Chapter Thirty-Four
The search teams didn’t find a magic disruptor in the palace. As for the city, all the fire-based enchantments began working about an hour after our meeting. The tower lights were never affected. It made no sense.
Still, I was certain a disruptor had stopped our mating magic.
A small one had weakened me; what could a large one do?
If our innate magic was in any way tied to our mating magic, which I believed it was, then something that disrupted our innate magic could also stop the mating magic from functioning.
I wanted to investigate further, but Jucai wouldn't let me leave his side, and he had important kingly things to do. So, I sat and stewed in my thoughts, trying to fit the pieces together, as he ruled his kingdom.
Magic used to impersonate Sea Dragons and frame them.
Mating magic cut off. Fire enchantments temporarily broken.
No disruptor in the palace. No effect on the tower lights.
Oh, and let's not forget my attempted murder and the use of a small magic disruptor against me.
Any of those things could lead to a war with Zaru, especially my death.
But why was our mating magic affected? And why not the tower lights?
I stood up, intending to creep out to use the facilities.
Jucai held up a hand to pause his meeting and asked me, “Where are you going?”
I glanced at the men and women at the table—some kind of committee. Then I leaned in to whisper in Jucai's ear. “I have to use the bathroom.”
Jucai grimaced and then motioned for one of his guards to go with me. I was about as pleased with that as the guard was, both of us trudging out the door.
“There's a bathroom down this hall.” The Sea Dragon knight motioned to the left and then led the way.
I followed him into a marble restroom off a luxurious sitting room. He waited near the door as I went in and saw to my needs. Halfway through, I heard someone talking to my guard, but thought nothing of it. Not until I heard a thud.
“Hey, are you all right out there?” I called through the door as I quietly turned the lock. I hadn't thought to lock it when I went in.
There was no answer.
“Hello?”
Nothing.
I waited. No one tried to open the door.
Nothing happened. Then the lock turned in the other direction.
They'd been picking it! I wouldn't have worried if not for that last attack.
I was a Dragon in the middle of a Sea Dragon palace.
I should have been safe. But I knew I wasn't. As soon as that door opened, I had to shout for help.
The knob turned. The door creaked open.
“Help!” I shouted.
Men in black masks and hoods rushed into the bathroom. I rushed them. Someone blew powder in my face right when I inhaled to shout again. Everything went dark.