Chapter 123

OPHELIA With his hands wrapped around mine, Alexandros helps me down from Ani’s back. Then he rolls his neck until it cracks. “Thank you, Anikêtos. I owe you a great debt.” His voice cracks too. Ani snorts. It was nothing, old friend. You will wait here for Elpis, yes? He resumes communicating via thought. Of course. How long before she and the boys arrive? Ani shakes his scales, and smoke unfurls from his nostrils. Too long, he growls, clearly unaccustomed to and displeased with being so far from his mate. They have picked up a healthy tailwind, and Elpis estimates they will be here in a little over seven hours. Alexandros entwines his fingers with mine and tugs me forward so I bump against his chest. “Then let us go inside and wait, little one.” He dusts his lips over my forehead and slides his arm around my waist. “I may never let you out of my sight ever again.” With a nod of farewell toward the dragon, Alexandros leads me to the house. The key Osiris spoke of is exactly where he s