Chapter Twenty

Esha couldn’t believe the nightwraith was still alive. But Dain had warned them that it was hard to kill. She just hadn’t expected it to be this hard.

The animal was bloodied, and she imagined it had broken bones, but it didn’t seem to notice. It’d set its single-minded focus on Kendrick. Which made her wonder if he was the target. If it had been her, the nightwraith would’ve noticed her by now. Instead, it seemed locked on Kendrick.

Shadows appeared on the opposite side of the clearing, and Esha watched as Dain stepped out of them. He grinned at her before his attention swung to the battle. Dain would make an excellent Ranger. When this was over, she’d talk to him about joining. He probably wouldn’t, but there was always a need for those with his skills.

Esha locked on to Kendrick. He was magnificent. The way he moved with such ease was something to behold. Then there was how he used his wings, tail, and talons to attack. She wondered why he hadn’t breathed fire, but maybe that was because she and Dain were so close.

She glanced at the nightwraith, who watched Kendrick and hunched down as he neared. Kendrick dove toward the beast. Halfway down, Kendrick suddenly disappeared. Esha glanced at Dain, who shared a shocked look with her. Even the nightwraith seemed confused as it searched for Kendrick.

Esha stilled as the animal locked on her. It growled angrily and began stalking toward her. She swung her sword around her, calling to the sun to enhance her weapon again. It looked like the beast was after her.

“Run!” Dain shouted.

But that wouldn’t do any good. The nightwraith had its sights set on her, and it wasn’t going to alter its course. Esha didn’t look away from it as she wondered where Kendrick had gone. It never even entered her mind that he had left them. He wouldn’t do that. She lifted her sword and felt the magic sizzling from the sun’s warmth, the power moving down the blade to the hilt and through her hand. She prepared to engage the beast when a gust of wind ruffled her hair, sending it into her eyes.

A heartbeat later, the nightwraith let out a bellow. Esha saw long grooves open on the beast’s back as blood gushed. She spotted Kendrick’s sienna scales as he flew away. The beast chased after Kendrick, who coasted low to the ground.

Esha started to follow, but Dain grabbed her arm. “What are you doing?” she demanded.

“He’s leading it away.”

She jerked her head back to Kendrick. He swung around in a tight circle and moved his wings in front of him for a heartbeat. He hovered in place as the nightwraith raced toward him. Kendrick didn’t move as the creature jumped into the air, shards raining from its arms and fangs extended.

Esha saw Kendrick’s chest expand as he drew in a deep breath. There was a pause before he opened his mouth, and a torrent of fire shot out. It consumed the nightwraith instantly. It shrieked as it fell to the ground, flopping as it tried to get away. But it fell silent within seconds.

“Fuck me,” Dain murmured.

Esha swallowed, nodding numbly. She knew that dragons were powerful, but this was so much more than she expected.

Kendrick didn’t stay there. He flew so high that she lost track of him. Even when she shielded her eyes from the sun, she couldn’t find him. The fire devoured the beast, bones and all, faster than she had ever seen a blaze burn. Then again, it was a Dragon King’s fire.

She had even more questions for Kendrick now that she had seen him fight. She couldn’t wait until he returned. Her stomach clenched. Would he return? She looked up at the sky again, but there was still no sign of him.

“He’ll be back,” Dain said matter-of-factly.

She glanced at the Dark. “You can’t know that.”

“You can’t be so blind that you don’t see the way he looks at you.”

Esha lowered her gaze to the ground. She couldn’t hear this. It would make things more difficult. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Ah. The Ranger code.”

She heard the scorn in his words. Esha faced him. “Do you have a problem with our way of life?”

“You’re telling me that you don’t care for Kendrick?”

“I asked you a question.”

“And I asked you one in return,” he retorted, the look in his yellow eyes hard.

Esha drew in a deep breath. “I gave a vow.”

“Which means you won’t see if anything could come of you two.”

“It’s what I have to do.”

Dain snorted in derision. “That’s shite.”

“We have our reasons.”

“Right,” he said sarcastically. “You need to be focused.”

She held his gaze and lifted her chin.

“Do you think your Rangers are the only group of warriors? The Dark have something similar, and we don’t keep those who have skills from having loved ones or a family. And you know what, Ranger? We do just as well as you.”

“It’s our way. I made my decision when I took that vow.”

Dain shook his head dismissively. “I suppose that means you and Kendrick will just be friends. I’m sure, after all of this, he’ll continue to come to Shecrish. I’ve no doubt the Dark council will want to meet with him. I’m sure others will, as well. It might take some time before things can become truly friendly, but in the meantime, he’ll be here. Meeting other elves. Most likely, the most beautiful will be paraded in front of him.”

She knew Dain was trying to anger her. Unfortunately, it was working. The thought of Kendrick spending time with other women brought a storm of jealousy that threatened to choke her. But what could she do? She had no future with Kendrick. She had been over this with herself already. The only partner she would ever have was the Rangers. Not an individual—the group.

“That prospect doesn’t appeal, I see,” Dain said. He eyed her and briefly lifted his brows. “You can change that.”

“You assume I have more power than I do.”

“I don’t think you claim enough.”

She hesitated, hating how his words held a ring of truth. “It doesn’t matter. Kendrick isn’t here. He might not come back.”

“If you believe that, then you are blind, Ranger.” He shook his head and looked away for a moment. “You’re a warrior. Ever think you could still be that and be with Kendrick?”

“I know that’s not possible.”

“Then maybe you don’t deserve him.”

Dain walked to the dying embers of what was left of the nightwraith. Was Dain right? About any of it? She couldn’t say for sure. She knew she didn’t belong with the dragons, and he didn’t belong here.

Esha couldn’t help but look skyward again. There was still no sign of Kendrick. Her heart felt heavy. She’d thought she would have time to say farewell. Though, if she were honest, she could admit that she hadn’t even thought of that. She’d been too caught up in the night before.

The way his arms had felt around her. How his hands had wrung so much pleasure from her. How he’d kissed her as if he might die without her. How their bodies had fit together so perfectly. She didn’t want to say goodbye. Ever. Even if she did walk away from the Rangers, there was no guarantee that she had a future with Kendrick.

But she wanted to find out.

He desired to become allies with her people. Those in power might balk at the idea at first, but they would eventually come around. There were too many reasons for them not to. Dain was right. Kendrick would be back. Often. They could sneak in some time together, but the more likely scenario was that his days would be booked solid.

She knew how beautiful some of those in the city were. They pampered themselves all day to achieve such looks. Would one of them turn his head? Would one of them catch his eye? Would they learn the taste of his kiss or the softness of his lips? Would they discover how astonishingly easily he could wring a climax from them?

Would he hold them tenderly afterward?

Esha sheathed her sword as a dull ache bloomed in her chest. She knew what she wanted. And she knew what she had vowed. She could leave the Rangers. No one was held to the order if they wished to give up their position. But it was all she had ever known. What would she do? Join the Dark army? That certainly wasn’t likely. She also wouldn’t sit around and wait for Kendrick to visit. She would lose her mind.

Would she be allowed to cross onto Idrias? What would she do there? It wasn’t as if there were other elves across the border. Would the dragons even accept her? They didn’t need elf warriors. She rubbed her head, wishing there was an easy answer.

Esha heard the flap of wings before she saw Kendrick. The joy that erupted within her made her weak in the knees. He flew slowly over her, just missing the tops of the trees. The ground shook slightly as he landed and tucked his wings against him. He shifted and smiled at her.

She ran to him, throwing her arms around him. He laughed as he wrapped her in his arms. They stayed like that for a moment, just savoring each other. She was well aware of how badly things could have gone for them.

Kendrick pulled back to look at her. Then he kissed her softly, letting his desire gradually fill her. She clung to him, wondering how she would ever let him go. When the kiss ended, they were both breathing hard.

Esha touched his face. “I didn’t think you were coming back.”

“I wanted to make sure there were no other creatures out there.”

His green eyes were so bright. She could stare into them all day. “You killed a nightwraith.”

“It left behind a lot of damage,” he said with a frown.

“The Wood Elves will see it repaired,” Dain said as he walked to them. “Glad to see you in one piece.”

Kendrick released Esha as he faced the Dark. He grinned and said, “I wasna sure the beast would die.”

“Too bad we can’t bottle your fire,” Dain said with a chuckle.

Kendrick looked at Esha. “Shall we find your sister now?”

“Yes.” How could she have forgotten about Savita? “I’d like to go to Flamefall and talk to those there. They may have information.”

“Want me to fly you?” Kendrick offered.

She wanted nothing more but knew she couldn’t let him see their base. “Not this time. Before I go, tell me why it looked as if you disappeared.”

“Every dragon has a special ability,” he explained. “I can camouflage myself.”

Dain snorted loudly. “Now that is an ability I’d like to have.”

“You can travel with shadows,” Esha stated.

Dain’s smile widened. “Jealous?”

“Yes. Surprised?” she countered with a grin.

Dain nodded once. “I am.”

They shared a smile. Esha hadn’t thought she would ever call a Dark a friend, but she could see Dain becoming one. She felt Kendrick’s gaze on her and turned to him. “Will you be here when I get back?”

“Of course.”

“Even if it’s past the three days Savita gave us?”

Kendrick’s smile was slow as it curved his lips. “Even then.”

Dain groaned. “You two are killing me. Esha, want me to take you to the lake?”

“Please,” she said.

She moved to Dain, but she never took her eyes off Kendrick, even when the shadows wrapped around her. When they dispersed, she was at the lake. She looked at the water and thought of Kendrick walking from it. So much had happened since they had set out.

“Think about what I said.”

She turned to Dain. “Why do you care?”

“We still haven’t found our common enemy. How are we to do that if Kendrick leaves?”

“Hunting that thing doesn’t require us to be romantically linked.”

Dain sighed loudly. “I guess that means another Ranger will hunt with us.”

“I don’t think so.”

He merely grunted in response as the shadows took him.

Esha turned and started the trek to camp. She went directly to Savita’s tent, but it was empty. Then she began asking around about her. It didn’t take long for her to determine that her sister had left right after she had the day before.

Esha went to her tent for a change of clothes. A folded piece of paper sat on her bed. She opened it to find a note from Savita.

E –

Trust me.

S.

Esha changed and folded the note to tuck into her shirt before exiting her tent and then the camp.