not to heed the calling.”
He was correct that she would not deny her call, but it wasn’t because she was courageous. It was because she had no choice.
“Our people?” she asked.
“The Chrechte.”
“Both Faol and Éan?” she pressed, though she knew the answer.
“Aye.”
Boisin nodded. “The races must join to win against the Black Death coming.”
Lais got more water for the horses, his thoughts and heart in conflict. He owed his allegiance to Eirik and could not abandon his prince to pursuit of the quest without him, but the thought of leaving Mairi here on Balmoral Island made his eagle claw to get out.
“Boisin has agreed to lead us to the caves the Balmoral use for their sacred Chrechte rites,” Eirik said from behind Lais. “Though he is fairly certain the Faolchú Chridhe is not there, he wants to show Ciara how to draw on the power of the stone and seek it out.”
Lais turned and met his friend and prince’s gaze. “Do you think he has truly foreseen the future and this Black Death he mentioned?”
“His gift is true. You have only to look at the goblet he served your wine in to see that.”
The images on the goblet had burned inside Lais with hope ever since his first glimpse of them. “Aye.”
“The Black Death is coming.”
“But not for many years.”
“That is what he said.”
“So, why find the stone now?”
Eirik frowned and looked off to the distance. “Because the stone needs Ciara to touch and heal the Faol and she needs the stone to prolong her life.”
“For centuries…” Lais could barely believe such a thing possible.
“That is what the old man said.”
“Do you think it is true?”
“I do. Since transforming into my dragon for the first time, I have felt invulnerable.”
“Because none could best you in battle.”
“I do not get sick. Cuts, wounds…they heal far too quickly for even a Chrechte.”
“You are going to outlive me.”
“Aye.” Eirik’s grief at the thought lived in his eyes. “My grandmother always warned me my calling would not be an easy one. I thought the hardest thing had already been faced.”
“Giving up your right to rule as king.”
“Aye.”
But worse was yet to come, not that it needed saying. Lais was just as certain that Eirik would learn to take the centuries in stride so long as his mate was by his side.
“I want a mate,” Lais blurted out.
Eirik raised a single brow. “I thought you’d already chosen one.”
“She deserves better.”
“Than my most trusted and closest friend?” Eirik asked with disbelief. “There is no better man.”
Lais felt an unmanly prick at his eyes and blinked the sensation away. “You know that is not true.”
“Do not be a fool, Lais.”
“I am not.”
“No.” Eirik slapped his shoulder. “You were deceived once, but you were not a fool then and you are not one now. Do not act the part.”
“I betrayed my alpha and the princess of our people.”
“They forgave you. The Clach Gealach Gra healed you.”
“What if it didn’t? What if I cannot give Mairi bairns?”
“What if you can?”
“You make it sound simple.”
“’Tis because it is. Would you dismiss the gift to heal that you have been given because you are unworthy of it?”
“Of course not.” He could not believe Eirik had even asked such a stupid thing. Their people needed Lais’s abilities. “I cannot deny the Clach Gealach Gra my service in healing others.”
“Then how do you think you have the right to deny this gift?” Eirik asked in a tone that implied he was not the only one capable of voicing stupidity.
“You didn’t say this to Gart when he chose his dreams of children over his mate.”
“I am not Gart’s alpha.”
“If it comes to that, you are not actually mine, either.” Though they both knew that prince triumphed over alpha as a distinction of leadership, no matter what Eirik had sacrificed to bring his people to the clans and relative safety.
“I am your friend,” Eirik said with certainty. “I would be remiss if I did not point out when you are being an idiot.”
“Boisin said Mairi has to stay here, with him, to train in her calling as a seer.”
“It is no easy thing to leave your mate behind, even if it is for a short time, but for an indefinite period, it is damn near impossible.”
“Though sometimes it is necessary.”
“I trust you as I do no other, but I am dragon. You can stay here, with your mate, and know naught will befall a Chrechte of my power.”
“Even a dragon needs a friend at his