Page 112 of Destined By Dragonblood
Without a word, we both stood and started rooting through every cabinet and drawer for a way to create flame, coming up empty.
Vanni rubbed a hand over his jaw, glancing around the vast cavern.
Tiggy eyed us from where he sat by the front door, head resting on his paws. We’d let him out after he’d eaten, and even though he’d hesitated to brave the snow, he’d gone onto the veranda to do his business and was scratching to be let back in seconds later.
“The night we got here, Dolyn started the fire with dragon flames from his mouth,” Vanni said, releasing a heavy sigh.
“Of course, he did,” I mumbled, hands on hips as I turned to glance over the main living area of his home. “We’re lucky there’s a pack of matches. Dragon shifters wouldn’t have need of them. What do you think, Tiggy?” I turned to ask the dog.
He stared at us, and while he hadn’t been aggressive or seemingly upset we’d invaded his home, he seemed…sad. But what creature wouldn’t be when first Primrose then Dolyn had left him alone with two humans he didn’t know?
I made my way over to him, and he thumped his tail without lifting his head. Bending, I petted over his head. “I’m hurting too, Tig. But we’ll take care of you until he comes back, okay?”
Tiggy gave me a little lick, huffed, and closed his eyes.
Standing, I peered down the hallway.
“We have to go to our room.”
I huffed at Vanni’s statement I’d been about to make, anxiety over the pitch-black heightening my pulse.
He gathered up my hand and squeezed it tight. “With every day that passes, I swear I can see more than humanly possible in the dark. And even if I can’t see enough to get us there, I’m pretty sure I remember the twists and turns.”
“And if you don’t, maybe our inner beasts do?” I suggested since I hadn’t paid attention once while meandering the branching hallways that led to the sleeping chambers.
Yessss.
Both of us let out shaky laughs as the hissed assurance echoed between us.
“Let’s go.”
Within a dozen steps, we rounded a bend, and the darkness claimed my sight. I clutched to Vanni’s hand, our steps slowing. “Tell me you aren’t as blind as I am,” I whispered, my voice seemingly loud in the stifling stillness.
“I’m not?”
“That sounded like a question,” I hissed, grabbing hold of his upper arm with my free hand.
“Here,” he said, and the lantern’s handle brushed against my knuckles. “Hold this so I’m free to run my fingers along the rock.”
Shivering, I took the oil lamp and dangled it by my side. “Do not let go of my hand.”
“I won’t. Promise.”
We started out, moving slowly, the soft scrape of Vanni’s fingertips along the rock wall accompanying the shuffling of our feet.
“I can actually make out the shadow of branching hallways ahead.”
Left.
Relief flooded through both of us.
“That’s what I thought,” he murmured to the voices in our heads. “Thank you.”
One branch led toward the master chamber as well as Primrose’s, the other to a few guest quarters that hadn’t been occupied in centuries.
“Come on.” Vanni’s footsteps moved faster, and I followed with a little more confidence. “We made it,” he said, his breath leaving in a rush.
The sound of a door pushing inward met my ears, and sudden light from the window in the far wall made me blink.
