Page 28 of Fated by Fire (Dragonblood Dynasty #1)

Chapter 28

C aleb

Horns blare in protest as I weave through traffic, my foot heavy on the gas. I barely register them. The pull in my chest is a magnetic force tugging me forward. Elena’s in danger—I can feel it as surely as I feel my own heartbeat.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I growl, fighting to keep my anxiety in check. The bond pulses erratically, and through it, I can feel her fear, her desperation. It’s like a clamp around my heart, squeezing tighter with each passing second.

My phone rings, the sharp tone grabbing my attention. I glance at the screen, not recognizing the number. Ordinarily, I’d ignore it, but something tells me to answer.

“Yes,” I say tersely.

“Caleb?” a frantic female voice asks.

“Yes. Who is this?”

“It’s Mara—Elena’s friend.”

I grip the phone tighter, resisting the urge to tear her a new one. This fucking idiot has caused more trouble for us in one day than I’ve witnessed in a lifetime.

“Where is she?” I snap, not bothering to ask how she got my details.

“She—she was taken!” Mara’s voice wavers, panic evident. “It was… It was…” She audibly swallows. “It was huge! Terrifying! She was telling the truth. All of it. Oh, my God!”

“Slow down,” I command. “Tell me exactly what happened.”

“We were at Green Lake Park,” she says, words tumbling out in a rush. “I was supposed to meet someone, but it was a trap. Two guys grabbed me, but then this huge dragon came and—and it took Elena!”

“Malakai,” I hiss under my breath.

“What?”

“Nothing. Did you see where they went?”

“No, they just flew off!” she cries. “I managed to get a video—”

“You what? ”

Jesus Christ, this woman is fucking unbelievable.

“A video. I— I’ll send it to you.”

“Do it now,” I instruct. “And get somewhere safe. Don’t go home. They might come after you.”

“I— I understand.” She pauses. “Please, you have to save her.”

“I will. And Mara…”

“Yes?”

“If I find this video online—or anywhere—I will find you and fucking incinerate you myself. Do you understand?”

“I— um… Yes.” Her voice wavers.

“Good.” I hang up, so furious that I’m almost breathless. A moment later, my phone vibrates with an incoming message. I pull over briefly, opening the video attachment.

The shaky footage shows Elena fighting two men near a pavilion beside the lake. Then, in the background, a monstrous form descends from the sky, his scales dull in the low light, his movements hindered by his missing leg. It’s Malakai, alright. The image stirs a mix of rage and disgust within me. He was once a respected elder; now, he’s nothing more than a terrorist. A thorn in my side that I plan to pluck out.

I watch as Malakai snatches Elena, her terrified scream echoing faintly through the phone’s speaker. My jaw tightens as I watch him ascend. He’s heading into the city, but where?

I close my eyes, focusing on the bond. The faint sensation of her presence seems to be pulling me back toward Craven Tower. But that doesn’t make sense. Would he risk exposure by taking her someplace so public? The existence of dragons is a secret that is more zealously protected by the old guard than anyone. Malakai would be highly driven to hide his true nature from the world. I just can’t see him flying over Seattle, clutching a screaming woman.

But I have no doubt in my mind that that’s where they’re headed. I hit the gas, swerving back into traffic with renewed urgency. My destination now clear, I dial Dorian’s number.

“Caleb,” he answers on the first ring.

“We have a situation,” I say.

“What’s going on?”

“Malakai has Elena. I think he’s holed up somewhere in the city. We need to pull together on this. I think he has something up his sleeve, but I don’t know what.”

“Shit,” Dorian curses. “Back to the boardroom for a clan meeting?”

I pause before replying. “No. Let’s meet at your place. I don’t want to draw more heat to Craven Towers while this shitshow is going on.”

“Good thinking. I’ll head there now.”

I hang up without another word, navigating through the lanes as I make my way to Dorian’s apartment.

My brother lives in a converted warehouse on the edge of Pioneer Square—a boho chic space that contrasts sharply with my own minimalist penthouse. Exposed brick walls, large industrial windows, and eclectic artwork give the place character.

As I enter, the scent of sandalwood and aged leather greets me. Dorian stands near the open kitchen, a glass of water in hand, which surprises me since it’s not whiskey. He’s not alone. Several clan members mill about—Luke with his ever-present scowl, Serena pacing restlessly, and a few others murmuring in low tones.

“You’re here,” Dorian says unnecessarily, striding over to meet me. “We’re ready.”

I glance around, noting the tension etched on every face. My gaze catches on a vibrant silk scarf draped over the back of a chair—deep indigo with golden celestial patterns. It takes me a moment to place it. The barista was wearing it the day we saw her at the coffee shop.

What is it doing here?

Why the hell do I care?

“I’m guessing that Dorian has filled you in?” I say to the others. There are murmurs around me. “For those who are missing any details, Malakai has taken control of a woman we have identified as a descendant of Lyria Rossewyn.”

Someone gasps.

“We thought they’d died out,” says someone else, an older dragon male I recognize as Farrel Ludlow from one of our outlying circles.

“No,” I turn to face him. “We simply took our eye off the ball. That won’t happen again.”

“It can’t,” says Dorian. “While we were getting on with business, the Syndicate located her with the intention of using her against us.”

It’s a hard pill to swallow, but I can’t deny it.

“They turned a Rossewyn against the Craven line?” someone asks.

“That’s not what we said,” I answer quickly. “She’s unwilling in all of this. A pawn.” I hate the word. I hate that I practically put her in this position by not doing my duty. By forgetting the importance of our oath.

“Okay, what do we do now?” asks Serena. “I’m sure we’re not going to take a ‘guns blazing’ approach. This entire mess has already brought us far too much attention.”

“You’re right,” says Dorian. “We’ll have to be cautious about how we handle this.”

“We need to figure out where Malakai has taken Elena,” I say. Every minute that she’s in danger is making me edgier.

Before I can ponder it further, a young clan member named Daniel steps forward. His usually cocky demeanor is replaced with unease.

“Caleb,” Daniel begins, avoiding my eyes. “There’s something you need to know.”

“What is it?” I ask impatiently.

He swallows hard. “I’ve been… involved with the Circle of Fire.”

A collective murmur ripples through the room. My fists clench at my sides. “Explain.”

“I joined them because I believed in Malakai’s vision,” he says quickly. “But things have changed. He’s become obsessed, dangerous. I didn’t sign up for this.”

“Why are you telling me this now?” I demand.

“Because I want out,” Daniel pleads. “And because I know where he’s taken her.”

My eyes narrow. “Where?”

“There’s a network of chambers beneath the city,” he explains. “Malakai has been using them as an operations base. He’s planning something big, Caleb. And he’s using the Rossewyn woman to do it.”

My heart pounds. “What does he want with her?”

Daniel hesitates. “He believes she can activate the Heartstone’s true power. That with her, he can take control of the clan and eliminate any opposition.”

“And he’s doing this with the Syndicate?”

Daniel shakes his head. “He despises them. Says they’ve sold out.”

A heavy silence falls over the room.

“Shit. That means they’re both after her,” I mutter. “And us,” I add.

“You’re sure about this?” Dorian asks Daniel, his tone deadly calm.

“Yes,” Daniel nods vigorously. “I can lead you there. Help you stop him.”

I study him closely, using my keen dragon senses to search for any sign of deception. His heartbeat is steady, eyes earnest. He seems sincere.

“Why should we trust you?” Luke interjects, his eyes flashing with distrust. “You’ve already betrayed us once.”

“Because I made a mistake,” Daniel admits. “And I’m trying to make it right.”

I exchange a glance with Dorian. Time is running out, and we need all the help we can get.

“Fine,” I say. “But if you’re leading us into a trap—”

“I’m not,” he insists. “I just want to stop Malakai before it’s too late.”

I nod curtly. “I want you to get us there as soon as possible,” I say to him, then turn to the others. “Who’s on board?”

Everyone steps forward, which warms me. “Thank you.” I smile. “We’ll keep it tight; just a small team of us so we can stay under the radar.”

“I’m going with.” Luke’s jaw is set. “I don’t like what he’s doing to us. Dividing us like this.”

I give a nod. “This won’t be the end of things. Elena may have fallen into Malakai’s lap, but if I know him, he’ll have more planned. This runs far deeper than what we’re seeing.”

“So, what’s the plan?” asks Lydia, who’s remained silent throughout the conversation.

“I don’t think we’re going to be able to charge in there breathing fire,” says Dorian, glancing at me.

“It won’t work,” says Daniel. “The place is a maze. I’ll take you to where he’s most likely to be, but it’s going to be close-quarters fighting.”

“Good to know,” I say, not really liking the idea but knowing we have limited options. “Right,” I say to the small gathering. “Take a few minutes to prepare yourselves. We’ll leave in fifteen.”

As the clan members disperse, I turn back to the scarf draped over the chair. I pick it up, running the silky fabric between my fingers.

“Interesting choice of decor,” I comment to Dorian.

He glances over, his expression momentarily guarded. “Belongs to a friend.”

“Juno from the coffee shop, isn’t it?” I raise an eyebrow.

He meets my gaze evenly. “You always were observant.”

“Does she know about us?”

He shrugs. “She’s… open-minded.”

I sigh. “Just be careful. We can’t afford more exposure.”

“Noted,” he replies, a hint of irritation in his voice.

I let it drop, focusing instead on the mission ahead. I’ve never felt the burden of responsibility so intensely. Elena’s life hangs in the balance, and the fate of the clan may very well hinge on what happens tonight.

“Caleb,” Dorian says quietly, stepping closer. “We’ll get her back.”

I nod, though uncertainty gnaws at me. “We have to.”

Together, we head toward the others. Weapons are being distributed—blades forged with dragonfire, capable of piercing even the toughest scales. But for the most part, we’ll rely on the weapons nature gave us. Fire, tooth, and claw.

“Remember,” I address the group, my voice firm. “Our goal is to rescue Elena and stop Malakai. We move swiftly and strike hard. No unnecessary risks.”

They nod in unison, determination etched on their faces.

As we prepare to leave, Daniel approaches me hesitantly. “Caleb, there’s something else.”

“What is it?”

“Malakai… he’s not alone. I was just one of many. He’s rallied others to his cause. They won’t let her go without a fight.”

I meet his gaze steadily. “Then we fight.”

He swallows, nodding. “Understood.”

We move out into the night, a silent force blending into the shadows. Seattle’s underground awaits—a labyrinth of forgotten tunnels and hidden dangers.

As we descend into the depths, the chill of the mate bond intensifies. Elena’s fear sharpens; I feel it as keenly as my own.

“Hold on, Elena,” I whisper into the darkness. “I’m coming for you.”

And may the gods help anyone who stands in my way.