Page 59 of Fated By Fire
I park the car and take a moment to steady myself. The faint hum of the engine fades, leaving only the distant echoes of the city above. I need to focus. Dorian is waiting.
The private elevator whisks me up to the executive floor. As the doors slide open, I step into the hushed corridor. The officesare mostly empty at this hour, the usual bustle replaced by an uneasy stillness.
Dorian is in the conference room, sprawled casually in a leather chair with his feet propped up on the polished table. He’s flipping through a stack of reports, but his gaze lifts the moment I enter.
“About time,” he says, a hint of impatience in his tone. “I was starting to think you were bailing on me.”
“I had to make sure everything was secure,” I reply, closing the door behind me. “We can’t afford any more mistakes.”
He smirks. “Always so serious, brother.” But his eyes sharpen as he studies me. “Fill me in.”
I sink into a chair opposite him, rubbing a hand over my face. “We have a problem.”
“Just one?” He raises an eyebrow. “Because I’ve counted at least five since breakfast.”
“The Syndicate.”
His smirk fades. “What about it?”
“They took Elena.”
Dorian sits up straight, dropping his feet to the floor. “They what? Why?”
I recount the events of the past twenty-four hours—the Syndicate’s involvement via Blackthorn, and the Enforcer, and the revelation of Elena’s lineage.
“She’s a Rossewyn,” I finish. “A direct descendant of Lyria.” I reach into my top pocket and extract the photo of Elena’s mother, sliding it across the table to him. “This is her mother. Note the resemblance. Elena spoke of seeing a picture of her mother in the company archives, but I think it was probably one of her ancestors.”
“A Rossewyn.” Dorian rubs his jaw. “Well damn. Didn’t see that coming.”
“Neither did I.” I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table. “It explains how she got past the security measures. The Heartstone recognized her.”
“But none of us did.”
“No.” I scowl. “Perhaps it’s been too long. We’ve forgotten.” Guilt gnaws at me. “I’veforgotten.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. It’s been decades since anyone set eyes on one.”
“The Syndicate probably did. Twenty years ago, Elena’s mother went missing.”
He exhales sharply. “Malakai?”
I shake my head. “No idea. I don’t peg him as a Syndicate man. Though he may have allied with them. Possibly leading the Circle of Fire.”
“That old bastard.” Dorian shakes his head. “I knew he was stuck in the past, but treason?”
“It’s more than treason,” I say grimly. “He’s willing to betray his own clan, risk exposure, endanger us all—for what? Some misguided notion of returning to the ‘old ways’?”
“The Circle runs deep. But I’ve heard rumors that the old-timers were gathering.” Dorian’s jaw tightens. “We should have seen this coming.”
“Perhaps.” I glance out the window at the cityscape. “But right now, we need to focus on containing the threat.”
“Agreed.” He drums his fingers on the table. “So, what’s the plan? And please tell me you’re not keeping the woman somewhere obvious.”
“She’s safe.”
He snorts. “Meaning you’ve got her hidden away in that cabin of yours?”
“She’s off the radar,” I snap. “It’s the best option for now.”
