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

to ask. She’d been so wrapped up in her vision, curing Aborella, and defending her choice to do so. And he’d stayed away because of it. Now she wondered what types of horrors he’d experienced at his mother’s hand. Could the change she’d noticed in Sylas be more about him than about her?

“Trying to move the door with your mind?” Tobias chuckled beside her. He was dressed in a sleek gray suit with braided detailing that somehow made his eyes seem bluer. Beside him, Sabrina arrived in a stunning mermaid dress that was the blue green of an exotic bird’s feathers. It complemented her red hair and green eyes perfectly.

“By the goddess, you look smashing,” Dianthe said. “You haven’t a single nick or cut from your fight today.”

“It’s the benefit of being a vampire. I heal quickly.” Her gaze roved to Tobias. “Where’s Sylas?”

“Still getting ready.”

“I hope he hurries. Our hosts should be here to get us in just a few minutes.”

“How do you know?” There wasn’t a clock in the room, and she wasn’t wearing a watch.

“It’s four hours until full sunrise. They’ll want to eat and socialize before they’re asleep for the day. I… Every vampire knows how long they have until sunrise.”

Dianthe nodded, suddenly feeling an odd combination of both wired and exhausted. She’d been up most of the night, running on pure adrenaline. And now her mind was reeling with worries about Sylas. The urge to ask Tobias if Sylas had said anything to him about his time as a Paragonian prisoner was hard to deny, but this was between her and her mate. It wasn’t as important that she know what happened as it was that he trusted her enough to tell her.

A knock came at the door, and Tobias opened it. The graceful three were back, still in their white dresses, ready to escort them to the banquet.

Dianthe rapped on the bedroom door. “Sylas? They’re here. It’s time to go.”

The door opened, and she thought her knees might give out. Dressed in a velvet jacket that was so dark blue it might have been black, Sylas watched her through slate-gray eyes that seemed to cut to her soul. His chestnut hair was tamed back from his face, and the white shirt he wore looked temptingly soft draped open at the chest. He was stunningly attractive, and for a moment she couldn’t find her voice. It was like she was back on Aeaea, seeing him for the first time at the meeting of the Defenders of the Goddess.

“Am I wearing it wrong?” He frowned down at himself. “I don’t usually dress like this.”

She shook her head. “No. I… You look very handsome.”

“You make a striking couple,” Sabrina said.

“Everyone ready to go?” one of the graceful three asked from the doorway.

Dianthe slipped her hand through Sylas’s elbow. He tensed at her touch, but she held on as they filtered from the room.

The banquet hall might have been one in any grand castle. The walls were lined with timber and decorated with stained glass windows backlit to appear like they were aboveground. Rows of tables filled the interior. A musical group played their stringed instruments in the corner. Dianthe followed their guides to the head table, next to the place clearly reserved for Demidicus. Sylas sat to his right, Sabrina to his left, and Dianthe and Tobias found their places next to them.

Only when the tables were full did the master arrive.

“You have my attention,” he said coldly. “Pray tell, what brings you here? Before the food arrives please. I hate to talk with my mouth full.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Sylas saw Dianthe grimace. Was she wondering what would be served at this banquet? She couldn’t drink blood, after all. And although he and Tobias, as dragons, technically could survive on the stuff, he’d prefer his food dead and cooked.

But first things first. He’d happily go hungry if they got what they’d come for. “You are aware, Demidicus, that my brother Tobias and I are heirs to the kingdom of Paragon. We were raised in the mountain, and we know our mother better than anyone.”

“It was a tragedy what happened to your older brother Marius. Everyone in the five kingdoms assumed you were all killed in that skirmish. Although recently I heard a rumor that it was Brynhoff who took you prisoner.”

“Lies,” Sylas said. “Our mother was responsible for Marius’s death and exiled us to another realm to keep the crown for herself. She has always had an unmatched lust for power. Now she plans to force the other four kingdoms to swear allegiance to her crown.”

“That’s a serious accusation, dragon. I don’t need to tell you that Paragon and Nochtbend have a long history of tensions, but our independence has never been a topic of conversation. I might even say that Eleanor wouldn’t dare.”

“You haven’t noticed your taxes increase substantially?”

He tipped his head in acknowledgment. “Our mining operation is quite lucrative. Paragon may be swimming in gemstones, but the gold and platinum used to mount them comes from Nochtbend.”

“You’re a wealthy kingdom, that’s for certain, but surely you must have noticed you are keeping less for yourself.”

Another tip of the vampire’s head.

“It’s only the beginning,” Sylas said. “My mother’s plan is to become the sole ruler of the five kingdoms. She told me that once she’s conquered Nochtbend, she plans to force vampires to sleep aboveground in Paragonian dwellings.”

Demidicus hissed.

“She sees herself becoming the new goddess of the mountain. She doesn’t just want to rule, she wants to be worshipped.”

“We will never bow to Paragon,” Demidicus stated unequivocally. “And Eleanor wouldn’t dare invade Nochtbend. We would drain her dragons dry.”

Sylas felt a tap on his elbow, and Dianthe leaned forward. “Don’t you see? It’s why she burned Everfield. With the Obsidian Guard now occupying the Empyrean Wood, Nochtbend is surrounded on all sides by her troops.”

His eyes narrowed. “The Guard has remained in Everfield?”

“My home forest is crawling with them.” Her