Barrack guided their transport toward the spaceport in orbit around Valdier. A muscle ticked in his jaw. This would be their first major obstacle to overcome.

“How much do you want to bet that we get stopped?” Brogan commented, sliding into the seat next to him.

“We should have used the symbiots,” Barrack answered.

Brogan chuckled and cracked his knuckles. “I told you that before we left Kardosa. You should have listened to me,” he said, leaning forward and staring out at the spaceport. “Their technology has changed a lot over the centuries.”

“We already knew that from what we saw at the outer rim,” Barrack retorted, ignoring his brother’s jab.

“This is the Valdier Command Spaceport. State your business,” a voice ordered over the communications system.

Barrack bit back a growl of frustration when Brogan reached forward and opened the link. As per usual, his brother wanted to charge into things without even considering a less intrusive method – preferably one that didn’t require fighting or escaping from a prison cell, which had happened a considerable number of times over the past couple of centuries. The scar gracing Brogan’s cheek was evidence of their last encounter with a Marastin Dow warship and the battle that ensued.

“We are looking for a warrior named Jaguin with a mate named Sara. Where are they?” Brogan demanded.

Barrack shook his head. “Smooth, Brogan, real smooth. Why don’t you beat your chest as well?” he retorted.

“This is the Valdier Command Spaceport, please report to Dock A4-8 for clearance,” the voice replied.

“Affirmative,” Barrack replied, cutting the communications and following the lighted path to the docking station. “So much for telling them we are simple merchants.”

Brogan shrugged. “I forgot. What does it matter? We must find this Jaguin and his mate, why not get it over with?” he said, pulling his laser pistol from the sheath at his waist and checking the weapon to make sure it was fully charged.

Barrack bit the inside of his cheek. If they were thrown in a cell because of Brogan again, he was going to leave his brother there. He wasn’t about to lose their only chance of finding their mate because of Brogan’s temper.

* * *

Zoran Reykill frowned as he purposely strode down the corridor of the Spaceport. His brothers, Creon, Kelan, and Mandra, followed. Crew members swiftly moved to the side and stood at attention as they passed.

Zoran paused as he reached a set of double doors. The two guards standing outside pressed their hands to their chest before opening the doors for him and his brothers. Trelon Reykill turned and raised an eyebrow at Zoran.

“I didn’t expect all of you to come,” Trelon commented, walking over to Zoran when the small group stopped.

“We were having a meeting when you notified us,” Zoran said, glancing over Trelon’s shoulder to the detention cell block. “Are you sure it is them?”

Trelon nodded. “There is no mistake,” he said with a disbelieving shake of his head.

“Where did they come from?” Mandra asked.

“Kardosa Spaceport was the last place their ship was registered. They wiped everything else clean,” Trelon answered.

Kelan frowned. “I could take a look,” he suggested.

Trelon shook his head. “Cara already went over their system. Trust me, it is clean. She is impressed with the repairs done on the engines. She said some of the parts were shitty and they were lucky they made it this far,” he chuckled.

“What about their symbiots?” Zoran asked.

Trelon shrugged. “They remained docile when we took the twins into custody,” he said.

Zoran glanced at Creon, who was standing silently to the side, listening. The reason the four other brothers had come was partially out of curiosity, but mostly out of concern. Fortunately, Creon knew more about twin dragons than any of them. Not only was he close friends with Cree and Calo – twin dragons who had been children when Barrack and Brogan had supposedly died – he and Carmen also had a set of very young twins.

If the seasoned original twin dragons attacked, it would take their combined strength to defeat them. The only other warriors who might stand a chance of defeating Barrack and Brogan on their own were Cree and Calo – who were not here. Twin dragons were more extraordinarily more formidable than ordinary warriors because they worked as one with a skill and power that rivaled those of the royal blood.

Zoran hadn’t admitted to his brothers that he had been half expecting the twins. In truth, he hadn’t been sure if the dream he’d had the night before was a portent of something real or not. He was about to find out.

“Take me to them,” Zoran ordered.

Trelon led them down the short corridor to a holding cell. Behind the clear shield were two men, identical except for the fact that one had several long scars running down one side of his face and neck. The men looked up.

“Open the shield,” Zoran quietly ordered.

* * *

As the tall, powerful Valdier warrior entered the room, the deference of his dragon and his symbiot let Brogan know this was a man of royal blood.

“I am Zoran Reykill,” the man said with a nod of his head.

“I’m Brogan, this is my brother, Barrack,” Brogan replied.

“We met your father once when we were young. He was a good warrior,” Barrack quietly said.

“Yes, he was,” Zoran replied, tightening his lips.

Brogan glanced at the source of his dragon’s uneasiness - the man standing next to Zoran and the ones behind him. Zoran was certainly dangerous, but a good leader had to be tempered and wise. The man standing next to him had a roiling darkness within him that Brogan could relate to on a primitive, savage level. The others were on a varying level between the two men standing in front.

“This is Creon,” Zoran said with a nod. “The others are Mandra, Trelon, and Kelan.”

“Brogan, Barrack,” Creon greeted with a brief nod.

“Now that introductions are done, we want to know where a Valdier warrior named Jaguin and his mate are located,” Brogan stated in a blunt tone.

“Getting out of this detention cell and off the Spaceport would be helpful, too,” Barrack dryly added.

Brogan shrugged his shoulders. “We can handle that. Do you know who this warrior is and where we can find him?” he asked.

Zoran raised an eyebrow, and Brogan thought that perhaps he should have phrased his question so it didn’t come out more like a command. Better yet, he should have let Barrack do the talking. His brother had a much better temperament for negotiating than he did, but Barrack had grown quiet the moment they had docked.

“Yes, I know Jaguin and his mate, Sara. I also know why you are here,” Zoran replied.

“You… How?” Brogan demanded, taken aback.

Zoran’s gaze held a seriousness that carried weight and his expression was stern. Once again, Brogan was reminded that he was no longer at the outer rim, but on Valdier in the presence of the powerful leader of all the dragon-shifting species.

“I received an unexpected visit in my dreams from a certain Goddess who appears to have taken a liking to you both,” Zoran dryly replied.

“I can’t imagine why,” Creon muttered under his breath.

“Neither can I,” Zoran agreed with an amused grin.

“I have one more question that I hope you can answer,” Barrack quietly interrupted from where he had been silently standing near the wall.

Zoran turned to Barrack, his observant gaze not missing a detail. “If I can, I will answer it,” he replied.

Brogan saw a hint of indecision flash through Barrack’s eyes. It took a moment for the image in his brother’s mind to appear in his own. When it did, his stomach clenched.

“Do you know if our parents still live?” Barrack asked.

Creon spoke this time. “Yes, they both live in the same village,” he said.

Brogan turned his head to look at Creon. “How do you know?” he asked in a voice that was rougher than normal.

Creon grinned. “Cree and Calo’s mate, Melina, kicked your younger brother’s ass,” he chuckled.

“They are alive,” Barrack repeated, a slow grin curving his lips.

Brogan blanched. “We have a brother?” he said.

“You have missed a lot since you have been gone, but your journey is not yet over. Come, we will return to the palace, and I will explain what I know and help you as best as I can,” Zoran stated, signaling them to follow him.

Brogan looked at Barrack. “Cree and Calo have a mate,” he said, his expression changing to remorse when he remembered his cruel words to the younger twins so long ago.

“There really is hope for us,” Barrack murmured.