Cody straightened. “He’s here, in the dungeon.”
“There’s a dungeon?” Matt’s eyes were wide. “Just what kind of school is this?”
“It wasn’t always a school,” Kitani reminded him. “And the builders made good use of the dungeon.” She sounded grim.
“He’s comatose, according to Bess,” Cody added. “She checked him over, said he would live if we let him rest. When he comes out of it, we can question him, and we will ask him about Talakai. But if the Dragon organized behind the scenes, he may have only coordinated the grab with Darius. Aaron may not know about it.”
“But he left this,” Ryan interjected. His hands stroked the sword with what could only be described as reverence.
“He was an assassin,” Cody pointed out. “He likely stole it from a target. They meant nothing to him.”
Matt gestured to the sword. “You said each owner is inscribed on the blade...”
Ryan’s eyes lit. “Yes. If Talakai’s name is there, then we know he didn’t steal or purchase it. That it was gifted to him.”
“If that’s the case,” Matt questioned, “why would he leave it behind?”
Ryan’s lips twisted. “One would think that he wouldn’t do so. If he planned the entire thing, he knew it was going down. So why leave the sword? It doesn’t make sense.”
Cody looked thunderous—and intimidating as hell. “Is Talakai’s name there?” he demanded.
The muscular Sabre shook his head. “It’s in script. Draconian, if I were to guess. I can’t read it.”
Kitani’s eyes narrowed. “Why would he disappear right when the girls were taken, if he wasn’t involved?”
Ryan traded looks with his mates. “If this sword was gifted to me, no way in hell I’d leave it behind. But that assumes Talakai had at least as close a regard for weapons as me. Perhaps I am wrong.”
“You could be. Maybe he didn’t care at all about that sword.” Cody’s lips pulled straight, and his eyes glowed copper. “Can Tyrez read the inscriptions?” He paused. “Think he’s out flying, though. I saw him heading for the roof with Dani and Ash.”
I regarded him in surprise. “They aren’t resting?”
Kitani snorted. “Leaning on clouds,” she said. “They can almost nap while they soar the thermals.”
“Cara might be able to interpret,” Ryan theorized. “But I’m not sure where she and Bess went. They were deep in discussion about something.” His eyes drifted over me, and my stomach twisted.
The beast inside me had killed two men on that roof. I figure I might have given them something to talk about.
“I’ll bellow for Tyrez,” Ryan said, heading for the door with the sword cradled along his arm. Matt finished his beer in a long gulp and followed him.
Cody looked torn.
“Stay here, dude,” Ryan told him. “I can bellow sufficiently without you.”
The Sabre glanced at Kitani, who avoided looking at him. I doubted she was ready to be alone again, so soon after the attack. Or that he’d want to leave them either.
He grimaced and followed us to the door. His chaotic, coppery eyes met mine. “Do you really think Talakai wasn’t involved in this?”
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “But I have to be sure.”
He nodded. “That would be good. Because if he wasn’t, then why isn’t he here?”
“That’s the question, exactly,” I agreed, following Matt and Ryan out the door.
15
Matt
Anna, Ryan, and I climbed the stairs to the roof. It was bloody breezy up here, with the waves on the lake below us now capped in foam.
