Chapter Twenty-two

Esha reached the lake and heard the unmistakable flap of wings. She looked up and spotted Kendrick as he circled above her. The relief she felt at seeing him made her lightheaded. There was a smile on her lips when he landed. She quickened her steps to reach him.

When she saw his grin when he spotted her, she thought of Dain’s words again. Esha wouldn’t be able to stand seeing Kendrick with anyone else. For now, however, it was just the two of them, and she was grateful not to be dealing with this alone.

“Savita asked me to trust her,” she said once she reached him.

Kendrick frowned and parted his lips. Before he could speak, she handed him the note. He opened it and read it before refolding it and handing it back to her. “Do you know where she went?”

“It could be anywhere.”

“You said she was upset before we left. Based on that note, she knew you would look for her. It’s her way of telling you not to.”

Esha briefly closed her eyes. “I’m not sure I can do that. What if she’s in danger?”

“I suspect your sister is more than capable of handling herself.”

“She’s not a Ranger.”

Kendrick’s green eyes were solemn. “Nay, lass. She’s a Reader, and she has a tremendous amount of influence. I doona think you need to worry about her needing to defend herself with a weapon.”

Esha shook her head in agitation, knowing he was right. “The only place I can’t go is the Reader Temple. There isn’t a need for fighters there because they don’t use weapons when they spar.”

“It’s political. Does she go often?”

“From time to time. But she’s never left camp like this before.”

Kendrick took her hand in his and gave her a reassuring smile. “If you can’t go to the temple, then you have no choice but to do as she requested and trust her.”

“Why didn’t she talk to me?”

Kendrick rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand. “Does she normally?”

“It’s been a long time since either of us has confided in the other. Sometimes, it’s hard to believe she’s the same girl I used to follow around the house, trying to emulate. Anything could have upset her. I don’t know what was in her head.”

Kendrick tugged her against him. “That’s no’ true. You knew the runes kept warning her about danger.”

“If she kept at it, which I know she would have in order to get to the bottom of it, then she might have found something.” Esha leaned back to look into his green eyes. “She might irritate me, but she’s the only family I have left. You might not understand that because we’re not related by blood but—”

Kendrick put a finger to her lips to silence her. “My family is long gone. The other Kings are my brethren, and their mates are my sisters. Blood doesna always make a family.”

She smiled up at him. “No, it doesn’t.”

Someone cleared their throat behind Kendrick. Esha looked to find Dain. The Dark’s lips were pinched, and unease filled his gaze.

“What did you find?” Kendrick asked as he turned to face Dain.

Dain’s yellow eyes briefly met Esha’s. “Nothing good.”

“Tell us,” she urged.

When the Dark was silent for too long, Kendrick said, “Dain.”

Dain sighed loudly. “Savita is with the Conclave.”

“They called her?” Esha said, fear gripping her. It was never good when the Conclave took an interest in someone.

Dain shook his head. “She sought them .”

“Why?” Kendrick asked.

Dain swallowed nervously. “Apparently, she wished to speak about Esha.”

“Why would she do that?” Esha couldn’t imagine a scenario where her sister would do such a thing.

Kendrick’s voice was low and dangerous when he said, “Savita claimed the runes told her something, didn’t she?”

“Yes,” Dain replied.

Esha looked between them. “So, what did the runes tell her?”

“That was all my contact knew.” Dain put up his hands placatingly. “I swear.”

Esha’s heart raced, and her ears started ringing loudly. Savita had really gone to the Conclave. But…why? Sure, they’d fought, but nothing that would send Savita to do something so drastic. At least, not without talking to Esha first. What could the runes have possibly told her? Whatever it was, it was important enough for the Reader to take such a step.

And that couldn’t be good for any of them.

Esha continued searching her mind for possibilities. Then she looked at Kendrick. The runes could’ve told Savita about their night together, but Esha hadn’t broken her vow yet. She inwardly cringed at the last word of her thought. The mere fact that it’d come up told her she wouldn’t have the power to resist Kendrick. There was something between them. She had felt it before giving him her body. And their night together had only strengthened the connection.

“Esha?”

The sound of Kendrick’s lilting brogue made her want to seek comfort in his arms and the passion that would allow her to forget—at least for a time. But she couldn’t. If she turned to him now, it would be harder to stop herself the next time.

“Esha,” Kendrick called again.

She lifted her gaze to his, then followed his finger as he pointed behind her. Esha caught sight of her sister standing just inside the trees. Savita’s face gave nothing away, but somehow, that only worried Esha more.

Esha glanced around for Dain. “Where is he?”

“Gone,” Kendrick replied.

“I have to go to her,” Esha said.

“I’ll be here.”

Esha nodded without looking at him. She walked to her sister, noting that Savita had her gaze downcast. When she reached her sibling, Savita turned and strode into the woods. Esha glanced back to see Kendrick standing alone.

“I take it you know where I went,” Savita said.

Esha had to try twice to swallow. “The Conclave. Why?”

“There were things I had to tell them.”

Savita was usually cagey when she had something important she needed to keep to herself, but she was acting particularly guarded now. Esha knew it was about her, and she feared that her sister knew that she struggled to stay away from Kendrick. “I’ve had a really long day. Just tell me whatever you need to say because I can’t take the anticipation.”

“You never could.” Savita glanced at Esha. “I know about the nightwraith. And you riding atop a dragon. I also know Kendrick killed the nightwraith.”

“Did you hear someone sent it after me?” Was it her imagination, or did Savita’s steps falter?

Savita’s shoulders lifted as she took in a deep breath. “Yes.”

“Did you send it?”

Savita halted and spun to look at her with shock. “You can’t seriously think that.”

“You went to the Conclave about me . What else am I supposed to think?”

“I didn’t send the nightwraith, and I’m hurt you’d think I would do such a thing to anyone , much less you.”

Esha stared at her sister, wanting to believe her, but there was no denying the doubt in her heart. “Why did you go to the Conclave?”

“I told you. There were things I needed to convey to them.”

“About me?”

Savita sighed loudly. “Not everything I said was about you.”

“Am I being removed as a Ranger?”

“What? Of course, not.”

The shock on Savita’s face looked genuine, but Esha wasn’t sure about anything anymore. “Then why go to the Conclave about me?”

“I told them it was time they ranked you higher. After all, you were the one who realized the implications of having a Dragon King as an ally. You also saw the wisdom of hunting the entity with Kendrick when no one in your squad nor anyone else in our camp would have.”

Esha was so surprised she could only stare at her sister and blink.

“You doubt my motives.” There was sadness in Savita’s words. “I admit, I don’t like Kendrick, but not for the reasons you think. From the moment you brought me to meet him, I saw how you looked at him. As if he were some mystical being who had all the answers.”

Esha was taken aback. “He’s a shifter. A dragon shifter. One who is much more powerful than any elf.”

“Impressive, yes.”

Esha narrowed her eyes. “What aren’t you telling me, sister?”

“I’ve known about his arrival for some time.”

Esha stumbled back a couple of steps and braced herself against a tree with her hand. She shook her head as she struggled to figure out what her sister was about. Because if there was one thing she knew about Savita, it was that her sister always thought several steps ahead of anyone else.

“The runes told me a few years ago,” Savita continued. “They told me how important he would be—to you.”

“Does he mean me harm?”

“Never. I made sure of that.”

“Then why try to keep us apart?”

Savita gave her a dry look. “Do you really need to ask that? Tell me, sister, how was last night?”

Esha looked away and fought to rein in her riot of emotions. “I’m granted one night.”

“You are, yes. But it was more than that. And don’t attempt to lie. The runes told me the truth, even if you won’t acknowledge it.”

Esha closed her eyes and leaned her cheek against the tree. The bark was rough against her skin.

“You want to know why I went to the Conclave? Then I’ll tell you,” Savita said as she walked closer and lowered her voice to barely a whisper. “I went because Kendrick’s arrival fractures everything we know. Everything we are. There were already deep cracks, but there is no fixing them now. There hasn’t been for some time. There are those who want him as an ally, and those who are so opposed to the idea that they’ll do whatever is necessary to stop it—and anyone who dares to side with him.”

Esha’s eyes snapped open as she looked at her sister, anguish and indignation roiling within her. “You know who sent the nightwraith.”

“Not yet. But I know it was sent after you.”

She didn’t want to believe it. How could any of her people do that to her? Esha couldn’t even comprehend it. “As a warning?”

“They thought it would kill you and Kendrick.”

Esha snorted. “Then they know very little about dragons or Dragon Kings.”

“Be that as it may, things are in motion now that cannot be stopped.”

“You’re a Reader. They must believe you.”

Savita smiled sadly. “Ah, sweet sister, you know it isn’t so simple. The Conclave has their own Reader, for one.”

“Then what do we do?”

“I put the word out about you being brave enough to hunt with Kendrick against the thing killing elves. Many are singing your praises right now, as well as Kendrick’s for stopping the nightwraith. But that will only buy you a little time. If he remains in Shecrish, then this fracture will continue to grow. It’s divided our people, and it will end with those angry about Kendrick’s arrival crossing onto Idrias.”

Esha gaped in astonishment. “They’ll be annihilated. If everyone knew the story of the dragons, then they would understand why it’s imperative we keep off their land.”

“Nothing anyone says will change what is happening.”

“And if Kendrick leaves?”

“There is a chance we can repair what has happened. Though it’s a slim one.”

“The fear and distrust are already seeded among those who believe the worst about Kendrick and his motives. That won’t ever change, will it?”

Savita took her sister’s hands in hers. “I don’t know.”

“You do.”

It was a full minute before Savita spoke, a single tear falling down her cheek. “No. Those elves won’t change.”

“There’s a reason the dragons have a border around their land they don’t want crossed. Everyone knows that.”

“That was before a Dragon King came to Shecrish. They’re furious that the dragons believe they can come onto our land without retribution. Not to mention that Kendrick showed his might in killing a creature that no elf can.”

“The nightwraith was after me and destroying everything. What choice did he have?”

Savita nodded sadly. “You know how fear works, sister. It removes reason from the equation.”

“We had a chance to find the invisible foe and kill it. For us and for everyone on Zora. Now, I have to tell Kendrick to leave because elves fear his power.”

“Simply put, yes. Then we begin working to change the minds of those who fear the most and have the loudest voices. We convince everyone to leave the dragons alone. The other option isn’t one I even want to consider.”

Esha didn’t need to ask her sister what the runes had told her to know that it would mean the end of the elves if an army crossed the border. The last thing she wanted was to send Kendrick away, but she didn’t have another choice. Her wants meant nothing compared to tens of thousands of lives .

She looked through the trees toward the lake and Kendrick. “I should tell him tonight.”

“Would you like me to do it?”

“It needs to come from me.” Esha pulled her hands from her sister’s and started back to Kendrick.