Page 15 of The Dragon Sacrifice

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Langdon gathered the others at the table, making sure they knew from his countenance that this meeting was mandatory. Neither brother put up a stink, though it was often Stenton’s way to be contradictory. Too many decades of living in tight quarters, of squabbling and fighting. They were sick to death of each other, and it flared up in small and big ways.

But tonight, everyone seemed to know the gravity of what had happened here. Two things loomed that they needed to discuss. The woman and Jerrard’s diminished power. Both seemed paramount and possibly disastrous.

“We have to discuss what to do in light of the occurrences,” Langdon said, spreading his palms on the table.

Stenton casually kicked back in the chair. “Is this the part where you try to school us on dragon lore that any fledgling would know by heart? Because if it is, I have a lot of whittling to do.” His voice was laced with sarcasm.

The older brother ignored Stenton’s bait. “The woman we have before us, do either of you sense any magic in her?”

Stenton shook his head sadly. Jerrard was the one who paused. “I told you before, something alerted me to that cave at just the right time. If I had been a second later, the horde would have had her. Another year gone with no chance to break the curse. Something is different this time.”

“You’ve always been lucky, little brother,” Stenton said. “Luck isn’t the same as magic. Usually, it’s one or the other. Though, my sexual partners always experienced both.”

Langdon rolled his eyes. “You haven’t had a sexual partner in a century.”

“Unless you count his fist,” Jerrard added.

Stenton kicked at them under the table. Jerrard groaned and rubbed his shin, but Langton was too focused. He knew something important had happened to them, something that would make or break their futures in this cavern.

“Maybe her magic is latent,” Jerrard added.

“And maybe she’s just a beautiful woman,” Stenton said, throwing up his arm. “But what in the world are we going to do with her?”

“Keep her from the horde, that’s for sure,” Langdon said decisively.

“And how?” Stenton asked. “Because genius, here,” he said gesturing to Jerrard, “used up his magic, they know we are vulnerable. I can sense them growing closer even now.”

Ah, so that accounted for Stenton’s foul mood. The most telepathically sensitive of the brothers, Stenton could always tell when the horde was on the move. Langdon leaned forward so his brother could see the seriousness on his face. “How close are they?”

“Three caverns over,” Stenton said, closing his eyes. “They can’t get any closer, but if either of us loses power, we’re toast.”

“Then we must not lose power,” Langdon added, though he could see in Stenton’s eyes it was easier said than done. As cursed dragons, it wasn’t just shifting to their true forms that drained their power. It was any number of things, some of which could not be predicted. It had happened once when Stenton fell from a very high height in one of the caverns they were exploring. He’d survived the fall, but had been unable to shift into dragon form for the entire year.

“So don’t lose power,” Stenton repeated, “but what about the girl? This one has already taken a shine to her.” He thumbed at Jerrard, who blushed.

Langdon glanced between his brothers. Jerrard’s desire had been plain on his face, but he also sensed a tightening in Stenton’s features that let Langdon know Stenton was feeling something for the young lass as well. Who wouldn’t? She was a beauty. Hair flowing in dark waves, voluptuous curves, red lips, and large breasts. Langdon cleared his throat as his body reacted to the memory of hers.

But was beauty enough? He’d take a hag if it meant she could break the curse and free them. A beautiful mage was more than he could ask for.

“We get to know her,” Langdon said firmly. “We will treat her kindly and spend time with her. Make her feel comfortable all while testing her to see if there is any magic within her.”

“So keep her alive and content? Tall order.” Stenton stood up, stretching. “I’m going to bed before anything more catastrophic happens. Langdon, you’re welcome to the chaise in my room, but you know how I snore.”

“I’ll be bunking with Jerrard,” Langdon said, glancing at his younger brother, who gave no complaint.

But Langdon didn’t get much sleep that night. Worry hung on him like a yoke. He’d managed to keep them alive all this time, but now things seemed to balance on a knife’s edge. Why he felt this was their last chance, he wasn’t sure, but one thing was certain—he hoped Seela was more than she appeared.

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