by Amelia Jade
“Still want to—”
Daxxton didn’t even get a chance to finish his taunt before another blast took his foe and blasted him forward.
Right at Daxxton.
He grinned mid-sentence, stepping forward.
The last attacker’s flight stopped with bone-jarring swiftness as his head impacted Daxxton’s outstretched fist. He felt the attacker’s spine snap as the body tried to continue forward. Bone gave way and the second assassin dropped like a rock.
He and Miranda exchanged glances and then darted toward the doorway, not wanting to let the man she’d stunned get away. They needed answers. Daxxton had an idea who these men were, but he wasn’t sure, other than they were mercenaries.
“Careful,” he said as they approached the shattered remains of the doors. He peered outside. Instead of stepping through, he dove out into the hallway, hoping to catch his opponent by surprise.
But nobody attacked him, and he stood up, looking around.
“He’s hurt,” Miranda said, pointing at the ground. Red marks led his eyes to a jagged piece of wood covered in blood. They then led away down the hall.
“He’s fleeing.”
Miranda moved to go after him, but Daxxton took her arm.
“The princess,” he reminded her.
“Right,” she said after a brief hesitation.
Something flashed behind her eyes at the mention of the princess, but she didn’t argue with him, so Daxxton didn’t pursue it. Not yet. He was going to get to the bottom of that little mystery as soon as he had time, but right then, they needed to ensure that the princess was safe.
The pair charged through the hallways as fast as their supernatural speed would allow them, skidding around corners and hurling themselves up the staircase in one bound.
His fist hammered against the steel door so hard it shook the entire wall.
“It’s Daxxton!” he roared. “Open up.”
The door swung open a moment later.
Arrayed in front of him were Nolan, Vogel, and Dak, already in combat positions in case he wasn’t telling the truth.
They relaxed slightly upon seeing him, but as Miranda entered the room they all breathed heavy sighs of relief.
Very odd, he thought.
“Everyone is okay?” he asked, surveying the room as the occupants nodded or vocalized their status.
Only when they did, did he relax.
Footsteps came down the hall again and he spun to face the door just as Jeremiah, one of the Guardians assigned to estate security, poked his head around the corner.
“It’s okay,” Daxxton said as the head disappeared as quickly as it had come. “I think it’s over.”
The shifter moved into the archway of the door and nodded at him. “We heard the fighting and raised the alarm. Patrols are sweeping the grounds now and Asher and his team are in the air. I don’t know how they got in, but we’ll find them.”
Miranda stepped up to his side. “Alert those patrols. One of them is injured and left a trail of blood starting just outside the bar. Have some people trail it, but do not engage. Track him as far as they can. We need more information. Understood? There are also two bodies in the bar. Have them searched for anything identifying them.”
Jeremiah nodded and disappeared as quickly as he’d come, barking orders to others out in the hallway.
Daxxton watched him go, then turned back to those in the room.
***
Miranda
She spoke before he could.
“Don’t.”
The single word whipped across the room and Daxxton jerked as if it had been a physical object that hit him.
“What?”
“Don’t apologize. They didn’t come through your security.”
He frowned. “How did you…”
She snorted. “You’re kind of transparent like that,” she teased, but then resumed her serious expression. “Three dragon shifters don’t just waltz through the security you put in place around here. Even members of the Iron Scales B Company.”
The golden-tanned man’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m not a mind reader,” she continued. “But you know as well as I do that’s probably who they were. They were damn good, but they also used the same fighting style as the men we fought the other day. They were just better at it. Logic would indicate that they’re from the same place.”
Daxxton’s look of confusion turned into one of respect. “But they weren’t good enough to be A Company either,” he finished for her.
Now it was Miranda’s turn to smile. “Exactly. So now that we’ve established that, I think the next order of business is to call Klara and ask about any hidden rooms in the house that she might not have disclosed the location of to you. Or to her security team. I doubt she wants to tell you now, but we need to search them. For all we know, there’s a hidden entrance into the house that they know of and could keep using.”
“You might be correct,” Daxxton said. “But I don’t like the implications of that.”
“What implications?” the princess asked from where she sat on the edge of the bed.
Miranda turned, having been so wrapped up in her conversation with Daxxton that she’d forgotten about everyone else standing in the room with them.
Well that’s embarrassing.
“I don’t know of any hidden passages or rooms in the house,” Daxxton said. “Now, Klara and I are not particularly close, but at the same time, I am a Senior Guardian, and did spend fifty years as the High Guardian of Cadia. If such places do exist, how is it that these men know of them, when I do not? More importantly, how is it that they knew to be here when we first came here, and had done so much research onto the house that they knew where the hiding places were ahead of time?”
Miranda watched the princess’s eyes glow as her eyebrows furrowed together, and knew her own were doing the same. She hadn’t bothered to follow the full implication of all that Daxxton had just explained.
“It means one of two things,” she said into the silence for the benefit of anyone who didn’t follow along. “Either Klara is a traitor to Cadia—”
“Which, despite her being a colossal bitch, I believe is actually unlikely,” Daxxton said, before gesturing for her to continue.
“Or they anticipated us coming here somehow.”
Daxxton nodded. “Exactly. In hindsight, it actually makes sense. If we didn’t stay in Cadia proper, where else would a guest of your status be housed?” he asked, nodding deferentially to the princess.
“Shit,” Dak swore.
“Shit indeed,” Miranda agreed. “Which means that they may have even more unexpected surprises for us.”
***
She waited with Daxxton, glad for his solid, comforting presence next to her. Whatever barrier had been between them had come down, and he protectively stood nearby.
Her lips tugged upward at that. Despite his desire to ensure her complete safety, he’d let her do her job as normal, with the single caveat that she was never more than several steps from his side, and never out of his sight. His presence was noticeable, but he didn’t try to control her at all as she went about discussing precautions for the princess’s security and altered evacuation plans in case something went wrong with her own security team.
Miranda just hoped he saw her for her, and not as his chance at redeeming himself for his failure to protect Kyra. She liked him, despite knowing that doing so would most likely result in heartbreak for both of them, but she had to be her own person, not a modern day version of someone in his mind.
Still, he respected her enough not to try and take over her life, and that was something she valued highly.
Jeremiah returned at regular intervals to keep them updated, and she shook herself alert as he entered the room.
“What is it?” she asked the instant he looked up.
Something was going on, and it was written all over his face.
“The Iron Scale merc got away,” he said angri
ly, never having gotten over the direct order not to have anyone engage him. “He got into a car and headed for Cloud Lake, where he lost us in the subway system.”
She nodded. That was unfortunate, but had been mostly expected. They’d hoped to get something useful out of tracking him, but it had always been unlikely. “And?” she pushed, knowing that hadn’t been his only reason for returning.
“I just received word from the Council,” he said, nodding to her and Daxxton, but turning his attention to the princess. “They are holding an emergency meeting.”
Miranda turned to Daxxton. “Excellent. They want to speak to us. Let’s go.”
Jeremiah winced.
“What is it?” she asked.
“It wasn’t an invitation for Her Royal Highness,” the Guardian replied with an apologetic glance to the princess. “It was a friend of mine who simply passed on that information to me.”
Her rage peaked. “They’re having a Council meeting, about an attack on a foreign dignitary, and they’re not inviting us?” she asked dangerously.
“Jeremiah is just the messenger,” Daxxton said, stepping smoothly in front of her, his face a weird combination of calm and curiosity, something that should have gotten through to Miranda, but didn’t.
She was too pissed for that, but Daxxton did have a point.
“Sorry,” she grated out, nodding to Jeremiah. “Thank you for informing us.”
Her attention returned to Daxxton. “I’m going there. Now.”
“Yes,” he agreed after a moment, then turned his attention to the others. “Okay, gentlemen, Princess. Let’s get you moving.”
Nobody in the room moved.
Miranda watched his face as his eyes flicked around in confusion. She should tell him, but now was not the time.
“Miranda will speak for me,” the princess said. “I am feeling ill from the attack, and would prefer to remain here with my agents.”
Daxxton opened his mouth in surprise, but he was smart enough not to argue with the ruler of a shifter stronghold.
“Very well,” he said, snapping upright and giving the princess a bow. “I will take her there, and ensure that the Council gives her the right to speak.”
“Thank you,” the princess said genuinely.
Miranda was already moving from the room by that point and she heard Daxxton jog down the hallway to keep up. He fell in stride next to her, his longer legs easily keeping pace.
She could sense that he was intensely curious as to what was going on, but she hoped he didn’t press the issue. Right then Miranda needed to focus on what she was going to say to the Council. There was something she did want his input on.
“Why wouldn’t they invite the princess?” she asked as they emerged outside into the chilly evening air, trying not to sound insulted.
“They didn’t make the decision,” he ground out. “Klara did.”
“You think she’s a traitor?” Miranda asked in surprise, moving to the center of the nearest stone circle, preparing to summon her dragon.
“No,” Daxxton replied. “But I also believe she has one person’s interests in mind only. And it isn’t anyone from Tanith. We need to get you there to speak on the princess’s behalf. Who knows what she’s going to tell the rest of the Council without you there to correct it.”
Miranda nodded, and when it became clear Daxxton was done speaking, she spread her arms and summoned the shadows of her dragon, the blackness growing to encase her.
Behind her, Daxxton waited his turn, eyeing her speculatively.
***
Miranda didn’t pause on the shifting circle at the Cadian Council building. She’d initiated her shift before even touching down, and this time she strode forward within the circle of darkness even as her form shifted. She kept walking as the cloud dissipated, heading for the doors ahead, even as the two sentries moved to block her passage.
“Move aside,” Daxxton commanded as he dropped from the air, his human legs flexing slightly as he hit the ground.
“Show off,” she muttered under her breath, making sure the smile didn’t reach her face.
While she’d thought herself adept at shifting, Daxxton had taken it to a new level by shifting mid-air. He’d literally fallen from the sky in human form next to her, so that he didn’t get left behind.
The flight over had been made in companionable silence. Daxxton had watched over them while she concentrated her mental strength on what she should say. Unfortunately, her efforts had been wasted, because she still did not know what she was going to say. The line between asking for help, and telling Cadia it needed to get its shit together to prevent Tanith from falling was a fine one, and she needed to walk that razor’s edge perfectly.
“I said, move aside,” Daxxton ground out as they neared the sentries, who hadn’t moved.
“Sorry sir. Orders from Klara,” the sentry said nervously, but to his credit, he stood his ground.
“I don’t want to be an asshole,” Daxxton said as they came within a few strides. “But we’re in a hurry. If you don’t move, I’ll be forced to move you.”
The sentry who had spoken looked at his partner. They shared a glance, and then made the smart decision.
“Thank you,” Daxxton said, looking at both of them and nodding respectfully.
Miranda, on the other hand, kept walking. The door opened smoothly and she entered the building, heading down the laser-straight hallway to the big set of double doors that she assumed marked the entrance to the Cadian Council chambers.
“Okay,” Daxxton said, catching up. “How do you want to play thi—”
Miranda hit the doors like a wrecking ball and they flew open, the ceremonial wooden beam that kept them “locked” splintered, spraying the room with debris. It sent most of the Council ducking for cover as she walked into the center of the curved room and stood, surveying the assembled lords and ladies with barely restrained contempt.
“How dare you interrupt us like this!” Klara said, rising from her seat in the center.
Miranda’s eyes swiveled to impale her with the full fury of her gaze. “How dare I?” she whispered, the chamber so silent the noise bounced off the room’s notoriously poor acoustics. “How dare I?”
“Yes, this is a private session—”
“Of a Council that you told us wasn’t going to be assembled until tomorrow at midday at the earliest,” she spat, interrupting the woman once more. “So, you lied to us. I’m willing to overlook that I suppose, though I wonder if the rest of your Council knew that. Just as I have to wonder if they are okay with the knowledge that twice now a foreign dignitary ostensibly under your protection has come under attack while on Cadian soil.”
Miranda paused. “Although, both occurrences of which have happened while on the Nova Estates. Perhaps we were mistaken when you convinced us of the safety of your home, Councilwoman Nova.”
Backs straightened and more than one set of eyes widened as she hurled that bomb out there. Miranda hadn’t insinuated anything about Klara’s possible involvement in the attacks, but she had insulted her host nonetheless. Her reputation would likely suffer as word circled about her inability to protect foreign dignitaries.
“I assure you,” Klara said, realizing her need to play polite for a moment. “That we have the security of the Tanithian delegation at the foremost of our concerns.”
“We’ll see. I know he has our best interests at heart,” she said with a nod at Daxxton. “But Wing Commander Ryker is but one individual. I have my doubts about how Cadia feels about Tanith lately. I can tell you, we have noticed her apathy. As the ruling body of Cadia, that apathy comes from you.”
Many of the Council members who had watched the proceedings with disinterest until then sat up as she called them all to task.
“Yes, you heard me right,” Miranda said, addressing them all. “You do not have anyone else’s interests in mind anymore. Cadia was once a great and respected power. They looked out for those of us who were not as p
owerful. Cadia would stop the more predatory powers from exerting undue influence upon us, with a scant care for what Cadia might get from the deal. They did it out of a feeling of pride and respect for all strongholds.”
Miranda snorted. “Now though. Now you sit in your ivory towers and don’t lift a finger until it will help you grow richer or more powerful. It disgusts me, but I am not you, and while I would love to implore you to change, I won’t. I simply tell you that if you continue to look the other way as Fenris makes inroads on places like Tanith and others, you will swiftly find yourselves removed from your perch as the most powerful shifter realm on the planet.”
That got their attention.
“You need to stop being so lazy. Or, perhaps I have it all wrong,” she mused. “Perhaps you aren’t lazy at all. Perhaps Fenris has already become more powerful than you, and you know it. So you don’t act out of fear.”
“That is enough!” Klara said, vaulting the platform that separated the raised dais upon which all the Council chairs sat. “I will not be talked down to by some minion of the princess.”
Beside her, Miranda felt more than saw Daxxton step forward to protect her. But she was ready for this.
“No?” she snapped. “Then perhaps you should rest assured that you aren’t talking to one, but instead you’re insulting the Princess of Tanith herself.”
Chapter Ten
Daxxton
His dragon blazed with golden fire as Klara lost her temper and came flying over the dais.
Fury consumed her eyes as she made clear she intended to teach Miranda a lesson for speaking to her so. It was rare that such things happened at the heights of power within which they now stood, but it did. Miranda had called the Cadian Council cowards, but everyone in the room knew who was the controlling power of that Council, and as such who the words had been directed at.
Daxxton wasn’t about to let that happen, and his body language made that clear to Klara.
But it was the words of Miranda which stopped things from happening. They caught him so off guard that he stumbled to a halt, jaw dropping as he turned to stare at her.