"You interrupted my private time alone with my mate."

"And why would that bother you?" The eyebrow inched even higher. "When you left Baine's lair you made it clear that the last thing you wanted was to be stuck with your betrothed. Surely you should be happy to get away from the female?"

"Careful, old friend. Her name is Rya," he growled, not entirely teasing. "And of course I don't want to be parted from her."

Char folded his arms over his chest. "How was I supposed to know? You acted like you were being sent to your own funeral the last time I saw you."

Torque felt a burst of embarra.s.sment. Did the male have to remind him that he'd behaved like an arrogant jerk?

Thankfully, Rya was willing to forgive him for being an a.s.s.

"I've had the opportunity to truly discover Rya's value," he told his friend.

"Her value?" Char rolled his eyes. "You mean her beauty?"

"Her beauty." Torque readily agreed. Of course he admired her lovely features and s.e.xy body, but that wasn't what made him desire her as his mate. "And more so, her courage. Her heart." He smiled, just the thought of Rya making him happy. "They all combine to make her special."

Char recoiled, as if he'd been punched. "h.e.l.l. You're as sappy as Baine," he rasped.

"There are worse things."

"Not as far as I'm concerned."

Torque shrugged. Unlike him, Char had always had a full, robust appreciation for the fairer s.e.x. But he was adamant that it was his duty to spread his charm far and wide.

More than once the male had claimed it would be a sin against nature for him to mate and deny the females of the world the opportunity to capture his attention.

"That's what you say now," Torque murmured. It'd taken only a few hours for his entire world to be turned upside down.

Char held up a hand. "Don't curse me."

"Curses," Torque muttered, suddenly reminded of why he'd asked for Char to be called to the lair. "That's why you're here."

Char looked confused. "Are you joking?"

"Do I ever joke?"

Char's lips twisted. "Fine. What's going on?"

With a crisp efficiency, Torque gave a brief rundown of the past hours, including the revelation that Synge had a mate and a full-blooded daughter.

Char furrowed his brow, taking several minutes to sort through the most pertinent parts of the story. "So she's really cursed?"

Torque shuddered. He was going to have nightmares about the dark pulses of energy that had surrounded the young dragon.

"Yeah, she's really cursed," he muttered.

"Great." Char's eyes swirled with thunderclouds. "And you want me to be trapped in time with her?"

Torque frowned. He'd a.s.sumed Char could cast the spell and walk away.

"All I know of your powers is that you can halt time," he said.

Char shook his head, his hand dropping. "I don't actually halt it," he said. "My powers can slow it for a limited time."

"And you have to be wrapped in the magic?"

"The powers alter my place in time. With an effort I can spread it to include whoever is near me. Which means that the closer they are, the longer I can maintain the magic."

Torque grimaced with guilt. "Dammit. I shouldn't have suggested that you help." He reached out to put his hand on Char's shoulders. The older male could be a pain in the a.s.s, but he was like a brother to him. "I didn't know it would put you in danger."

"As long as she's unconscious I should be fine," Char muttered.

Was he trying to convince Torque or himself?

Torque parted his lips to demand that Char return to Baine's lair when there was a roar of scalding power and Synge stepped into the chamber.

Too late.

The older dragon scowled at the two of them. "Finally," he snapped. "Follow me."

Pivoting on his heel, Synge was marching back into his private quarters, confident the two males would follow.

Char and Torque were swiftly trailing behind him.

Only an idiot ignored an order from a dragon.

A dead idiot.

"It's nice to know not everyone has changed," Char muttered in a low voice.

Torque abruptly recalled Synge's expression when he'd discovered his mate and daughter were alive. The brutish predator had revealed a shocking vulnerability. Not that he was about to share that particular revelation. Not when the old dragon might overhear him.

He preferred not to have his flesh seared off his bones, thank you very much.

"Actually, you might be surprised," he instead breathed.

Char sent him a curious glance before they were coming to an abrupt halt as Synge stopped in the middle of a doorway.

Glancing over his shoulder, the dragon sent Char a warning glare.

"We are about to enter the room of my daughter," he growled. "She is precious beyond all measure and if something were to happen to her..."

Char held up his hands in a gesture of peace. "I promise I'll do everything in my power to keep her safe."

The male gave a grudging nod before he turned to lead them into a room shaped like an octagon, with a domed ceiling that was covered with tiles made from pure gold. On the windows were lattice coverings and at one end of the marble floor a small fountain shimmered in the light from the numerous candelabras.

In the far corner was a wide bed where a slender female was lying on a white satin cover. Her long black hair had been brushed until it glowed with an ebony l.u.s.ter and her skin had the sheen of a pearl in the candlelight.

Moving to stand at the edge of the mattress Char glanced down, an odd, thunderstruck expression on his face.

"Tell me what you need," Synge commanded, his hands on his hips.

"Need?" Char muttered, his gaze never leaving Blayze's face that was softened with peace as she slept.

The dragon scowled at him and Torque covertly kicked his friend in the shin.

"Char," he muttered.

"Have you taken a blow to the head, or are you just slow?" Synge snapped, waiting for Char to send him a wary glance. "What do you need?"

"Nothing," Char muttered, still looking as if he'd seen a ghost. Could he sense Blayze's curse? Being trapped with the evil sensation would be unnerving for anyone. "I mean..." Char stopped and cleared his voice. "I can spread my powers to include this room, but the door needs to remain locked to ensure the magic isn't disturbed."

Synge clenched his hands. "How long can you keep the spell in place?"

"A day," Char said. "Maybe two."

"Do it," Synge commanded before he was heading toward an opening on the opposite side of the room.

Stepping forward, Torque studied his friend's tense profile with a frown.

There was definitely something off. But what?

"Are you okay?" he at last demanded.

"Yeah." The male stepped closer to the bed, his hand reaching out as if he was battling an urge to touch the beautiful dragon female. "You need to go."

Torque hesitated. "Char-"

"I got this," Char snapped.

"Are you sure?" Torque pressed, only to grimace in defeat when Char turned his head to glare at him with eyes as dark as thunderclouds.

"Go."

"Okay, okay. Do your thing," Torque muttered, backing toward the doorway. "Call me if you need me."

Char ignored him, his attention already centered back on Blayze.

Leaving the room with a vague sense of concern, Torque entered the public chamber. Maybe he should contact Baine. The dragon considered Char more a friend than a servant. He would want to know if the male might be in danger.

Torque's lips twitched. It would also give Baine the opportunity to annoy his father. p.i.s.sing off Synge was something that gave the younger dragon great joy.

On the point of leaving the lair, Torque was halted by the sound of his name being called.

"Torque."

He stiffened. s.h.i.t. He'd been so close to escape.

For a crazed moment his muscles clenched as he actually considered bolting. He wanted to be with Rya. Now.

Not to mention the fact he needed to contact Baine.

Thankfully, he clung to enough sanity to squash the suicidal urge.

Forcing himself to turn, he offered Synge a low bow.

"My lord," he murmured.

The dragon moved from the shadowed alcove where he'd obviously been waiting for Torque. His nose flared as he folded his arms over his ma.s.sive chest. "You smell like Rya."

Torque met the accusing gaze. If he had to fight for his right to be with Rya...then so be it.

"She's my betrothed," he said.

"You intend to complete the mating?" Synge demanded.

"As soon as her mother returns," Torque said, waiting for the male to protest his right to claim Rya. When the dragon gave a slow nod, Torque decided to press his luck. "Have your servants been able to create an opening?"

"No, but they a.s.sure me it's only a matter of time," Synge said, his brow furrowed with concern. After all, he was depending on Kai's rescue to protect his beloved daughter from her curse. "They've gathered outside the lair. They were afraid my magic was interfering in their efforts."

Torque swallowed a frustrated curse. He'd hoped they were actually making progress.

"Rya won't wait long," he muttered.

Synge released a sharp laugh. "You know my headstrong daughter well."

"Well enough to suspect she's going to take matters in her own hands if she believes we aren't doing enough to rescue her mother," he said.

Synge sent him a warning frown. "Then you'd better convince her."

Torque resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Thanks."

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

Rya felt like she was going to jump out of her skin.

As time pa.s.sed, she became increasingly worried about her mother. About Torque. About Finn, who, she'd just discovered, had yet to return to his tribe.

In an effort to ease her tension she'd taken yet another bath and pulled on a pair of jeans and a bright yellow sweater. She didn't know what she intended to do, but it didn't include twiddling her thumbs while she waited for something to happen.

She'd just finished braiding her hair when she caught the unmistakable scent of granite floating on the faint breeze.