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

the sunpitcher plants like only a fairy could. Somehow she seemed to glide between them no matter how closely they grew together. A fairy’s ability to live at one with nature had always seemed paradoxical to Sylas. They ate meat, after all. Fairies would go to great lengths not to kill a tree but would slaughter dozens of narwits to roast over an open fire at a gathering. Dianthe had tried to explain the logic: fast reproduction meant there were too many narwits. It was merciful, she’d said. If left to their own devices, the critters would eat all the vegetation, down to and including the roots, and then starve to death. Killing them was a way to both control the population and make life better for those left alive. Still, Sylas had struggled with the seeming contradictions in their culture.

By the time they reached Solaris Lake, the suns had fully set. The only light was that coming from the plants and the lake itself, which glowed faintly green, just as Dianthe had said it would. It was subtle, the orb probably covered in lake grasses and mud. Had he not known what he was looking at, he might have assumed he was seeing a reflection from something.

“At least we know we’re in the right place,” Tobias said, staring at the strangely lit surface.

“We should make camp,” Sylas said. “We can retrieve it in the morning.”

But Sabrina was already stripping out of her cloak. She was fully awake now, her eyes large and bright in the moonlight. “Why wait until morning? In the morning, the pollen gatherers will be back. I’ll go now.”

“You’re not afraid to swim in dark waters?” Dianthe shivered, and Sylas was reminded that fairies feared the dark. It was when they were at their weakest. Her fatigue was evident in the dark bags beneath her eyes.

“I can see in the dark.” Sabrina nodded in Tobias’s direction. “And if I need backup, so can my mate. Why don’t you two set up the tent, and I’ll go get us an orb?”

At last Dianthe glanced at Sylas, for the first time since she’d stormed away in the forest. He almost gasped in relief. “Sure. That sounds like a good plan.”

Tobias dropped the packs he was carrying and followed Sabrina to the edge of the water. She waded in without hesitation.

“Are you finally speaking to me again?” Sylas asked.

“I never said I wasn’t speaking to you.” Dianthe unzipped the tent bag and started staking down the base.

“You never said anything. You haven’t said a word to me or looked me in the eye in over an hour.” He helped her move the supports into place.

“I don’t want to talk to you. Every time I do, you make me feel bad about myself. Do you know I haven’t had a vision since the fire? I’ve never gone this long without one.”

Sylas growled. “Maybe it’s a sign that your abilities have been tampered with as I suspected.”

Dianthe kicked the spike deeper into the ground and gave a frustrated grunt. “Raven ruled that out, Sylas!” She shook her head. “I think it’s related to us. We’ve never had problems like this in our relationship before.”

“Problems?” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What kind of problems?”

“Are you kidding me right now? We haven’t had a day of smooth sailing since you escaped the palace. It’s been one disagreement after another.”

Sylas’s jaw clenched. “That was only because of Aborella. We’ve been… together since then.”

“Damn it, Sylas. I’m not talking about sex. I’m talking about getting along. Not fighting every second of the day.”

“I don’t know where this is coming from. We talk every day.”

She stared at him incredulously. “For the first time, you don’t believe in me. You don’t trust my abilities. And because of that, I feel guilty for what happened. Do you know what I think, Sylas? I think you’ve gotten into my head. I think you’ve made me question my abilities. And I think because of that, I’m blocking my talent.”

“Well… stop.” Sylas finished pitching the tent, wondering how the conversation had gotten away from him. “It wasn’t you I was questioning. It was Aborella.”

She rolled her eyes toward the night sky. “You still don’t get it, do you—”

“Sylas!” Tobias yelled. “Sabrina’s not surfacing!”

Chapter Thirteen

Dianthe ran for the lake, Sylas at her side. Tobias had already stripped and dove in after Sabrina, but he hadn’t broken the surface again. Deep within the lake, the water churned, sending up ripples and a few random bubbles. Shadows and silhouettes battled below, blocking out the green glow. What in Hades was going on?

“Oh my goddess!” All at once, Dianthe realized what was happening. Why hadn’t she thought of this sooner? “I have to go in.”

“What? Why?” Sylas’s eyes widened with alarm. He grabbed her arm as she started undressing.

“It’s the water sprites.” She gestured in the general direction of the lake. “I’d forgotten that I used to play with them all those years ago. They’re scared. It’s natural they would see a non-fairy as a threat. I’m the only one who speaks ancient fae. I can make them understand what’s happening.”

“No.” Sylas growled. “It’s too dangerous. You’re not going in there.”

“Didn’t you hear me? I’m the only one who can help.” She fluttered her wings to fly over the water, but he pulled her down to his side.

“Sabrina doesn’t have to breathe, and Tobias can hold his breath for ages. You can’t.” Sylas’s expression was pleading.

She got the distinct impression he would have reached down his own mouth and extracted a lung to loan her if he could have. While she could sympathize with his protective instincts, she didn’t have time for this shit.

“I’ve had your tooth. If I die, you can revive me.”

“Don’t joke. Not about that.”

“I can do this, Sylas! I know these sprites. Let. Me. Go.” She twisted out of his grip and flew as fast as she could over the deep water.

“Dianthe!” he called.

She dove