Page 38 of Marked Dragon

Cassidy growled softly. “I wish our thunder link worked the same as a wolf pack. Saphira could find out what’s going on with the search and what their plans are.”

I blinked, trying to understand. “How would she know that?”

“Wolves can communicate with everyone in their pack.” Vlad tapped his forehead. “Just like you can with Thorn but with everyone. If our bonds worked the same as a wolf bond, and since you’re part of our thunder now, the four of us could mindspeak to one another.”

That would have been handy, especially with the whole wedding debacle.

“Ugh,” Errol moaned, and his foot jerked.

Saphira exhaled, and her shoulders relaxed. “Dad?” she whispered and squeezed between Cassidy and Vlad.

Releasing me, Thorn kneeled and gently set Errol on the ground, propping him against the wall.

Be careful. There are rats,I connected with him.Do you think that’s smart?

They’re more afraid of us than we are of them.Thorn looked at me with a smile, then studied my face.Or…maybe not?

I hugged Eva closer and squinted.Do you know how many diseases they carry? Hundreds. And several of them are deadly.

Remember, we’re dragon shifters, not humans. We don’t get sick, but don’t put Eva on the ground,he replied and stood.That’s a different story.

I grimaced. There was no way I’d risk my sister like that.

The sound of flapping wings had me holding my breath. I understood that warriors were searching for us, and I feared we would give ourselves away if we weren’t careful. I exhaled slowly then inhaled deeply to calm my racing heart.

Errol’s eyes fluttered open, and he glanced around the tunnel. “Where are we?”

“In a secret passageway,” Saphira answered as she squatted in front of him. “We’re waiting for the warriors to pass so we can get away.”

He locked his attention on her and leaned his head back against the cement. He whispered, “Saphy, thank gods you’re here.”

“I’m sorry you got involved in this.” Her eyes glistened as she touched his arm. “I had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but with what Drake has been doing, I couldn’t stand back and pretend not to notice.”

“None of us can any longer,” he said as he patted her arm. “I was supposed to go with you all, anyway. The king pulled me aside last night and informed me of his plans.”

His heartbeat remained slow, but it could have been calm due to the drug still coursing through his blood, so I couldn’t tell if he was lying.

I hated to bethatperson, but we couldn’t blindly trust anyone…not after Saphira’s uncle, Brenton, betrayed us. “You officiated the wedding. You almost married me to that asshole.”

Rubbing his forehead, he sighed. “I know. I’m sorry. The king and I didn’t expect him to start the wedding without Arman in attendance. It was unprecedented. Then again, we assumed he had a sense of honor for our traditions. Clearly, that is not the case.”

Errol had pointed out that King Arman wasn’t there, and Drake had pushed him to start, putting him in a dangerous position.

He frowned, his irises darkening. “At least, you married the right person.”

My head jerked back, and my heart ached. “Wait. That counted?”

Hurt wafted through our bond, Thorn’s feelings adding to my shock. Indigestion burned, but it wasn’t from the coffee this morning; it was from the guilt over how I’d made Thorn feel.

“Yes. He is a prince—even though people thought he was dead. That was why I worded the question the way I did…so that any prince could speak up.” Errol exhaled and sat upright. “I hoped Thorn would do what he did.”

I’m sorry if you didn’t—Thorn started.

No, I want to be married to you,I interjected. I couldn’t fathom hearing the words I knew he was going to say.I was just hoping it wouldn’t be at a wedding someone else planned, and I wanted both of us to be able to say an‘I do.’ Not only that but to also commit to each other among the people we wanted as guests, not random strangers watching in the hopes of getting on the good side of King Arman and Drake.

He sighed and pushed a piece of hair behind my ear. He connected,I didn’t think of it like that. Just that I couldn’t let Drake have you.

Our buzz zinged, and I closed my eyes, treasuring the moment. It had been far too long since we’d been together, and my dragon was growing restless. She wanted to connect with him, but here and now wasnotappropriate.I know. You have nothing to feel bad about.

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