Dragon's Curse: a Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (The Dragon's Gift Trilogy Book 3)
Jasmine Walt & May Sage
1
As Dareena took a seat at the Privy Council table hastily set up in an underground chamber, she felt as if Death himself sat next to her. As if his cold, dead fingers trailed up her spine, taunting her. Telling her that while this time it had been Taldren lying broken and bloody at the bottom of the stairs, she could be next.
She looked to her mates for solace as they sat around the table along with Tariana, Shadley, and Ryolas. But their eyes were as bleak as her heart—no, more so. Lines of grief and pain etched themselves into Alistair’s face, more deeply than the others’. As a fellow soldier, he was closest to their fallen cousin. Had it only been last night she’d sat at the dining table with him as he flirted with Basilla?
And now, both were gone.
“Close the door,” Drystan ordered the guard standing outside. “Let no one pass unless it is a life or death matter.” They’d chosen this underground chamber because earth and stone interfered with most magic, and they didn’t want to take any chances that a spy might overhear.
The door shut behind the guard with a sense of finality that rippled through the room like a portent of doom. Silence fell upon the chamber, stretching out for long moments as the group gathered their thoughts.
“Tariana,” Alistair said, breaking the silence. “What news of our armies?”
“Our forces are recovering, but slowly,” Tariana said heavily. “We are working hard to recruit more men, but it will take months to get the Dragon Force back into fighting shape.”
“What about hiring mercenaries?” Lucyan asked. “There are armies across the sea that will fight for us, for a price.”
“I do not trust the loyalty of any man who can be bought,” Tariana said firmly. “And even if I were to hire a mercenary army, it still would not be enough to replenish our numbers.”
“Are you saying we’ll do nothing then?” Ryolas demanded. He clenched his fists, his eyes flashing. “We cannot simply stand by and allow the warlocks to continue their insidious assault. We must rescue my sister and beat back these treacherous bastards before they take over Terragaard!”
“We know that,” Tariana said. “That’s why we’re sitting in this room right now, trying to figure out our next move.”
“What of an alliance with Elvenhame?” Shadley asked, stroking his beard thoughtfully. “Ryolas, do you think your father could be convinced to lend us his armies?”
“Under normal circumstances, he would do it in a heartbeat,” Ryolas said. “But I am not certain how much of the warlock’s spell remains. His judgment may still be impaired.”
“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try,” Dareena said, speaking up for the first time. “Spell or not, the High King cannot stand by while a neighboring kingdom steals away his daughter.” While the king had seemed addled and weakened, Dareena had sensed that he was a good man. She was confident he would do the right thing, especially now that the warlock influencing him was no longer at the castle.
Ryolas nodded. “I will write up all the evidence against the warlocks today and send a raven to Castle Whitestone.”
“No.” Lucyan shook his head emphatically. “Do not send it directly to the castle. If your brother has been freed, he will find a way to intercept it. It is clear he cares only for himself, and he is more likely to twist this situation to his advantage than send us reinforcements or rescue Basilla.”
“Right.” Ryolas scowled at the mention of his brother. “I will send it to Lord Innell instead. He is a highly respected elder in the community and can be trusted to put the letter directly in my father’s hands.”
“Good,” Drystan said. “The envoy you sent back to Elvenhame will help as well, but we cannot afford to wait for them to arrive. I will send a letter alongside yours to inform the king that since the promise to not mistreat the hostage was broken, we will not entertain any more demands for reparations. But I will tell him that we are willing to offer a truce and negotiate peace once the warlocks have been dealt with.”
“Very well,” Ryolas agreed. “Still, it will take weeks to muster the armies, and we do not have that long to wait. Basilla might be getting dragged to the altar even as we speak. We cannot allow her to wed Mordan.”
“I believe warlock customs do not allow such hurried marriage ceremonies,” Lucyan said, “but you are right. We cannot afford to let Basilla remain in their clutches for long. I suggest you accompany me to the capital, where we can find out where Basilla is being kept, and hopefully rescue her.”
“Again?” Dareena said, dismayed. “You just returned, Lucyan. Surely Shadley can send his spies in your stead?” She knew it was selfish, but she did not want him to go running off behind enemy lines again.
“No, Lucyan should go,” Drystan said, nodding in approval. “I know you don’t want to be separated from any of us,” he added, squeezing Dareena’s hand under the table, “but Lucyan has been in warlock country before, and as a dragon, he can get there far faster than Shadley’s spies would on horseback.”
“Right.” Dareena bit her lip. “Basilla told me that all the metal in the warlock kingdom would dampen her magic and eventually poison her. If that is true, the longer she stays there, the more danger she is in.” As much as she hated it, Lucyan was right. If he could get to her faster than the spies could, she had to let him go.
“That is correct,” Ryolas said. “She will likely feel effects similar to what you and Alistair experienced in our country.”
Lucyan and Alistair shuddered in unison. “We’ll leave tonight, then,” Lucyan said. “But are you really certain you should be coming? Won’t the metal affect you?”
Ryolas shook his head. “Not as badly. All of our soldiers are trained regularly in its presence, so I’ve built up a resistance. Basilla has no such protection, however.”
“Speaking of soldiers,” Alistair said, looking to Tariana, “what if we put together some small strike forces? We can’t engage in all-out war, but we can carry out raids on strategically valuable targets.”
Tariana’s eyes gleamed. “We will have to do it in disguise, but that is an excellent idea,” she said. “If we have them pose as disaffected warlock citizens, that might help confuse the enemy.”
“How fast can you get these strike forces mobilized?” Drystan asked. “If we can successfully direct Shadowhaven’s attention back within its own borders, that may buy us some time.”
“A few days,” Tariana said. “We’ll do three to start with—one of dragon born, one human, and one mixed. I’ll give them instructions not to use superhuman force.”
“Good.” Drystan ran a hand through his hair. There were dark shadows beneath his eyes, and he looked as though he hadn’t slept in a week.