Prologue - Cyrus

"You're going to have to return to Greyson Ridge, Cyrus. I truly think you should consider taking the full Candara team and be prepared to stay for a while. Milo said the last count he had of confirmed dragons in the valley was over twenty."

Nestor's voice is cracked with age, and there's the faintest nod to the raw power he used to command. A group of twenty dragons is significant. I can't argue with that.

"Greyson Ridge? There's no way. Nothing is there. What specifically have you seen? I don't think my leaving is a good idea. We'd be leaving everyone under-protected here."

"I think you'll have to trust your sister with that. There's not enough clarity in the visions yet, but I can see a shadow there, and it's threatening the entire prophecy."

I can feel my muscles twitching at the mere mention of Greyson Ridge. It's Nestor who commanded me to return from there last time. My team had been sent under deep cover to investigate several women in that area he suspected were related to the prophecy that had hung over us for the last hundred years. I hadn't planned on being mated to one of the women; it had not only complicated the situation but also risked the whole mission.

Nestor had ordered my team to extract me against my wish to stay and observe more. None of them really believed that line when I delivered it either. It's the thing that pushed me to challenge him as Alpha. I had been livid at being ripped away from her. It's still a sore subject between us, and the long gash that has since healed over his face still lingers to remind me daily.

Since stepping into the role of Alpha, I try to see the wisdom in the call he made but still struggle with the memory. The shift in my responsibilities after taking over is the only reason I haven't dragged myself back. The reality of having everyone rely on me is my priority, even over my own happiness. I still dive into missions with my team, trying to bury the memory of her in the work, the mission.

"I am hesitant to return there when the last time you sent us there on a reconnaissance mission, we found nothing. No indication of anything even remotely mystical. In fact, I believe it was your entire basis for commanding me to return, was it not? Meanwhile, we have a very real threat here with daily attempts to break through our defenses and gain access to our relics."

Our clan currently holds the position as the most powerful of the draconic shifter clans and has for the last couple hundred years, despite our smaller numbers. It is a flimsy peace we attempt to maintain with the other clans, especially the clan we supplanted, Eclipse, who out number us by three to one. However, they aren't the only ones trying to gain access to our horde.

We possess some of the most powerful mystical relics of our age, and it is the entire source of our power and the magic that permeates our bloodlines. The proximity to our collection is every bit as important as our maneuvering in political circles. Thankfully, I can still leave the political song and dance largely to my father. I just have to field the challenges to our council seat.

The idea of Greyson Ridge and having to leave things less defended doesn't sit well with me. I can hear the deep edge in my voice creeping through. This is not a subject I want to discuss with him.

"This latest vision I had. Something is changing in that town. I keep seeing keys, clearly, but there's a shadow looming over them. Flashes of her in grave danger. There's an importance to the keys, but I am not sure what yet. Also, I'd investigate those mines again. There has to be something there."

I drag a hand through my hair in frustration, closing my eyes as if that will block out the feeling of dread that's flooding through me.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"It's always been clear that something about that town is crucial. I still don't know what it is that's in those mountains, but I know now she has everything to do with it. Something is escalating there. I can't shake the certainty that your team must be there to avoid Eclipse taking power. Couldn't Amelie keep things contained here?"

I look at my father and see the shadow of his former power. His hair once dark blond, is now completely gray, but his body is still muscular and strong. It's his eyes that are telling. The one blue eye he had been born with is now completely white and milky with the years of seeing that he'd put himself through. There's also an exhausted, weary look that never leaves him now: a mark of the sacrifices he's all too willing to make over the years, and the ones he has no choice in.

"Amelie and the word solid aren't exactly meant to be in the same sentence, and we all know that. She's pure chaos. This seems like a terrible idea."

"I'm not sure we have another choice. We can't afford Eclipse gaining any more power. Their recent interception of that ring last month complicates things. They are already trying to tip things in their favor within the council. Amelie may be chaotic, but she is also fiercely loyal to you and protective of this clan. I have faith she can keep things in check here. She's trained for this her whole life as much as you and Milo have trained to be in the field. Give her a chance."

I narrow my eyes and shake my head at him in disbelief. It's more than just anger swirling under the surface. This hurt still runs so deep it feels like an open wound.

"Cyrus, I know the girl is the reason you don't want to go back, even if you won't admit it to yourself yet. She is important. I can feel it in my bones that this all hinges on staying close to Lena Murphy. Keep her protected. Just work to keep your feelings out of it. Rely on the team to get closer."

There it is. The name and image that still haunts me after eight years. The sound of her name on his lips causes anger to flare in me, my eyes boring into Nestor's eyes in warning.

"Don't, Nestor."

"Apologies… Sir. I would just strongly urge you to stay as close as possible to her for protection. She must stay safe. Your feelings for her in the past may complicate things. I would only recommend that the team take point on establishing contact to take that out of the equation."

I don't know if I'll ever get used to seeing him so immediately cower to me, but it settles the rage just enough that I can get myself under control. I hate that he's reasoning with me and that it's getting me to even consider this.

"I am pretty sure I have more than proven my commitment to the mission in the last several years, and my ability to manage my own team and ops. I am capable of separating the two."

A single gray eyebrow quirks up, showing the disbelief that apparently my father is smart enough not to voice. It's still equally frustrating.

"I'll just have to figure it out. I guess fate isn't leaving me much of an option. Get briefs together for the team, now. I'll handle the rest."

My team is responsible for infiltrating several key meetings for rival clans and are often tasked with crucial surveillance missions for the council at large.

The Candara team isn't taken lightly in any shifter circles, let alone among other dragons. If we are all going, there isn't a question of whether we would be successful or not, just a question of the time it takes or the body count required to achieve our goal.

My father exits quietly with a curt nod, and I let my thoughts stray as I head to my team's cabin.

The downside to our entire team deploying is that we are by far the strongest members of our clan. We have a unique bond that makes us ruthlessly efficient when we need to be. Something we still don't fully understand but used to our advantage.

They're all gathered in our kitchen when I walk in, and I level with them in a clipped, factual tone.

"Nestor has seen things that point back to Greyson Ridge, Colorado. We need to get there, blend in, keep eyes on a key target, and offer protection. Full Candara team for this one, leaving as soon as possible."

Evander's eyes meet mine, and he shakes his head slowly.

"This is a terrible idea. I barely got you out of there last time."

"This is the order. Good, bad, or otherwise. Now, fall in and get us ready to head out."

He looks guarded, and I can feel the confusion rolling off some of our newer members who weren't around for the last mission. They aren't used to seeing conflict between Evander and me. I'm not even used to seeing Evander question anything. My orders are direct, and I know he'll comply. I'm dreading the look on his face that says he's not done talking about this.

I dismiss them with a finality in my tone that makes me hate how close my temper is to the surface. Milo and Evander head off to coordinate the plan for our flight while the rest of the team starts packing.

I don't know if I can go back there and not see her. Stay at a distance and let them take the lead? The thoughts consume me as I send a message off to my sister.

Amelie storms into my room in a flurry of questions. She feels as strongly as ever that I have no business returning. Wonderful. Nothing like a headstrong, petulant sister who would rather flay someone than see reason ruling in my stead. What could possibly go wrong?

"Am, you don"t have to like it. You just have to keep things in order. This mission needs a full team. Keep the crazy contained. Please. If you think you can't handle things, or someone is pushing you over the edge and you need us back, reach out to Milo."

Her bright green eyes roll, and she huffs out a sigh of annoyance.

"You act like I can't control myself. Really, it's you I am more worried about here. Look at what happened the last time you were around that human."

A growl of warning slips past my lips.

"Not. Another. Word. Keep everyone safe. No extreme punishments. Don't make me point out that the last time you were left in charge, you had Phillipe drawn and quartered because he insulted Mother. No death sentences in my absence. Period."

I'm greeted with another eye roll that truthfully speaks volumes.

"Don't let up your patrols. Two teams, every hour. Also… you will not even whisper another word about her. Am I absolutely clear?"

The clipped, punctuated words rumble with the pitch my voice takes on when I'm issuing an order as Alpha. Each word causes her to bow her head slightly lower.

"Yes, Sir."

As her brother, I hate to see anything bend my sister like this, but as her Alpha and leader, I know it's necessary. Amelie will obey now. She has no choice. Yet, some part of me still feels like a bit of an ass. I finish throwing the last of my clothes in my bag and pull her into a one-armed hug that tucks her close to my chest.

"Be good, Little One. I need you here, and I need you at your best."

"Be safe, Cy. I've got this. I'm worried about you. Don't lose yourself."

She is flirting awfully close with my order, and I can see the strain it is taking for her to even say the words. I squeeze her one last time before striding off to meet the team. We're moving fast since Nestor says things are progressing rapidly. There's no time for long goodbyes.

The flight offers a small reprieve, allowing me to put my very human conscience aside and focus on flying. I can't remember the last time I was so relieved to shift. The wind in the mountains feels thinner, but it makes flight feel much more invigorating. It's crisp and biting. I glance to my right and left, checking my team's formation as we circle in on Greyson Ridge.

It's been so long since I was here.

We hug the clouds to help keep the sight of six dragons shielded from the view of the townspeople. The path Milo and Evander guide us through is strategic, using gaps in visibility to allow Milo chances to rest where he can. It does us no favors in keeping our secret if we have rumors swirling before we even get to town. Thankfully, my brother, Milo, is particularly gifted at altering the winds and weather, and Evander is the most skilled navigator I know.

The team descends on the yard of the house Milo has rented for our cover in a thick fog. Our large bodies tuck wings to our sides in unison and slowly shimmer into smaller shadows as we shift back into human form. The ripple of energy rolling off us helps disperse the fog.

Memories of a mess of black curls and gray eyes flood me as I step out of the edge of the fog and look toward the town below us in the valley. I know she's there. I can feel her presence there, with that piece of my soul calling out for her. It nearly killed me to leave last time.

Can I really be this close and not see her? I'll be lucky if she even speaks to me after the way I left things…