Kal, the bald guard, was already in the driver’s seat, Terra beside him. Camille opened up the large sliding door to let us out onto the deserted street outside. I could hear the door start to close as soon as the back of the car cleared the door. I didn’t blame her. Even inside the warehouse didn’t feel fully safe from what was lurking outside.
We drove back through the city in a slightly different route that didn’t require quite so many alleyways. I tried to stay conscious even though I really wanted to pass out; I needed to pay attention to the route. I’d been watching on the way in, but it was easy to be distracted when there was so much to look at.
This time, I made sure to memorize turns. It would be helpful to know how to get to the exit of the dome. How to get to the various parts of the city, for that matter. I got most of it, when I wasn’t drifting in and out of focus.
I took a deep breath to try to clear my head. It helped only nominally as we continued through the busy streets, through the bad parts of the place that weren’t nearly as bad as the warehouse street, through the shopping places, rundown residential apartment blocks, and the fancy ones as well. It wasn’t quite as busy as when we first got here, so we must really have hit at rush hour on the way in.
Finally, we stopped in the line leading out. I watched the guard who watched the cars sharply. He didn’t look the kind of guy who’d take kindly to a bribe. Each driver submitted to a retinal scan.
As we drew closer, I was sure it was an unfamiliar guard. Not the one from last time.
He looked inside at us, his eyes taking everyone in. “Where is your sun protection?” he asked suspiciously.
“We have it stowed,” Kal explained smoothly. “The car is protection enough for now.”
The man grunted, not looking very convinced. “Retinal scan,” he said, still watching us, his eyes lingering on me. I must have looked as bad as I felt.
Kal leaned forward, allowing the guard to scan him. An identity popped up.
“Cameron Schwartz,” the guard read out loud.
I almost snorted at the name, but held it in. There was a moment where I wondered if the jig was up. Perhaps the guard was going to ring an alarm. I held my breath. That wouldn’t be good for any of us. I didn’t want to be at the humans’ mercy. They had no incentive to treat phoenix and dragon trespassers with kid gloves, despite the manufactured identities and corruption that allowed us to come in and out.
All of us held our breaths as the guard looked us over again.
“Roger!” The guard looked over his shoulder and nodded, distracted by his colleague.
Looking back at us, he straightened, though he didn’t look all that happy about it. “Proceed.”
I let out a silent breath. That was terrifying. How had Mia lived like this her entire life?
The stress alone would be wearying, even if everything went perfectly.
We went through the first gate, the wind buffering us. The outside gate opened as the one behind us closed once again. Then the desert spread out in front of us, the sun beating down in all its glory.
As we drove out, I felt as if I could breathe again. We were creatures of the sun, dragons and phoenixes alike. We needed it like we needed food and water. Living out from beneath its direct rays was a kind of slow torture, if you asked me.
Maybe I would feel differently if I had come to the city dome of my own volition, rather than as a prisoner.
We drove out to the same rocky outcropping we’d stopped at before. Parking the car out of sight of the city dome, Kal and Terra got out, their faced turned up to the sun. I hadn’t been the only one feeling the lack of the light.
Pele turned to me and started tugging at my t-shirt. I pushed his hands away.
He frowned at me. “You need more skin exposure,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of time out here.”
“Fine.” He was right. That didn’t mean I wanted his hands on me like that.
I struggled out of my t-shirt, shoes, and jeans, the small task taking longer than it should have, but I got it off.
Pele watched impatiently, but didn’t say anything until I was down to my underwear. Nodding, he grabbed me and dragged me out of the car. I let him. I didn’t have much steam left after even that small task. Swinging me up into his arms, he walked me over to a smaller, lower rock that was in direct sunlight and set me down on it carefully.
“No need to be so delicate,” Terra snapped at him, watching him at the task. “She’s a prisoner, not a guest.”
He shrugged, stepping back. “Sorry I didn’t toss her on the rocks,” he growled. “I’m sure Eli would be ecstatic to see her more banged up after he had us bring her out here to get her healthy again.”
That shut her up, though she still glared at him.
I leaned back against the larger rock behind me, soaking up the heat and the light, shutting out their bickering. I felt my strength start to come back slowly.
The sky above was a clear, tempting blue. Very tempting.
I could risk it. I might not make it, but logically, this could be my best bet at escape.
But I had to think of Siro. How was I going to get her out of this? Even if I could get her to the city dome exit, I didn’t have access to money to bribe a guard with, nor the least idea of how to even go about that. I didn’t know how to get an ID manufactured in the dome. An undertaking like that would be fraught with the risk of discovery, even apart from the risk of arrest for an illegal act like using a fake ID.
I sighed, tilting my head so I could better absorb the sunlight. I needed to find a way to get our captors to bring both of us out here for some sun at the same time. But I had no idea how to do that.
It wouldn’t make any sense for them to do that. Keeping us separate out here was much safer.
I had no idea how I was going to pull it off, but I had to figure something out. We were too vulnerable in their hands. Something was bound to go wrong.
I could feel our time running out.
Chapter Twelve
Sven
I set a hard pace on the way to Aaden’s territory, keeping a stranglehold on the panic that wanted to rise inside me. I couldn’t afford to lose focus, not until I had Adara safe again. I kept that panicked, raging part of myself packed away, ruthlessly contained as I pushed another ounce of speed from my already aching wings.
Igna and the guards he’d hand picked for the trip didn’t complain as they buckled down and increased their speed as well. Time was of the essence.
The longer she was missing…
I pushed aside the negative thoughts that wanted to spring up just at the thought of the possibilities. I’d already sent out a phoenix-wide alert, letting everyone know to keep an eye out for Adara, even if they weren’t near where she’d disappeared. Aaden was already conducting a thorough search of his territory, but I needed to go see for myself, to make sure everything that needed to be done was being done, to see if he’d missed anything.
Igna had advised me to stay put, stay safe while he went to look into the situation himself.
I’d just given him a look.
If he’d actually thought I would sit back and twiddle my thumbs while I waited, he didn’t know me well at all. He hadn’t argued with me when I’d told him I was going as well, not after I’d told him he could come with me or not, but I was going.
I felt another burst of impatience as Aaden’s city came into view. I needed to be there yesterday. Locking on the landing area, I led the way down, Igna and my guards keeping pace. It was a swift landing, my body absorbing the impact as I landed a little harder than was recommended.
Aaden and some of his people were already there waiting for me, the mood grim.
I changed and pulled on my clothes, even as I started speaking. “Any news?” I asked, shoving my feet into my shoes.
“No,” Aaden replied, frustration clear in his voice and his face. “We’ve searched everywhere, have had the whole flock participating since we realized she and Siro were m
issing.” He shook his head in disgust. “Nothing.”
I had heard a teenage girl was missing, but I didn’t know who she was. “Is there a connection?” I asked, coming to a stop in front of the older man. I didn’t want to assume anything, not when it could lead us in the wrong direction.
Aaden nodded. “Adara was placed with Siro’s family after her grandparents passed away,” he explained. “They were close… ” He trailed off.
“But something happened?” I prompted.
Aaden sighed. “Jamine and River didn’t agree with Adara taking on her position as Internal Liaison. They distanced themselves from her, which also impacted Siro.” He shook his head. “Sometimes emotions can blind people to reality.”
I hadn’t known any of that. Belatedly, I realized Adara didn’t actually talk a whole lot about her past.
Not the negatives or even the positives for that matter.
Perhaps this was why. Painful memories were sometimes better left untouched.
“Can I speak with Siro’s parents?” I asked, figuring that was as good of a place to start as any.
Aaden nodded, but didn’t look like he was particularly happy about it. “Yes,” he agreed. “But I have to warn you—they are not thinking straight. They may say some… harsh things in their worry.”
I raised a brow. “Do not worry. I can handle words.”
Aaden nodded. “Of course. I’ll take you to them myself. But you and your guards need some refreshments after your long journey first.” Then he turned and walked away, leaving us to follow.
I would have been happy to get straight to business, but he was right. Igna and my other guards needed some food before we continued, so I stifled my impatience and nodded at them, turning to follow Aaden.
We went into a low, sprawling building that was neat and modern, yet comfortable. True to his word, Aaden led us into a room with food and drink already laid out. We didn’t waste time refueling, which was what this was. There was no time for a leisurely meal.
After we were finished, Aaden nodded and led us back out. “It’s fastest to simply walk,” he explained, walking us through the busy streets.
Construction had been halted as people continued to look for Adara and Siro, and the streets were full with pedestrians. They got out of our way when they saw us coming, maybe as much because of Igna and the guards as me.
“It’s the King.”
“He must be here because of Adara.”
“Why isn’t he staying safe at the palace?”
I heard the whispers around us as we walked, but ignored them apart from the occasional nod and wave as people greeted me. Let people make of this what they wanted. I didn’t care as long as I got Adara back.
Siro lived with her parents in a newly constructed apartment building, built narrow and tall so each unit had a large balcony to step out onto. There was also easy access to the top of the building to make taking off simple. It was painted the same terracotta color as the rest of the city, built to blend in and make it less of a visible target from above. We took the elevator up to their floor.
“I called them to let them know you wished to speak to them,” Aaden said in a low voice as we headed down a spacious hallway. “They were both out searching.”
I nodded. Of course. I would not be able to sit still if it was my child missing, either.
When Aaden knocked on one of the doors, a tall, lean man opened it, his blue eyes hollow with fatigue.
“River, King Sven is here to speak with you,” Aaden said softly.
The man nodded at me and stepped back. “Of course. Please, come in,” he said, his demeanor not changing much at having the Phoenix King visiting his home. He had bigger things to worry about.
Inside, a curvaceous woman with a mass of curly dark hair and deep brown skin stood from where she’d been sitting on a couch in the tidy living room.
“I am sorry to interrupt,” I murmured. “I know this is a difficult time for you.”
She shook her head. “It’s fine,” she said with an unconvincing smile. “Please, have a seat.”
I sat, Igna and the guards arranging themselves at the doorways and the balcony. River sat down next to Jamine, taking her hand in his. She gripped it hard enough that her knuckles turned white.
“I’m sorry to ask questions you’ve probably already answered,” I started, feeling uncomfortable at having invaded their grief. “But do you have any idea where Siro could be?”
“I—”
Just as Jamine started to answer, there was a knock at the door.
River frowned, standing. “I don’t know who that could be. Excuse me.” He went to the door to answer the knock. When he opened it, it was to reveal a young, blond teenager.
“Lugh?” River said, stepping back in silent invitation. “What are you doing here?”
“Hello, Mr. Hayes,” he greeted River nervously, taking a step inside. “I just thought I should…” he trailed off as his eyes landed on me, his eyes going wide.
I stood up slowly.
Being a teenage boy probably meant he was someone who knew Siro.
“Hello, Lugh,” I greeted him, trying to keep my voice easy. He looked skittish already. “Was there something you needed to tell us? Perhaps about Siro?”
He swallowed, drawing himself up. Giving himself a mental pep talk, most likely. “Yes,” he agreed. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner, but I was afraid to get her into trouble,” he admitted. “And I don’t think it’ll help… but…”
“You can tell us,” River prompted him, looking slightly desperate for any bit of information.
I could relate.
Lugh nodded, but he looked braced for the worst. “Siro… she snuck out last night,” he admitted. “To visit Adara.” He glanced over at me.
A concrete connection. Finally.
There was a beat of silence. Then Jamine burst up to her feet.
“We told Siro to stay away from her!” she cried out. “And now she’s the reason my baby is gone! She—”
Her face crumpled and River grabbed her, hauling her into his arms. He didn’t look any happier than she did.
“We treated Adara as our own daughter,” he said quietly, his jaw tense. “Then she took a path we simply could not condone.” He looked over and met my eyes. “I hope you find her. Find both of them. But she is not allowed near our daughter again.”
I resisted the urge to point out it was Siro who had snuck out, seeking Adara. They were being unreasonable and small-minded. The fact that they were blaming Adara for whatever had happened was ridiculous. Then I reminded myself of the fact that they were going crazy with worry, that their child was missing. If anyone had a pass for being insensitive or unreasonable, it was them.
It didn’t mean that I would forget their words, not when they would hurt Adara if she ever heard them. But I could let them lie for now.
I turned to Lugh. “When did you see her last?” I asked, fighting for a calm tone.
“When I helped her leave at dawn,” he said, looking like he was going to be sick. “I hid her in the food cart from the kitchen,” he explained. “I told her to wait until I was off shift—it was only another half an hour—but she insisted on walking home alone. Said it was only five minutes away. That she’d be fine.” He looked utterly defeated. “I shouldn’t have let her go alone.”
That guilt was a hard burden to bear. It was smaller echo of what I felt for not accompanying Adara on this trip, damn the consequences.
I walked over and put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it. He looked up at me morosely.
“You couldn’t have known,” I said gently. “And most likely, they would have just hurt you or taken you with them. You did the right thing now by letting us know.”
He nodded, but it didn’t look like he felt absolved of all guilt.
I hoped we got both Siro and Adara back in one piece. For everyone’s sake, not just my own.
We weren’t going to get any more information out o
f Siro’s parents today. I turned to River and Jamine. “Thank you for your time,” I said politely. “We’ll see ourselves out.”
Aaden murmured something to them and ushered Lugh out behind us.
I was already thinking of what to do next. Aadens people would continue to comb through their territory. He actually knew Siro, so he had an incentive beyond correcting the black eye that losing the King’s Consort gave his flock. There was somewhere else my energy might be better spent.
Adara had come in to clear up a dispute between her flock and Eli’s. She had not come down in Eli’s favor. He’d never liked her—likely because she didn’t sing his praises—so that wouldn’t have helped. Even apart from that, Eli was a power hungry fool. He could have simply seen an opportunity to grab Adara and taken it.
Or created the opportunity.
That thought sent a chill down my spine. It did fit with the events, didn’t it?
They made complete sense in that light.
Eli had to have known we wouldn’t let an attack like that stand. But if it had simply been intended as bait to draw Adara out…
I needed to go pay Eli’s flock a visit.
“We’re going to Eli’s,” I informed Igna. “There isn’t much more we can do here that isn’t already being done.”
He simply nodded, relaying the news to the others.
Aaden looked at me sharply, obviously overhearing. “Yes,” he agreed, nodding. “I did think of that as well,” he agreed. “Seems a bit… coincidental.”
I murmured my agreement.
As we passed by the building we’d first gone to on the way to the take off point, one of Aaden’s people hurried over to him. “What is it, Meera?” Aaden asked immediately as she neared.
She gave me a respectful nod, but her attention was for her Chieftain. “It’s the Crevice,” she explained, her eyes worried. “Someone cleared it just enough to get a vehicle through.”
Aaden’s face tightened. “Does anyone know when it was done?” he demanded.
“No,” she said. “Not that I can find.”
“What is the Crevice?” I interjected, not familiar enough with Aaden’s city to know off the bat. A lack of knowledge I would have to rectify.
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