Shared By The Dragon Clan: Part Two Read Online Free PDF Page A

argued. “What proof do you have other
than your belief that you wouldn’t be able to kill him?”
    “I don’t have
proof. I’d suspected for some time now… But until we find the real Horatio
Hurux, then…”
    “What if he’s
already dead? If someone had put an imposter there, and kidnapped Horatio,
wouldn’t they just kill him while they had the chance?”
    “I don’t
know,” Zane said. “I was going to go about this investigation at some point …
when I had further evidence … but …”
    “But what?”
    “He crossed
the line. He wanted to mate with a woman I’d claimed.”
    “So? He’s the
King.”
    “The true
Horatio Hurux would not have done such a thing.”
    Conrad shook
his head. “Maybe the King was under the Mage’s spell. Which explains his odd
behavior. Maybe it even explains why he was able to be killed by you – I don’t
know. But what if he was still the real king? Haven’t you thought about that?”
    “He didn’t
shift…” Zane said somberly.
    “What?”
    “I never saw
him shift. Not once. And when I challenged him to a duel in front of everyone
–”
    “You what?”
    “I gave him
the choice of by sword or by fire. He chose sword.”
    “So what?
He’s the King.”
    Zane rose
from his place. “What Dragon would choose a sword over fire?”
    Conrad shook
his head. “I don’t know. What if you’re wrong?”
    “What if I’m
right?”
    Conrad
shrugged. “I’ll run a few errands in town for you. See if I can find someone
who knows where the next portal is going to appear.”
    “I would
appreciate that.”
    Zane extended
his hand.
    Conrad
reluctantly shook it.
    “Should we
come with you into town?”
    “No,” Conrad
said. “You’ve had a long journey here. You must be tired. I’ve have the
servants prepare you some lunch. And then I’ll be back in a couple of hours.
How does that sound?”
    “Perfect,”
Zane said.
    The two men
then proceeded to move towards the hallway. Stacey stood up to join them. But
then all of a sudden Zane turned back.
    “What is
that?” he asked.
    “What is
what?” Conrad replied.
    “That smell…”
    He moved past
Stacey towards her chair. He sniffed the air a moment, and then Stacey saw
Zane’s eyes go green with rage.
    “He was
here,” Zane cursed.
    “Who?” Conrad
said innocently.
    “The Mage.”

 
    CHAPTER
ELEVEN
     
     
    Zane grabbed hold of Conrad and
shoved him so hard the study’s door snapped right off its hinges. He slammed
back into wall outside, and slumped a little. Zane picked him up again for more
confrontation, and Conrad wrestled against him.
    “Stop it!”
Stacey cried shrilly.
    But there was
little for her to do other than spectate.
    Somehow,
Conrad had gotten the upper hand and they were plowing into the opposite wall,
again and again and again. Zane then shook himself free and for a moment there
was space between them.
    Stacey seized
the opportunity and stepped between them.
    “Come on
guys,” she said. “Let’s just work this out.”
    “Did you set
me up?” Zane shouted at Conrad.
    “What?”
Conrad mumbled.
    “Did you set
me up? Answer the question.”
    “He was just
here to see if you were here. Then when I said you weren’t he left.”
    “Then why
didn’t you mention it?”
    “It never
came up.”
    Zane shook
his head. “Come on, Blossom. Let’s get out of here before the others are here.”
    He grabbed
Stacey’s hand and led her back in the direction of the stairs.
    “Wait a
second,” Conrad said, following. “You’re being ridiculous. I’m your brother!
Don’t you trust me?”
    “Nope,” Zane
called back.
    “Why would I
betray you? For what reason would I do that?”
    “I don’t
know. You were either blackmailed or bribed.”
    “I can … Put
you in a room with him.”
    Zane slowed
down. Then stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
    He and Stacey
waited for Conrad to catch up.
    “Just the two
of you, alone,” Conrad added.
    “The Human
Mage?” Zane scoffed. “Why