We strode without pause through the center part of the sanctuary, weaving our way around buildings. Our group was quiet, watchful, each of us making sure the other didn’t screw with us behind our backs. I was thankful there were more people in this group I trusted than I didn’t.
It took us longer than usual to reach the desert area. There were lots of supernaturals milling around in various activities, getting in our way. It seemed we were going to cross out of this place by the same route which brought us in from the mountain. I hesitated, just barely, before stepping onto the red sand. The temperature immediately changed, heat flooding through all of us. We were reasonably rugged-up to prepare for the chill of outside, so sweaty butt crack was now in all of our immediate futures.
Awesome.
Braxton moved to my side, and Louis on the other. I didn’t question their actions. They were on the same wavelength as me. This was where the dragons and jinn liked to play ball, and both of them had already proven that they had some sort of interest in me, and now was not the time to battle with either.
We made it halfway through without incident. Braxton was the first to notice something amiss. I followed his line of sight and ground to a halt.
“What the actual hell is going on here?” I said, breathless as I tried to wrap my head around the sheer amazement of what I was seeing.
Orange actually gave me an answer of sorts. “They know we’re leaving the sanctuary, they’re acting as a guard. They are called to the four of the compass.”
A line of dragons, I shit you not, at least twenty, and not all of them from the desert zone. I could see the wash of blue and greens on some who bore a distinct resemblance to ocean serpents, and the smaller dragons of dark greens and earthy browns who I recognized as forest dwellers, and lastly, the most magnificent were the icy blue of the winter beasts.
Braxton seemed both awed and fierce as he tucked me in closer to his side. I could see a part of him wanted to run to the dragons, be with the wild brothers from which his animal descended, but the fear was real also. He was afraid to lose me, and I didn’t have the words to reassure him. I had no idea what the next few days were going to bring, and I especially didn’t want to be the north in the dragon king compass. Whatever the hell that meant. All I did know was that it looked as if it didn’t much matter what either Braxton or I wanted.
Louis was blunt. “Let’s keep moving. They are merely curious for now, but we don’t have time if that curiosity turns into something more.”
He ushered us along, silent Quale leading us through the rocky terrain. The tension radiating from Braxton was palpable, his energy actually tingling along my body everywhere we were touching. My eyes flicked back to the line of dragons, following, but never closing the distance between us. It did seem that they were protecting our backs, making sure we made it out safely.
“I never wanted this for you, Jess.”
I spun my head to find Jonathon close. His eyes were flashing with so many emotions. I had never seen the strong alpha so shaken. “This mark has taken so much from our lives, ripped our family apart, and now it’s as if we are all strangers.”
I looked to Mischa. My twin was watching us closely, her eyes a little shimmery.
“We should have fought harder to stay together. You and I should have run with Lienda and Mischa. I’m so sorry, I put my pack and council responsibilities before my family and I have never regretted anything more than that.”
Louis moved aside so I could fall in next to my father. We hadn’t stopped moving, we were almost out of the desert now and approaching the stone spiraling path out of this sanctuary.
I took Jonathon’s hand. “You did the best you could, Dad. I have no doubts, it’s easy to look back in hindsight, but you sacrificed a lot so that we might live and have a chance to rebuild our family. We have hundreds of years ahead of us, we just need to get past this tiny snafu in our path. I don’t blame you at all, and I love you as much as I always have.”
I was speaking for Mischa as well, hoping she was holding on to the bonds of family, especially when it came to trusting her new buddies. Jonathon squeezed my hand, a smile blooming across his face as he released me. He had scented truth in my words, and it calmed his wolf.
As we started along the rock, I glanced back over my shoulder to find the line of dragons had disappeared. I faltered minutely. What the … how could twenty or more massive lizards just fade out? With that level of mad skills, dragons could literally take over the world if they had the numbers.
Which is exactly what the king knew when he created the marked.