Chapter Fourteen

Esha didn’t want to believe any of it, but too much was lining up. She wanted to go to her sister and demand that Savita ask the runes about the Conclave and everything else, but that wouldn’t happen until she returned to Flamefall.

Two more days. That’s all she had with Kendrick.

“There has to be more the Conclave wants Esha for than agreeing to hunt with me,” he said.

Dain drew in a breath, his shoulders lifting as he did. “It could be her skills as a warrior.”

“They would’ve sought me out before now,” she said.

Kendrick asked, “Could it involve Savita?”

Esha’s stomach clenched as she recalled the runes warning her sister of danger. Had Savita been trying to tell Esha that she was in danger? Or had the runes been telling Savita that she was the one in danger?

“It’s well known that Savita is with Esha’s Rangers. It’s highly unusual for family members to be in the same camp,” Dain explained.

Esha met his yellow eyes. “You know Savita?”

“Don’t you know all the Readers?” he replied.

“Why would I?”

Dain snorted. “Readers hold incredible power both politically and magically, simply by their gift of reading the runes. It’s said that any of them could take out the Conclave if they wanted.”

“Maybe that’s what this is all about,” Kendrick said. “Perhaps the Conclave believes Savita is trying just that.”

Esha was appalled that they would believe that. “My sister would never.”

“Someone is doing something. The proof is you being targeted,” Dain said.

Kendrick caught her gaze. “Has anything happened recently that would put you on the Conclave’s radar? ”

“No.”

“What about Savita?”

Esha shook her head. “I’m not privy to everything my sister does, though.” Then a realization hit her. “Do you think Flamefall was attacked? Could whatever came for me have gone for Savita first?”

“Or after,” Kendrick added.

Dain’s lips flattened as he shrugged. “It’s possible, but moving against a Reader is unheard of. With one word, a Reader could have someone stripped of their power.”

“Savita did say that the runes repeatedly warned her about danger,” Kendrick said.

Dain’s yellow eyes narrowed. “They did?”

Esha sighed, suddenly exhausted. “Yes. I’ve never seen her so shaken. She tried to determine who was at risk or what the threat was, but the runes wouldn’t give her more information.”

“Let me see if I can discern anything more,” Dain told them as shadows closed around him.

Kendrick stepped forward. “Wait.”

Dain paused the shadows and snapped, “What?”

“Are you recovered from earlier?”

The Dark looked slightly embarrassed at the question. “Using the shadows to travel takes…effort. The more I take with me, the more strain there is.”

Esha hadn’t even noticed that Dain clearly felt the effects of taking them across the distance. She knew better than to disregard things. She needed to do better.

“Watch yourself,” Kendrick told Dain and stepped back.

Dain said nothing before vanishing.

Esha stared at Kendrick. “You like him.”

“He has his moments,” Kendrick said with a grin.

She couldn’t return it. “I thought the only thing wrong was that something was killing elves. How could I not see that there was more?”

“You’re out here doing your duty. How could you possibly know what politicians are doing or planning?”

“And my sister?”

Kendrick paused. “You know her. What do you think?”

“I think she became someone else when she became a Reader. She was always bossy, but ever since you arrived, she’s acted strangely. I thought it was merely because I overstepped. Now, I’m not so sure. ”

“Do you have any way of contacting her?”

“I can, but it would give away our location.”

He glanced around at the thick forest around them. “And where are we?”

“On the other side of the river. Dain took us a significant distance.”

“I still think I’m the one they were after earlier.”

Esha shrugged and wrinkled her nose. “Whether it’s you or me, if we’re together, does it matter?”

“Nay,” he said after a brief pause.

She cleared her throat. “This looks like a good area to rest for the night.”

“Are there any Wood Elves near? I’d rather no’ run across anyone else until we get more answers.”

Esha climbed onto one of the massive boulders and tried to get her bearings. She heard the distant rumble of the river to her left. She and her squad had been this way before, but it had been some time. She jumped to the ground. “They already know we’re here. If they want to interact with us, they’ll come regardless.”

Kendrick’s lips quirked in a grin. “In that case, we rest.”

She wasn’t sure she could. Pent-up energy churned through her, and it needed a release. Unfortunately, her mind was too jumbled with questions and unease, and all she could do was stand there. She had no idea how long she remained before she smelled food. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten much that day.

Esha found Kendrick before a fire, roasting what looked like a bird. “What’s that?”

“We call it chicken. I decided to improvise.” He tore off a leg and handed it to her.

She sniffed it before taking a bite. There was no gamey flavor, which surprised her. “Not bad.”

“Have as much as you’d like. I’ve already eaten my fill. I asked you earlier if you were hungry, but you were too deep in your thoughts.”

“I’m sorry,” she said as she sat beside him.

“My thoughts are also full.”

They fell into a comfortable silence as she ate her meal. Esha kept trying to form a plan, but it was nearly impossible to do when she didn’t know what might come for them. And sitting next to Kendrick, it was impossible to ignore him. She wasn’t surprised by her attraction. He was a Dragon King, after all. But the more she learned about him, the more his allure became less about lust and more about…something else.

She thought about him in the water and the visceral reaction of her body to seeing him. She thought of being underground and how he had wrapped an arm around her. Holding on to him had gotten her through her time in the dark without completely losing control of herself. The feelings he stirred within her were dangerous. Every Ranger was warned to stay away from anyone who caused such emotions.

And yet, she was alone with him.

Esha shook herself. Whatever this thing was with Kendrick was new and exciting, but she needed to keep her sights on the future she wanted. He would be gone in a few days. Did she really want to destroy everything she had worked so hard for? It was better to remove herself from anyone who tempted her in such a way. She got to her feet and started walking away when she saw the two tents. They were smaller than Kendrick’s previous one but still round.

“Take your pick,” he told her with a smile.

She chose the one on the right. The bed was decent-sized, but she barely noticed. She paced the confines of the enclosure as she repeatedly tried to get her mind to rest. But she couldn’t stop thinking about Kendrick.

Esha closed her eyes and tried to center herself. Emotions used to rule her as a child. Ranger training had taught her how to control the feelings that got away from her—like now. She slowed her breathing and imagined the rays of the sun warming her. Little by little, the strong emotions began to ebb, as all things did.

When she felt like herself again, she opened her eyes and took a good look around the shelter. Besides the bed, there was a chair and a small table. Tiny lights ringed the inside of the tent, casting a soft glow. Esha sat on the bed and grinned as she sank into the softness. She lay back and stared up at the top of the round lodging.

She heard Kendrick moving around outside. She could picture him tending to the fire, his muscles stretching and bunching beneath his shirt. If she were in his place, she would’ve returned to her people, but he remained, even as the threats intensified.

Savita had said that Esha had three days with Kendrick. The first day had passed quickly and without much tracking. Three days wasn’t enough time to do anything. Esha bit the inside of her lip as she contemplated what might happen if she took longer. Would Savita cover for her?

Regardless, the entity killing elves and dragons needed to be stopped.

If Esha took that stand, it could cost her her position. But lives would be saved—not just elves but dragons, too. She thought about what she would say to anyone who questioned her decisions. Would anyone believe she had been targeted? What about Kendrick? Others would likely think he had been the focus, but would they care? It was doubtful. Of course, she was contemplating all of this on the word of a Dark.

Esha wanted to hate Dain and all he’d said, but too much of it made sense. Too many things caused her to question everything. And that was why she would continue hunting the foe.

As for Savita, her sister was resourceful. The Reader could take care of herself—she always had. The real concern was whether Esha could complete this mission. Kendrick could leave anytime he wanted. Dain, however, would face the same wrath from the Conclave that Esha did.

If they were caught.

The sound of Kendrick moving in his tent halted her thoughts. She wondered if he was getting undressed. She could picture him bending over to tug off his boots, causing the material of his shirt to stretch tightly over his back and shoulders. He would likely stand and yank his shirt from his trousers before grabbing the hem and pulling it over his head. Would he toss it aside or fold it? She imagined he would fold it because he seemed the meticulous type. Then, he would unbutton his pants and push them down before stepping out of them. Of course, he’d fold them to lie next to his shirt.

She heard a splash of water. She turned her head toward his tent, wishing she could see through the material. Was he washing his face? Esha smiled as she thought about seeing the beaded droplets traveling down his hard body as she had that morning.

She bit her lip as her body heated. Her sex clenched with need. The object of her desire was so close. All she had to do was walk over.

If she did, she would be crossing a line she’d sworn never to cross.

Esha pushed to her feet and made her way to the side of her tent nearest to Kendrick’s. She placed her hand on the thick, rough fabric. She closed her eyes and sought to center herself again, but nothing worked.

There was only one thing she wanted.