Forged by Flames: Book 3 (Dragon's Breath Series)

by Susan Illene

  His cousin let out a snort. Perhaps my time down south with the Faegud has made me daft, but I’ve come to realize Bailey is not so bad.

  What made you come to that conclusion?

  Donar was quiet for a moment. We had trouble with a slayer in Texas. He attacked a group of warriors in training and killed three of them. A week later, he snuck into the jakhal during the early morning while we slept and murdered a mother and two of her hatchlings. It was after that I realized how much it must have taken for your female to discipline herself. This slayer had no regard for who he killed.

  Is he still alive? Aidan asked.

  Yes. I have half a mind to send Bailey down there to take care of him. Do you think she would?

  Aidan had no idea. It hardly matters, considering we have an even greater mission ahead of us.

  True. Donar looked away.

  They neared the fortress, and some sort of disturbance at the gates caught their attention. There were more than a dozen shifters gathered together and a great deal of shouting going on, though Aidan couldn’t make out any clear words at this distance.

  That is strange, Donar said.

  Yes, it is. The fortress always appeared peaceful unless they were under attack by dragons or, in one case, human missiles.

  There were no green dragons or missiles to explain this problem.

  They soared down to the field near the fortress walls, landing on a patch of dried grass. Aidan and Donar shifted as quickly as possible in their rush to get to the gates. It was only once they got close and could hear distinct voices that the problem became apparent—Bailey’s sidekick had come for her. Aidan cursed and ran up the hill toward the crowd, pushing through the spectators. One of the guards, who’d put on gloves to keep from burning human skin, reached to grab Conrad’s arm.

  “Back the fuck off, man!” Conrad yelled, pushing at the shifter’s chest.

  Donar grumbled, “This is not good.”

  Aidan agreed.

  The guard shoved Conrad into a wall. The young man’s head bounced against the stone, and his eyes turned glazed.

  “Let him go,” Aidan ordered.

  The guard shot an annoyed glance over his shoulder. “This human and his friend were attempting to enter the fortress uninvited.”

  It was then that Aidan noticed Miles. He was the male interested in Danae, though he refused to acknowledge it, and he had no doubt come because of his concern for her. Miles was a stout man with short, blond hair. Unlike Conrad, he stood still and expressionless while two guards held his arms. He might not be struggling, but there was an expression in his eyes that said he could fight back if he wished. Like Danae, he’d once been a warrior for the human military, and it showed in his bearing.

  “What is going on here?” Nanoq shouted from the other side of the gates.

  The crowd parted to allow the pendragon to move past them. His gaze caught on Miles and Conrad, recognition lighting in his eyes. Both humans had been in the neighborhood when they came to collect Danae and Bailey. After seeing she had so many allies—most slayers lived solitary existences or only kept one or two people close—the pendragon had demanded Aidan tell him all he knew about Bailey’s friends, including these two.

  “What do you humans think you’re doing coming here?” Nanoq asked, expression livid.

  “It’s been two days. We want to know what you’ve done to Danae and Bailey,” Miles said, straightening to his full height. It didn’t seem to matter to him that he was facing a powerful shifter who could kill him in a second if he wished.

  Nanoq turned to Aidan and Donar. “You two, escort these men to the interrogation room.” He pointed at the nearest guards. “Bind and blindfold them first. I do not want these humans seeing the inside of my keep or trying to run free.”

  He spun on his heels and marched away before Aidan could ask any further questions.

  “This is bullshit!” Conrad came back to life, punching and kicking anyone near him. “What the fuck is this? Gitmo?”

  “What’s Gitmo?” Donar asked, glancing over at Aidan.

  “I have no idea.”

  It took a couple of minutes, but the guards managed to lock manacles around Conrad’s wrists and put a hood over his head.

  Miles held his chin high and allowed himself to be restrained. Aidan might have thought he’d easily accepted defeat, but there was a look in his eyes that said he’d expected this and prepared for it. They needed to question these two quickly. Bailey’s friends hadn’t survived these past six months by doing something as stupid as trying to infiltrate a dragon fortress unarmed without a plan.

  Aidan and Donar followed behind the guards. Conrad had settled down after they threatened to carry him and walked of his own volition. He and Miles couldn’t see, but the shifters took care to guide them through the main thoroughfare. People stared and gawked from the edges of the stone path. This was exactly why they’d brought Bailey and Danae through the tunnel entrance. It was far enough from the fortress and concealed in a thick patch of woods so that no one in the toriq even knew they’d brought a slayer and sorceress inside—except those involved and sworn to secrecy. There would be mayhem if his clansmen found out. Thankfully, Conrad and Miles were human and smelled like it. Shifters would not find them as threatening.

  They reached the interrogation room and sat both men in the chairs. The pendragon was already waiting inside with his arms crossed and an annoyed expression on his face. Just as Aidan was about to close the door, Kade slipped into the room. He moved over to Nanoq and whispered something in his ear. Aidan couldn’t catch what he said since Conrad had started cursing loudly again.

  “If somebody don’t take this shit off my head, I’m gonna make ya’ll regret it,” he swore.

  Donar let out a snarl and jerked the hood off Conrad. “I’m most interested to know what you could possibly do to threaten us.”

  The young man’s dark skin reddened a fraction with anger. “You picked the wrong women to put in your black ops prison.”

  “Why don’t you tell us what you really mean?” Aidan asked, getting impatient.

  Nanoq and Kade stopped talking to listen.

  “Ask him.” Conrad jutted his chin toward Miles.

  Aidan pulled the hood from his head, tousling his normally well-kept hair in the process. “What do you have planned?”

  Miles looked up with a cold expression. “If we do not return home within the next twenty-four hours, my guys are going to spread the word around town that you’ve imprisoned the dragon slayer who has saved many of their lives. They’re also going to tell everyone how you took the woman who has been healing them. There’s been a flu going around, and Danae has helped a lot of people. As individuals, we might not be as strong as you, but I promise you don’t want all of Norman coming here with every weapon we have.”

  Nanoq took a menacing step toward Miles. “You would risk human lives by bringing them here?”

  “Bailey told me how you guys want to live in peace with us.” Miles met his hard gaze. “Do you really want to make an enemy out of the people who live closest to your fortress?”

  Kade cleared his throat. “Where do you hail from, young man?”

  Aidan gave his uncle a confused look. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “I assure you that I ask for a good reason.”

  “That is none of your business,” Miles answered.

  Kade cocked his head. “The town—Norman—is not the place you grew up. You are originally from somewhere east of here.”

  Surprise lit in Miles' face, but he didn’t respond.

  “I had a dream about you early this morning. It came to me clearly that you were the answer I’d been looking for,” Kade continued, undaunted. “Is there a cave near your childhood home where thieves might take refuge?”

  Miles jaw dropped. “How would you know that?”

  “Come on, man. Ain’t you learned not to be surprised by anything anymore?” Conrad rolled his eyes. “
This guy’s got crazy written all over him—which probably means he’s a seer or some shit.”

  Bailey’s friend might be loud-mouthed, but he was also surprisingly perceptive.

  “So you know of the place I seek?” Kade asked Miles.

  The man’s jaw hardened. “Even if I did, I’m not telling you anything.”

  Nanoq gestured at Aidan. “Retrieve the slayer. Let her know that her friend is in here, and he can give us the location of the first fragment but won’t cooperate with us.”

  “Of course, milord.” He bowed and headed out of the room.

  As soon as he reached the cell where the women were being held, Aidan found both of them had their faces pressed close to the door, peering out the barred window. They must have heard enough to figure out who was in the dungeons with them.

  “What is going on?” Bailey asked. “Why is Conrad here?”

  Aidan stopped in front of the door and pulled the keys to the lock from shiggara. “He and Miles thought they would come rescue you.”

  “Oh, good grief.” Bailey shook her head.

  “It appears Miles may know the location of the first orb fragment, but he refuses to cooperate.” Aidan unlocked the door and opened it. “We need you to explain to him why he must tell us.”

  Her brows drew together as she stepped into the corridor. “Why would he know?”

  “My uncle is a seer. He had a vision this morning of Miles and that the fragment is located near his place of birth.”

  “Okay, well, that’s not weird or anything.”

  Aidan held up a hand to Danae when she moved to come out as well. “The pendragon only wishes for Bailey to come. You will have to wait here.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “Will I get to see them soon?”

  “I am certain you will.”

  If the timetable Miles gave them was any indication, they couldn’t hold the women for much longer, and their group would be able to leave together. Even if it were only long enough to tell their friends in town they’d be gone again for a while. The pendragon had already decided Bailey and Danae would be going on the journey. The only reason he held them here was to prevent them from telling anyone else about it.

  Aidan shut and locked the door before escorting Bailey toward the interrogation room. As soon as they reached the corner, he grabbed her arm and pressed her against the wall. If only for a moment, Aidan needed to touch her and take in her scent. He leaned close to her neck and inhaled deeply. She smelled like sugar and spice. It soothed him and his inner beast like nothing else could. With shaking fingers, he touched her soft, silky black hair. Despite being confined for two days, it still had a hint of the special soap she’d used to wash it.

  “Aidan, we shouldn’t be doing this,” she whispered.

  “I’ve missed you,” he breathed the words into her ear.

  She lifted her head, indecision in her eyes. “I’ve missed you too, but…”

  “Just give me a moment.”

  Aidan pulled the bottom of her shirt up a few inches, checking the skin there. Only a faint line remained where he’d thrust his blade into her stomach. Had Bailey’s time in the dungeons made the healing process slower? He did not like to think of her suffering these past two days and him not being able to reach her.

  “How do you feel?” he asked, glancing up.

  “I’m alright. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

  Aidan frowned. “I did not enjoy harming you.”

  “I know,” she said softly.

  Loud voices rose from the interrogation room, and he forced himself to pull away. Aidan shouldn’t have gotten close to her at all, but it had been his first opportunity to see her since she’d been confined in the dungeon. Both he and the beast needed to see that she was okay. He was trying very hard—for both their sakes—to keep his distance, but it wasn’t easy.

  They walked side by side to the interrogation room and entered. Conrad and Miles both swung their gazes toward Bailey. She moved over to the wall opposite them, leaned against it, and smiled. Her entire bearing said she wasn’t scared, hurt, or angry. It did a lot to relieve the tension in the room.

  Conrad canted his head. “You don’t look half as bad as I thought you would.”

  “The food is better here than what we have at Earl’s.” She studied her nails. “You’d be amazed what freshly cooked meat can do for your mood—no matter the accommodations.” She waved an arm at her surroundings, making her point.

  “They got chicken?” he asked, hope lighting in his eyes.

  “Of course. It’s good, too.”

  Aidan could see what she was doing. The more unconcerned she behaved, the less upset the men appeared. He turned to the pendragon. “Perhaps if we feed these humans, they might be more amenable.”

  “Is that true?” Nanoq asked the men.

  Conrad’s eyes lit up. “If the food is good enough, I’ll beat the intel out of Miles for you.”

  Miles shot Conrad a scathing look. “Traitor.”

  “A guy has to have his priorities.” Conrad shrugged. Aidan was willing to bet, though, if Bailey told him not to cooperate, he’d do exactly as she asked.

  Miles addressed the pendragon. “I would be willing to consider telling you what you want to know if you take these chains off, and Bailey convinces me that talking is in our best interest.”

  Nanoq waved his hand at Aidan. “Tell the guards to get these men a meal. We will release their bindings and give them their food after we get the cave location.”

  “How do I know you’ll keep up your end of the deal?” Miles asked.

  “He will,” Bailey said, lifting her unshackled arms for emphasis.

  “Fine.” Miles didn’t look happy, but he didn’t argue further.

  Aidan left the room to speak to the guards, choosing the one he trusted most to give the orders. “Instruct the human, Kayla, in the kitchen that she is to prepare a meal with chicken for two of Bailey’s friends. Tell her I told you to do so and do not return until she gives you the food.”

  The guard nodded and hurried away. He was one of the few shifters that hadn’t looked at Aidan with distrust because of his dealings with the slayer. It was during times like these that one learned who they could truly rely upon. It would be a while before the others let go of their prejudice and accepted him again.

  Aidan headed back inside and discovered Bailey had begun to explain the situation to Miles and Conrad. Nanoq must have given her the freedom to tell them everything because she wasn’t holding back any details about the orb or its importance. How had Kade convinced the pendragon to let his guard down around these humans? Most of their toriq didn’t even know about the orb. Aidan had been ordered not to speak about it to anyone outside the circle of those who already knew.

  He moved next to the pendragon and whispered, “I’m surprised you are trusting them.”

  “Kade assures me they are no threat to us, but Xanath will be visiting them later,” Nanoq replied.

  Aidan should have guessed as much. “You know the sorcerer hates doing mind probes.”

  “He will hate it even more if someone other than us gets the orb first.”

  It was hard to argue that point, though Aidan hated to see the process performed again so soon and on more of Bailey’s friends. Nanoq was relying on magic much more heavily than Throm ever had. Whether that was a good thing about the new pendragon or not remained to be seen.

  “So, you see, we have to get the orb first, or else it could mean another sorcerer out there—possibly Verena—is going to use dragons to kill or conquer us all,” Bailey finished, focusing on Miles. “You have to tell them where this cave is at.”

  Miles pressed his lips together. “How do we know anything these guys are telling us is true?”

  Conrad spoke up, “I was there when Verena showed up, demanding Bailey get the orb for her, but the thing is…” he gave a worried look at the slayer, “…what happens when we don’t give it to her?”

  “We’l
l just have to burn that bridge when we get there.” Bailey shrugged. “No matter the price—I can’t let her have it.”

  “And we will do all we can to protect the slayer and her friends from the sorceress’ vengeance,” Nanoq added.

  Aidan had insisted on that point once he realized the threat Bailey faced, discussing it at length with the pendragon the previous night. They couldn’t let her cross a sorceress and be left vulnerable. Their toriq had more than enough resources available to help on that matter, so there was no reason they couldn’t prevent any retaliation that might come.

  Miles shifted in his seat. “If I tell you the location, then I’m going on this trip as well. It’s close to my home turf, and I can navigate it better than anyone else here.”

  “I had hoped you would say that,” Kade said, bowing his head. He must have seen more in his dream than he’d told them.

  Conrad leaned forward in his seat. “I’m going, too. I’ve always got the slayer’s back.”

  “I do not believe that is necessary…” Nanoq began.

  “He goes,” Bailey said, a fierce look in her eyes. “I know he doesn’t look like much to you guys, but he’s braver than ten men put together, and he’s never failed me.”

  Aidan felt a surge of jealousy rise. Bailey had promised him that she felt nothing except friendship for Conrad, and he chose to believe she spoke truly, but he hated that the human man could be there for her in ways that he couldn’t.

  “If the clues in the prophecy are correct, the other orb fragments will be in pure dragon territory,” Kade said, rubbing his chin. “It could not hurt to have another experienced fighter go along as well.”

  Bailey pushed off the wall and directed her attention to the pendragon. “Especially since we’ll also be dealing with human threats, and the safest time to travel will be when Aidan and any other shifters who go are at their sleepiest.”

  Aidan couldn’t argue with that point. If they moved during the morning hours, it would be difficult to stay awake to fly. They’d need some sort of transportation where Aidan and any other shifters who went on the trip could rest until their energy returned. There were a lot of things to consider and prepare for before they departed.