The door to Cara’s suite was unlocked. I pushed through it, and saw the Oracle sitting at the table, with their third mate, Dani, beside him.
The Oracle’s complexion was usually pale, but now it was almost white. Like a ghost. And the look in his eyes stopped me cold.
A million questions pummeled my brain, but the primary one surfaced. “Why did you tell him to go?” I couldn’t keep the accusation out of my tone.
Pain pulsed from him. “Because the timelines all agreed on that one point—he had to attend. Otherwise, what might follow cannot happen.”
My mind spun. “What might follow?”
Dani answered. “He cannot tell you that.”
I glared at her. “Cannot? Or will not?”
“Both,” she snapped. “You have no idea what he’s been going through. It is not your place to judge.”
There is deep pain in him.Breana was standing with the remainder of our team in the back field as everyone discussed the murder, but she was seeing through my eyes.This wasn’t an easy decision.
I struggled with my rage, and my understanding.
He wouldn’t have done this without a very good reason,Breana insisted.You have to trust that he would never have risked Tyrez unless there was a good reason.
She was right, and I knew it, but it didn’t stop me from trembling with the need todo something. My fingers folded into fists, but I’d never felt so helpless.
“Does Breana have the sword?” Ash questioned.
“Yep,” I replied. “It helps her hold the Ice Drake in check. She needs it more than me.”
Ash assessed me with his pale gaze, and I tensed for a discussion, but he merely nodded.
Then Cara sailed through the door. “We have to get to your mother,” she said, “before she does something unwise.”
“But Tyrez!” I insisted.
“We will tend to him. But this has to be handled just right, Riggs, or the consequences will be disastrous, not just for him, but for the realms as a whole.” The Watcher straightened. “Do you trust me?”
I met her eyes. The chaos within me demanded immediate action, and my frustration carried through my reply.
“Do I have a choice?” I asked.
Her eyes flared brilliant blue, but she said, “Meet us at the treehouse.” She looked at Dani and Ash. “The academy is expecting me to escort Riggs to his homeland. They won’t realize I am diverting him elsewhere.”
They both nodded, and I followed Cara out the door.
The front meadow had a few uneasy groups of students, but they basically ignored us as we made our way to the gate. Just as we got to it, though, it crackled, swirled, and fluoresced.
And Dragons came through.
Ganit. And six others. All in human form, but with fierce looks upon their faces.
If they were surprised to see us there, they didn’t show it. Instead, they walked straight up to me and bowed their heads.
“Ganit.” My stomach twisted into a knot. “What is this?”
“There is no way Tyrez would murder Taran,” he said. “We may lack proof of what is actually happening, but we will no longer serve this Empire. And there are many more who feel the same.” He met my eyes and raised his chin. “In the absence of Tyrez, we pledge our allegiance to you.”
My heart thundered. “I am nobody’s leader.”
The old Dragon’s eyes flared. “Well, you are ours, now,” he said.
