So, as Brannie patiently waited and watched, she finally saw the changing of the guard. Zealots seemed to appear out of shadow and mist to be replaced by comrades who, just as smoothly, disappeared into shadow and mist.

Once she was positive of where the guards were located, she looked at Aidan. He nodded and, still crouching, they began to move through the trees until they were across from the best spot to get inside.

Now it was their turn to move as if part of shadow and mist. A skill Brannie had been trained in when she was still clinging to her father’s tail. Her poor father. She’d loved creeping around and sneaking up on him when he was involved in his work, scaring the wits from him. In retrospect, it seemed cruel. Her father was as far from a warrior as one could get. But he’d always been a good sport about it.

“You’re like your uncles!” he’d exclaim, picking her up and tossing her high in the air, laughing at her hysterical giggles. “Always trying to find ways to scare the very life from me.”

But it was those early years of childish play that had trained her for this.

* * *

Aidan was glad Keita had insisted he accompany Brannie into the fort. He would have insisted if she hadn’t, but the order was better coming from her. That way Brannie could be annoyed with her cousin rather than him.

His need to go with Brannie wasn’t because he feared so greatly for her safety. Not at all. He just didn’t want her alone in a Zealot-run fort. He was sure there were priests and priestesses inside who could manage a rampaging dragoness if Brannie were forced to shift. And magick sometimes trumped just being a very large dragon. Especially when the dragon didn’t have any magickal skills of her own besides being able to shift.

But two dragons . . . ? Well, that was a bit more of a challenge for anyone.

As the pair stepped away from the tree line, the skies opened up once more and rain poured down on them. They glanced at each other and nodded.

Rain worked in their favor.

But as they began to move forward, lightning struck. That was more of a problem. A good bolt could light up the sky . . . and the land beneath, alerting the guards to their presence.

Brannie paused for maybe a half second before she took off running, keeping low. Perhaps they could outrun the lightning.

Aidan immediately followed after her.

Thunder exploded right over them and Brannie picked up speed. They slammed their backs against the fort wall just as a lightning strike snapped over their heads, lighting up the entire surrounding area.

Letting out a breath, they looked at each other again and, with a nod from Brannie, they split up. He went left, she went right.