Chapter Five

The atmosphere had shifted. Kendrick couldn’t deny it if he tried. Before, the elves had been wary of him, but now, a few projected…maybe not open hostility, but something close to it.

Then there was Esha.

Without a doubt, she had been excited to see him in his true form—after her initial surge of fear. The elves had never seen a dragon before, much less one that shifted. He imagined it had been something of a surprise. But the way Esha’s eyes glowed had quickened his blood. It had taken all his control to look away from her and fight the intense wave of desire that enveloped him.

The sisters had tried to keep their voices lowered, but his enhanced hearing had picked up every word of their conversation. Savita’s anger toward Esha worried him. Savita had been leaning toward agreeing to his terms, but Esha’s words had undercut Savita’s command. How that would affect him in the long run was anyone’s guess, but he wouldn’t turn his back on Savita anytime soon. If the way the others treated her was any indication, she wielded tremendous power—and he wasn’t keen on finding out just how much.

“They’ll get over their shock and fear soon,” Esha said as if reading his mind. “They weren’t expecting to see you shift.”

“Neither were you.”

She kept her gaze straight ahead. “You did warn me.”

“Need I remind you that you didna believe me?”

A ghost of a smile played on her full lips. “You’ll understand, of course, why.”

“Of course. After all, there are no elves where I come from.”

Her golden eyes briefly met his. “You could’ve killed us at any moment.”

“Note that I didna. ”

This time, she chuckled. “It is noted, Dragon King. We Rangers have patrolled the plateau and surrounding areas for generations. We believed we knew every creature and danger out there.”

“I’ve recently learned that there is always something new to discover. It can be good. Oftentimes, it isna.”

“No truer words have been spoken,” she said softly.

Kendrick looked ahead to where Savita walked at the front of the group of Rangers. “What is your sister’s role, exactly?”

“All elves are born with magic. It’s innate in each of us, but a special few have an additional ability. Savita is one of those rare few who can read the rune stones.”

“Rune stones?” he asked with a frown, thinking of the stones the Norse used.

Esha nodded, causing the chain on her ear to swing. “When a decision needs to be made, the Readers turn to the runes. The stones only communicate with those like Savita.”

“So no’ just anyone can learn?”

“Anyone can learn , but it’s pointless if the runes don’t respond.”

So it wasn’t like tarot, either. “Do you mean to say the stones actually talk to Savita?”

“That’s how she describes it. They don’t have a conversation like this, but it is a back and forth.”

“We have similar things. The difference is, anyone can learn to read and decipher them.”

“You would trust just anyone with your decisions?” she asked, dismay in her gaze.

“We doona use those tools as you do.”

“But you have them?”

“Something similar, aye.”

“How…unusual.” She wore a frown as she looked forward once again.

Kendrick waited for her to continue. When she didn’t, he gave her a nudge. “I gather your sister is important?”

“Those who have the abilities of a Reader are revered.”

“Which puts them in a position of power.”

Esha cut her gaze to him for a heartbeat. “Of course, it does. We might all have magic, but critical decisions, judgments, and resolutions are left to the runes and those who can read them. Always.”

Kendrick didn’t point out again that Esha had taken that from Savita. The more he thought about it, the more he knew that only trouble would come from that action. “How did you and Savita end up together? Or is it normal for families to be stationed together?”

“It isn’t,” Esha said after a brief pause. “She was stationed elsewhere when I began my training. Unlike Readers, anyone can become a Ranger if they show enough skill and dedication. It’s a difficult way of life, but we pledge ourselves to it.”

He got an uneasy feeling about what pledging meant. He suspected he knew, but he would wait to ask. For now, he wanted to know more about Savita. He assumed his biggest opposition would come from there. “In other words, you two were apart for some time?”

“We were. I never expected to see her again. Apparently, the runes told her she was needed here. Savita left Belanore, where she’d been in service, and came here.”

Kendrick glanced at Esha and took a gamble. “I imagine it was nice to see your sister again.”

“Yes.”

That one word, tightly said, spoke volumes.

Kendrick looked at the wall of earth that rose sharply before him. He had yet to see a way to get to the top of the plateau. He spotted Savita and saw that she climbed camouflaged stairs in the side. The steps switchbacked all the way to the summit, which was a considerable ascent.

“Did you think we got up another way?” Esha asked, a note of laughter in her voice.

He glanced at her and grinned. “I could get us to the top faster.”

“I bet you could.”

Kendrick stared into her beautiful eyes as something passed between them. It was lust, pure and simple. It wasn’t the first time he had felt such desire, but it had been a long while. And his body responded instantly.

Esha looked away first. She moved in front of him and began to ascend. Kendrick glanced upward, his eyes landing on her perfectly formed bottom. His body reacted with an instant flash of desire so intense it stole his breath. He forced himself to look away from the appealing woman who captured his attention like no other before placing his foot on the first stair. He was here to learn about the elves and hunt the entity, not to seduce a particularly beautiful and bewitching elf. Which was too bad because he suspected they would be good together .

There was no conversation as they made their way to the top. He often glanced toward the border, his gaze taking in the scenery. He needed to contact Con. He planned on doing it as soon as he was settled for the night. In the meantime, he wanted to gather more information to relay.

It took a significant amount of time to reach the top of the plateau. When they did, Esha paused to wait for him. Kendrick first noted the heat and humidity. It hung so thick in the air he could almost cut it. Then he took in the lush plateau. Before him sat a tropical rainforest biome with all its beauty, the entire area overflowing with plants. The thick, soaring canopy of trees beckoned him to explore, and the sounds of the animals called him to investigate.

“Rannora is to the south,” Esha said and pointed to the right.

Kendrick followed her finger but didn’t see a city, only more thick, tangled jungle. “Tell me more,” he urged.

“The Ever Reaching River cuts through the plateau, dissecting it,” she answered.

“I can no’ wait to see it.”

“Belanore is across the river to the northwest. There are smaller settlements elsewhere, but most choose the cities. It’s safer that way.”

He looked at her. “Safer from what?”

“Our land might be beautiful, but beasts like the taste of us and often try to have us for a meal.”

“Thanks for the heads-up.”

She grinned. “I doubt you have anything to worry about.”

“I’ve found there is always someone stronger—and always someone weaker.”

“Then I should warn you about the Dark Elves.”

Finally, something about the elves. “Why is that?”

“They aren’t known for making friends.”

If there were Dark, then there had to be Light. Were they classified as such like the Fae? “I take it you’re a Light Elf?”

She chuckled. “Not exactly.”

Kendrick noted that Savita and the Rangers led the way through the thick rainforest, heading north. They walked as if there were a trail, but Kendrick didn’t see any indication of that. He scanned the massive trees, taking in the thick vines hanging from the limbs high above him and cataloging the different sounds of animals. Suddenly, Esha turned them to the south.

They walked a few minutes before she said, “I’m a Sun Elf. Sometimes, we’re called Gold Elves or even Desert Elves because of our coloring.”

“And the markings on your face?”

She lifted a shoulder. “It’s a personal preference. Some have more than others, but yes, most do have markings somewhere on their bodies.”

“And the Dark Elves?”

“There are seven classes of elves. Sun, Moon, Star, Sea, Wood, Mountain, and Dark. We prefer certain places, as you can probably guess by some of the names.”

“In other words, Mountain Elves will be in the mountains?”

Esha’s lips curved into a grin. “Exactly. Though, as I’m sure you noticed, the Rangers are made up of all different classes.”

“Even the Dark? I assume by the name that they’re evil.”

“Are all your kind good?”

He shook his head.

“Are they all evil?”

Kendrick chuckled. “I get your point.”

“Dark Elves are called that because they live underground. That changed their appearance. You’ll recognize them by their gray skin and eyes that can be yellow or gray. Their hair is usually white. They’re known for their proud disposition. They also don’t understand or agree with mercy of any kind. Many call them cruel and brutal, but some say it is just the strict code they live by.”

“Do the Dark Elves interact with others?”

“They do, but everyone who encounters them should be aware of who they’re dealing with.”

“And the Sun Elves?”

She picked her way through the dense underbrush and kept her heading. “We’re known for our levelheadedness. That isn’t to say we don’t do rash things on occasion, but we usually think things through.”

Kendrick could see that. He briefly thought of Savita. What he had seen so far told him she liked the power her position gave her. And she didn’t like being undermined in any way. “What about your idea of mercy?”

“You’re here, aren’t you?” she replied with a smile.

“That I am.”

“Sun Elves have more Readers than any other class—though that isn’t to say our magic is greater or better. However, I will admit that others say we like to believe our magic is greater. ”

“It could just mean the runes like Sun Elves.”

She laughed softly.

Kendrick looked over his shoulder. He wondered where Savita and the Rangers had gone. He slid his gaze back to Esha. “As I said, trust has to be earned, but I want you to know that I’m here as a friend. I have no desire to betray you in any way.”

“I hope you hold to that.” Esha pushed aside a thick plant and walked past it. Then she halted and faced him. “We might know very little about dragons, especially Dragon Kings, but that doesn’t mean we fear you. You could have stronger magic. You might even be able to take over our land—”

“I willna do any of that.”

“What I’m saying is that you can try, but there are more of us than you know. We would get our land back.”

He applauded her fierceness. She might appear at ease as they spoke, but he had yet to gain her trust. That went both ways, though. It was why he kept looking over his shoulder. The Rangers were out there, watching him. Just as the Kings would watch anyone on their land.

Instead of replying, Kendrick looked over her shoulder to see a decent-sized rocky shoreline and water. He walked past her and noted that it was a large lake. “This is stunning. I take it I’ll be staying here?”

“You will. There’s one more thing. We would appreciate it if you remained in this form.”

He met her gaze. “You doona want others to know a dragon is here.”

“Precisely.”

Kendrick studied the shoreline and found the perfect place for his tent. He thought of the yurt V had built for Claire during Valentine’s Day. The Kings, as a rule, didn’t rely heavily on their magic if they could avoid it, but this was a different scenario. So, Kendrick didn’t hesitate and used his magic to craft a yurt of his own. Then he sat back and grinned. When he glanced at Esha, the Ranger’s mouth was slack with surprise.

“That’s what your magic can do?”

“Aye. Want to see inside?” He held open the flap and waited.