“Not right now,” Jarvis said in an uncompromising tone.“We’re not prepared, and I’m sure that you can remember what happened to the people who tried fighting Carlyle while not being prepared.”
They were dead.They all remembered what had happened back then, and Dallin would rather not have to live through it again.Tyne didn’t seem to agree with that, though.
Jarvis might be about to have a fight on his hands, and not with Carlyle as he’d expect.
* * * *
SOL HAD NO IDEA WHATwas going on or who all these people were, but he had Pippa in his arms, and as far as he was concerned, that meant that everything was right in his world.
He and Pippa had been best friends for years.She was the only one who knew that Sol was a dragon shifter.She was the only one he’d ever trusted with that information.
Sol supposed that she wasn’t the only one anymore.It was clear that these people had been looking for him, and they had to have a good reason.He hoped they’d known him before he lost his memories, but at the same time, he was afraid to ask.Did everything he’d lost so many years ago really matter?He didn’t remember it, and he didn’t think he ever would.He wanted to satisfy his curiosity, but he was also afraid to get hurt by the information he might find.
None of that mattered right now.The only thing that did was that attacking Carlyle was a stupid idea.“Graham’s right, and he’s been living with Carlyle for a while, so we should listen to him,” Sol said.
The big man’s eyes narrowed.“You just arrived.Who are you to agree or disagree with this?”
“He’s one of us, and he has as much right to an opinion as any of us,” Jarvis pointed out.
His words gave Sol a thrill.He’d never been part of anything.He’d only ever had Pippa, and while he loved her, sometimes, he wished he had someone to fly with.He wished he didn’t have to hide his dragon for so long and so often.He wished he knew other dragon shifters so they could talk about what being one meant and what it was like.
Pippa hadn’t let go of Sol, but she stepped to the side so he could see the mages who’d rescued him better.Sol’s attention kept slipping to the pretty man who’d helped him cross the portal.He wanted to ask for his name and if they’d known each other in Sol’s previous life, but he was pretty sure that the big guy would strangle him if he distracted him from Carlyle and the problem at hand.
“This could be the only chance we have,” the big guy said.
“It won’t be a chance you have if Carlyle kills you,” Sol argued.He needed to get everyone’s names, dammit.He was already done thinking aboutpretty manandbig man.“Carlyle has spells everywhere.Graham and I walked around the forest for hours, and we were never able to find the exit.We would probably have continued walking until Carlyle or Simon had found us.From what Graham said, he also has spells that hide the house, so I doubt that you’ll be able to reach it.”
Big guy scowled.“We don’t have to reach it.We just have to wait for Carlyle to find us.”
“And we can do that from here, where we’re protected,” Jarvis interjected.“You won’t be able to take him by surprise if you have to wait for him to reach you.I know you’re eager to get rid of Carlyle, Tyne, but you have tothink.”
Someone in the crowd scoffed, causing Tyne’s scowl to deepen.He didn’t look at whomever it had been.Instead, he glanced at Jarvis, then turned and left without adding anything else.Jarvis sighed, sounding like a parent dealing with anunruly teenager.Sol was ready to bet that it was how he felt, too.
“Everyone crossed back?”Jarvis asked the small crowd gathered around them.
“We have,” another man said.“You can close the portal.”
To Sol’s surprise, the portal through which they’d crossed petered out.A few seconds later, it was all but gone, and there were no signs left that it had been there.
Now that Sol was free and safe, he allowed himself to look around.Jarvis had mentioned Pippa being in a castle a few times, but Sol hadn’t realized he was being literal.Theywerein a freaking castle.
They stood in a courtyard, surrounded by thick stone walls.The place had been decorated with flowers and wooden benches, so it didn’t look cold or harsh, but it was undeniably a castle.
“Where the fuck are we?”Sol asked no one in particular.
“That’s how I reacted when I first got here,” Pippa said.“This place is massive and looks like it should be in a fairytale.”
Sol felt like he was.He’d been a prisoner, and he’d been rescued.He’d started the rescue himself, but he and Graham would still be walking around the forest if it wasn’t for these people.Sol still wasn’t sure if he could trust them, but so far, they hadn’t done anything that would point to them wanting to hurt him.Graham was clearly a different story, but Sol hadn’t lied when he’d told the man that he would protect him.He was planning on doing just that.
“How are you feeling?”Jarvis asked as he moved closer to Sol.
“I’ve been better, but I’m not about to die.”
Jarvis nodded.“Once we take you inside, one of us can look you over and help with your wounds.We can do the same for you, Graham.”Jarvis hesitated.“I hope you understand, but we’ll have to lock you up initially.”
Sol opened his mouth to say no and that it was unfair, but Graham was already nodding.“I expected it.”
“He helped me escape,” Sol said, pointedly looking at Jarvis.
