Tyrez shot her a look. He doubted the tea was Earl Grey.
Dani didn’t make eye contact as she took a sip, and he saw Cara nod in satisfaction. The Watcher had no doubt guessed the truth about Dani’s anxiety.
The Watcher said, “If you feel another one coming, tell us to stop.”
Dani wove her fingers together, but she nodded.
“Rindek visited me at the house,” Sarah said. Her expression remained calm, but Neil’s arm moved a few inches closer to her.
“Did Rindek visit you as well?” the Sabre asked Dani.
Dani set the tea aside. “Him and the Seer he kept as a slave.”
Tyrez stiffened. “Firashe was with him?”
“Sometimes.” Her eyes flicked to him, and away. “Ash brought me food, and books.”
The Dragon controlled his voice with an effort. “Did you ever see how Rindek controlled him?” It was an important question. How was the Archmage enslaving a Dragon? Was he keeping him deprived of crystal dust to make him vulnerable?
Dani shook her head. “Ash didn’t talk much. I don’t think Rindek wanted him to talk to me.”
“It’s the collar.” Both Emily and Alex spoke at once. They exchanged a look, and then Alex continued. “I saw Rindek shoving power into the collar to punish Ash. And when he helped me escape, he said he couldn’t go with me because Rindek could track him with it.”
Tyrez stared at Alex. The battle was eleven days ago, but they hadn’t discussed this. Tyrez had been too busy, trying to track Rindek and Dani, to ask the Dire questions about the captive Dragon.
“I saw that too.” Dani’s eyes had widened. “He shocked Ash. Sent him to the floor.”
Tyrez could barely breathe, he was so angry. Then Emily twisted her fingers together and dropped a bombshell.
“Ash told me he’d only ever taken his beast form in his dreams.”
It hit Tyrez like a cannonball to the gut. Firashe—both women had called him Ash—hadnevershifted to Dragon? How was that possible? To be denied what was so essential to a shifter, to be a Dragon, and soar into the sky...
Everyone stared at him. Only then did Tyrez realize he’d risen from his chair and was hissing like a snake, his rage emitting from him in a long exhalation. And most humiliating, his wings had erupted from his back, crushing up against the wall before he could regain enough control to fold them around his shoulders.
Jacques looked as though he might soil himself. Millie wasn’t far behind, and everyone else just appeared shocked as hell.
Neil cleared his throat and rose, heading for the counter. “I think you could use some coffee, big guy.”
“Tea might be better,” Cara cut in. “Bring me a cup.”
“I am fine,” growled Tyrez.
“You will have some tea,” Cara insisted, with that note in her voice. “It’s chamomile.”
Neil handed him a cup. “Just do it, Dragon. When she uses that tone, don’t argue.”
Tyrez doubted it was only chamomile. Nevertheless, he accepted the cup, and let Cara pour in tea.
The Sabre continued to eye him cautiously as Tyrez shoved his wings back where they belonged. He needed to get a grip, or he’d be no help to anyone. He exhaled slowly and sat himself down. The chair groaned at the renewed assault. Dani shot him a look and raised a brow.
“Furniture hates me,” Tyrez groused.
His effort was rewarded when one corner of her mouth twitched and she said, “Maybe you need to lose some weight.” Her eyes widened as though the words surprised her as much as they did him.
But that she’d said them at all was encouraging. “Too much fried chicken,” he agreed.
Neil cleared his throat. “You had me bring Millie for a reason?”
