Hidden Dragon (The Treasure of Paragon Book 7) by Genevieve Jack (best book club books .txt) 📕

The goddess tipped her head and focused on Raven, Clarissa, and Avery. “You are the three sisters, my descendants.”

Dianthe raised her eyebrows, distracted from her anger by the revelation. Did she say descendants? Sylas had told her about his time with Raven in the dungeon and how she was a powerful witch, but a descendant of the goddess herself? Her skin tingled at the thought.

Raven smiled, Charlie laughing on her hip. “Yes, Goddess.”

“And this child?” The goddess stepped forward, taking in the blond babe.

“Charlie,” Raven said. “My daughter, with Gabriel.”

The goddess beamed. “The progeny of a dragon and a witch. No wonder Eleanor wants you dead.”

“Thank you for saving me after I delivered her. I—”

Circe raised one finger. “You must be mistaken, my dear Raven. I am not allowed off this island. There are rules even gods must follow.”

Raven bowed her head.

Dianthe got the distinct impression the goddess was lying but couldn’t fathom about what exactly. Had she left the island before? Or perhaps used sorcery to appear to leave?

“I would like to offer my sincere admiration for how you and your sisters handled the trap Hera set for you beyond the shores of my island. It is the rare group of witches who can face a sea monster of that magnitude and live to tell the tale.” Circe gazed at the three proudly.

“Hera?” Raven repeated.

“Hera,” Circe confirmed.

Their eyes met and Dianthe wondered at the goddess’s words. Why was Hera sending sea monsters to stop the siblings? It was well known that Aitna, the goddess of the mountain, created the first dragons from the fabric of the universe. Circe, though, was credited with giving dragons the ability to shift into their soma or two-legged form. The only link that Hera had to her mate and the rest of the treasure of Paragon was that Aitna had once had an affair with Zeus. To protect her from Hera’s wrath, the king of the Gods made it so that Hera could not set foot on Ouros nor see it in her scrying mirror or interfere with its environment. But it had always been thus, for as long as Dianthe could remember. It seemed a little late for Hera to be exacting her revenge against Zeus by targeting Aitna and Circe’s creation. Dianthe had a hunch there was something more, some secret that Circe and Raven shared.

The goddess backed away, trailing her fingers over the head of one of the great cats. “I hereby grant you all sanctuary and the use of my island. I am sorry I cannot do more. My sentence here forbids my involvement in the spectacle that is the lives of men. Be well.”

In the blink of an eye, she disappeared.

Finally, Dianthe thought she could confront Sylas about his comment, but she never got a chance.

He wasted no time taking charge. “If you will all follow me, the rebellion has a base camp in the valley. I’ll show you where you’re going to stay.”

“Sylas, are we going to talk about why you embarrassed me back there?” It had taken all of Dianthe’s strength to wait until each of the mated couples had found an appropriate tent in the rebellion’s compound to talk to Sylas. The way he’d treated her in front of the goddess burned like a coal in her stomach. When he’d denied her abilities as a seer, he’d denied who she was, down to her soul.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Sylas strode away from her, out of the compound.

“You do so. You know exactly what you did.” She hurried to keep up when he walked faster. “Where are you going?”

“To the hot spring. I thought I’d soak before dinner. I think I pulled every muscle in my body fighting Eleanor. We’re all lucky to have survived it.”

Dianthe crossed her arms against a wave of guilt for bringing up how he’d hurt her considering what he’d endured today. But this conversation needed to happen. She wouldn’t sleep tonight without clearing the air. “I’ll come with you.”

She followed him along the narrow path away from camp. This part of the island was both familiar to her and more beautiful than she remembered. Bright, multicolored birds called overhead while lush green leaves surrounded her, decorated with silky magenta blooms. Flowers the color of freshly churned butter lined both sides of the path. It was difficult to hold on to her anger in this paradise. Even the scent of the air—ocean water mixed with fragrant blossoms—seemed designed to soothe. Romantic memories of when they’d first met flooded her brain.

Maybe she should let it go.

She couldn’t let it go.

They reached the hot springs, and Sylas peeled the borrowed white tunic from his body and then reached for the string ties of his pants. Although they’d been mated for decades, she never grew tired of seeing him naked. His body was a thing of beauty. Broad shoulders tapered to a trim waist and tight buttocks. His chestnut hair had grown out since his last haircut and curled at the base of his skull. She allowed her gaze to travel lower and had to glance away quickly to keep herself from becoming completely distracted. She was torn between wanting to thank the goddess or curse her as he sank into the hot spring, concealing his body below the waist.

“Well,” he said, “aren’t you going to get in?”

“I want to talk about what you said to Circe.” Dianthe refused to let him sidetrack her.

His gray eyes locked on to her with an intensity that made her heart flutter. He released a deep sigh. “Get in and we will.”

At least now he wasn’t denying it. She stripped out of her dress and dipped a toe in. Hot. Very hot.

“Go slow. You’ll adapt.”

“I remember.” She sat on the side and eased herself inch by inch into the water. At first it was uncomfortable, but as she remained in the heat, her muscles loosened and her wings