Earth Dragon King once again interjected. “But that won’t stop us from searching for him.”
Everyone looked at him blankly.
With some asperity, he asked, “You lot do remember that we have our own methods of speaking to the earth? As long as Ravi’s touching the ground, and we’re within a certain range of him, we’ll be able to detect him.”
Sora latched onto his arm, his grip tight enough to be painful. The hope renewed at those words was dizzying. “How close do you need to be?”
“My personal best was 600 kilometers, and I’m one of the best in my clan at this. Sahan said he disappeared just outside of Prague. I say, let’s go to Prague, pick up Ravi’s trail from there.” He gave Sora a quick smile, although it looked tight and forced. “We’ve lost too many mates as it is. We won’t see the two of you suffer that loss. Alric, how many can you spare?”
“If you really think a single dragon is staying at home when Ravi’s been taken?” King Alric shook his head. “Then you’re mistaken. We have a destination of sorts, let’s go.”
Sora had never been so glad to hear those words. People started racing out, calling to each other, and only sometimes by phone. He was practically on their heels, ready to race out with the rest of the rescue party.
His mother’s hand stayed him, although she was practically vibrating with the urge to move, as well. “Don’t forget your bag, he might need medical attention.”
A disturbing thought, but a good reminder. “I’ll fetch it.”
“And, Sora, promise me. No matter what happens, don’t be rash.”
Sora couldn’t even manage a smile, didn’t try. “Sorry, I can’t promise that.”
“No,” she said, understanding. “I don’t suppose you can. Let’s focus on bringing Ravi home. You two owe me grandchildren.”
“We want four, you know.”
Her eyes lit up for a moment. “Four? Really? Oh, in that case, we definitely need to get him back quickly. And you two bonded. I’ve waited quite long enough for grandchildren.”
The vision of that future scene danced quickly through his head. Sora wanted it so desperately that, for a moment, he could barely breathe.
“If I have my say, we won’t have to wait very long at all. Let’s go find Ravi.”
“And kick some Jaeggi ass.” She nodded in agreement, then spun on her heel, stalking out of the room. “They don’t know who they’re messing with, clearly.”
That, at least, brought a smile to his face. No, the Jaeggi had no idea the fury they’d just unleashed. It wasn’t just the Burkhards they were tangling with, not anymore. And Sora would take great delight in proving it to them.
Ravi woke to the sounds of screaming. He was only partially grateful they weren’t his own screams. The sounds were sharp and shrill, wrung out from great pain. They seemed to echo and bounce off stone, coming from both men and women.
They didn’t sound familiar at all, which was a small consolation. His clanmates weren’t the ones screaming in pain and terror.
One person’s cries were cut off sharply, and a chill skittered down Ravi’s spine. He knew, without anyone needing to tell him, that the person had died. Another person who had been screaming let out a whimper and then fell silent, too.
Slowly, Ravi peeled open one eye and then shut it again as pain lanced through his brain. The room he was in was dark, but it didn’t stop the throbbing that was hammering against his skull.
What?
Where was he?
How?
Charles Bridge. Thomas Jaeggi. A trap.
Ravi’s eyes popped open as the memories poured into his brain like a raging river rushing through a narrow gulley. There was no escaping it. He and Sahan had followed Thomas Jaeggi to the Charles Bridge, where they’d walked straight into a trap.
Had Sahan escaped? Reached Burkhard Castle safely?
Ravi clenched his teeth against the rising feeling of panic. Sahan was incredibly fast. He’d escaped the Jaeggi and he was telling Ravi’s family what had happened. Alric knew.
Oh god. Sora knew.
His mate knew the Jaeggi had attacked him.
That was what had pulled him back toward consciousness. Not the screaming. He could feel his mate’s pain in his chest like a gaping wound. Sora was in pain and terrified that Ravi was dead.
Closing his eyes again, Ravi concentrated on the ball of angry emotion, trying so damn hard to follow it back to its source. He focused on his love for Sora, trying to send back feelings of reassurance and love. Trying like hell to tell