Page 36 of The Dragon King’s Claw (The Dragons of Serai #17)

If Katai was a criminal, he was an incredible actor.

I stood in Katai's living room, staring at Katai who lay in his bed.

Because it was all one room. He had a chair, just one, to define the sitting area.

Then there was a little stove and sink for the kitchen.

A bed was the obvious definer of the sleeping area.

His closet was a trunk at the foot of the bed.

The only separate room was the bathroom. I didn't venture into it.

There wasn't much in the way of secrecy once you were in the apartment.

Not even as far as storage. His plates—all two of them—were stacked on a shelf above the sink beside his two cups and two sets of utensils, laid out neatly.

Everything was tidy, which made it even easier to look around.

And left nowhere to escape from Vasren's glare.

“He's still in shock and it's late at night,” Vasren said. “Couldn't you at least wait until tomorrow?”

“No.” I stepped around Vasren.

When he lurched for me, the King yanked him back. I don't know what was exchanged between them, but Vasren went to stand on the opposite side of Katai's bed and crossed his arms. I crouched beside Katai.

The human was on his side, curled up, and staring straight ahead. That kind of shock was hard to fake. He didn't even blink when I leaned into his view. Oh, but when I touched his hand, he snapped out of his trance. Screaming.

“Gods damn it!” Vasren launched himself at his lover, crowding onto the slim slice of bed to wrap himself around Katai. “It's all right. You're out. You're with me. You're safe.”

Katai hunched in on himself, his screams settling into whimpers. I watched closely as a few tears trickled down his cheeks. His hand shook as he reached for Vasren's, but then he gripped the Dragon tightly.

I was about to stand and suggest that we leave when Katai's eyes shot open. “You! Are you the Claw?”

Everyone froze. Except for me.

I cocked my head. “ The Claw?”

“The one,” Katai whispered, his stare darting. “The one he . . .”

“The one he what?”

“Enough!” Vasren growled.

“He is speaking to me, Sir Vasren,” I said. “It may be helpful for him to get this out.” I looked back at Katai. “You might even save lives.”

“Save lives.” Katai huddled back against Vasren. “Yes. He's going to do this again. And again. And again. And—”

“Shh, baby. Shh,” Vasren's tone was soothing, but his stare locked on me with barely contained fury.

I ignored him. If the Dragon King couldn't unsettle me, one of his knights didn't stand a chance.

“Katai, did you see him? Did you see Hallaxgral?”

Katai moaned.

“Gods damn—”

“Shut up, Vasren!” the King snarled. “I have given you many allowances today because of the trauma your lover has been through, but my patience is wearing thin.”

Vasren clamped his lips together but stroked his lover's hair.

“I don't want to bring him further pain, Sir Vasren,” I said. “I just want to stop the man who did this to him.”

Vasren sighed and looked down at the cringing human. “Sweetheart, I've got you. You're safe. Do you think you can tell us about the man who took you?”

Katai looked up at Vasren. Just stared. Then he nodded. Keeping his stare on Vasren, he said, “He wore a hood. Stayed in the shadows.”

“A Raltven,” Sir Gilhu said.

“Shh!” the King hissed.

In the silence, Katai continued, “I didn't see much, but he was big.”

“And he was definitely a man?” I asked.

Katai nodded. Then, slowly, he turned to look at me. “I saw his eyes.”

Eyes again. I'd heard victims go on and on about their attacker's eyes, and I didn't discount what they told me. But, as I said before, I attributed their insight to things they had probably noted subconsciously. Now, however, after staring into the King's eyes, I was rethinking my stance.

“Go on,” I said. “What about his eyes?”

“They were kind.”

I blinked.

“What the fuck?” Gilhu whispered.

“Kind?” Vasren asked. “Is that what you said?”

Katai nodded. “Kind. But also terrifying. He was so . . . certain. No, that's not the word. Determined?”

“You mean fervent? Like a zealot?” I asked.

“Yes, fervent. Assured. He told me I'd be found. By the Claw. That's you, isn't it?”

I nodded. “Yes, it's me. What else did he say?”

“He said something strange. He said to repeat it to you when you rescued me. Word for word.”

“Yes, what was it he said?”

“The clue is in the case.”

“What case? The Kun-lo case?”

Katai shrugged.

“Anything else?”

“He said.”

“Yes?”

Katai glanced at the King.

“What did he say?” I urged.

“He said, You're welcome.”

Again with the you're welcome. Was it still about the Eljaffna or had he done something else he viewed as beneficial to me?

It would have to be in connection to Kun-lo, wouldn't it?

It all came back to how far ahead he was.

Perhaps he had a seer working with him. Or maybe he was the one who could see the future.

That would explain a lot.

But to say “you're welcome” to me twice. That was odd. It had to be for something else. Maybe he was referring to sparing Katai. But he had tried to kill Katai. I had never been so baffled and by two words, no less.

“Tekhan?” the King called.

I lifted my head.

“Sir Vasren asked if you had any other questions for Katai.”

“Oh,” I murmured and met Katai's stare.

Katai cringed and looked down.

“Uh, no. Thank you, Katai. You've been very helpful.”

“Have I saved lives?” He glanced up at me.

“You may have helped, yes. Now, it's up to me.”

Katai snuggled back against his lover and sighed. “Good luck, Claw. Gods’ speed to you.”

Yes, I was wrong again. Katai was not a criminal.

Gods damn it, I hate being wrong. It meant the Chelli and Brujai were probably innocent as well.

And that fucked with my new perspective on Hallaxgral.

Who was this man in the hood with the kind and fervent stare?

Kind. He hadn't meant to kill Katai! But the bomb.

What about the bomb in the brooch? Ugh! My mind was starting to hurt.

I stood up. “Thank you, Katai. We're leaving now. Get some rest.” I nodded at the King.

“You've done well, Katai. Thank you,” King Tor'rien said. “You may stay with him for as long as he needs you, Sir Vasren.”

“Thank you, sire.”

I looked one last time at the little human who I had thought was a criminal and then left, mentally shaking my head. What an idiot I was.