Page 23 of Dragon Blood
She blinked, trying to focus as something wet and cool slid past her lips, coating her tongue. Reflexively, she swallowed, allowing the liquid to soothe the gritty feel of her throat.
No…
Slowly, understanding wriggled through the thick barrier against her mind.
Oh, no, no…
Betrayal…
Not you…
Voiceless, no limb would obey, even her breath eased into a steady rhythm, mimicking sleep.
Astred… must protect….
Regina’s consciousness fell into the void, her dragon extending a weak tether, holding her true.
Chapter 9
Heartracing,Astredobservedas each of her chosen Aeleftherian escorts dove off the side of the ship into the rough ocean waters, emerging moments later in full dragon form with enough force to launch them into the sky.
Her mother had been bundled into the bottom of the small boat with care, and rowed away from the ship with Kai’s travel bag tucked at her feet. Astred’s crew held fast until the escort was ready to take her.
Kai dove next, disappearing deep into the water.
When he emerged, Astred noted the differences marking his scales. She’d never seen his dragon before. She’d almost forgotten that he held more than his tiger beast within him.
A metal dragon like his mother, bearing the subtle striations of his tiger markings, flagging him as ‘other’.
Magnificent.
He circled around, massive wings flapping to hold his position as he reached for the small boat, carefully lifting it from the water. Once secure in his grasp, the crew members jumped overboard, swimming to a second nearby rowboat that would take them back to the ship.
Last, Astred dove into the water, shifting into her dragon as she continued away from the ship, swimming fast to build up enough power to launch herself into the sky with a hard snap of her powerful wings. Flapping hard, she caught the bluster of the coming storm, aiding her ascent to join the others.
She flew alongside Kai, the small boat bearing her unconscious mother cradled in his claws. Kolina headed the convoy, while Marli and Zayli circled around to guard their backs.
Despite the great measures to secure peace with the combative males, not all followed Jori, or were interested in alliances such as the GPSA. There were still enemies out there.
Tension bunched Astred’s muscles as she concentrated on the flight, keeping her senses alert for trouble.
She also couldn’t be sure that Regina’s symptoms were actually due to her distance from home. Again, not with the recent attacks on their domain.
If that were the case, who would dare? Who could get close enough to affect her like this?
An infiltrator to Carson’s Island? An Aeleftherian traitor? The same that conspired with the Consortium? Another?
Astred kept her gaze straight ahead on Kolina’s lead. At her side, Kai carried her mother, his claws steady, his wingbeats smooth, despite the strengthening winds bearing down on them.
There were only Zayli and Marli behind her. Everyone else aboard the Crimson Claw were crew members that Astred trusted implicitly.
Her thoughts tumbled back to the island, desperately rolling through the faces of all present. She couldn’t picture a single one of them as responsible for this.
She dared another glance at her mother’s inert form, small amid bundled blankets, face pale.
Side effect or infliction?
Perhaps the Council had been right to try to force Regina to remain in Aeleftheria? They had forbidden her departure and warned of the dangers.
