Page 8 of Sapphire Seas

Compound?

“Come on,” Mattias scooped me up like I weighed nothing. With my arms wrapped around his neck, I had the perfect angle to kiss his cheek.

Your blush is adorable, mate.

Hush, you. Though he turned and kissed me right back.

“Mattias and Kes and Caspian sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” Odem sang. “Wait, how does that work when we’re dragons? Wouldn’t that be perched in a tree.” Ionus groaned and Ronan shook his head—again.

I like your family, they’re funny.

Our family, Mattias corrected.

Our family. What a lovely sound those words had especially since my direct lineage had been lost in battle.

You’re gonna love them, Kes added. They really are silly and unbelievably kind.

“I let Raven know Caspian was awake. She’ll meet us at my house,” Ionus said.

“Raven?” I questioned. “As in the bird?”

“As in our High Priestess,” Mattias replied. “She’s kept a watchful eye over you while you slumbered.”

“Then I must thank her for her kindness.” Kes’s words already rang true. They’d taken care of me when I was unable to care for myself.

The bright light of the sunny day as we stepped out into it was quite blinding. The others had taken the tunnel system, which Mattias assured me I’d see later, but for now he wished to show me around the compound, as he’d called it.

“See these five homes,” we stood in the center of the greenery, each home visible from this vantage point. “These belong to my brothers and our mates.” Mattias pointed them and one by one stated who they belonged to. “Over here next to the playground, is Ionus home. That’s where we’re headed. Down that hill is our practice pitch.”

“Practice pitch?”

“Yes, my brothers and I have lived here for centuries. That’s where we prepare for battle and spar with one another. Dragon City didn’t exist when we first claimed the land but as we came across other shifters, we built it for them. Today, there are officials in place in town who manage it, but it appears as of late, the Goddess is working her own bit of magic and leading others here.”

He didn’t need to say it, I felt it in my bones and had just escaped it myself. She was preparing us for a war. A war against those who wished to expose us, turn humans into slaves and to end all who refused to join them.

“Gorynych.”

Mattias nearly dropped me. “What did you say?”

“Gorynych. They’re the ones who attacked our lair and took many lives in the process.”

“We need to get to Ionus’ house. Are you well enough to share details with my brothers and I?”

“Yes.” Though the night terrors may return. But I chose to leave that piece out. If we were to share a bed, he’d find that out soon enough. Although, he’d not made mention of it while I rested which I found interesting. Perhaps Raven had put a healing spell on mind as well? Sound mind, sound body and all of that.

Children’s laughter echoed through Ionus’ home as we stepped inside, but I was carried right past it and into another room where Mattias’ brothers and Emerson waited.

“Caspian, please, sit.” Ionus gestured to an empty chair. “We understand you have information about a shared enemy.” The brothers must have a mental connection. I wasn’t aware it was possible to mentally communicate with another when not shifted aside from your mates. Day one of my new life and I’d already learned many new things.

Mattias gently sat me in the chair, he and Kes remained by my side. My valiant protectors. “They attacked our cave and nearly decimated my herd. We were able to hide the elders and children, and I was sent in search of help.” It wasn’t easy to escape, and I nearly lost my life in the process. Many, many times. “They have trackers throughout the waters. Found that out the hard way.” Should’ve known it wouldn’t be as easy as swimming away. “The connection with my parents severed mid fight, weakening me and that’s when they were able to apprehend me.” The first time. “I escaped, but it was this last time they caught up to me that I nearly lost my life and somehow washed up on your shore.”

“I’m sure the Goddess had a hand in that,” Mattias replied, his warm hand on my shoulder grounded me.

“We’ve run into another water clan they attacked, but we didn’t know they’d reached the depths to which you lived. Is there anything else you can tell us about them?” Ionus asked.

Scathing jowls, frightful eyes, razor sharp teeth that ripped through flesh. “Absolutely terrifying.” While my wounds were healed, the emotional scars would forever remain. “They had matching marks on them. Like, a weird wiggly worm almost like a…”

“Leech,” Ionus answered for me.