Page 135 of Throne of Ice and Blood
Why would someone like Draven Ryat be obeying the Icehearts like a loyal little dog?
I gasp, and my mouth drops open as I stagger a step back when a sudden realization hits me like a blow to the chest. My heart pounds as I stare back at Draven.
“Fucking hell,” I blurt out, my pulse pounding in my ears. “They’re using dragon steel, aren’t they?”
Draven opens his mouth but then closes it again. But relief washes over his features.
I drag in an unsteady breath. “Oh by all the gods, I’m right, aren’t I?”
“What?” Galen presses out, sounding both confused and suddenly terrified. Staring at Draven, he shakes his head as if in disbelief. “No. That can’t… They… It’s not possible. They destroyed all the dragon steel after the Liberation War. And even if they had any, they wouldn’t be able to use it.” His eyes are desperate. Panicked. “They can’t even touch it.Wecan’t even touch it. No dragon shifter can.”
And then the final piece clicks into place.
I gasp as all those loose ends and strange behaviors and shocking secrets finally stop spinning in my mind, and a clear image emerges. Understanding floods my veins.
“Lavendera,” I breathe. “Oh Mabona’s tits. They’re using Lavendera, aren’t they?”
A shockwave pulses through the whole Black Dragon Clan.
But I pay them no mind. My eyes are solely focused on Draven. He doesn’t reply, but I know that I’m right.
Goddess above, the Icehearts have somehow convinced Lavendera to put the dragon steel on Draven. And as fae, she can channel her magic through the metal to control Draven. She can force him to do whatever she says.
“Where?” I demand, panic rising inside me again, as I stare back at Draven. “Where is it? I’ve seen you naked multiple times, and you’re not wearing a necklace or a collar or a bracelet or anything at all. So where is it?”
Once again, he opens his mouth but then just closes it again. Forcing out a frustrated sigh, he fixes me with a pointed look and then flexes his hand. I snap my gaze down to it.
“Your right hand?” I ask.
He just stares back at me.
“Your forearm?” I press.
He lets out a soft breath.
“It’sinyour right forearm?”
Relief washes over his features.
“Oh fucking hell.” Panic now pulses inside me like a thrashing storm. We’re losing time. Fast. “How are we supposed to get it out?”
“You have to cut it out,” Galen declares as he suddenly runs up to us with Lyra on his heels.
The other dragon shifters are still staring at Draven with a mix of horror, guilt, and panic in their eyes. Steel sings as Galen yanks out a knife from his belt and shoves it into my hand.
I gape at him. “Me?”
“You’re fae. You’re the only one of us who can touch it.” He casts a panicked glance at the clock. “Do it. Now!”
“And the rest of you, what are you still doing here?” Draven bellows, speaking for the first time since this shocking revelation. “Grab your shit and get ready to leave!”
They lurch into motion. Boots pound against the floor as they run to finally obey his commands.
Gripping the hilt of the knife hard, I grab Draven’s wrist and pull his forearm towards me. Galen deftly removes the armor so that I can reach Draven’s skin. My heart beats so loudly that I can barely hear myself think as I stare down at his forearm. The dragon steel can’t be on the inside of his arm. There are too many large veins there. And the skin is too thin. It has to be on the outside. But where?
“Just do it,” Draven says.
“Fuck,” I snap.
