Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Wind shuffled through the weeds to join the creatures of the marsh for a cacophony of sound. The wetland came alive at night with insects and animals. Water splashed softly, followed by the flicker of a snake's tongue. Derek walked the perimeter of the swamp, looking for signs of another.

Folklore about the swamp—and him—had been handed down through generations of humans. Stories he, himself, had begun. But it kept the mortals away. Their fear was vital in order to protect not just the area but also the eggs. He headed toward the nest once he was assured that no one had entered his domain. The magical fires burned continually, adding smoke to the wetlands while thickening the fog and giving yet another element to the legends.

Derek flattened his palm against the barrier he had erected around the stone structure. Animals entered as usual, but nothing human or magical could get in. He sent magic out through his hand, boosting the shield. It was enough to keep mortals out, but nothing could keep a Star Person away.

He walked through the imperceptible barrier and inspected the eggs. Another day without any signs of hatching. Maybe they never would. He turned and walked away. Each day the dragons didn't emerge from the eggs reminded him of his failure to free his kin. He was tired of waiting and doing nothing. Villette had nearly been ready to put her plan into action. Now , she was injured. That would set things back. He couldn't stand alone against other Star People . She was the lynchpin to everything. So , he had no choice but to wait.

At the edge of the island, he heard an ammit hiss a warning. Derek swung his gaze to the large reptile with its long, armored body, floating on the water's surface. He growled a warning that had the ammit quickly swimming away.

Derek watched the animal retreat before stepping back into the water and heading to where he had seen Kora die. When he got there, Derek squatted next to the area still darkened by her blood. He glanced at his hands, remembering how they, along with parts of his body, had been stained with it after carrying her. There was something at the edge of his mind, a memory he couldn't quite pull into focus. It was the same with her scent. He knew it but couldn't place it. Yet . There were too many years of memories to search through, but he would find what niggled him.

He straightened and touched the cuff to return to Kora . He made sure to arrive outside the boulders. A quick look around confirmed that no one had ventured close. Derek entered through the narrow opening and came to a halt at the sight of Kora .

The firelight danced over her like mystical beings trying to entice her. The red-orange glow brought out the auburn highlights in her hair, like he had glimpsed in the sunlight. Her face was slack in sleep, her breathing even and deep as she lay on her side with one hand beneath her cheek. Just looking at her took his breath away.

The more time he spent with her, the more she intrigued him. He wanted to know everything there was to learn about her. The obsession alarmed him. No one in all his very long years had stirred such…fervor in him.

He ached to claim her again. To bury himself in her wet heat and feel her walls tightening around him as she came in his arms. The need was so profound that he was already reaching to unbuckle his trousers. Derek stopped himself and carefully leashed his desires. He had kept Kora up for most of the previous night. Not to mention how hard he had pushed her today. No human could have covered the distance they had in such a short time. But he knew she wasn't human.

While he wouldn't give in to his desires, he couldn't deprive himself of the feel of her body. He silently walked to Kora and lay beside her, molding his front to her back. He draped his arm over her waist. She shifted against him, pressing herself closer. Even in sleep, she reacted to him.

The attraction between them was powerful. The way they came together, the pleasure each gave to the other. He , better than most, knew they'd experienced something different. Something he wasn't done enjoying.

Derek closed his eyes and settled comfortably. He liked Kora's warmth against him. He didn't need sleep. There were times he rested and shut his eyes as he had the night before, simply because he wished to. He still wasn't sure why he had pretended to sleep when she woke. Everything about her drew him. It would end once he discovered her secret. Just as the persistent hunger to fill her would diminish. He would tire of her eventually. It was just the way it was for him. She had already lasted longer than most.

" You've returned."

He clenched his teeth at the woman's voice in his head and disregarded it. So much for enjoying the evening.

" There's no ignoring me. I've waited too long."

Derek imagined a door in his head and then slammed it, hoping it would shut her out.

" Nice try."

" What do you want?" he demanded.

" Freedom ."

" Who are you?"

She laughed softly. " You know."

" I don't."

" She's weakened. Find me. Free me."

Derek frowned. " Who is weakened? Are you a dragon?"

" I can't hold this connection much longer."

" Are you a dragon?"

" How many times has she wiped your memories?"

The question rang through him like a bell. " Who ?"

But there was no reply. The voice was gone, her question bouncing around in his head, growing louder each time. Had someone meddled with his memories? Nay . That was impossible. Whoever was getting into his head was doing it to make him doubt. And it was working.

It was all he could think about as the hours slowly slipped by and night gave way to morning. He didn't pretend sleep this time when Kora woke. She stiffened when she felt him behind her. It rankled, adding to his sour mood.

Derek rose without a word and sat on the opposite side of the fire. He took food from the sack and tossed it to Kora . She caught it effortlessly. He watched her withdraw some bread.

" How close are we to Stonemore ?" she finally asked.

" Half a day's walk."

She nervously glanced around. " I've never been on this side of the mountains." Her gaze landed on him. " Too close to dragon land."

" They won't hurt you."

" I've heard talk that dragons have been seen around the city recently."

Derek paused in chewing. For a second, he thought she'd meant that dragons had crossed the border. But Villette would have told him if that had happened because that would mean they had escaped captivity. Nay . Kora likely referred to him. Derek gave in to the need to be in his true form sometimes and took to the skies. It wasn't often, and he was quiet. But he could sometimes hear his kin's roars when he was high enough.

" None will harm you," he told her. He was the only dragon around, and he had no intention of hurting her.

They were soon packed up and headed toward Stonemore . Derek skirted the mountains on his right and walked along the border of the forest to his left. The temperature had dipped during the night. Kora shrugged into her coat to ward off the chill. He saw the way she furtively glanced into the trees, as if she thought dragons might burst from them at any time.

" Ferdon Woods ," he explained. " It covers a large portion of land from the northern tip of the Tunris Mountains , then runs past the southernmost hills, nearly to the coast. It is filled with brineling and wildcats, along with a host of other animals—some dangerous, others not so much."

" Hmm . Sounds like a cheery place."

" It's beautiful, actually."

She glanced at him. " I suppose danger doesn't bother you."

" There are different kinds. That is a natural habitat for the animals. If you enter their home, you need to be prepared for the consequences."

" And Stonemore ?"

He turned his head to look into her eyes. " The same applies. You're walking into a human habitat. And they can be infinitely more lethal than any animal."

" A person can be reasoned with."

Derek laughed and shook his head as he looked forward. " Some , maybe. There are always those who believe their way is right and nothing will alter their thinking. They'll kill and destroy anything in order to get what they need."

" Are you speaking from experience?"

He cut his eyes to her. " I make no apologies for who I am."

" And who is that, exactly?"

" The one leading you to Stonemore . The same one who made you scream in pleasure. You didn't seem to have a problem with me then."

Kora blew out a breath, her lips twisting. " I didn't say I had a problem with you."

" I beg to differ."

" I don't know you."

" And I don't know you."

She grunted. " That's not entirely true. You know more about me than I do you."

" You shared that you were looking for someone."

" An enemy," she added.

" That isn't telling me anything personal about yourself." Even as he said the words, Derek realized he might have to tell her something about himself.

Kora adjusted the strap across her body. " Do you know anyone in the city?"

He let her change the subject. " To help you search?"

" I'm just trying to get a sense of what will happen once we're inside."

That was the question, wasn't it? Derek didn't intend to let Kora out of his sight, but he expected her to have a different opinion on that. No need to tell her his plans now. She would only balk. Until he knew what she was, he was sticking to her.

And if she could help save the dragons, then he would do whatever he had to do.

" Let's get inside first," he answered.

Whether his words satisfied her or not, Kora didn't ask any more questions. But without her conversation, his troubled thoughts returned. Specifically , the one about his memories. He didn't doubt that it was possible for a powerful being to mess with someone's mind. But why his? There were all kinds of magic and many different species who could wield it. He had witnessed some incredible displays over his vast years. It wasn't if someone could take his memories, but why ?

The voice in his head kept saying her . Was she alluding to Villette ? The woman had never mentioned a name. She could, in fact, mean anyone. Derek contemplated asking Villette , but he wanted to know more before he did that. If anyone had the kind of power to delve into someone's mind and remove memories, it was a Star Person . There was no reason for Villette to mess with his head, though. He had sworn his allegiance to her.

The humans holding the dragons was another matter entirely. They would have to know who he was in order to delve into his memories. That meant they needed to track him, and Derek was nothing if not wary. He noticed everyone. And looked at all suspiciously. He would've known if someone were after him and ended their lives immediately.

If it wasn't Villette or the humans, then who?

Kora's hand tugged his arm to get him to stop. He swung his head to her. Before he could ask, he heard the noise of the city. They were getting close.

" You've been frowning for the past hour," she said.

He ignored her statement. " We've made good time."

" It's no wonder with your quick pace." She held up her hands when he shot her a look. " I'm not complaining. Just stating a fact."

Derek looked in the direction they were walking. He could just make out the top of the vaulted, red-sandstone arches and columns of Stonemore . " Stay close."

She kept next to him as they set off again. The nearer they came to the city, the louder the din became. He spotted the buildings long before they stopped before the tall, stone gates. Derek noted the soldiers standing along the battlements, looking down at them. A group stood outside, talking to one of the guards.

" They're not going to let us in," Kora whispered.

Derek wrapped his fingers around her wrist and tugged her closer. " Let me do the talking."

" Fine by me."

They came to a stop behind the group. Derek tuned out the exchange between them and the guard and opened his hearing to listen to the other soldiers.

" We should hang a sign out that says ‘go away . ' "

" I should hear this week if I'm getting transferred to an outside unit. I can't wait to get away from the stench here."

" The wealthy need to stop giving invitations. Don't they realize we don't have any more room? Lady Maiju and her stupid parties."

Derek heard someone shout at him. He lifted his gaze to the soldier. " I have an invitation from Lady Maiju ."

" You do?" Kora whispered.

Derek put his hand in his pocket and formed a small scroll with his magic. He held it out to show the guards.

" You two, come through," the soldier snapped from above. " Only them!" he added when others tried to follow.

The heavy gates groaned as they slowly parted. A dozen soldiers spilled out, swords drawn to keep others out while he and Kora slipped inside. She jumped at the boom of the gates closing behind them. Derek looked over to find her eyes wide as she took in their surroundings.

The gate area was packed with bodies. Soldiers milled about, vying for space, along with hundreds of the unhomed. The smell of unwashed bodies and waste was overpowering, especially to his heightened senses. Kora coughed and covered her mouth and nose with her hand.

He guided her away from the gates along the road. It had once been wide enough for two carts to pass but was now filled with people and barely wide enough for anyone to walk side by side. Hungry children wailed, and animals whimpered in starvation. Over it all, Derek heard the sound of fists meeting flesh as someone fought. He heard a woman yell and the slap that quickly followed.

His gaze moved around quickly, sickened by everything he saw. It didn't make sense for Villette to keep this many people in the city. Derek did a double take when he saw children being rounded up by priests in red robes. At first, he thought it might be to help them, but then he saw how the children flinched whenever a priest was near. Just what the hell was going on?

Kora was glued to his side, her gaze sweeping from side to side like his. He knew the moment she saw the baby lying listlessly in its mother's arms as she cried silently. Derek hurried Kora away from them, up the street's incline, and around the corner to the next level, which wasn't any better. He didn't slow until they reached the third section.

" How many levels are there?" Kora asked.

Derek took in those around him, particularly the red-robed priests. There were many more of them here. He didn't remember such priests from before. " Eight . The wealthy keep to the top four. Every section has a squad of soldiers who can close off a level with gates."

" I still think that's wrong."

" The gate to get to level five is always closed. The wealthy never wish to mingle with those below them."

She eyed him. " Will your invitation get us to five?"

" I can get us in anywhere."

Kora's lips curved into a smile. " I'm beginning to think you might."