As I looked into his pale eyes, my gut twisted. Sebastian’s were most often aloof and cold, although sometimes they betrayed the fire within him. But hiding deep within this glittering gaze was something truly repellent.
Much more than merely an arrogant disregard for me and everything around him. He stared right through me, his gaze frigid, as though he considered himself so far above me that he would kill me without even blinking.
As though I were a mereinsect.
It made my skin crawl.
He wasn’t alone. Two other Bellatis, with the distinctive stance of bodyguards, flanked him. They assessed the wingless Dragon with cold, uncaring gazes before regarding me. I didn’t imagine the disgust that rippled across their features.
They were clad in cloaks that hung open. Something red shimmered from a thong around their throats—a crystal? I couldn’t see it clearly.
I raised my chin—and glared back at them. Circumstance had brought me to this, not weakness.
The final member of their little group appeared human. Balding, portly, with a nervous air to him.
If he hung around often with these Bellatis, I understood his issues.
Xumi stepped right up close to me and ran her talons across my chest. “He is splendid, isn’t he?” she purred to her guest. I could tell she was eyeing this guy up. If he wasn’t careful, he might end up hanging next to me.
Then again, the only thing more difficult to chain than a Dragon, was a Bellati. I almost wanted Xumi to try.
And preferably, fail.
“I’m surprised you talked the Guild into parting with him,” the Bellati said.
“In my experience”—she ran her talons over my chest—“anyone can be bought. Some just cost more.”
The tall man stiffened, but didn’t argue with her. Which meant he needed her for something.
I knew the signs. He walked close enough that I would have objected if I could have. “You know Sebastian?” he asked, in a tone that was more of a demand.
I stared back at him, but said nothing. I didn’t think he’d use that information wisely. Why did he want to know if I knew the Bellati?
The balding man began to babble. “H-he’s the right one. I-I’m sure of it. He has a tattoo of three fighting Dragons on his back.”
As far as I was aware, I’d never met the portly man before. And as I’d been trained to be observant, I didn’t think it was due to lack of memory. If he’d seen me, I hadn’t seen him.
The Bellati with the cold eyes strolled around behind me. I fought the urge to try to keep him in view. My instincts were screaming not to let him get behind me, to twist and watch him, despite the chains. But I kept my gaze straight ahead, as though no one else existed in the room. I did, however, breathe much easier when he reappeared on my other side.
“Is it there? The tattoo?” the smaller man asked.
“It’s there,” the Bellati confirmed.
“Sebastian will come for him,” the man continued. “I’ve foreseen it.”
The knot in my gut twisted tighter. A Seer. He’d envisioned Sebastian coming for me? My heart accelerated, but I took a deep, steadying breath. Seers were notoriously unreliable. So much was open to interpretation.
But despite my resolve, foolish hope blossomed within me.
“You’re sure all the timelines are in agreement?” the tall man demanded.
“Y-Yes. Yes, sir,” the other man stammered.
My gaze returned to the Bellati. Who was this guy?
Xumi had been entertaining herself by trailing her razor-sharp talons over every bit of my exposed flesh, leaving little bleeding lines in their wake. It was her idea of foreplay, and I fought to keep my body from reacting.
I was not entirely successful. The bodyguards eyed me with disdain, and I gritted my teeth. Then their leader’s hand shot out to grab my jaw.
