Gwendolyn acted like she hadn’t heard Brennan.

“If you’re not taking us home, as responsible adults, at least bring us to a police station.”

“Pole-lease?” Vaughon tried the word.

“We’ll take you to Skypeak, where your kin will be contacted,” Brennan said.  “If our King approves, that is.”

“We were mandated to collect any valuable children encountered during the rescue,” Vaughon chipped in, nudging Whisk playfully. Whisk flicked her hair with exaggerated importance. They seemed to naturally get along.

“King!” Gwendolyn scoffed, folding her arms. “What time period are you living in? How backwater.”

“There are kings and queens back home,” Rook said quietly. Everyone’s eyes turned on him and he added in a mumble, “Our country has a constitutional monarchy.” Gwendolyn snorted, so he met her gaze. “You’re the one with the high grades. You should know that.”

“And you’re always dozing at the back of history class,” Gwendolyn snapped back. “It’s a miracle any information made it through your lazy skull.”

“I studied! Hard!”

“I hope you didn’t swear fealty to any monarch,” Kissa interrupted, her brow creasing.

Rook frowned. “No, it’s mostly for show these days. Like, a figurehead. Why?”

Kissa occupied herself with caring for Violet, but she looked relieved.

“This world you were in was human dominated?” Vaughon inquired. “No others?”

Whisk nodded. “And, I think for the most part, we were human as well. I definitely feel different here.”

“I just want to go home,” Gwendolyn moaned.

“World-wise, you are home,” Vaughon said. “Since all your prior memories seem to be… All of you were born here. You were considered lost, but it looks like these cultists found a way to bring you back.”

"So people have never returned from other worlds before?" Whisk asked.

“It’s happened before,” Vaughon said reluctantly. He looked over at Brennan, uncertain. “Just not for a long time.”

“If it is so rare, then isn’t Corruption technically doing good by bringing us back?”

“Give no compliment,” Brennan growled. “His motives are self-serving and who knows what he messed with to accomplish this.”

“How did you know we were here?”

A sharp whistle sounded from back along the trail, making Whisk jump.

Brennan whistled back.

From the darkness, emerged a man with auburn hair. One side, from the tip of the ear downward, was closely shaved, while the remaining hair hung long enough to tuck behind an ear. He was nearer Brennan's age, but while Brennan looked more commanding, this man felt…

Brennan straightened a fraction. Kissa's shoulders loosened. Even Vaughon's easy grin settled into something more attentive.

…Dominant.

“Ashton,” Kissa said in relief.

“You’ve gathered quite the collection,” Ashton commented in an accent similar to Brennan’s.

His red eyes, slightly darker than the others, but far more highlighted by the iris aura, didn’t look at all surprised when Whisk bounced to her feet. He even gave her a little nod. His jaw clenched at the sight of Violet, and this made Rook feel a little less intimidated. Ashton, despite the alpha feel, had empathy. His gaze didn’t spend more than a second on Gwendolyn—who was both grateful and agitated by this—and came to a rest on Rook.

“Male.”

He stared straight into Rook’s eyes, as if he was looking for Rook’s very soul.

“Kala won the bet,” Brennan said.

Ashton’s mouth quirked in a smile, but pained lines formed next to his eyes. He tore his gaze back to the route he’d taken.

“Kobold and mercenary intruders have thrown Corruption’s forces on alert. I killed two cloaks following your trail. The rest will catch on soon. We need move now.”

Wordlessly, Kissa got Violet back on her back. Vaughon helped Gwendolyn up, ignoring a verbal jab. Brennan disappeared back the way they came, mumbling about covering their tracks and catching up. Rook’s keen vision kept track of the dragon until he rounded a corner.

“Rook,” Ashton redrew his attention. He now stood before Rook, holding a hand down.

He knows my name!

Rook shivered, but accepted the hand up. The grip was firm, but careful not to squeeze his bruised wrist.

The dragon eyed the knicks and scrapes along Rook’s fingers, but said nothing. He came across as someone very regimented

Vaughon took the lead, with Whisk closely trailing him. Gwendolyn found herself shepherded into the middle by Kissa. She looked yearningly at Rook, her only scrap of familiarity, but didn't want to be near Ashton.

Rook started toward her, only for Ashton to lightly hold him back.

“We’ll trail at a little more distance.”

Rook’s hairs rose. He didn’t sense any ill intent from the red-haired dragon, but there was something different about him from the rest. Not knowing made Rook restless. He’d had enough uncertainty.

He released a quiet sigh of relief when Ashton nodded for them to start moving.

“Do you remember anything?” Ashton asked, his tone coming across as not the sort to ask questions for idle conversation.

“About what?”

Ashton’s mouth worked without saying anything for several seconds, then carefully, he asked, “How far back do you remember?”

Rook bit his lip, wincing as he hit the cut. “When I was around seven, I was found wandering alone in a park. They thought I was younger, but the doctor’s tests showed… I don’t actually remember much. I was adopted and started school, faced a shitload of counselling—” Rook bit his tongue. He shouldn’t be sharing so easily, yet words had slipped fluidly from his lips.

“But nothing prior?”

“I’m guessing I must have been in this world,” Rook said reluctantly. “However, I don’t—” He shook his head. This wasn't the time to explain that he doubted he was anything but human.

“You were taken at seven,” Ashton confirmed.

“How—You knew me?”

An ironic smile tugged at Ashton’s lips, and he stared off distantly. “Brennan and I, particularly so. You used to live at Skypeak. That is our home.”

“Is it a city for dragons?”

“Somewhat.” Pride conflicted with a faint wariness. “It’s more a palace. Our central location of governance.”

“How can you be sure I’m the one you knew?” Even if he was from here, they'd seemed surprised by his gender. Wouldn't someone who knew him have known that?

Kissa made a hushing noise.

Ashton immediately lowered into a crouch and Rook imitated him.

The corner of Ashton’s mouth twitched, amusement briefly breaking through his stern expression, but it vanished as quickly as it came. He pressed lightly against Rook—like Vaughon, he was warm—and leaned close enough to whisper, “We’re passing the outskirts of goblin territory.” His eyes shifted toward the darkness ahead. “We’ll talk later.”