Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Are you sure about this?” Rhi asked Lotti.
Lotti sighed, her breath puffing around her in a visible cloud. “Nay. But it’s our only option.”
Rhi moved her gaze around the impressive sight of the Ferdon Woods. There was a stillness within the forest that reminded her of the Dragonwood on Dreagan. Maybe it was the trees—evergreens and those with bare branches—lightly dusted with snow that reminded her of Dreagan.
But they were far from Earth. And several dangers lurked within the Ferdon Woods, including the one they waited for.
It had been Lotti’s idea to seek out her sister. Rhi hadn’t been the only one against it, but none had spoken out louder than Lotti’s mate, Alasdair. Despite Rhi’s misgivings, she had to admit that Villette might have the answers they sought. Whether or not she gave them up was a whole other issue.
“I think we should return,” said a deep voice from behind them.
Rhi dipped her chin to hide her grin.
Lotti released a frustrated sigh as she turned her head to look over her shoulder. “Honey, I told you I can handle this.”
“She’s tried to kill you,” he argued.
Lotti turned to face him. “I love that you worry about me, but you know I’m right in doing this.”
“That doesna mean I have to like it,” Alasdair argued.
“I understand. But if this is going to work, it’s better if Rhi and I are here together. Go back to Iron Hall.”
He snorted. “Do you really think I’m the only one here?”
Rhi chuckled as she lifted her head. “Constantine, come on out.”
“Doona blame me for worrying about you,” Con said as he came out from behind a tree to her left.
“I would never, because I would do the same thing you are. I wouldn’t be here if we weren’t desperate. And in case you two need reminding, Lotti is as powerful as Villette,” Rhi stated.
A muscle jumped in Con’s jaw as he stared at her. Finally, he dipped his head. “We’ll be waiting. Be careful.”
Alasdair’s brow furrowed when Con walked away. He hesitated a moment before following. Rhi and Lotti watched the two Dragon Kings make their way back to the canyon.
“Do you think they’ll stay away?” Lotti asked.
Rhi grinned. “Nope. Protecting others is in a dragon’s essence, but it doesn’t compare to a King protecting his mate.”
“Never mind that we do a good job of protecting ourselves.”
They shared a smile and returned to waiting.
Lotti had said that Villette was somewhere in the forest, but they had already been waiting almost an hour for a sign of her.
Another fifteen minutes passed before they heard the sound at the same time.
They jerked their heads to the right and saw someone walking among the trees.
“Get ready,” Lotti whispered.
Rhi locked her eyes on the figure passing a hundred yards in front of them. A blood red cloak trailed behind Villette while the fur-trimmed collar brushed the tops of her cheeks. Neither she nor Lotti moved, yet Villette suddenly halted.
“I’m not in the mood.” Villette’s voice rang out through the woods.
They and Villette had stood on opposing sides several times, but they had also fought side by side. Villette wasn’t a friend. Actually, Rhi would still consider her an enemy. One who was likely waiting to attack them again. That’s just how devious Villette was.
“I only want to ask you something,” Lotti replied.
Villette stared out before her. “As I said. I’m not in the mood.”
“Let’s go,” Rhi said to Lotti.
Lotti shook her head and took a step forward. “Answer today, and I’ll leave you alone. Otherwise, I’ll continue to bother you day after day.”
“Apparently, it’s family reunion day,” Villette murmured.
Rhi frowned, unsure if she had heard that right.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lotti asked.
Villette turned toward them, careful to keep her head ducked slightly to make it hard to see the disfigured side of her face.
She was beautiful, even with the burns, but that beauty was marked with an evil streak so wide it could never be filled.
Rhi had encountered others as malicious as Villette.
And each one had found their end. Eventually, Villette would, as well.
“Is that your question?” Villette asked.
Lotti quickly said, “Nay. I want to know, in the entirety of your time on Zora, do you recall there ever being beasts that devastated a culture anywhere around here?”
“That’s specific. What have you found that requires such a reply?” Villette asked.
Rhi crossed her arms over her chest. “Just answer the question.”
“I never said I’d answer it.”
Lotti took another step closer. “I’ll answer your question, but only after you answer mine.”
Rhi shot her a dark look, but Lotti was too far ahead of her to notice. Villette did, however.
Villette raised a brow as she slid her gaze to Lotti.
“All right. Several animals could be classified as beasts on Zora. It took me a long time to find Zora, so I wasn’t here for many years.
As you know, I was the one who brought the humans.
While I did leave the realm from time to time, I can safely say there were several animal attacks on the humans. ”
“This attack would’ve nearly wiped everyone out,” Lotti added.
Villette shook her head. “There was no such event. Now, it’s your turn. What did you find?”
“A stasis pod.”
Rhi hoped divulging this information wouldn’t backfire on them. It was always impossible to tell with Villette.
“A stasis pod?” Villette repeated, frowning. She started toward them, only to stop after a few steps. “That kind of technology has never reached Zora. I made sure of that.”
Rhi walked to stand beside Lotti. “Which is why we’re uneasy about discovering it.”
“Who was inside it?” Villette asked.
Lotti glanced at Rhi before she said, “A woman.”
“Who, I suppose, told you the story about the supposed beasts?” Disquiet colored Villette’s face. “Either she outright lied, hoping to deceive you, or she truly believes this is her realm.”
Rhi’s stomach knotted at the implication. “Are you saying someone could’ve brought her here?”
Villette nodded.
“There are only a few possibilities for who could’ve done such a thing,” Lotti said.
Wind blew through the trees, dislodging snow that had piled on the branches, so it swirled around them in a beautiful dance. Villette’s lips flattened. “Very few, indeed.”
“Why would anyone do such a thing?” Rhi asked.
Lotti cut her eyes to Villette. “It sounds like something you would do.”
“To target the dragons, aye.” Villette paused before adding, “But that’s assuming they would know she would be found if they brought her here.”
Rhi dropped her arms to her sides. “No one could’ve possibly known that.”
“There is always a possibility,” Villette said.
Lotti moved two steps closer. “You’re talking about someone seeing the future.”
“There are many magical races in the universe, all of which have infinite ways of using their abilities. There are Druids on Earth with foresight,” Villette said.
Rhi nodded. “There are, but the ones I know have only been able to see snippets of things. They’ve never been able to see an entire scene to know specific dates or times.”
“What about our siblings?” Lotti asked. “Can any see into the future?”
Villette’s gaze dropped to the ground for a long moment. Then she met Lotti’s eyes. “Maybe. You’re the youngest of us, and you also never traveled with us. We have always been divided into two groups. Those who reach for strength and power, and those who prefer to remain on the sidelines.”
“Eurielle,” Lotti murmured.
Villette nodded. “That was Eurielle, aye. It was also Redis, who freed the dragons. We’ve always outnumbered their group. While they tried to distance themselves, the rest of us schemed and battled each other. Anytime we gained power, we kept it as a secret to use later.”
“So, it’s feasible that one of the Star People could’ve seen into the future. Wonderful,” Rhi stated. “But why? Why would they do that? The only one who has ever wanted revenge against the dragons was you.”
“Just because the rest of my siblings haven’t made themselves known doesn’t mean they’ve not targeted the dragons,” Villette said.
Lotti looked back at Rhi. “She’s right. Besides, maybe they were waiting to see if she was successful.”
“If that’s the case, then it wasn’t a Star Person who put the stasis pod here since it’s been here for something around a thousand years, I’m guessing. They would’ve had to know that her plan wouldn’t come to fruition,” Rhi replied.
Villette eyed them with disdain. “You talk as if I’ve been defeated.”
Rhi bit back the retort on the tip of her tongue. Villette was right. She hadn’t exactly been defeated. She was still standing. They had put their fight with her on hold when everything happened with Miena.
Her past atrocities couldn’t be erased. However, her recent decision put her firmly in a gray area.
“If it wasn’t one of us who brought the woman and the stasis pod, then who?” Lotti asked.
Villette shrugged and looked at Rhi. “Like I said, the list is short. The Fae move between realms using their doorways.”
“It’s true. Any number of Fae could’ve come here before,” Rhi said. “It’s also possible that they somehow found someone who could predict the future. But whether Light or Dark Fae, we use magic, not the kind of technology we discovered.”
Lotti said, “So I think we could cross them off the list.”
“Who else is there?” Rhi asked.
Villette grinned coolly. “Dragons.”
“You know they can’t,” Rhi replied.
Lotti sighed. “They used to be able, but it couldn’t be just any dragon.”
“It would have to be a King,” Villette stated.
Rhi shook her head. “None of the Kings would’ve done that.”
“You don’t know whether there are others out there or not. After all, no one knew about Derek.”
Lotti squeezed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. “That’s because he wasn’t born naturally like the others. You created him.”
“My point exactly.” Villette held Lotti’s gaze.
Rhi walked toward Villette, but Lotti grabbed her, holding her back. “How do we find out if there are more?”
“I don’t know if you can.” Villette blew out a breath as she looked away. “At one time, we knew exactly where every dragon was, but once Redis freed and hid them on Earth, that became impossible.”
Rhi frowned in confusion. “You found them on Earth. You found them here. Can’t you search for more? Or are you hiding others?”
“Derek was the only one who survived. As for looking for other dragons, I’m afraid you’ll have to find someone else.”
Lotti snorted sarcastically. “I suppose it would be too much for you to help us.”
“If you must know, I can’t.”
Rhi exchanged a look with Lotti, worry winding through her.
“What do you mean you can’t?” Lotti asked.
Villette smiled tightly. “Eurielle went to our siblings. Her punishment has been lifted. Mine has just begun.”
“You mean…?” Lotti trailed off.
“Aye,” Villette replied wearily. “I’m imprisoned here. I wouldn’t bother asking Eurielle for help. She has…other plans.”
Dread rose thick and cloying, surging up Rhi’s throat. “What kind of plans?”
“To rule Zora.”
Lotti shook her head in disbelief. “She wouldn’t do that.”
“You know what happened at Highvale. Eurielle isn’t the same,” Rhi said.
Villette adjusted her cloak and started walking away. “Nay, she isn’t.”
“Where are you going?” Lotti asked.
Villette didn’t stop—or answer.