Page 83 of The Lost Child

I looked up as Nasi sat down on my other side, grumbling at his mate. Kaida huffed and stood, flaring her gold wings and taking flight.

I raised an eyebrow at my fellow draken male. “She is angry at you.”

Nasi shrugged. “She was kept cooped up in a castle her whole life, so she wishes to see the world. She smells off to me, like she is getting sick. I want her to wait until I understand what I’m smelling.” He studied me. “Don’t you wish to see the world?”

Nasi was a thinker. He asked many, many questions. I shook my head. “No. My world is here. And that is enough.”

“You are happy with your human mate then? That is good.” Nasi watched the sun drop down below the horizon of the ocean, his large legs thrust out in front of him.

“I would be happy if we found more drakens, but I feel indebted to warn you,” he continued.

I stiffened. “Why?”

He shifted on our log. “I simply want you to consider what might happen should you stumble across an unmated female draken, or if one comes here.”

I fought down irritation. “I don’t want a female draken. I want my Nerissa.”

He grinned. “Well said. But draken instincts may not care. Our species is dying.” He paused, hesitating. “I almost forced myself on Kaida when I was feral, so lost I was to my instincts. I’m not saying it will happen to you. I just want you to be prepared.”

We settled in together in silence.

I frowned. “Can humans have draken young?” The thought suddenly seemed terrifying and intriguing all at once.

“I don’t know,” Nasi answered. “Though remember she’s a blood witch and not a human. That counts for something.”

Did it? I was still trying to learn all the rules of this strange, new world.

“Alkdama seemed happy,” I noted, searching about for something to say. “My mate is frustrated and eager to learn from her. It will take her many years to learn her powers.”

Nasi nodded. “Did your … master ever mention other drakens? Or where you came from?”

I hated thinking of the master, but recognized the information was important. “I do not know.”

I thought of the old man who’d hidden in the ship. His body had been one of the first I’d helped the witches wrap.

Perhaps some things were better left in the past.

Nasi stood, stretching his limbs and wings. I copied him, wondering if he would be up for a quick sunset fly before sleeping. If Kaida was my sister, I hoped Nasi didn’t mind if I thought of him as a brother. It was nice to have companionship of a different sort to Nerissa.

I tapped him on the shoulder and gave a jerk of my head at the sky. He flashed his fangs at me, then pushed me hard in the chest.

“Race you!”

I growled and stumbled as he took off, a good three steps ahead of me. I dove into the air after him, both of us laughing. This would be a good life.

Twenty-Nine

ALKDAMA

“This isn’t right. I still think we should tell them.”

I tried not to outwardly show my frustration with Meruse, leader of the sea witches. She’d watched all the drakens die before, and many of them had been her friends. Surely, she would understand my plan.

She stood in front of me, looking at the sigils etched in the sand. “You didn’t tell the drakens about that ward.” She pointed to a particular carved sigil, exclusively etched by the drakens. The drakens would be the one to supply the blood to it tomorrow as well. As we’d all bleed to set the most powerful wards laid on any island besides Lyoness.

“They won’t even realize it. The big one is happy with Nerissa. Nerissa plans to stay to hone her magick.” I waved away her concerns.

“And the mated pair? They were just talking about combing the north for more drakens, in Dorea.”

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