Then steal most of his son’s time. Let him turn gray and wrinkled before his father’s eyes, Nyx suggested.
That was an interesting suggestion.
Caelan eyed the man standing next to Masaru. Was this his son? Their build was similar, but his hair was platinum-blond, paler than Drayce’s. There was also something in his eyes and maybe the shape of his nose that reminded him of Drayce.
Can I give the time back after I’ve made my point? Caelan inquired.
Fuck, no! Nyx said on a cackle.
The God of Time was no help. He would have to stick with Kaes and Tula. At least he had a better handle on their powers.
Overhead, a crack of thunder split the skies so loudly, the manor shook and people ducked as if they expected the roof to break open. Calean extended one hand in the direction of a small potted tree on the far side of the raised platform where Masaru and his son stood. It wriggled for a second and then grew quickly. Limbs stretched out toward father and son while more limbs reached for the floor, pushing against it to actually slide the pot closer to its target of the two dragons.
The younger dragon yelped and jumped away from the plant, sidling behind his father, who shoved his son away in disgust.
“Gods, Lord Takahashi,” Caelan growled. “And I’ve come to discuss the Fire Stone. We can have that discussion here in front of everyone right now, or we can speak in private.”
Masaru’s face took on a ruddy complexion and Caelan started to wonder if the man could spit fire while in human form. He certainly looked as though he wished to burn Caelan to ash on the spot. But in the end, he didn’t. With a stiff nod and a tiny wave of his hand, he indicated that Caelan was to follow him out of the grand room and down the hall.
Both Daichi and the other man Caelan was still guessing was Masaru’s son scrambled to catch up. At the end of the hall, they entered another room with double doors and a large desk covered in intricately carved gold dragons.
Masaru paced to the far side of the room and then suddenly swung around to glare at Caelan. “The Fire Stone?” he demanded in a low voice.
Caelan nodded once.
The dragon lord pointed at the two other dragons present and shouted, “Out!”
Daichi instantly ran from the room. The other opened his mouth as if he intended to argue but closed it before a sound could escape him. He threw one dark glare at Caelan in parting and stomped out, slamming the door shut behind him.
Masaru’s scowl shifted to Caelan, but he didn’t flinch. “You just had to mention it in front of others.”
“It was unfortunate, but it was also unfortunate that your assistant failed to impress upon you the urgency of my visit. This is not a social call.” It was official. Caelan was out of patience. There wasn’t a single drop left in his reserves, and he considered himself a very patient person. He’d had to be when it came to being the son of Queen Amara, the woman who’d refused to tell him anything in a timely manner.
The dragon grunted and crossed to the chair behind his desk. Resting his hand on the back, he pulled it out so he could sit. “Yes, Erya is dealing with that mess with New Rosanthe.” He paused and looked up at Caelan. “I’m guessing that Tula told you of the Fire Stone. She’s the one who sent you.”
“I was sent by Zastrad’s Dead God, Nyx. It seems that both he and I need to have a word with Caris, the Goddess of Fire.”
Masaru sat so quickly in his chair, it was like his legs had suddenly given out on him. He stared wordlessly at Caelan.
I would rather not speak with Caris, thank you very much, Nyx griped. But I’m sure she’s got a few things to say to me.
Caelan had no idea what that was about, but the queasy twist in his chest argued that the god and goddess were going to drag him into the middle of it. For now, he ignored the God of Time.
He lifted a hand and called up a ball of blue energy. “I’ve bonded with the God of Storms in Caspagir. He sent me home to bond with the Goddess of Life.” He raised his other hand, holding a warm green ball of energy. “She then sent me to Zastrad, where I was killed and raised by the Dead God.” As he spoke, a dark purplish cloud rose up from around his feet, circling him for a second before spreading out like a poisonous fog. “And now I’m here to speak with the Goddess of Fire.”
The dragon looked genuinely horrified by what he was seeing. Caelan wanted to join him. His brain was screaming in pain, and muscles were starting to shake beyond his control. It was growing more difficult to tap into all three powers at once. All the gods wanted to spring out in different directions, to touch and destroy everything within their reach like locusts, regardless of whether it would help them at all.