“Look where?”
“Wasn’t he on his way to see Jacques?”
Sirki shrugged. “Yes, but that was hours ago. He could be anywhere by now.”
“Can’t we ask Razir to look for him? Oh, right. He’s—”
“With Aranta,” Sirki finished. “If things go right this time, he’ll be with her most of the night.”
“Is there anyone else? Don’t you have another brother?”
The Dragona grimaced. “Taran. He’s”—her eyes darted to Dani, and away—“not happy that you’re here. I don’t think we should go to him.”
Dani straightened. “All right, then it’s up to us. Let’s start with Jacques.”
Sirki shrugged. “Okay.”
“Can you carry me?” Dani asked.
Sirki perked up. “Oh, yes. I’m not as big as Tyrez, but my Dragona is strong.” She stripped off her tee, revealing bright-red scales.
“You don’t parade around in scales like your brother?”
Sirki snorted. “He does it to get a rise out of people. I like wearing clothes.” Her tights followed in the path of the tee, and her face contorted. In moments, she stood on the ledge as a perfect female Dragon.
Dani had seen Tyrez often enough now to appreciate the differences between the sexes—Sirki was much smaller and more refined than her brother, with a narrower face and sleeker body. She also wasn’t accustomed to carrying anyone, because she fumbled around before offering a foreleg for Dani to scramble aboard.
Getting between the neck spikes was a bit of a squeeze, but Dani managed it.
The red-scaled head tilted to level a bright eye on her. “You good?”
“Yep. Let’s go.” A sense of unexplainable urgency filled Dani. Tyrez was more than capable of looking after himself—her worry was likely foolish, and he would be the first to tell her so.
She didn’t think she’d mind if he did. The desire to see him, to verify that he was okay, was overpowering. Perhaps she should take this as a warning—that despite her resolutions, the Dragon was getting under her skin.
Sirki launched herself off the ledge, and Dani scanned the darkening sky for a blue-green gleam. But there was nothing.
The Dragona’s wingbeats were sharper, more rapid than Tyrez’s as she dropped low over the mountains and pointed her head toward the dark smudge of forest.
Dani remembered the freedom she’d felt, riding the turquoise Dragon. It was still invigorating aboard Sirki, but her hands clutched the spikes before her, and she didn’t feel inclined to remove them.
She’d felt safer on Tyrez.
He had to be okay. He was a big, strong Dragon. What could possibly happen to him?
The trees whipped by beneath them, Sirki banked to adjust course, and then slowed to a hover.
When the Phoenix appeared with her customary burst of flame, Dani startled so badly her grip slipped on the spikes. The creature chirped and vanished again.
Sirki sneezed away the soot as Dani looked down. At first, she didn’t see it—but lights shimmered in the darkness, and her eyes detected the outlines of what must be a house. Sirki folded her wings and performed a stomach heaving drop sixty feet to the ground.
As soon as the Dragona touched down, Dani slid off her. The door opened before she reached it and Jacques stood within the entrance, with Sparkle sitting on his shoulder.
He looked very different from when Dani had last seen him—mostly because he only wore a pair of shorts, and his goatlike characteristics were clearly displayed, hooved feet and all. But his scent hit her like a fist, making her heart jump and palms sweat.
“Ladies,” he purred. “How nice of you to join us.”
A female giggled from within the house. The Satyr grinned, his dark eyes dancing. His appreciative gaze scanned Sirki, now in human form and clad only in her form-fitting scales.
