Page 57 of Born in Fire
Caleb nods. “And we need to strengthen our security.” He indicates a folder on the table beside him. “There have been reports of increased activity around Craven Towers—suspicious figures watching the building.”
“Malakai’s access codes have been used again,” I add. “Despite being revoked.”
“Impossible.” Luke’s fists curl on the table. “He must have inside help.”
“Agreed,” Caleb says. “We may have a mole within our ranks.”
Silence falls like a blanket as we all contemplate what this could mean. We live in constant fear of how our enemies will try to undermine us next. This gives them the perfect opportunity.
“Could the Syndicate be mobilizing?” Serena asks quietly, echoing my fears.
“All signs point to it,” Caleb says. But even as he says it, his eyes shift to the window, as if there’s someplace else he’d rather be.
I’d call him out on it—after all, it’s what he’d do to me—but my own focus isn’t much better. Juno’s words from our last encounter echo in my mind.
“I don’t want to feel afraid of the people I bring into my world, Dorian.”
The irony isn’t lost on me. She’s spent years rebuilding her life after Tyler, creating a safe space for herself, only to have me crash into it with my secrets and my dragon. I’ve become exactly what she feared—another man who can’t be trusted. My entire life has been built on lies and half-truths.
“Dorian?” Lydia’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Your input on the security measures?”
I straighten, clearing my throat. “We need to deploy counter-narratives immediately. Make Mara look like a desperateattention-seeker. Our media contacts can plant stories questioning her credibility, her mental health, her motives.”
“Ruthless,” Serena remarks with a hint of approval.
“Necessary,” I counter. “We need to discredit her before her followers start organizing physical investigations. The last thing we need is amateur dragonhunters showing up at our doorstep.”
“What about the mole?” It’s Luke again. “We can’t just focus on the threat outside when there’s one within our walls.”
The meeting continues, but I find my attention repeatedly drawn to Caleb. He’s struggling—his knuckles white as he grips the edge of the table, his breathing carefully controlled. At one point, I swear I see the faintest wisp of smoke escape his nostrils.
Something’s happening to him. Something to do with Elena.
“Caleb?” Lydia says. Clearly, I’m not the only one who’s aware of my brother’s distraction.
All eyes turn to him.
“Is everything alright?” she presses.
“Fine.” His tone is curt.
She observes him for a moment, then says, “We were discussing how to address the potential mole.”
“Right.” He clears his throat. “We need to initiate an internal investigation. Discreetly. If Malakai has sympathizers, we need to root them out.”
“Agreed,” I say, narrowing my eyes on him.
“Meeting adjourned,” he says before anyone can continue. “Sloane will coordinate our next steps.”
This is not like my brother at all. He usually micromanages fucking everything.
The meeting concludes with assignments distributed. I stick with coordinating our media response and investigating how Malakai accessed our systems despite his codes being revoked.
As the others file out, I linger, watching Caleb’s tense exchange with Lydia. Their voices are too low to hear, but the concern onher face is evident. I’m equally concerned; I need to speak to him, too.
While I wait, I check in with the communications team to follow up on the rebuttal campaign before calling the security team to dig into Malakai’s access codes.
When Caleb finally emerges, I’m lingering in the hallway.
