Tyrez dropped down four steps and poked his nose into the Watcher’s basement.
“Don’t come one single step closer,” Cara said.
She was masked, gowned, and gloved. Her basement was a library, and she had several books open on one end of the table. But a microscope and a plethora of sampling containers covered the remaining surface.
Tyrez sat down on the steps. “Have you found something, then?”
“Many somethings. I just can’t figure out if they are therightsomethings.”
He waited patiently as she peeled off her mask and gloves, and dropped them into a garbage container before approaching.
“Okay. Tell me,” he rumbled.
“I found multiple critters in the remains. Almost missed them, because they were all dead, and partially decomposed. I think they died the moment their hosts did. A type of parasite. But my references state that a similar form—only much smaller—is normal in Dragons. Transmitted by biting flies to your human half. They normally live in balance with their host and do little harm so long as the Dragon is healthy.”
“But these Dragons were rogue,” Tyrez pointed out. “Their health was compromised by a lack of access to crystal dust.”
Cara nodded. “It may have made them susceptible to the parasite, but for it to take them down in midflight? How is that possible?”
“Maybe it wasn’t the parasite that did it.”
Cara rubbed her temple. “Even a virus takes time to affect someone. It has to multiply and spread.”
Tyrez considered. “The parasite feeds on tissue?”
She waved toward the books. “The references are vague. One said they fed on crystal dust in the tissues.”
“What kind of damage was done to the organs?”
She met his gaze. “They were shredded.”
“Not liquefied?” When she shook her head, he pressed. “Could they have been chewed?”
Her mouth pulled in a grim line. “Jaws could have caused the damage. I have been debating that for the last hour. But not normal consumption. More like that of a rabid animal.” She planted her hands on her hips. “If the parasites did this, they weren’t acting in a natural manner.”
“Nothing about Rindek is natural.” Tyrez sighed. “But if this parasite is a natural Dragon thing, I won’t be able to convince my brother that Rindek’s developed a more lethal version.”
“I am going to have a talk with your mother,” Cara said. “But her days of influencing your father might have come to a close.”
Tyrez rubbed his face. “All because I saved Dani?”
“Because you demonstrated that their system has become far too rigid,” the Watcher insisted. “And that extends to their brains too. But I will try.”
“Thank you for that.”
She sighed. “Don’t thank me. I wanted to take her something irrefutable. Instead, I have only found more questions.”
Tyrez rose. “Unfortunately, my brother is likely to find the answers.” He shook his head. “I just hope we don’t pay too high a price for them.”
29
And she dreamed:
The wind blew against her naked skin, and Dani shivered.
Why was she naked? Had she just shifted form? She stood upon the gravel beach. The waves, whipped to foam, reached for her as they threw themselves upon the shore. Flecks of it landed on her, freezing wherever they touched.
Her gaze rose to the cliffs far above. But there were no Dragons in this dream. If it was a dream...
