Page 16 of The Lost Nation

Wren’s face lit up. “That’s a great idea! I’ll go now.”

She snatched a bit of fruit from the bowel we always kept stocked for her, and she shifted away. Ronan chuckled, and I stood to allow him to replace me at the desk. “Perhaps some children will help displace all of her energy?”He suggested.

I could see it so easily in my future—a gaggle of dark-haired children (a few with brown, of course) following Wren around as she pointed out a flower or tempted them with bits of fruit. Her laugh would carry on the breeze into the treehouse where I was working, and I’d be tempted to put everything down and go to her. To them.

Myfamily.

I shook my head, my thoughts interrupted by Ronan.“Did you want a specific message to be given to those in the forest?”Hebarely glanced up from the stack of papers in front of him, already in the thick of it. It hit me immediately that Ronan was also my family. So was Kieran.

I’d almost killed Wren after she murdered my brother and my uncle, but I’d never been close to either. Perhaps...perhaps blood didn’t equal family.Ronan worked tirelessly for me...sometimes to his detriment. Kieran was always there for me, even if he didn’t always agree with me. He’d never contradicted me in public, but wasn’t afraid to challenge me in private. I needed that.

I would ensure that I stayed deserving of their loyalty.

I stood, clasping my hands together.“Ronan, put down the work. Let’s get Kieran, and go flying.”

His head shot up, his expression that of a young drakling who’d just learned to fly. “Yes.”

I laughed, and away we went.

Chapter 8

Xana

Isat perched in my usual tree, watching the men work on my house. It was a large, sprawling thing that took up space inseveraltrees, and I almost laughed at how ridiculous it was. The other three female drakens would have to live in it with me or it would all be wasted. It was simply too big for one female!

The thought of the other females sobered me instantly. Enya was worried about the other two, and that grumpy old draken never showedanyemotion.

She was right though; Yazmine and Mara weren’t doing well. They were catatonic at best when they were first brought back to the island, and hadn’t left the cave since Enya and I had brought them there. Enya would have happily moved into my treehouse with me, but I know she was caring for the other two.

I felt a shift in the air, and a small spark of white magick. “You can come out.” I said.

Wren appeared on the branch next to me, blushing. “I didn’t want to just appear and frighten you.”

I smirked. Wren was thoughtful like that, but I was made of sterner stuff. I chose to believe my time as a captive forged me into something harder...not as something that broke me. “It will be years before they finish this monstrosity.” I jerked my chin at the house, and Wren’s eyes widened when she took in the sheer size.

“Oh my.” She blinked at the house, and then her face became serious. “Benedict mentioned the other females aren't doing well. What do you think?”

I frowned. My thoughts shouldn’t matter. If I had my way, I’d force them back out into life and see what happened. Enya would never force them to do anything like that though, and there was always the danger that an unmated draken would force himself on one of them. What a messthatwould be.

Wren frowned. “What if...what if one of the unmated drakens is their mate? Wouldn’t that help?”

I forgot how little Wren truly knew of our culture, and made a mental note to spend more time sharing it with her. “If they weren’t mates with someone before their capture, I doubt they would be mates now. Though it’s possible, I suppose. The amount of time that has passed has changed us all. As did our experiences.”

No one knew the truth of that more than Rhyfel’s daughter!

Wren sighed. “I want to help."

I laughed, but it wasn’t unkind.“Of course you want to help. That is what the Queen does. Shehelps.”

Her brow wrinkled, and we both turned our gazes to watch the drakens toil under the sun. “Do you think Enya would speak to me? Ronan plans on leaving with most of the unmated drakens tomorrow on a mission. Benedict suggested we try to get the others out of the cave then.”

I considered the idea, but Enya was unlikely to yield. “We can try, but do not mention it was Benedict’s idea.”

I pushed off into the air, and Wren jumped after me. I would never tire of feeling my wings slice through the air, especially after centuries of being bound. But no, I wouldn’t think such things anymore. Not with the sun warming my scales and a friend at my side.

Wren pouted. “I take it Enya is still angry with Benedict.”

My draken screeched in an animalistic laugh. That would be an underestimation indeed. “Again, don’t mention him. Pretend it’s all your idea."

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