How to Drive a Dragon Crazy (Dragon Kin #6)(125)

“Éibhear?”

“Sand Eaters. They were here.” He turned and walked past Aidan. “Get everyone up. Now.”

Éibhear had been right. The Cult of Chramnesind was in the sewers but not living in the shit-covered tunnels. They’d built chambers directly off the tunnels, burrowing far into the center of the city. But Izzy still didn’t know what they could possibly want from her or why they hadn’t killed her yet.

Izzy was pulled into a chamber and her wrists bound behind her. With a hand against her back, she was shoved forward.

She could tell the zealots right away. She knew this even though some were dragon, others human, some neither of the two; some from the Desert Lands, others clearly from different territories. But what identified them as the most devoted to their god was the fact that the zealots had blood-and-dirt encrusted bindings around their heads, where their eyes had probably once been, and wore witch’s robes. Some carried wands or staffs.

Those with eyes still in their heads were the converts, she suspected. And, like the zealots, they came from a wide range of species and territories. Some on their knees in supplication, others standing guard. She didn’t know why because they didn’t seem to be paying much attention to her.

“So what do you want?” Izzy asked the room.

“Who is that?”

Izzy turned toward the voice coming from behind her.

“Vateria,” Izzy sneered.

“I asked a question,” Vateria snapped, ignoring Izzy. “Who is this?”

“The one you wanted. Daughter of Talaith.”

Vateria put her talons to her temples and rubbed them, sighing dramatically. “I said she was sixteen winters. Does she look like sixteen winters to you?”

“You said Daughter of Talaith,” the dragon insisted. “She’s Daughter of Talaith.”

“The older sister, you idiot.” She threw her claws into the air. “I am surrounded by stupidity!”

Vateria gestured at Izzy. “This bitch has no power. Her sister has the power. She’s the one I want.”

“Well, she’s not here. So what do you want us to do with this one?”

“Kill her.” She started to turn away, but then stopped. “Wait. Stop.”

“They hadn’t actually started.”

“Shut up, human.” She faced Izzy, looked her over. “Yes. Your sister is powerful. She’ll feel your pain. Know your suffering. She’ll come to protect you.”

The Sand dragon behind Izzy sighed deeply. “I guess you’re torturing this one too.”

Izzy had to chuckle. “You sound so bored.”

The She-dragon’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t fear me, do you, human?”

“I already know what you can do. What you’re willing to do. To your own family, if need be.”

Vateria leaned in to get a better look. “Why do I know your face?”

Izzy smirked. “Because I was there when my queen killed your lover—and you couldn’t stop her.”

The She-dragon’s back snapped straight, eyes fierce. “I remember you. Annwyl’s little pet whore who fought the ogres to distract me.”

“It worked, didn’t it?”

“Excellent point.”

Vateria turned away, her tail lashing out. It hit Izzy full on the side of the face and she immediately felt blood drip down her jaw to her chest, but she didn’t fall. She wouldn’t.

The She-dragon looked at Izzy over her shoulder, her eyes widening a bit. “My, my. You are strong.”

Izzy grinned. “You have no idea.”

Éibhear stalked behind the humans, allowing them to lead the way toward the sewers. Izzy’s kin had moved like lightning as soon as they’d heard she was gone, calling in the Imperial Guards and readying them for combat. Now they would take the information that they’d gotten from the scouts Maskini had sent out earlier and track down Izzy.

He refused to think beyond that. Of what might be happening to Izzy. He had to believe she’d be okay because he needed her to be okay.

The Mì-runach were with him, keeping their distance but still, in the most important sense, by his side. They would always be by his side, as he would always be Mì-runach. And knowing that kept him focused because he knew he wouldn’t have to fight alone to get Izzy back.

“You know, you might be going in the wrong direction.” Éibhear slowed down and stopped, slowly facing the owner of the voice. A male. A dragon male in human form. But not a Sand Eater. Nor a Southlander. In fact, Éibhear didn’t know what breed this dragon was. He couldn’t scent anything specific about him, but rather all. Although that didn’t make sense, did it?

“Really?” Éibhear asked.

“Hhhm. Just a thought really.”

“Do I know you?”

“Not that I’m aware.”

“Éibhear?” Aidan walked back toward him. “You all right?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.” He looked at the other dragon. “So you think I’m going in the wrong direction.”

“Just a thought.”

“So you said.”

“Éibhear—”

Éibhear shook his head to silence Aidan. “So what’s the right direction?”