Page 18 of Fated by Fire (Dragonblood Dynasty #1)

Chapter 18

E lena

The loft feels impossibly quiet after Caleb leaves. My skin still tingles where he touched me, and my lips feel swollen from his kisses.

Why the fuck did you do that?

I let him in—not just into my loft, but into me . I let him see me vulnerable, scared, and all I got in return was more confusion and pain. And yet… that kiss. His touch. That moment of connection. It felt like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. It felt real.

But then he dropped the bombshell.

“You can’t trust me,” he’d said, and those words cut deeper than I care to admit. He’s right. I can’t trust him. I don’t even know what he’s hiding, but it’s big. Bigger than me, bigger than Craven Industries. And I’m caught in the middle of it.

The sound of my laptop pinging pulls me out of my spiral. I hesitate, staring at the device like it’s a live grenade. I sent that email to Blackthorn, and now there’s a reply. I can feel it.

I sit up slowly, my body still aching in places I didn’t know could ache, then drag myself to the desk and open the message.

Subject: Urgent: Meeting Request

Your message is intriguing. While we’re disappointed you’re unable to continue the assignment, we believe there’s still a way to resolve this situation to our mutual benefit. In addition, we’ve uncovered some information related to your mother’s disappearance that may be of interest to you. Meet us tonight at 9 pm at the address below. Come alone.

B. Blackthorn

I stare at the name. B. Blackthorn. The big boss himself has decided to reach out.

There’s an address attached—some corporate facility on the outskirts of the city. I stare at it for a long time, my stomach churning. They’ve never asked to meet in person before. But maybe this new development has galvanized them into action. And this stuff about my mom? There’s no way they’re just going to hand me information about her out of the goodness of their hearts. But… what if they’re serious? What if this is my chance to finally get some answers?

I glance at the clock. It’s already 8 pm. If I’m going to do this, I need to leave soon.

My phone buzzes with a text from Mara.

Hey, you alive?

I hesitate. If I tell her what I’m planning, she’ll either try to stop me or insist on coming with me. And I can’t risk that. This is something I need to do on my own.

I type back quickly.

Yeah, just tired. Going to bed early. Talk tomorrow.

Her response is immediate.

K. Love you.

I swallow the lump in my throat.

Love you too.

Pushing my guilt aside, along with my apprehension, I change into a pair of jeans, boots, and a dark hoodie, tucking my mother’s locket under my shirt. I don’t know why, but it feels important that I have it with me.

The drive to the address takes me out of the city, the streets growing quieter and darker the further I go. The facility is a nondescript building surrounded by a high fence, with a security booth at the entrance. I pull up to the gate, and the guard waves me through without a word, which immediately sets off alarm bells in my head. My instincts are screaming at me to turn around and leave. But I don’t. I can’t.

I park my Jeep in the lot and step out, pulling my jacket around me. The wind stings my bare cheeks, and I shiver as I approach the largest building. It’s a sprawling, nondescript structure with a single illuminated entrance.

Deep breaths, Elena. You’ve got this.

I head inside, my footsteps echoing in the empty lobby. A man in a dark suit appears out of nowhere, his face unreadable.

“Ms. Ross,” he says. “This way.”

Inside, the building is cavernous and dimly lit. The air smells faintly of metal and something sharp and chemical. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. There’s no one around, but considering the time of day, that’s hardly surprising. It’s unnerving, though, adding to my sense of unease.

The man leads me down a series of hallways until we reach a spacious boardroom. The room is dominated by a massive table, its surface gleaming under the harsh fluorescent lights. Standing at the head of the table is a man who can only be Mr. Blackthorn.

He’s compact and wiry, with sharp features and dark, calculating eyes. His hair is dark brown and slicked back, and he’s dressed in an impeccably tailored suit. He looks like the kind of man who’s used to getting what he wants, whatever the cost. I immediately dislike him.

Standing behind him are two other people. One is a woman with steel-gray hair and a frosty expression. The other is a man who makes my skin crawl.

He’s tall and broad-shouldered, with white-blond hair and pale blue eyes that feel like ice against my skin. There’s a scar running from his left temple to his jawline, and his expression is utterly devoid of emotion. He’s the kind of man who looks like he could kill you without blinking, and I have no doubt he’s done it before.

Shit. This was a mistake.

“Ms. Ross,” Blackthorn says, his voice smooth and chilling. “So glad you could join us.”

“Mr. Blackthorn,” I say, then clear my throat when the words get caught. My throat is too dry, too tight. “It’s good to meet you in person at last.”

He gives a nod. “Please, have a seat.” He gestures to the chair across from him.

I hesitate, then sit down, my hands clasped on the table in front of me to stop myself from fidgeting.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why we’ve asked you here,” he says. “The truth is, Ms. Ross, you’ve exceeded our expectations. You’ve done something no one else could.”

“I was a little concerned, to be honest. I don’t seem to have delivered any of what you were hoping for.” My voice is cautious.

“Quite the contrary.” He smiles; it makes me uncomfortable. “You accessed the vault at Craven Industries. A feat that should have been impossible.”

I tilt my head. “I don’t understand.”

“Of course you do,” he says, his tone condescending. “The security measures—none of it worked on you. You walked right in as if the vault was waiting for you.”

I don’t respond. My mind is racing. How does he know that?

“Tell me, Ms. Ross,” he continues, his gaze boring into mine, “did you feel anything when you were near the artifact? Anything… unusual?”

“Well…” I pause, not sure how to explain what I experienced. Or even if I want to. I’m getting more and more uncomfortable. “It felt a little like electrical interference,” I eventually say, hoping it’s neutral enough to answer his question without sounding like kooky.

“Yes. Yes. Electrical interference.” He nods as if this is precisely what he was hoping to hear. “And did you have any kind of physical response to this?”

“Physical response?” I blink at him. The man and woman behind him have exchanged glances. “I… I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Tingling of the extremities, heart racing, shortness of breath… that sort of thing.” He’s looking at me intently.

“Well… I guess you could say that,” I agree, not adding that it felt like I was feeling another heartbeat, a sensation of being drawn toward it irresistibly.

“Good. Good. Very good.” He’s nodding some more. I half expect him to start rubbing his hands together. “This is going to be very useful to us.”

“How could it be useful?” I’m growing increasingly confused.

“Because you’re the key, don’t you see?” His eyes are bright, a bit maniacal. My confusion is mingling with a twist of fear.

“The key to what? Mr. Blackthorn, none of this is making any sense to me. If you’d just tell me what this assignment is about, I’d be able to help you more.”

“Oh, you’ve already provided exactly what we were hoping for. Just as your mother did when she—”

“My mother?” I grit my teeth. “How does this relate to my mother? You said you had information about her.”

He chuckles, leaning forward. “Oh, you’ll find out soon enough.” He steeples his fingers. “What you encountered in that vault is an artifact called the Heartstone. It’s an ancient relic, one of immense power. And you, Ms. Ross, are going to give us access to it.”

My stomach drops. “Access to it?”

“Your mother knew the significance of this assignment,” he says, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. “She knew the Heartstone’s power, and she knew what it could do. She knew too much. That’s why she disappeared.”

My heart stops. “Disappeared,” I whisper. “Where is she? Do you know where she went?”

“That’s not relevant right now, Ms. Ross,” he says smoothly. “What matters is how you can help us.”

“Stop.” I raise a hand. “Just… just stop! I’m not doing anything until you tell me what happened to my mom!”

“You’re not in a position to make demands, my dear.” He smiles smoothly, the picture of calm. “You will do as we tell you.”

I shove my chair back and stand. “I think this meeting is over,” I say, although I’m suddenly aware that I have no power here right now.

He shrugs. “It will be over when I say it is. But the truth is, Ms. Ross, you’re exactly where we need you. You’re the key to the Heartstone, and we’re going to use you to unlock its power.”

I shake my head vigorously. “No! I’m not helping you. Whatever you think I am, you’re wrong.”

His smile fades, replaced by a cold, hard expression. “You don’t have a choice.”

He nods at the blond man, who moves toward me with unnerving speed. I take a step back, but he grabs my arm, his grip like iron.

“Get your goddamned hands off me!” I shout, struggling against him, but he’s too strong.

“Ms. Ross, meet The Enforcer,” Blackthorn says, his voice dripping with mockery. “He’ll ensure you cooperate.”

I kick and thrash, but it’s no use. The Enforcer drags me out of the room and down the hallway toward a set of double doors. I scream for help, but the building is empty, and no one comes.

We step outside into the cold night air, and I see a black SUV waiting at the curb. The Enforcer shoves me toward it, and I stumble, falling to my knees.

“Get up,” he growls, the menace in his voice unmistakable.

I don’t move. I can’t. My body feels like it’s shutting down, my mind a whirlwind of fear and panic.

They’re going to take me. Just like they took Mom!

Oh, God… Mom…

Is this how she met her end? Did people like this take her? Hurt her? Worse…?

“I said get on your fucking feet, bitch,” the bastard behind me snarls. He shoves me roughly with a booted foot, and I sprawl forward awkwardly.

And then I hear it—a sound like the rush of wind. A low, guttural rumble. I look up… and stop breathing.

Something massive is swooping down from the sky, its wings blotting out the stars. I barely have time to register what’s happening before it’s on me, its massive talons gripping me around the waist.

I scream, my voice tearing through the night as I’m lifted off the ground. The wind blasts around me, and I look down to see the ground shrinking away with terrifying speed. Within moments, the city lights become a sparkling blanket bracketed by the glittering yellow lines of roads and highways. We’re so high up that it’s impossible to even pick out major landmarks. My stomach lurches, and I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block out the terror.

When I open them again, I’m staring into the face of a monster.

Its iridescent scales gleam in the moonlight, each one the size of a dinner plate and rippling with an otherworldly sheen. Its eyes, vast amber orbs with vertical pupils that pulse and contract, burn with an intelligence that unnerves me almost as much as its massive jaws. Stretching wider than my arm span, its mouth is lined with rows of crystalline teeth—each one as long as my hand and glinting like forged steel. Its breath comes in smoky gusts that are hot and powerful against my skin, making my clothes flutter and my hair whip around my face.

Oh, my God! Oh, my fucking God!

I scream yet again. I keep screaming until my lungs burn, and I’m fighting for air. Until I’m lightheaded with it.

Until everything goes black.