her sword. When she was closer, Yari saw these were shirtless males. Insanely attractive males. They somehow managed to stop Cassi’s descent, lowering her to the ground.

Yari closed the distance, her chest and legs burning with exertion, but she didn’t stop until she noticed a group of beings huddled close by. One young male was yelling, but Yari couldn’t understand his words. She pulled a small stone from her pocket and spelled it into a speech translator.

“Brenton McKenzie! Get away from her!” a female yelled. She ran toward the male, but he ignored her. When he reached Cassi’s downed form, he slid to his knees beside her massive head. A sharp fang was on the outside of her lower jaw, and her eyes were closed. Brenton reached out to touch Cassi’s head.

With tears in his eyes, he turned to the female. “It’s okay, Mom. She’s my mate.”

Oh, D?nthú. Cassi couldn’t be the mate to one of these beings. Her home was in the fae realm. When Yari approached, all eyes turned her way. All except Brenton’s. Yari sheathed her sword, then held her free hand up. Using the translator, she said, “My name is Yaricelan, and I am the guardian to Princess Cassiopa.” Yari gestured to Cassi’s body.

One of the males whose wings fluttered behind him stepped forward. “The princess is a dragon.” It wasn’t a question.

“She is, and as such, I will need to return her to our realm.”

“No,” Brenton yelled.

“Brent—” the male began, but the young male shook his head.

“No, Uncle Banyan. She’s my mate.”

Banyan’s wings disappeared into his back. “I understand, but did you not hear what Yaricelan said? She isn’t from this realm.”

“And you’re too young to go with her,” the female Brenton called Mom added.

Brenton stroked Cassi’s jaw, tears streaming down his face.

“May I ask why you’re here? How are you here?” another male asked.

“There is a battle waging in our realm. My queen sent us through a portal to keep Cassiopa safe until the battle is over. She and her brother, Rhoan, are heirs to the throne of Evyndral. It is my—” A familiar roar sounded from above, and Yari turned her eyes toward the sky. “That would be Prince Rhoan. Please do not provoke him, lest you all be burnt to ashes.”

“Brynna, Nova, please take the kids inside,” the second male said.

“Nova can take them.” Brynna, Brenton’s mother, gestured to another female.

“But—”

“Urijah Aldobrand, I will not hide away while my son is in the presence of two dragons and a warrior, one of those who can snap my child’s neck with his massive jaws.”

“That’s Aldobrand Holgersen, thank you very much,” Urijah said harshly. Yari had no idea what that meant.

Banyan stepped up behind Urijah and wrapped his arms around his chest. Were they...? “Nova, take the little ones please.”

“You got it, Dad.” Nova held her hands out, and four younger children of various ages went with her, while several older kids looked on. A female who resembled Brenton greatly crept closer to his side as Rhoan landed with a thud.

Yari approached, getting between the prince and the other beings. He shifted immediately, his eyes intense as he took in the scene before him. “What in D?nthú’s name is going on? What’s wrong with her?”

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