by KC Kingmaker
“Oh? And would your leader deny you these?”
A ruffling of clothes nearly made me smirk, able to perfectly picture the scene playing out in the hallway.
One of the men said, “Oh, well those are, uh—”
“Big and lovely and perfect? I know.”
Slow footfalls reverberated off the walls: the guards approaching.
A muffled grunt and a quiet struggle had my heart racing. Steel clanked to the ground and a heavy thud followed. Then a second thud.
“Stupid fucking men,” the female voice said, now straightforward and decidedly un-sultry. “Oldest trick in the tome.”
The door to my room burst open.
My stomach was in my throat as I sat up in alarm.
“Levy!” called the pure voice.
Tears welled beneath my blindfold.
The fabric was thrown aside just as Blythe was putting her tits away. She was surrounded by wide-eyed faces of at least ten women I recognized—women from the shelter.
They had come to rescue me, and not the other way around. Blythe I understood, because she would go to the ends of Caan to help me, but the rest of these women? It showed they truly cared.
Joy bloomed inside me like a beautiful flower, its petals touching every part of my body.
“Bless the fucking gods is it good to see you!” I wailed, lunging forward to bring Blythe into a hug.
She returned the hug in the squishiest, most comfortable way possible, as she always did, before pulling me back to wipe tears from my cheeks.
“How’d you know to find me?” I asked.
Her pretty face took on a boastful air, as if I should have never doubted she would. I probably shouldn’t have.
“Jervus tipped us off,” she said, swiping dark strands of hair out of her face. “Said he spotted a giant hooded birdcage making its way down the street past his tavern.”
“Gah, I love that big-eyed bastard,” I gushed. “I knew there was a reason I hung around that tavern so much.”
“Oh, you mean other than to get fucked up all the time?”
I glowered at her, then embraced her again. “Gods, how I’ve missed you.”
My eyes scanned the determined faces of the girls around my best friend, from Seren to Zia and more, before finally landing on Alondra, the old headmistress who I thought could barely move due to her advanced age.
I furrowed my brow. “Merlog’s bouncing balls, Alondra, what are you doing out here? You weren’t one of the supposed, uh—”
“Sluts?”
“Well, I was going to say diversion—”
“No, girl, I left that to the more nubile members.” Her eyes flashed with mischief and she winked. “I was part of the attack party.”
Well I’ll be damned. I definitely have some things to learn about the old crone!
“What about the kids and the rest of the shelter?” I asked frantically, my pulse picking up speed. “If all the adults are out here, where are they?!”
Blythe put her hands on my shoulders and told me to shush in a soothing murmur. “They’re safe, Levy. Silmaria let me leave them in her care while we figured this out.”
I cocked my head. “Silmar—oh. Oh! Right.”
Ah, yes, one of Blythe’s countless casual lovers around town. I guess I couldn’t chastise her anymore about her carefree love life when they came with such added benefits.
“If anyone dares to show up to the shelter, they’ll find it empty,” she explained. Then her nose wrinkled. “Though I’ll probably be paying for dinner on the next few outings with Silmaria after putting her around so many rambunctious monkeys.”
A few of the girls chuckled.
I took them all in and sighed. I tenderly touched Zia’s cheek and her fair face brightened. “It’s so amazing to see you all. Thank you for rescuing me—you gals are stronger and more resilient than I ever even imagined. And that’s saying something.”
“Thanks to you,” Zia said.
A few girls murmured in agreement, nodding.
My heart felt full to bursting. But then it sank when I noticed a particular glaring absence.
“Where’s Pearl?”
Blythe’s falling face didn’t make me feel any better. “She didn’t make it, Levy.”
My chest constricted.
“She left us about two days after you set off, honey.”
I opened my mouth to say something but then just clamped my lips tight and nodded firmly.
It was a sad truth about shelter life—sometimes people returned to the silver tongues and heavy fists of their abusers. Often with open arms. There wasn’t much I could do about it, and even less when I’d been gallivanting around the Wildlands.
“Don’t you dare blame yourself, Levy,” Blythe scolded me, apparently reading my mind. She tilted my chin to meet her startling gaze. “It wasn’t her time yet. But I haven’t given up on Pearl. You can bet your ass on that.”
I believed it.
Before I could thank her, she cuffed my arm and spun around. “Now come on, let’s get you out of here. Something big is happening in the town square. Practically the whole town’s gathered.”
If one’s heart could sink to their feet, that was where mine went. I had a pretty good idea what was going on there and who was involved. I’d let Blythe figure out my feelings on the matter—and the person—in due time.
For now, I needed to get there before it was too late.
Outside the cell, I bent to pick up one of the guards’ swords and Blythe picked up the other. Both the men were facedown but there didn’t seem to be any blood.
I gave Blythe a questioning glance.
She wagged her new sword at me. “Oh, don’t give me that look. They’re still alive. I suggested we kill them but Alondra wouldn’t have it.”
The old woman shuffled along beside me, shaking her head. “That time has come and gone, girls,” she said sagely.
With that ominous announcement, I gave Blythe another look and she just shrugged. Apparently Alondra being a badass was news to her just as it was me.
“Alondra,” I said, resting my free hand on her shoulder. “We have to jet down there. You don’t mind if we—”
“Skedaddle? No, girl. I’m not doing any running. That time has also passed. I’ll make sure the rest of the girls get to the shelter safely.”
I let out a relieved sigh and bowed my head. “Thank you.”
Then Blythe and I were careening down the long hallway of whatever building we were in. Based on the quality of the stone that made the walls, I guessed we were in the middle, eastern section of town, one of the nicer parts of—
“Ladies.” The croak from behind stopped my chattering mind.
Blythe and I halted.
Alondra approached at a snail’s pace, hands behind her back. “Those swords are going to draw a lot of attention for an event where you don’t want to draw a lot of attention. Just some words of wisdom.”
I stared down bleakly at my sword and frowned.
“And you’re just full of wise words, aren’t you?” Blythe mumbled.
“She’s right,” I said. “The guard presence is going to be massive.”
“How do you know?”
I ignored the question. I wished I had my trusty dagger, but they’d taken it from me before tossing me in the room, so this would have to do. “We’ll keep these hidden for as long as we can, though if things get squirrelly, we need to let them go.”
Blythe whined in a high pitch. “Awww.” She hugged the flat of the blade against her chest and gave me a puppy-dog pout. “But it makes me feel so safe, Levy.”
I snorted, saluted Alondra, and took off around the corner and outside the building.
Mud churned under my feet as I sprinted in the humid night, hustling down the wide-open roads. Blythe’s legs were shorter and she was a bit more, uh, top-heavy, so she lagged behind but tried to keep pace.
I couldn’t worry about her right now.
I had a one-track
mind and couldn’t even enjoy the pleasure of what a nice evening it was in Belfue—stars overhead beaming down, the moon brighter than usual, and the wind just perfect as it sifted through my long hair.
My hunch had been correct about my location. I beelined down the road from the eastern residential district toward the town center. We passed an odd man here and there, but for the most part the streets were unusually vacant.
From a distance I could already hear raised voices and could see the shadows of fires and torches flickering off the walls of buildings surrounding the town square.
An important event was being held and the entire town was invited—pressured, probably—to show up.
I gritted my teeth, took a deep breath, and fought through my thundering heartbeat.
“Merlog’s nuts, girl, when did you get so fast!” Blythe heaved from behind me.
As I turned a corner in the road, I stuttered to a stop and dashed back behind a building. A line of guards stood near the end of the street, watching as citizens moseyed past, keeping their eyes out for any weapons or contraband.
I lowered my eyes to Blythe.
She groaned. “Dammit.” Then she rolled her eyes and dumped her sword off behind a barrel. I did the same.
We slowed our pace to a leisurely stroll to meld in with the crowd approaching the town square. I didn’t recognize any of the guards and thank the gods for that, but my heart was beating so fast in my chest I worried they’d be able to hear it thumping as I passed them.
I took a big lungful of air as we waltzed by the line of guards, unable to remember the last time I’d breathed.
Then I was staring at the open square, which was surrounded by torches and a couple campfires to make sure everything stayed alight.
I was packed in with the crowd, trying to get closer and cram my way through. Most of the people didn’t pay my intrusion any mind, but a few of them grumbled as I bumped their shoulders.
I didn’t give a shit.
Chief Garnu paced before the large audience surrounding the square—hundreds of citizens had shown up to circle him.
He walked with a swagger I hadn’t seen before.
To Garnu’s left, hidden mostly in a corner and backed by his mercenaries, stood the statuesque form of Captain Rafe.
And to Garnu’s right, near the other side of the square—
My throat hitched, a helpless noise escaping my lips.
Coalt was chained to an apparatus, a heavy circle of metal around his waist. The chain dragged through and cuffed his hands behind his back and shackled his feet together. He was naked besides a long loincloth that went to his knees, and even with the glorious reflection of the flames dancing off his picturesque body, I didn’t feel an ounce of lust inside me—just burning, acrid fear at the back of my throat.
Blythe heard my whimper and followed my eyes to the shackled dragon shifter.
Her eyes narrowed as they landed on me, and then widened when I met her gaze.
“Oh gods, Levy,” she rasped. “Just how deep did you get?”
I chewed my bottom lip, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.
“All the way, Bly. All the fucking way.”
32
Coalt
Chief Garnu traipsed around the square, hyping the Belfue citizens with his flourishes and talk of evil, tyrannical dragon shifters. I simply leered at the Unscaled for acting so uncivilized and excited to see a man put to death.
Didn’t Garnu know what kind of hellfire he was potentially bringing upon his people by doing this?
Perhaps if I’d been a more important dragon—someone not part of the Resistance, namely—he would’ve reconsidered his strategy. And in fact, even with my unpopularity, if the Resistance got word of this, there would be no mercy.
I tuned Garnu out and started thinking about Levia—where she was, how she was doing, if she was even still alive.
Pain tugged at my heart at the last thought. I had to believe I’d feel something if she had perished already. Our connection was too intense not to.
Yes, she had to still be alive.
All I could do now was buy her some time. Because the longer this charade went on, the likelier she was to escape whatever captivity she was in.
Well, buying time wasn’t the only thing I could do, but I was waiting. Being patient.
Gods, Father, if you could only see me now. You’d be disgusted at the restraint I’m showing.
I looked down at the shackles that bound me. Even with my wrists chained behind my back, my waist enclosed with steel, and my legs tied together, I could escape. These pathetic bindings couldn’t hold back a dragon’s shift—and definitely not an angry one.
But I had made a vow not to hurt these people or this place. As rundown as Belfue was, it was still Leviathan’s homeland.
I also couldn’t be sure I could get out of this predicament alive, even after shifting. Rafe was a strong enough dragon in his own right, and he also had the backing of countless mercenaries. Any one of them could have been a dragon as well, though I didn’t currently sense that to be the case.
I glanced over at the “captain” and noticed Rafe refused to look at me. If there was some internal conflict going on in his mind, it didn’t show. He was willing to sacrifice one of his own people—a former commander of his—for a quick payday. His loyalty was compromised and unredeemable. He had made his choice and he would have to live with it. And die by it.
I focused on Chief Garnu after scanning the silhouetted faces of the crowd, to see where he was in his spiel.
“We can’t allow outsiders to come into our town and kill our people!” the chief announced in his high, annoying voice. A few bystanders cheered.
“No matter if they’re frightening dragon shifters or not—that gives them no right! For too long we have lived under the thumb of the Dragon Dominion. But no longer!”
A more enthusiastic wave of cheers rose from the crowd. He was getting them properly riled up, to the point of mindless mob mentality.
Garnu placed a hand on his own chest, tilting his chin up with an air of superiority. “When I take my rightful place among the Summer House, citizens, I can assure you things will change. I am not joining the House to ally with them, but to change things from within! Because it is clear we cannot change things from without.”
I snorted and shook my head. And these people believe this shit? Perhaps I gave the Unscaled more credit than they deserved, the foolish shitheads.
“Screw the scaly bastards!” a man screamed.
“Violent fuckers need to be taught a lesson!” another yelled.
I glanced over at Captain Rafe and saw him shifting his weight a bit nervously. His cheeks were sucked-in hollows as he stared at the ground, his clasped knuckles tightening. It seemed Garnu’s words were finally arousing his inner dragon, and he didn’t like what he was hearing.
But I also didn’t expect him to act. For him, this was bigger than just a foolish Unscaled chieftain getting rid of a supposed threat. This was for Ashlyn Firesworn, my sister and his commander and the right-hand woman of Empress Orphea.
If other dragons got word Rafe had snuffed me out, he would become a hero among the Dominion. His status and position would instantly improve. Maybe he wouldn’t have to work as a lackey and mercenary for assholes like Garnu, even.
But didn’t he say he was going to drop me off right at Ashlyn’s feet? What happened to that?
I suppose it didn’t matter to Rafe or Ashlyn who killed me, as long as I was dead.
Garnu gestured at me with an accusatory finger. “The man shackled before you is Coalt Firesworn, a tarnished prince of the Summer House nation. Though his reputation has been tainted among his own kind, he still represents their tyranny!
“So, my fellow Belfians, what say we make him pay for coming in here and disturbing our homeland?”
A chorus of angry “ayes” billowed from the audience. People pumped their fists over their heads.
“Coalt Fires
worn has been charged with killing our beloved brother and citizen, Bastio Forthel. Bastio the Viper, as he was endearingly called by his comrades!”
I nearly started laughing. That was the trumped up charge against me? The killing of a would-be rapist and defiler? I was sure “the Viper” was no term of endearment—the drunk bastard was called that because he was a snake.
Everyone in the crowd undoubtedly knew it. But I suppose everyone needs a scapegoat.
“After a lengthy investigation,” Garnu shouted, “Vero Firesworn has been found guilty and will be sentenced to death by dismemberment!”
“Teach these bastards a lesson!” a man roared.
“Rip his arms off!”
Chief Garnu spun on me with a cruel smirk and closed the gap. His words were barely more than a whisper above the din of the crowd. “Now do you regret coming into my house, destroying my property, and trying to make a fool out of me, Coalt Firesworn?”
I shrugged nonchalantly, but inside I was burning with rancor. I couldn’t contain my dragon for much longer. “I didn’t try to do anything, Garnu. I simply exposed your spinelessness.”
He snarled and bared his millions of teeth, then wheeled around and raised his arms to the praise of his followers.
“Are there any final words you’d like to espouse, dragon tyrant?” he asked coolly.
My mind worked fast, stuttering as my eyes landed on a long white bag near the edge of the circle, leaning against a footstool near Captain Rafe and behind Garnu.
Ah, so Rafe is here for more than just fun; he’s guarding the dragonrune sword.
My eyes narrowed on the chief. “Yes,” I said, calmly but loudly. “I will duel you for Leviathan Sunfall’s safety.”
The cheering chants of the crowd wavered at mention of Levia. Whether they loved her or hated her, it was clear everyone knew who she was, and for her name to be coming out of my mouth . . .
Garnu hadn’t even mentioned her, of course, because it didn’t fit his agenda.
His neck muscles went taut. “Who?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Garnu. We both know you’re holding Levia in a prison cell somewhere in this city, just waiting to execute her once you finish with me.”