“I can’t be sure. But I had the feeling it was nighttime.”
“We have to warn them,” Tyrez growled.
A few worry lines relaxed around Cara’s eyes. “We have a bit of time. Not much, but some.” Her fingers pointed first at Tyrez, and then to the chair, with emphasis. “This is going to take a calm atmosphere to accomplish. Having you looming over things is not going to help the process. Sosit.”
He rumbled at her, but the Dragon shifter sank his large frame into the chair. It creaked beneath him. After his turquoise eyes flashed, he said, “Ash is here.”
“Excellent.” Cara poured hot water into her teapot.
Tyrez’s gaze fastened on Riggs. “That was pretty impressive back at the lake.”
As Riggs shrugged uncomfortably, Cara asked, “What did he do?”
“Brought the lake up into the air. Then Bree froze it, and Marcus flung it at the cloud coming to eat us.”
There was the tiniest hesitation as Cara placed the pot on the table. “Sounds like some outstanding teamwork.”
“Saved us all,” Tyrez said.
“It was Bree and Marcus, really.” Riggs leaned back.
All that muscle and modest, too.
Were all Gryphon so sarcastic? I ignored Caliel and looked at Cara. “Without the suspended water, it wouldn’t have worked.”
The back door opened, and Nettie appeared, holding a fistful of colorful flowers. The aura of contentment surrounding my herbalist friend indicated that her new role caring for the Watcher’s homestead suited her. But her expression grew troubled as she met Cara’s gaze, and my eyes drifted to the lean, pale-haired figure accompanying her.
I sensed Caliel’s fascination.Never before have I seen a Dragon of that color.
“Never know what you’ll find while picking flowers,” Nettie said. “Today, it appears I’ve found the Oracle.”
I examined the new arrival with interest. A Dragon, clearly, but his scales shimmered silver and gold. He nodded to me when Cara made the introductions, but then his eyes moved to Riggs and froze on the hilt of the sword, just visible over his shoulder. “Where did you get that?”
Cara answered before Riggs could. “I gave it to him. Or rather, offered it. The sword has chosen him.” She’d grown very still, watching the Oracle. “Did you foresee it?”
Ash took a deep breath. “The timelines have been particularly chaotic as of late. But yes, I saw the sword in some of them. I just didn’t believe it was back in play, so I ignored them.”
His voice was slightly hushed, and Tyrez stiffened. “It’s not reallythatsword, is it?”
“Yes. It is.” Cara wrenched herself back into motion, distributing cups.
As I looked between them, hoping for clarity, Tyrez rubbed a hand over his face. “Damn it all to hell.”
“Precisely,” Ash agreed.
“What sword?” I shot him a puzzled look.
“The sword Riggs carries has a long history.” Cara offered me a muffin and pushed the butter my way. “But before we all get too excited, I would like to check something.” She gestured to Riggs. “Can you put it on the table?”
Riggs stood and reached behind him.
“It’s designed for an overhead draw. Interesting,” Tyrez noted.
Riggs shrugged. “It feels right.”
“A tough way to draw a sword,” Tyrez said. “But you always made it look easy.”
There was an uncomfortable moment as Riggs laid the sword and scabbard on the table while not meeting his brother’s eyes. His hand moved away from it slowly, as though reluctant to do so.
