“So now we are on to the dragon scale,” I said, trepidation filling my stomach. “Where do you suggest we get that from? Would we need to go to The Hearthlands?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Arron replied, clearing his throat.

“Then?”

I looked toward Aisha, wondering if she had any ideas. She looked blankly back at me. “My tribe hasn’t had dealings with dragons,” she said. “I don’t know a lot about the creatures. I’m not sure where we would find a dragon other than The Hearthlands.”

“I know one we could visit,” Arron said. All eyes turned on him as he continued. “His name is Breccan. He lives alone on a small, deserted island. He was banished from The Hearthlands many years ago for treason. He is an old beast, though still ferocious. However, we stand the best chance of getting what we’re after from an island populated by just one fire-breather than an entire country filled with them.”

“And do you know how to get to this island?” I asked the Hawk.

To my relief, he nodded. I’d never thought that I would feel grateful for a Hawk’s presence—least of all Arron’s—but this man was turning out to be invaluable to us on this crazy journey.

CHAPTER 21: BEN

A rriving on top of a cliff, we had a full view over Breccan’s mountainous island and the miles of ocean that surrounded it. We were silent as we took in the atmosphere. It was larger than I had expected. I wondered where exactly the dragon resided.

Arron clutched my shoulder as I moved to begin climbing down the rocks. “Wait,” he whispered. “Let’s agree on a plan.”

“Do you know where Breccan is?” I asked, hoping that we could procure the witch’s last request with the least amount of violence.

“That’s what we need to find out,” Arron replied. “He lives somewhere within the mountains. We need to scope out this place and find an entrance.” His eyes traveled to the steep slope. “Though if we’re lucky, we might even find a scale Breccan has already shed on the ground somewhere…. Let’s start looking around this peak. And keep a sharp ear out. The shifter might not be in his beastly form—which would make him quieter and harder to detect from a distance.”

With that, Arron walked forward, gesturing for us to follow. We made our way down the mountain, casting our eyes about for shed dragon scales or any sign of an entrance.

We searched for hours, long after the sun rose in the sky. Aisha cast shade over Julie and me, although the heat was unbearable. It seemed to be emanating not only from above, but also from beneath us. I wondered what kind of furnace there must have been within the mountain. After the sun reached its peak in the sky and sank low again, we still hadn’t found a scale, although Arron had spotted a tunnel entrance—about the shape and size of a normal doorway.

What we had to do next became clear. We couldn’t waste any more time hoping to come across a scale outside—we had to enter the caves and try to find one within. I hoped that there would be more lying around in there, and we wouldn’t actually have to come face to face with the creature. The four of us gathered together on a ledge just beneath the entrance.

“We can’t enter it now,” Arron whispered. “We should wait for when the dragon is most likely to be asleep.”

Wait. I never thought that I could despise a word so much.

“And when is the dragon likely to be asleep?” I asked tensely.

“In the early hours of the morning.” Arron looked sideways along the mountain slope. “I suggest that we set up camp nearby for the night… It’s evening now anyway. Before we know it, it’ll be time to return.”

It certainly wasn’t wise to set up too close to the entrance, so Aisha transported us about a mile away. We found another ledge of a neighboring mountain that was almost opposite to the tunnel entrance. The first thing I did was make sure Aisha concealed the enclosure with her powers so no onlooker could see us resting here.

Julie pushed back her bangs with the back of her hand, wiping beads of sweat away from her forehead. She let out a weary sigh and slumped down against the wall. Arron also took a seat, stretching out his legs. Aisha said she wanted to look around the area longer, assuring me that she’d return immediately if I touched my gold band.

I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t feel like sitting or standing. Heck, I didn’t feel like being.

I ended up pacing up and down the wide ledge until the sky darkened and the moon rose. Arron started a fire, after which Aisha soon returned.

She looked more irritable than ever. “I’m hungry,” she said, her voice bordering on whining.

I wasn’t sure what to suggest. With those jaws, I’d imagine that she could eat anything. “You should go eat some leaves, or bark or… rocks.”

“Jinn don’t eat those things,” she snapped, crumpling on the ground.

“I’d offer you some of my blood, but—”

She threw me a look of disgust before I could finish my sentence. “Not even your blood could tempt me, dear,” she said. “I’d rather eat rocks than drink vampire blood.”

“Then why not just magick yourself some bones? Fulfill your own wish.”

“I want my sister to cook for me,” she moaned.

What a fusspot.

I shrugged and sat down close to the edge of the platform, my feet hanging down. Julie was curled up in one corner, resting her head against a stone. Although her eyes were closed, I doubted that she was sleeping. I wondered when she’d last had blood.