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

“Yes, my goddess?”

“This bird can go anywhere, even Aeaea.”

Eleanor’s mouth split into a wide grin. “You are too generous.” She bowed low and then spread her wings and turned to leave.

“One more thing,” Hera sang out from behind her.

What now? Eleanor turned back to the goddess. “Yes?”

“Do not return to this island without the golden grimoire. If you do, I will feed you to Grigori.”

With a diagonal tip of her head, Eleanor pursed her lips and flew for home, Grigori following behind her.

Chapter Thirty-Two

At times like these, Dianthe did not want to see the future. Xavier was badly injured, foaming at the mouth as if he’d been poisoned, and bleeding. On top of it all, a man had arrived on a sled pulled by a team of dogs that would give Nochtbend’s hellhounds a run for their money as the scariest beasts imaginable. She feared they’d all meet their end soon.

But then Sylas embraced the man, exchanged a few words, and a flicker of hope warmed her chest.

“This is Zander, leader of the resistance in Darnuith and owner of the Black Mountain Inn. He’s a friend. He’s here to help.”

Zander nodded his hello. “Your friend needs antivenom quickly. Load him onto the sled. I’ll haul him back. Can the rest of you follow along?”

“This is Xavier’s mate. She was wounded too.” Sylas gestured toward Avery, who sheathed her sword.

Zander narrowed his eyes. “Interesting. Very interesting. Okay, come along, Miss Avery. Perhaps you can tell me on the way how you happen to be immune to Skelna’s curse.” He kicked the remains of the demon’s trunk and shook his head. “The coven is not going to be happy about this, Sylas.”

“We can talk about it once we find help for my brother.”

Zander nodded in agreement. Dianthe helped her mate load Xavier onto the sled. Avery tucked into his side and they were off, the dogs barking in excitement as they climbed the mountain.

Sylas swept her into his arms. A moment later they were in the air, chasing the sled with Nathaniel and Clarissa.

“Wasn’t Zander the man you lived with when you were in Darnuith?” Dianthe asked.

“Yes. We are very lucky he found us. I’m not sure what we would have done if he hadn’t.”

“Why didn’t you simply fly to his inn and request his help before?”

Sylas shook his head. “The magic doesn’t work that way. You don’t find the Dark Mountain Inn. It finds you. The place moves constantly to meet weary travelers in need. I guess we got lucky that we needed it most tonight.”

They arrived at a large log cabin with a wooden sign that read Dark Mountain Inn. The place didn’t look mobile. It was as large as the solarium in Everfield. A team of witches emerged and ushered Xavier and Avery inside. Dianthe almost cried from relief as she stepped into the place to find a roaring fire and a sitting area with plush, brightly colored furniture.

A friendly face appeared before her and offered to take her coat, then handed her a cup of something she’d never tried before but was hot, delicious, and clearly alcoholic. She felt guilty accepting the drink considering what was happening with Xavier, but Zander appeared and assured all of them that he had a dose of antivenom for Skelna’s poison on hand and his people were administering it to Xavier immediately. They were also bandaging Avery’s arm.

Only moments later, Avery emerged from the back room wearing a white bandage and propped herself in a chair next to the bar. Xavier hobbled out after her, looking better although still a little green. The bartender served them drinks as large as Dianthe’s head. Nathaniel and Clarissa joined them. But when Dianthe started toward what looked like a wonderful celebratory drink, Zander gestured to her and Sylas.

“Come, sit,” he said. “I have questions, and as fellow DOG officers I suspect you have answers.”

Dianthe reluctantly followed him to a table near the fire. She sipped her drink, feeling languid and sleepy in the warm room, and absently wondered if either the drink or the fire was enchanted.

“Thank you again for helping us,” Sylas said. “You are a true asset to the resistance.”

“Be that as it may, Queen Penelope is going to want to know why you killed Skelna. That demon has guarded the Ice Forest for centuries. She will be missed.”

“She almost killed us first,” Dianthe said.

“Only because you weren’t where you were supposed to be,” Zander said. “Outsiders are forbidden in the Ice Forest.”

“We had no choice,” Sylas said. “She had something we needed, something essential for the Defenders of the Goddess to move forward.”

The warlock gave them a pitying look. “I heard about your latest situation in Everfield. I can understand why you’d be uniquely motivated to end Eleanor’s reign, but you must be careful here. You know as well as I do, the people of Darnuith do not welcome strangers, especially when those strangers damage their heritage. You should have sent a falcon. I could have escorted you.”

“There wasn’t time!” Dianthe started, then forced herself to take a deep breath. “It’s true, I am motivated. Eleanor burned down my home. She left my people in squalor—”

“That too,” Zander said. “But I was speaking about yesterday… the news that Chancellor Ciro handed Everfield to Paragon.”

The room started to spin. “Excuse me?” Dianthe gave him a quizzical look.

“You haven’t heard?” Zander glanced between her and Sylas, clearly bewildered.

“Did you say Everfield fell?”

Zander nodded. “It’s been annexed by Paragon. We are now the four kingdoms.”

Dianthe’s mug slipped from her hand and landed on the table with a wobble. Zander steadied it. She was shaking, trembling so hard that her teeth were chattering. Sylas wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“We’re going to make this right,” he said softly. “We will stop Eleanor and we will take back Everfield.”

Zander cleared his throat. “I hate to be rude. I realize this is a sensitive time for your mate, but you