Page 22

22

A rctic

Why am I falling for this?

I’m a fucking idiot.

I walk down the hallway, flanked by guards. It’s stifling. I want to tell them to leave me alone so that I can think, but I don’t. There isn’t much to think about.

I’m being played.

I keep walking. Within a minute, I round a corner and see Steel. He’s pacing; his face is pinched. He stops when he sees me approaching.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “I shouldn’t have called you.”

“You did the right thing.”

He sniffs at me, frowning. “What the hell is that smell?” He sneezes and groans in disgust.

“Don’t be so damned dramatic,” I tell him. “I’m wearing human cologne. I’m a candidate; I need to play the part. The humans like it. I’m shocked you haven’t bought some for yourself. Jen arrives on Monday.”

Then he rolls his eyes and smirks. “Wearing cologne to play the part. Are you trying to entice anyone in particular with this cologne of yours?”

“No.”

“It stinks, but it’s a great cover, I’ll give you that. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything important.”

“You did. I was in a very serious meeting.”

He lifts his brows, still smiling, but quickly turns serious. “Maybe I shouldn’t have called. Are you sure you want to talk with him?” Steel asks me.

“No. I think it’s bullshit, but what choice do I have?” I all but snarl.

“He’s insisting on talking only with you, or I would have handled it myself.”

“If he was going to actually talk, he would do it already. He wouldn’t play games. I shouldn’t go in there.” I scrub a hand over my face. “I promised myself I wouldn’t do this to myself. That I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of watching me jump like his puppet. That I wouldn’t let him toy with me. He’s fucked me around enough.” I sigh.

“Don’t do it, then.”

“I have to. I don’t want to have regrets. This is it, his last chance.” I walk to the door, looking up at the camera. The door buzzes, releasing the lock. I push it open just a crack.

“I’ll wait here,” Steel tells me. “Good luck.”

I nod once and then go inside.

Ice is sitting at a table. He is shackled to it. His legs are shackled to the chair. The steel table and chair are bolted to the floor. Ice smiles as soon as he sees me; I almost turn on my heel and walk back out.

Only thoughts of finding Lake of finding Anya’s killers, keep me where I am.

“I’m so glad you came.” He pushes out a breath, looking relieved. “Please sit.”

“Are you going to talk? Are you going to give up your accomplices? Why were you in illegal contact with the Mainland? Who are you in communication with and why?” I force myself to stop talking.

“I’ll tell you everything.” He licks his lips. “Lake is still alive. She and I have been lovers all of this time…right from the start. I planned on taking her as my queen after…after—”

“You would have had Frost and me murdered in cold blood. This isn’t new information. I’m getting impatient.”

“You only just got here. Sit down, will you?”

This is a shitshow. I don’t want to sit or even be here. I know deep down that he’s fucking with me yet again. That he will continue to do so for as long as possible. I have better things to do. My mind goes to Paisley, which is the last place it should go.

I sit, glaring at Ice.

He looks down at the shackles. “Can we take these off? Maybe order a good Bordeaux? A vintage year, perhaps. Don’t I get a last meal? Can we not be civilized?”

“I won’t pretend civility with a fucking animal, Ice.”

“That’s a bit harsh.” He actually has the audacity to look hurt.

“Can we get to the point?”

“If you’re going to be like this, then—”

“Then what? You won’t tell me everything. I doubt you’ll do that, regardless. I could feed you myself, and you won’t talk. I could wipe your mouth after every bite and your ass after you shit, and you wouldn’t tell me a thing, would you? This is your last chance. I walk if you don’t give me something…anything.”

“There are those in power on the Mainland who want war between Draig and Mistveil. Those who are orchestrating it.”

“Who? And why? What’s in it for them?”

“There is a faction within the Mainland heads of power that sees the strength of both Draig and Mistveil as a threat. They believe that by pitting us against each other, they can weaken us enough to keep us cowed. They are afraid of us and what we could do if banded together.”

I frown. “Why would you work with such individuals?”

“I want Draig destroyed, and so, for now, their vision is in line with mine. You don’t have to kill me, you know? We could work together. We could be all-powerful, Arctic.”

And there is it.

“I can tell you exactly who they are,” he says, his eyes shining with what I can only describe as madness. “Let’s get Draig out of the way. After that, we tackle the Mainland. I know a way in. If we get control of those in power, we take control of the Mainland. From there, the world.”

His quest for power has corrupted him to his core.

“How are they pitting Draig and Mistveil dragons against one another?”

“According to the Draigers, we are quite feral.” He laughs. “Can you believe that?”

“I know this already.” I’m trying hard to keep my cool.

“When it is they who are the feral ones. They’re the ones who need Tributes to keep their dragons under control.”

Again, this is nothing new.

“I mean, how pathetic to need Tributes. To be so reliant on humans.” Ice snorts.

“We need Tributes, too, only for a different reason. We’re also reliant on humans at this point.”

“My point exactly. That makes us reliant on the Mainland. Reliant on the humans.”

“So you think it’s them. Are they the reason our females are mostly infertile and that those who can bear young mostly have male offspring?” I stand and turn away, rubbing my shoulder. It can’t be. It’s too far-fetched. “Are those on the Mainland to blame for the Draigers being feral in their dragon form? It’s bullshit, Ice. You’re talking through your ass.”

“Am I?” He looks at me head-on.

He looks deadly serious, but I know for a fact that my brother is a pathological liar. He’s lied to my face successfully before and a multitude of times. I am a good judge of character, but I never saw through him. He’s that good…or that fucking evil. It depends on how you look at it.

“You tell me.” I turn back to face him and fold my arms.

“I’ll tell you everything; just stop this madness.”

“Stay your execution, you mean?” I lift my brows.

“Yes. I’m more useful to you alive than dead. I can help you. We can rule this whole fucking planet together…you and me.”

“I don’t want to rule the planet.”

“So damned weak,” Ice growls. “You’ve always been pathetic. Too damned soft. We could have everything.”

“What happened to you to make you like this?”

“You try being the youngest son to royals,” he spits. “You see if you like it when your older brother is in line to be the king. The star of the fucking show. The one always in the limelight while you live in the shadows. When your brother, who is older by one fucking minute, is next in line. I’ve always been nothing. Overlooked at every turn.”

“You are not nothing. You were never nothing. You were our brother. You were our parents’ son. A prince to our people. I feel sorry for you, Ice.”

“You should feel sorry; I’m being put to death tomorrow. You have the power to stop this.” He reaches over and grips my arm tightly, his chains rattling. “Stop this…please, Arctic.” His eyes fill with tears. “Help me!”

I pull free. “It’s too late for that.”

“It isn’t.” He sounds desperate. “If you want me to beg, I will. Just stop this. Stop this, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know. I’ll do anything. I don’t want to die.”

“Anya didn’t want to die.”

“I’m sorry that happened. Anya was good and sweet and—”

“Don’t talk about her!” I shout. “Don’t say her name. You don’t ever get to say her name.”

“Please, brother. Please…I beg you, please spare me.” Tears fall freely, rolling down his cheeks. For just a second, a heartbreaking moment, he reminds me of the boy he once was. The little boy who followed me and looked up to me.

My little brother.

Then his face warps into a mask of rage. “You won’t, will you? You won’t help me. I can see it. I’m your goddamned brother!”

“I can’t help you. Nobody can help you.” I turn and walk away.

Ice screams my name. At first, he sounds enraged; then it turns to sorrow. He keeps screaming my name and saying please…please. Arctic, please!

When Anya bled out in my arms, she pleaded, too. She pleaded plenty. Her eyes did all the begging while she gasped her last breaths. Begging me to save her, and I couldn’t. I fucking couldn’t.

No!

Not a chance.

He must die for his crimes.

“And?” Steel asks as soon as the door shuts out the noise.

I shake my head. “He dies tomorrow, as planned.”

“I know that, but did he give you anything?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure I believe him.” There’s this niggling voice that tells me there is some truth to the small amount of information he gave me. We need to get to the bottom of it.

“I’ll let Thorn know that you won’t be attending the event tonight,” Steel tells me.

I frown. “I’m going.”

“You can’t possibly go to a karaoke evening with the Tributes the night before your brother is put to death.”

I look over at the guards, who are a little way up the hallway. “He’s interfered with my life enough. Fuck him! I’m going, and I’m going to have a good time.” I lower my voice. “I will need an escort back to the human accommodation afterward.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. It’s not something I want to discuss with you. I’m going. I need this one thing.”

“Okay…yes…fine. I get it.” He nods and doesn’t argue. “I’ll sort it out.”

“Thank you.” I feel some of the tension drain at the thought of seeing Paisley later.