The Dragon Shifter’s Desire by Harmony Raines

Chapter Thirty-Six – Ivan

The boat was smaller than he’d expected, too small for the number of people it was expected to carry. However, they could not spare the time to find a bigger boat if they wanted to reach the fire pits of Tolarth before sunrise.

“Once we reach Cairnnor, we won’t have time to rest,” Silas told them as the boat crew cast off from the small harbor which had been built when Wishing Moon Bay was first founded.

For centuries, boats had left the harbor to fish the ocean and take goods from the town out to Cairnnor and further to where the mermaids sang.

Ivan leaned on the rail encompassing the deck and stared out at the horizon. Out to where his mate had gone to seek the dragon shifter who had killed his parents.

What if history repeated itself and Ivan and his mate were also murdered by Argothorn?

That isn’t going to happen,his dragon said firmly. We are going to end this. Tomorrow as the sun rises, we will fight Argothorn and win.

Unless he has Larisa captive. If he sees through Larisa’s story, then he might take her prisoner and use her against us. He could bend us to his will.

He won’t bend Fiona to his will, Ivan’s dragon replied. With Fiona and Egan on our side, we will win.

Ivan sighed. He wanted to believe his dragon, he wanted to feel optimistic over their chances at defeating Argothorn, but he also needed to remain cautious. There was no room for complacency against someone like Argothorn. He’d been in power for a long time. He wouldn’t have survived without cunning and cruelty.

“How far is it from the shore to the fire pits?” Elise asked.

“A couple of hours’ hike.” Silas tilted his head back and closed his eyes, absorbing the sunlight. “It’s not far but the terrain is difficult. The fire pits are not supposed to be accessed on foot.”

“And we can’t shift and fly there?” Fiona asked.

“No, you need to stay hidden until Argothorn arrives. If he senses you are there before, he might change his mind and run back to his tower before we have a chance to show the council what he really is.” Silas continued to turn his face to the sun. It was as if he’d been turned to stone where he stood.

“If Egan can’t persuade the council to go to the pits, it’ll all be worthless anyway,” Ivan said.

“If the council doesn’t come then we will alter the plan.” Silas blinked a couple of times and then fixed his eyes on Ivan. “Argothorn’s rule will end tomorrow.”

“What is plan B?” Caleb slipped his arm around his mate’s shoulders and drew her close to him.

“We subdue him, and I will convince him to go to the authorities and admit to killing Ivan’s parents and Murray.” Silas clasped his fingers together.

“Isn’t that plan A?” Caleb asked.

“No, plan A is to get Argothorn to admit what he did in front of the council. Then we get him to admit his crimes,” Elise explained.

“What happens if the council doesn’t hear his confession?” Ivan recalled Silas’s fears of a power vacuum. Would the fallout hit Wishing Moon Bay?

“That’s an unknown.” Silas turned his back to the ocean and leaned on the rail. “It will depend on who Egan does get to come to the fire pits. There are a couple of good men among them. But they are old. It might be better if they lend their support to Egan and make him the new dragon lord.”

Ivan nodded, relieved the job wouldn’t fall to him. He had no intention of staying on Cairnnor any longer than he had to. Wishing Moon Bay was his home and always would be.

“Is our friend still in his tower?” Elise asked.

Ivan took the map out of his pack and unrolled it. The wind tried to tear it from his hands, but he gripped it tightly as he stared at the unmoving dot. “He’s not moved.”

“Good,” Silas said. “All the pieces need to be in place before he arrives at the pits.”

“Maybe we should go rest,” Elise suggested. “It’s going to be a long night.”

“Good idea.” Silas closed his eyes as if he were asleep standing up.

“Come on. We can sit at the back of the boat.” Elise tugged at Caleb’s hand, and he followed her to the rear of the boat where they settled down on the wooden deck with their backs against a couple of crates.

“I might go rest my old bones, too,” Fiona said. “This hike doesn’t sound very pleasant.”

“You’ll do fine,” Ivan told her.

“Are you coming to rest, too?” Fiona touched his lower arm as she passed him by.

“No.” Ivan shook his head. “I want to stay here.”

She followed his gaze as he stared out to sea. “You’re waiting for your first glimpse of Cairnnor.”

He pressed his lips together and nodded, feeling a little stupid. “I am.”

Fiona’s hand dropped to her side, and she went to join Fiona and Caleb, leaving Ivan alone with Silas.

“It’ll be okay,” Silas reassured him.

“Will it?” Ivan leaned on the rail and stared into the distance waiting for the first sight of the dragon isle.

“I believe so.” He sighed contentedly. “The time is right. I can feel it in my bones.”

“And do your bones ever get it wrong?” Ivan asked.

“Rarely. When you’ve lived as long as I have, you have a feel for these things.”

“And you didn’t have a feel for them when you and Fiona paid Argothorn a visit last time?” Ivan asked bitterly.

“No. I did not. The time wasn’t right. The two men who stood the best chance of keeping the dragons from erupting into civil war were dead. If we’d removed Argothorn, the remaining dragons would have split into factions and that would have brought the downfall to us all.” Silas straightened up as he stared at the ocean.

“You mean my father and Egan’s father?” Ivan asked.

“Yes.” Silas nodded. “But that was then. The people have had time to realize exactly what type of dragon their ruler is. I think they are ready to accept a change in power.”

“Egan?” Ivan asked.

“If he wants the job.” Silas pointed at a small bump on the horizon. “There it is.”

Ivan leaned forward and stared at the small imperfection. He hadn’t expected to feel anything at the first sight of his homeland. Yet a shiver passed down his spine. Not one of fear but of excitement. “I never thought I’d come here.”

“Never say never,” Silas said.

“Did you ever think you’d walk in the daylight again?” Ivan didn’t look at the vampire, he didn’t want to take his eyes off the horizon.

“I heard a rumor Hannah had been working on a spell for a while. I didn’t know if she’d perfected it.” He chuckled. “I hear a lot of rumors in my line of work.”

“Do you hear them or see them?” Ivan tapped his head. “You must see a lot of things when you peek under the hood.”

“Things I would rather not see,” Silas admitted. “But I also see the good in people. I see how hard some people try. It restores my faith in people.”

“Restores your faith. Now that sounds like a story I’d like to hear.” Ivan glanced sideways at the vampire.

“It’s not one I tell.” Silas pointed toward Cairnnor. “This is going to be tough.”

“Are you changing the subject?” Ivan asked.

“It’s more about changing our focus. And this is what we need to focus on for now. The hike is going to be difficult and when we reach our destination, we’re not exactly going to be among friends.”

“Are you asking me to have your back?” Ivan asked.

He chuckled again, his mood lighter than normal. Perhaps because of the feel of sunlight on his skin. “I’m not the one I’m worried about. I can look after myself. I can disappear if I need to.”

“Especially if that spell wears off.” Ivan held up his hands. “Sorry, that was uncalled for.”

“No, you’re right. But the pits have deep tunnels beneath them, I can find somewhere to hide until night and then I’ll figure out a way home.”

“Carlton will come to get you?” Ivan arched a questioning eyebrow.

“I made him promise not to follow me under any circumstances.” Silas looked vulnerable for a moment but then he smiled. “Your mate has courage.”

“You’re changing the subject again.”

“I am,” Silas agreed and then fell silent as he stared at the landmass which grew bigger as each moment passed by and the ocean lapped at the boat.

An hour later, the crew steered the boat into a small cove. A dinghy attached to the back of the boat was lowered and the crew helped them climb into it. One of the crew members, a small man with tanned skin and deep creases down his cheeks, rowed them ashore.

He watched the skies ceaselessly as he landed the boat. His expression was enough of a warning to the four strangers to Cairnnor. They were in dragon country. If they were caught, things would go badly.

As they set out for the dragon pits, Ivan had no intention of getting caught.

But then he’d never had any intention of going to the fae realm or ever setting foot on Cairnnor.

But fate had a way of changing your path and leading you where you never expected to go.