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

started with the Defenders of the Goddess, Aborella knows who you are, and she’s most certainly told Eleanor. They know I was the leader of the rebellion. They know that I would do anything for you. For the first time, you have a bull’s-eye on your back that’s never been there before. That’s why I wanted you to stay in Aeaea, not because I don’t believe in you or your abilities.”

“The bull’s-eye has always been there. Since before I knew you. I was a seer for the rebellion, and at any time I might have shown up in Aborella’s visions or been found out by Paragonian spies. Yes, she knows my name now and where we used to live, but knowing me makes it harder for her to see me. Just as it makes it harder for me to see her. This political game we’re playing, there’s nothing safe about it. I’ve always known what I was getting myself into. If I die doing this, it will be for a worthy cause.”

“Don’t say that. No cause is worthy enough, and I will not survive it. You’re my very soul, Dianthe. The only thing left that matters.”

“Then I guess you must continue to save me when I get into trouble.” She smiled and kissed him under his jaw.

“Do you forgive me for the things I said?” He stroked the hair over her ear. “I embarrassed you in front of Circe. I’m a total ass.”

She wrapped an arm and leg around him and squeezed him to her. “I forgive you. I don’t want to fight anymore. Let’s just agree that whatever we do from now on, we do it together. We take care of each other.”

He reached over her and dragged the edge of the blanket over her shoulder and his, wrapping her in a cocoon against him. With a kiss to her forehead, he said, “Agreed. We’ll save each other. Now sleep. Once we’re back in Aeaea, I plan to keep you awake late into the night making up for lost time.”

She curled into him, positioning her cheek on his chest. “Sounds like heaven.”

Sleep came for her quickly, wiping out all thoughts of Paragon, the rebellion, and even Aborella.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Heaven. Sylas was in warm, sleepy heaven, wrapped around his mate and back in her good graces. She still carried his scent from their lovemaking. Like a brand, it perfumed her skin. Mine. His inner dragon stretched sleepily inside him, completely at ease with the current situation.

He had no idea what time it was, but he guessed late morning. He’d awoken on his own, feeling refreshed and ready for the day, but dragons needed far less sleep than other creatures. His fairy mate, for instance, was still far off in dreamland.

Dianthe released a cute, high-pitched snore, and he pulled the blanket tighter around her before scooting out from under her and dressing quickly. He’d let her sleep a little longer. It would give him a chance to discuss plans for the trip home with Tobias. Sylas pulled on his boots and slipped out the door of the bedroom.

The sounds of dogs barking reached him. He held his ear to the door. The barking came from a distance and through earth and stone, but he could make it out if he focused his dragon senses. It had to be the hellhounds at the gate. Their baying was as good as any security alarm.

“Do you hear that?” Tobias charged into the sitting room, closing the door behind him. “Is that the hellhounds?”

“It must be daylight by now,” Sylas said.

Tobias nodded. “Sabrina has been out like a light for several hours already. It’s late morning. I’d guess around noon. What do you think is going on topside?”

A knock came on the door. Sylas opened it to find Ruthgard, unsteady on his feet, in the hallway. “Help.”

“What has happened?” Sylas asked.

Ruthgard blinked like he was struggling to keep his eyes open. “Raid. The Obsidian Guard is here.”

Tobias caught the vampire as he toppled over. He looked back at Sylas. “Let’s go see what’s going on.”

Sylas carried Ruthgard to the front entrance. The hounds were deafening there, along with the screams of their victims. Ruthgard woke up long enough to unlock a command center full of scopes. “These will allow you to see around the palace.” He flopped face-first onto a cot near the back of the room. “Must sleep.”

“Fuck,” Sylas said.

Tobias groaned. “It’s noon. Even for Sabrina it’s hard to stay awake at full sun. For these full-blooded vamps, it’s next to impossible. They’re at their most vulnerable. They can force themselves awake for a few minutes but nothing more right now. If Ruthgard isn’t mistaken and the Obsidian Guard is here, it’s no accident. Mother is attacking at Nochtbend’s weakest.”

Sylas swung a leg over one of the chairs and brought his eyes to a scope labeled Forest. “Ruthgard isn’t mistaken. Mountain have mercy, Grimtwist is crawling with guards.”

“That’s not even half our problem.” Tobias motioned to Sylas to look into the scope marked Gate.

“Fuck.” Sylas watched his mother stride into the cave, surrounded by guards who were beating back hellhounds with silver prods. Uniformed bodies lay motionless under growling canines, but the soldiers had the dogs outnumbered. Eleanor had reached the gate, and her fingers sparked with magic. “They’re raiding Nochtbend? At high light? It’s an act of war!”

Tobias frowned. “Someone ratted us out. One of the vampires from last night or, fuck, maybe Zaruki. Eleanor must suspect we’re here. If she finds us, she has cause for the raid. If she doesn’t, she’ll say she had reason to believe we were here. It’s exactly what she wants. A chance to intimidate Nochtbend and possibly catch us in the process, all while the vampires can’t fight back.”

“Warded by a witch,” Ruthgard murmured sleepily. “Can’t get in.”

Sylas exchanged glances with Tobias. Their mother’s power was far stronger now than any of them understood. She would make it through that door, and the