Read Online Hyacinth, Scarlet - Craving Owen [Tides of Love 2] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever ManLove) by Scarlet Hyacinth - Free Book Online Page B

in your pain.”
    The little banter was oddly refreshing, and Sassaki found himself relaxing. Still, he forced himself to return to the matter at hand. “So, I wrote to you because I believe the plague lands are in danger. It seems the crystal is being assaulted.”
    Yane just stared at him. “Crystal? What crystal?”
    Sassaki just stared at Yane. Sure, he’d suspected nymphs were kept out of things in the plague lands, but not quite to this extent. Things weren’t exactly looking up. He’d been hoping for some insight from Yane, but that didn’t seem to be forthcoming.
    “According to my mother,” he answered, “a crystal is the source of the enchantment on the plague lands. It seems someone intends to destroy it and is already working on it now. I was hoping you might know more.”
    Yane shook his head. “I haven’t been…home in ages. And even then, I wasn’t privy to all the secrets.”
    “But who would know if not you?”
    “A wizard,” Kani suggested. “You need to ask a wizard.”
    Of course. A wizard would know about something like this. Why hadn’t Sassaki thought of that? Oh, wait. He knew why. Wizards weren’t exactly the most social of beings. In fact, they never showed up unless you gave them a good incentive. No one really knew where wizards lived, and even their representatives with the Imperium remained very secretive about things strictly referring to their race.
    “But how would we find a wizard?” Alcharr threw his hands up in exasperation. “They don’t exactly appear at the corner shop.”
    At that, Has’hendral just grinned. “Perhaps you’re just not looking in the right stores.”

Chapter Four

    One week later

    Owen scuttled after his companion in a daze. This city both scared and awed him. In front of him, Hash urged him to go faster. “Hurry up and stay close. We have a lot of things to do today.”
    Owen nodded, heat rushing to his face as the dragon looked at him. These days, the feeling of strangeness had become omnipresent whenever he was around either of his friends. He liked to blame it on this sudden trip and everything going around him. After all, he’d never have expected the day he’d gone in search of Connor that he’d somehow end up on this odd world and getting involved in a strange quest to revive a crystal. But somehow, he knew it wasn’t just that.
    As it turned out, they’d kept the new information from the main dryad capital of Anethone, going on the premise that the dryad royals would not appreciate cooperation with Sassaki. In the end, after a suggestion from Hash, he, Owen, Alcharr, and Yane had come to Almareya. It took quite a bit of effort to coordinate this action, since Alcharr needed to dodge his father’s controlling ways and Yane had responsibilities in Tanarak. They’d managed, but they didn’t have much time before they needed to return.
    Supposedly, Almareya was a resort of sorts, where rich folk came to relax away from their own lands and peoples. But recently, its governor had been removed due to a conflict with the upper echelons of Uli, and the entire island had fallen into chaos.
    As such, there were soldiers all over the place, scouring for possible accomplices of the governor. It was, apparently, a big deal, since Prince Valderr, Alcharr’s brother—as well as Connor—had been kidnapped by the man.
    To Owen, everything seemed so very confusing and scary, especially acknowledging everything his friend must have gone through. But throughout this week, his companions had done their best to reassure him, and he felt better knowing Connor did, indeed, leave Uli safe and sound. Owen should be worrying about himself now.
    Hash dragged him into something that looked like a bookstore. Alcharr and Yane followed behind them, and none of them wanted to leave Owen alone. Thankfully, the bookstore seemed innocent enough, and it took him away from all the hustle and bustle of the main street. He didn’t know why, but whenever he spotted