Chapter Four
“Explain this to me again,” Elda said, shaking her head. “This stone you’re speaking of was in the mountain with Brenna and Ladon and now it’s gone?”
“Yes. Gone,” Nunu said, frowning. “Not good. Very bad.”
“I understand that the stone is what stopped all three of them from disappearing along with the rest of Athera when the curse first hit, but why do we need it now? Drake is awake and so is Brenna.”
“But not Ladon,” Drake said, biting his cheek. “Without the stone here, I don’t know if he will wake. Manny said there’s a good chance he might not. I should have moved the stone once I shifted, but I’ve been distracted and—”
“And you couldn’t have known someone would sneak into the mountain and steal it,” Elda interrupted, her hands on her hips. “How would anyone else even know it was there?”
“I don’t know and maybe they didn’t. It’s possible someone just snuck in hoping to raid the place and happened upon it. Either way, it’s gone. That’s all that really matters now.”
“You said there are more of the stones, right? Is it possible to find another one? If we can’t get this one back?”
“Maybe. I am hesitant to leave, especially while Brenna is in this state, but it’s possible another Stone of the Divine could work. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about the realm right now, seeing that I’ve been either frozen or asleep for so long. I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
“And I don’t know much about finding stones either,” Elda said, sighing. “This is the furthest I’ve ever been from home and I was teleported here, so it’s not like I traveled across the realm or—”
She paused and looked down at the crown sitting on the table across from her.
The crown that belonged to the Taten king.
The same king who had traveled from Southeast Everealm all the way to Northern Everealm when he’d visited Carroway before.
He’d taken a ship to Parsel Cove and then the rest of the journey had been on foot.
In fact, during their brief stay, the king and his companions had spoken about the multiple expeditions they had taken around the realm, visiting some lake and a ridge.
She couldn’t remember why they had but she knew one thing.
The King of Taten had seemingly stolen her crown and replaced it with his own.
He owed her and she would use this opportunity to collect.
“We’re going to Taten,” she said, looking up at Drake. “They can help us find another stone.”
“This king and his queen? Do you think we can trust them?”
“I believe so, but it’s also the only favor I have to turn in. If I threaten to tell my father about my stolen crown, they will have to assist us. I think. But what about Brenna? About her curse?”
“We help!” Nunu said, nodding.
“Yes, yes,” Manny agreed. “Find prince. Break curse. Drake go. Get stone.”
“Are you sure we should leave the gnomes to do this on their own?” Elda asked.
“I’m sure Manny and Nunu will find the perfect prince for Brenna. After all, they found my perfect mate on the first try.” Drake’s grin dimmed when Manny’s eyes snapped to the floor and Nunu forced a smile that wasn’t quite genuine. “She was the first princess you brought to me, wasn’t she?”
“No,” Manny replied, looking guilty. “Not first. Second princess. Right princess. Elda perfect.”
“Yes, she is, but she wasn’t the first one? Who was?”
“Not important. Elda perfect. Drake love. Forget other.”
“Manny…”
“Princess Sarita!” Nunu interjected, cringing. “Already married. Not princess. So sorry.”
“Sarita,” Elda said, blinking. “The princess who married the King of Taten? Her?”
“Yes, yes,” Manny replied. “Nice queen. Not princess. Not right. Elda right. Elda perfect. Drake happy.”
“You’re right,” Drake said, taking Elda’s hand. “I’m insanely happy and Esmerelda was the right princess for me. However, I now wonder if the two of you are capable of choosing the right prince for Brenna.”
“No worries,” Manny said. “Find prince. Perfect prince. Break curse.”
“Break curse,” Nunu agreed. “Find prince. No worries.”
“If you’re sure?” Both gnomes nodded quickly and Drake sighed.
“Fine. Elda and I will travel to Taten and meet with this king and determine if they can help and are to be trusted. In the meantime, you two will find a prince to break Brenna’s curse.
Rasa can feed Brenna while we’re gone. We’ll leave tomorrow and it should only take a few days—”
“Taten is near the coast, Drake,” Elda interjected. “I’m sure it will take at least a week on horseback to reach that part of the realm from here, probably longer.”
“Sure, it might take that long if we traveled the usual way but you’re forgetting I’m a dragonite, dear.”
“You mean…”
“We will fly.”
~*~
“That’s the third time Sage has danced with this fool,” Lukas grumbled.
He sat at a table in the tavern with Baz and slowly sipped an ale he wasn’t interested in. Instead, his focus was on the fairy, who for some reason, had accepted this man’s request to dance and had been in his arms since then, smiling at him, laughing at something he must have said.
She never laughed like that at other men’s jokes.
Only his. He could make the fairy burst into fits of giggles with a single glance at times.
She would know what he was thinking before he said it, so he often times wouldn’t have to utter a word.
But here she was, her beautiful eyes sparkling at another man while gliding across the floor, her hand in his. Could this night get any worse?
“Since when do you care who she dances with?” Baz asked, from across the table.
“I don’t but she rarely dances with anyone once, let alone three damn times.”
“She dances with you all the time.”
“I’ve noticed,” he said, quietly.
“What?”
“Nothing. I just mean it’s not like her, that’s all.”
“Well, our little fairy is grown now. Maybe she’s ready to entertain settling down.”
“With a stranger who lives in the middle of nowhere?” Lukas gaped at his brother’s suggestion. The idea that Sage would leave Orious and move out here to live with this man she’d just met was preposterous.
“Who knows?” Baz said, shrugging. “This journey has changed things quite a bit for me. Perhaps, it will for her also.”
“Hell no. I won’t allow it.”
Baz studied him over the top of his mug. “Your overprotective, big brother instincts kicking in? Is that what this is?”
Lukas pierced him with a glare but didn’t respond to that.
It sure as hell wasn’t brotherly, these thoughts and feelings rushing through him.
In fact, it was downright murderous, the way he was feeling right now.
And when he noticed the man dancing with his fairy had moved her a little closer for this new dance, he started to shove up from the table.
Just then, Sage pulled away from the man and started over.
Unfortunately, she brought the bastard with her.
“Baz, Lukas,” she said, gesturing toward the man beside her. “This is Danny.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Danny,” Baz said, then pulled Lina into his lap. “This is my lady. Lina.”
Lukas blinked a couple of times, still getting used to the idea of Baz having a lady, let alone the younger sister of the woman he was supposed to marry. Realizing he’d been staring off, he gave the man next to Sage a cool nod. “Daniel.”
“Oh, it’s just Danny,” the man said, smiling.
“That’s nice.”
“Lukas is being funny,” Sage said, spearing him with a look of exasperation, which he returned.
“Join us,” Baz said, ignoring the glare Lukas shot him from across the table.
Sage squeezed in beside Lukas and Danny took the seat on the end where Lina had been sitting before.
Willow wandered over also, chugging down her ale and requesting another.
Lukas handed her a few coins to get a round for everyone and tried not to rub against Sage in the process.
Though really, he was tempted to put his arm around her shoulders and assert some sort of claim to her, which was crazy, wasn’t it?
After a few moments, the tavern owner came over to get Baz and Lina, who had agreed to perform again tonight.
That’s the reason they had stayed in the town today but would head out for Carroway tomorrow morning.
Tonight, the prince and princess took the stage once more and began their performance.
It was much like the previous night but with a new song that Lukas had never heard before.
He watched his brother—the man who very rarely sought the attention of women in Orious—play his instrument while gazing adoringly at Lina, giving her a kiss between songs, which the crowd loved.
He’d seen Baz play many times in the taverns at home, but this was different. He was happy. Relaxed. Out here, he was the old Baz, the one who used to help him plan pranks and stuck his tongue out when their mother wasn’t looking.
When Sage and her new friend left the table to move closer to the stage to watch Baz and Lina, Lukas scowled at the table until Willow interrupted his brooding to ask for another coin to buy a bag of nuts. He handed it over then realized the table was empty now, except for him.
He noticed Danny’s mug of ale, sitting close to Sage’s mug and he knew it was ridiculous to care about the proximity of their mugs, but he reached over to slide it away. Then he had an idea. The berries from the forest, the ones Sage had used to prank him with, were still in one of his pockets.
Making sure Sage wasn’t looking his way first, he took the berries out and smashed them in his hand, letting the juice drip into Danny’s mug. He quickly tossed the berry skins under the table and leaned back with a smirk. It was childish but still made him feel better.
That was, until Sage and Danny returned and the fairy noticed a drop of berry juice on the table next to the mug. She didn’t catch him before Danny drank down the rest of his ale, though. Livid, Sage turned to Lukas and shoved at his chest.
“Did you put those berries in his mug?” she accused. Her face was turning red and Lukas couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen the fairy angry. Especially, angry with him. In fact, he was sure she had never been mad at him before. Annoyed by their pranks on occasion but angry? Never.
“Maybe.”
“Why would you do that?”
“What are you talking about?” Lukas asked, his eyes wide. “Pranks are what we do.”
“On each other, Lukas!” she shouted above the music, giving him another shove that nearly made him topple over in his seat. “We only ever prank each other! Never other people!”
“What’s the big deal? It’s just a joke. You know that.”
“Not to innocent people! Danny hasn’t done anything to you. He doesn’t deserve to be up all night, hunched over his chamber pot.”
“What?” Danny asked in surprise.
“But I deserve it, Sage?” Lukas barked, jumping up from his seat. “It was fine for you to do that to me, but your precious Danny can’t handle an upset stomach?”
“What has gotten into you?” she barked. “I’ve never seen you treat a stranger this way.”
“Not that much of a stranger. He’s had his hands on you all night.”
“Since when do you care who I dance with?”
“Since when do you dance with anyone other than me?” he shouted back.
“Don’t worry,” Sage said, her bottom lip trembling. “You won’t ever have to dance with me again.”
“No, Sage. That’s not what I—Sage! Come back here!”
But it was too late. The fairy was already leading her new friend toward the door and Lukas collapsed back into his chair with a huff. Dammit. This night had been a complete disaster and now Sage was pissed at him. Not that he could blame her, really.
What had he been thinking, putting those berries in that man’s mug? He’d been jealous, that’s what he’d been thinking. Jealous of someone spending time with Sage. Green with envy over another man with his hands on her. Receiving her smiles.
Just when he’d found out she was interested in him in a romantic way, she’d decided to entertain other men?
How had this happened? What would he have done differently if he’d learned her secret and they were still in Orious?
Would he have tried to court her? The thought sounded better every time it crossed his mind, but now it might be too late.
Had he ignored her for so long that she was giving up on him?
Why did that possibility make his chest ache?
Did he… feel the same way about her? Sure, he loved her.
She was a part of their family and had been for half of his life.
Half of hers. He’d never imagined his future without her in it, but he had to admit, she’d never been his wife in any of those daydreams. Could she be?
Would his mother allow it? If she didn’t, would he do it anyway?
A dozen thoughts ran through his head as he stared at the table.
Why had Sage read that dirty scene in Carroway?
And bared herself to him in the inn? Had she been attempting to catch his attention?
Make him see her as more than a friend? He was suspicious now of everything she did and had done in the past. If so, he hadn’t handled it the way he should have.
No wonder she’d decided he was a lost cause and moved on to another. He didn’t deserve her. That fact didn’t tamper the jealous rage he felt when he looked out the window and spotted Sage outside with Danny.
This was getting out of control, and he had no idea how to fix it.