Page 149 of Ash

The Emperor looked ready to explode. The hostile energy sent Ash’s talent soaring along new paths, and he swayed where he sat.

“All right. That’s it. Everybody out of here. Now.” Cara pointed toward the exit.

Razir moved up beside Taran. “There is nothing to be gained by remaining here. Let us go.”

Together, they stepped between Tyrez and Cara and the Emperor. The older guards fell in behind as the trio moved back down the tunnel.

Tyrez lingered. “Are you okay?”

Ash refused to look at him. Gorgeous, he was. Fierce and powerful. And a prince.

Not for a Dragon broken by a talent that would, eventually, consume him.

“Yes,” he lied. More because he knew Tyrez wouldn’t leave, until he said as much.

“I will see to him,” Cara said. “I think you should make yourself scarce. I wouldn’t put it past that old goat to send his young soldiers after you.” She shook her head. “He used to be a bright and shining star, that man. Now, he’s too old to be wearing the crown.”

Tyrez shook his head. “But what is the alternative? Taran has the intelligence, but he’s flattened by his injury. He needs to step it up, big time, if he wants to be leader.”

“I agree. But one problem at a time. Go.”

The big Dragon hesitated, but when she frowned and flashed her eyes to the exit, he gave Ash one parting look that sent the young Dragon’s heart pounding. And then he disappeared down a side tunnel.

“That Dragon is almost as stubborn as his father,” she muttered under her breath.

Ash added stubborn to his long list of Tyrez’s attributes. It didn’t faze him in the slightest.

It mattered little. The handsome Dragon would never fly anywhere but in his dreams.

34

Dani found Tyrez stretched out on the stone at the lower entrance to Aphostra’s home.

The sight of his human form laid out like that surged a sense of longing through her. But he didn’t belong to her. He and Ash were destined to be together. Besides, all she wanted from him was his friendship.

Right?

He wasn’t alone—Jacques was with him. The Satyr had often appeared over the three days they had been recovering in the Gryphons’ realm. She suspected he was bringing the Dragon news from home, but he never spoke of it in her presence.

A part of her wanted to know what the Dragons were doing about Rindek. But another, larger part wanted to pretend the entire thing hadn’t happened. That they weren’t all in mental or physical pieces because of that creature.

So she ignored the way the conversation ended when she walked out of the cave.

“Hello,mon chéri. You are looking more rested this morning.”

“Hello Jacques. You are looking lecherous, as usual.”

He beamed at her. What would have been an insult to many, was taken very differently by the Satyr. Jacques considered any female feedback to be a precursor to future romance.

Perhaps the Satyr was right. With Jacques, you never knew.

A chirp from above announced Sparkle, who sat on a ledge. The little Phoenix’s eyes were glazed, her wings spread, and her beak hung open as she absorbed the sunlight.

Tyrez distracted Dani from the bird by stretching, which led to a fascinating ripple of muscle beneath the gleaming turquoise scales. She couldn’t tear her gaze away—inhuman he might be, but he was also drop dead gorgeous.

It was okay for friends to stare, wasn’t it?

Jacques cleared his throat. “I should go.” He nodded to Tyrez. “I will get back to you.”

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