“We do not know for certain that Nera’s spies were not watching in Brazil,” Petru pointed out. “Would you have known?”
Adalasia nodded. “I believe I would have. Sandu as well. I felt them in France. We all did, remember?”
“The last time any of you remember the spies of this Nera were close to you was in France,” Danutdaxton murmured.
“We were speaking with Gabriel and Francesca,” Adalasia said. “We had gone out first to explore the city with them, but then we were attacked and had to make a run for their home.”
“No demon could have gotten through the safeguards,” Siv said. “We patrolled as well.”
“Was my name mentioned?” Danutdaxton asked.
Adalasia nodded slowly. “Yes. It was suggested that you might be able to help us. That was one of the reasons we made the choice to come here. Gabriel felt very strongly that we see and speak with you.”
Again, there was silence. Adalasia’s gaze strayed to her lifemate. He looked so still. It took great effort not to reach out to him. She bit her lip hard in order to keep from turning inward to try to follow him. The pull was very strong. Her eyes burned again, and she put her head down on her knees to keep from having to look at the three Carpathian males around her. They knew she struggled, but she didn’t want them to see any physical evidence of her weakness.
Adalasia groaned, sitting up straight abruptly. “Nera managed to get a spy inside with us. She uses insects, as I’ve indicated. She could have used one so tiny, it simply attached itself to my clothing and entered the home when I did. The house wasn’t sealed against demons until after we were inside,” she said. “I sealed it myself after the others did.”
She groaned again and rubbed her hand over her face, a little shocked to see there were smears of blood on her fingers when she looked at them. “I actually sealed Nera’s spy inside the home with us. For all I know, the darn thing could be in my hair.” She gave a little shudder.
“That would be impossible,” Siv assured. “You have gone to ground and refreshed yourself. You also seal the earth so it would be trapped. If one has managed to hop aboard again, we now know to cleanse after every battle and encounter.” He shrugged. “It is a good lesson. We are always learning.”
“Dax, I am so sorry I brought this trouble to you and your lifemate,” Adalasia said. “I had no idea Nera had managed to find a way to slip a spy into the house with us when we were having a private conversation.”
Danutdaxton gave her a small smile. “Have no worries, Adalasia. Carpathian hunters must always have a small lesson in being a bit humbler every now and again to keep us sharp. This is a good lesson for all of us.”
The wind slipped through the forest floor rather than just in the canopy, taking the last smell of smoke and battle away. Riley returned to them, sitting beside her lifemate, giving Adalasia a tentative smile.
“I’m pleased to meet you, although I do wish the circumstances were different. I’ll help in any way I can.”
“Thank you,” Adalasia said.
“Adalasia, I wish to exchange blood with you,” Danutdaxton said.
Instantly, Siv and Petru turned their full attention to the dragon man. Petru even moved his body slightly in front of Adalasia.
This is not a good idea. Your lifemate should be consulted, Siv protested.
Petru echoed the objection.
Well, he isn’t available, is he? Let me hear what he has to say.
“What would an exchange do?” Adalasia asked, trying to ignore her guardians and the way both of them warned her. She didn’t understand all of the rules of Carpathian life, but she knew just by bonding with the four ancients, they’d already broken quite a few. What were a few more, especially if it helped her get Sandu back?
“I am dragon. I can bear extraordinary heat. The Old One can take even more. If we exchange blood, you can call on me, and I can follow that path to you. Or, should you be in trouble, I can reach out to you to aid you. The Cave of Fire is very dangerous.”
“If she takes the form of a dragon, would that keep her safe?” Siv asked.
“It is merely the form of a dragon, and those in the shadow realm know that. They are already dead. She is not. The fire is real. In the shadow realm, those there are meant to feel all emotion and pain, but they cannot be killed because they are already dead. She can be. Sandu will feel all of it as well as her pain.”
“I don’t like any of this,” Adalasia admitted. “Nera has had time to think up a good plan.” Her gaze strayed to Sandu’s lifeless body again. “What is taking so long? I didn’t think healings took so long.”