Page 78 of Fated By Fire
“If I find this video online—or anywhere—I will find you and fucking incinerate you myself. Do you understand?”
“I— um… Yes.” Her voice wavers.
“Good.” I hang up, so furious that I’m almost breathless. A moment later, my phone vibrates with an incoming message. I pull over briefly, opening the video attachment.
The shaky footage shows Elena fighting two men near a pavilion beside the lake. Then, in the background, a monstrousform descends from the sky, his scales dull in the low light, his movements hindered by his missing leg. It’s Malakai, alright. The image stirs a mix of rage and disgust within me. He was once a respected elder; now, he’s nothing more than a terrorist. A thorn in my side that I plan to pluck out.
I watch as Malakai snatches Elena, her terrified scream echoing faintly through the phone’s speaker. My jaw tightens as I watch him ascend. He’s heading into the city, but where?
I close my eyes, focusing on the bond. The faint sensation of her presence seems to be pulling me back toward Craven Tower. But that doesn’t make sense. Would he risk exposure by taking her someplace so public? The existence of dragons is a secret that is more zealously protected by the old guard than anyone. Malakai would be highly driven to hide his true nature from the world. I just can’t see him flying over Seattle, clutching a screaming woman.
But I have no doubt in my mind that that’s where they’re headed. I hit the gas, swerving back into traffic with renewed urgency. My destination now clear, I dial Dorian’s number.
“Caleb,” he answers on the first ring.
“We have a situation,” I say.
“What’s going on?”
“Malakai has Elena. I think he’s holed up somewhere in the city. We need to pull together on this. I think he has something up his sleeve, but I don’t know what.”
“Shit,” Dorian curses. “Back to the boardroom for a clan meeting?”
I pause before replying. “No. Let’s meet at your place. I don’t want to draw more heat to Craven Towers while this shitshow is going on.”
“Good thinking. I’ll head there now.”
I hang up without another word, navigating through the lanes as I make my way to Dorian’s apartment.
My brother lives in a converted warehouse on the edge of Pioneer Square—a boho chic space that contrasts sharply with my own minimalist penthouse. Exposed brick walls, large industrial windows, and eclectic artwork give the place character.
As I enter, the scent of sandalwood and aged leather greets me. Dorian stands near the open kitchen, a glass of water in hand, which surprises me since it’s not whiskey. He’s not alone. Several clan members mill about—Luke with his ever-present scowl, Serena pacing restlessly, and a few others murmuring in low tones.
“You’re here,” Dorian says unnecessarily, striding over to meet me. “We’re ready.”
I glance around, noting the tension etched on every face. My gaze catches on a vibrant silk scarf draped over the back of a chair—deep indigo with golden celestial patterns. It takes me a moment to place it. The barista was wearing it the day we saw her at the coffee shop.
What is it doing here?
Why the hell do I care?
“I’m guessing that Dorian has filled you in?” I say to the others. There are murmurs around me. “For those who are missing any details, Malakai has taken control of a woman we have identified as a descendant of Lyria Rossewyn.”
Someone gasps.
“We thought they’d died out,” says someone else, an older dragon male I recognize as Farrel Ludlow from one of our outlying circles.
“No,” I turn to face him. “We simply took our eye off the ball. That won’t happen again.”
“It can’t,” says Dorian. “While we were getting on with business, the Syndicate located her with the intention of using her against us.”
It’s a hard pill to swallow, but I can’t deny it.
“They turned a Rossewyn against the Craven line?” someone asks.
“That’s not what we said,” I answer quickly. “She’s unwilling in all of this. A pawn.” I hate the word. I hate that I practically put her in this position by not doing my duty. By forgetting the importance of our oath.
“Okay, what do we do now?” asks Serena. “I’m sure we’re not going to take a ‘guns blazing’ approach. This entire mess has already brought us far too much attention.”
