CHAPTER 50: ELARA'S AGONY

"Hello, husband." Drakon smiled and cupped her face as he gently kissed her lips. He stopped, and she pouted her annoyance before pulling his mouth down to hers again. He deepened the kiss this time, moving his lips over hers until she swayed against him and pulled away. "There's something wrong," Shirley noted when she saw the tightness around his eyes. He drew a hand through his hair before grabbing one of hers. "I'll tell you everything while we eat dinner," he muttered, leading her towards their table. ******************* "Elara's gravely ill," he calmly broke the news when they were halfway through the meal. "Zack fears she may not survive," he continued, "and he plans to follow after her if she doesn't." Shirley let her spoon drop to the table, losing her appetite for the delicious pottage in front of her. "I didn't know that," she whispered, her throat suddenly dry. "Neither did I," Drakon replied. "Zack said he didn't tell me because he didn't want to add to what I alre