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

“Don’t bother. I saw it in my vision.” She shoved his hand away. “I’ll be seeing it in my nightmares for as long as I live.”

He tugged her forward, breaking into a run when he saw a guard at the neighboring cottage, kicking down the door.

“By order of the empress of Paragon, I am here to exact punishment for aiding a fugitive of the crown.” The guard’s pronouncement came through a haughty grin before he charged into the abode.

Sylas heard the screams of their elderly neighbor, Willow.

“Oh my goddess, Sylas. What will they do to her?”

“I don’t know. Keep moving.”

“We have to help!”

He repositioned the bags, yanked her against him with his free arm, and spread his wings, taking to the air. The position of the bags and uneven weight set him off-balance, and it took his best effort to climb above the trees and soar beyond the limits of the village. It was a relief when Serenity Harbor came into view.

“Sylas, answer me!” Dianthe sobbed. “How could you just leave her there to deal with those… those cretins alone?”

He landed on the docks and swept her toward the sailboat he’d kept at the ready. He tossed in both bags, then turned to his mate. “Get in.”

“Not until you talk to me.”

He swept her under his arm and carried her onto the boat, then went about untying it from the dock. His oread, Indigo, appeared beside him, and together they pushed off the dock and rowed out to open water.

Indigo readied the sail. “To Aeaea as planned?”

Sylas nodded.

“Aeaea?” Dianthe asked. “We’re going back to Circe’s island now? What about Everfield?”

“There’s nothing we can do, Dianthe. There’re too many of them. Any attempt to help would reveal our identities. We’d both be in the dungeon by nightfall.” Sylas’s throat was thick and gritty. He’d held back his emotions from the first sniff of smoke. Just a few more minutes. He couldn’t allow himself to break, not until he knew they were safe.

Dianthe looked back the way they’d come and broke into deep, wrenching sobs. Even though Sylas told himself not to, he looked back too. Flames engulfed Everfield, licking over the trees and turning the entire sky red and hazy. Fairies gathered on Serenity Beach, holding each other as their homes burned. He thanked the Mountain for every single one he saw. At least they were alive.

His mate grabbed his arm as if she were holding on for dear life.

“We’ll be safe soon.” The words sounded hollow, completely inadequate.

Her sobs abated. A far darker emotion moved in, clouding her eyes and causing her lips to peel back from her teeth. “Safe? You think I’m worried about being safe! How could you just leave them like that? We could have helped. We might have saved Willow from whatever fate befell her at the hands of your people!”

That was it. Sylas could abide no more. Heat flooded his face, and all the muscles in his back tensed. “Willow would be fine if you hadn’t invited a viper into our home.”

Dianthe pushed away from him, hugging herself against his words.

“Why do you think the Obsidian Guard was there? Didn’t you hear them say this was retribution for taking in a fugitive? Who do you think told them there was a fugitive in Everfield? Who is the only other person who knows who I really am and that I’ve been living with you there?”

“No. It can’t be. I saw… I saw her helping us.” Dianthe shook her head vehemently.

“Your vision was wrong. Don’t you get it?” He pointed a hand at Everfield in flames. “You made a mistake, Dianthe, and Everfield paid the price!”

She gasped as if he’d slapped her.

“I’m sorry to put it so bluntly, but you knew there was the possibility. You told me yourself that visions are open to interpretation. People have free will. They can change their minds.”

“Yes, but I befriended her. She’s changed. She was kind.”

“Give me a break.” Sylas held his head. “She was kind when you were giving her what she wanted! When she needed you! I told you she was evil.”

Dianthe’s already red eyes began to tear again.

“You gave her information. I know you did. Not a lot, I’m sure. But you wanted to endear yourself to her. I know you, Dianthe. I know you had good intentions. But if you’d seen her face when I told her we knew who she was. If you’d seen how quickly she fled… Everfield is burning because of Aborella.”

Dianthe’s knees seemed to give out and she sat down hard, her hair blowing in the saltwater breeze. All light drained from her eyes and her mouth gaped. Beyond the stern, the ever-reddening sky over Everfield was thick with smoke from the active fires. How long would Empyrean Wood burn? Would there be anything left by the time they put it out?

“You think Everfield is burning because of Aborella, and Aborella was there because of… me.” Dianthe grimaced as the truth set in.

Sylas wished he could tell her she was wrong, but he’d known this would happen. Aborella was as evil as they came. She couldn’t be trusted. “It’s not your fault. You’ve always been able to trust your visions in the past. It’s just now…”

“Now what?”

Every part of Sylas felt heavy and bone weary. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that Aborella might have infected her or polluted her gift with a dark curse. He didn’t know for sure, but he suspected they could not trust Dianthe’s visions any longer. Not right away. Even tonight’s prophecy had been far too late to be of much help. She was off her game. They’d have to be cautious.

He couldn’t tell her now though. Not like this. Not when her homeland was burning and she had no idea if the community she’d grown up in, the people she loved, were well and safe. He sat beside her and slid his hand into hers.

“Nothing. We’re safe. I’m here. This