Page 26 of Wild Flame (Wild Bond #2)

Chapter Twenty-Six

W hen I woke the next morning, I was alone. Malik apparently had already gotten up and started his day, and I was grateful. If he was here, I wouldn’t have known how to act. After last night, I could feel myself softening toward him. Most of my anger had fled. All that remained were delicate, vulnerable feelings that I didn’t know how to deal with and that were somehow more terrifying.

My body was sore from the fight, and my cheek still ached when I touched it or moved my jaw. A glance in the mirror told me I had a lovely bruise on the side of my face, but I supposed it could have been worse.

Something moved in the mirror behind me, and I spun around, preparing to face another assassin, when I was relieved to see it was just Azrun. He was in his minor form, his red scales and black horns gleaming in the morning sun that peeked through the open window and onto the floor around him.

“You scared me,” I gasped, putting a hand to my rapidly beating heart. The dragon didn’t move, save to sit back on his haunches and curl his long tail around his feet. I could have sworn there was a bit of humor in those slitted eyes.

“What are you doing here?” I put my hands on my hips. “Let me guess . . . he left you to guard me while he’s away?”

The dragon just blinked.

I sighed. Apparently, Malik had decided that the warriors outside weren’t enough.

“Fine,” I grumbled, pointing a finger. “But don’t scare my maids when they come in.”

The maids jolted when they entered a few minutes later and saw Azrun sitting there. Astrid and Hilde gave him a wide berth as they helped me dress and went about stripping the bed.

A servant arrived with a message from Malik saying he wanted me to come to his formal office as soon as possible. Once my hair was braided, Selasi and Yesh led the way, since I had no idea where Malik’s office was. And though I wasn’t surprised when Azrun rose to his feet and followed, it still felt odd to have the dragon walking beside me.

When we arrived at Malik’s office, he bid us enter right away. Azrun strode in with me, but my guards closed the door behind us, waiting outside. The office was exactly what I expected; a large, polished desk, bookcases filled with tomes both old and new, everything in dark wood and clean, masculine lines.

Malik himself was smiling at a cloaked figure that stood before his desk. Then his eyes shot to me and the smile widened. “Siren, I have a surprise for you.”

That was when I noticed the small golden dragon standing beside the cloaked figure, and then the figure turned.

“Helene!” I cried in shock.

My sister beamed as she rushed forward and clasped me tightly. I hugged her back and had to blink away tears from my eyes as I breathed her in. She always smelled like the sea and sunlight. She smelled like home.

“When—how did you . . .” I stammered.

Helene laughed and pulled back. She gestured to Malik. “His Majesty arranged it.”

I glanced at Malik.

“I knew you missed her,” he explained, “and I needed her at this meeting anyway, so I figured why not do both?”

“What meeting?” I asked.

“I’ll let your sister explain,” Malik said, moving around his desk until he stood in front of me. He gently tilted my chin and inspected my face. “How are you this morning?”

My heart leapt at the softness in his tone. “I’m fine,” I assured him. “Just tender.”

His eyes held mine for a weighted moment before he nodded and dropped his hand. I released a breath as he moved toward the door with Azrun in tow. “You’ll only have a few minutes to catch up, I’m afraid. The others should be gathered soon in the meeting room next door,” Malik said to Helene before taking his leave.

He had barely closed the door behind him when Helene spoke. “I take it from that look I just saw pass between the two of you that you’re not opposed to this betrothal arrangement?”

I met her assessing stare. “It came as quite a shock,” I hedged, “since he didn’t see fit to discuss it with me beforehand. But . . . no,” I realized as I spoke, “I am not opposed to it.” I knew if I actually was opposed to the match, she would fly me out of here. Kingdoms and alliances be damned.

Nova nudged my hand, and I bent down and greet her. She hummed as I stroked her smooth head.

“Good,” Helene said, her eyes missing nothing as I straightened. “I won’t be able to stay for the Marking Ceremony, though. I really can only stay for this meeting and then I have to get back.”

Disappointment clawed through me that she wouldn’t be staying, but I understood. “What is this meeting?” I asked, repeating my earlier question.

Helene sighed. “Your handsome betrothed has something he wishes to discuss. He wouldn’t say what in his message, except to say that it was a matter of utmost importance. It is my understanding that he has invited Councilor Rakim and Corrine Darrow as well. He says he wants each of the three kingdoms represented, but asked for us specifically.”

“Why?”

Helene tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder and shrugged. “Malik said he would explain everything when we were all together. It would seem he intends to include you as well.”

“Let’s see what this is about then,” I said. I made to turn away, but her hand on my arm stopped me.

Her eyes studied me, the split lip and the bruise there. “Malik told me about what happened.” The concern was evident on her face. “You’re sure you’re all right?”

I nodded and gave her a wan smile. “I’m fine. I’m harder to kill than I look.”

“What happened?” Rin gasped when she got a look at my face as we entered the room. The room was smaller than I was expecting. Intimate. A round table with eight chairs stood at the center.

I tried to play it off, not wanting to explain. “There was an incident last night. I’m fine now.”

“Assassins were sent to kill her. They were dealt with,” Malik replied in one of the coldest tones I had ever heard him use.

Rin stared at him for a moment, then nodded. “Good.”

Rakim stood at her side, and Tajan was present as well.

Introductions were made, and we all took our seats. I sat beside Malik while Helene took my other side. Rakim and Rin sat across from us, while Taj took the empty chair beside his king. Azrun and Nova found spots on the floor near their riders, but Taj, Rakim, and Rin’s dragons weren’t present.

“I apologize for the delay in having this meeting, but I wanted to make sure a representative from each of the kingdoms was present,” Malik began.

“If you want a representative,” Rakim said, “why Rin and me?” There was an undercurrent of challenge in his tone. “And for that matter, why wait for Princess Helene when you already have a princess of Halmar at your side?”

Malik didn’t hesitate to reply. “Leida is my Hassai and soon to be queen of Zehvi. She is involved in this, and I value her insights. But she will soon have split loyalties. Halmar needs a representative with no such issue.” Malik shot him a pointed look. “And everyone here, save for Leida, was present at Three Points during the most recent trials. I asked you all here because I need your help, and I believe it may have something to do with the attack on Three Points. You and Rin have particular knowledge of that event, and this is not something I felt should be discussed in a letter.”

I swallowed hard. I quickly thought back to what I knew of the events at Three Points, from what little Helene could tell me. Rogue riders had attacked Three Points, the location where the dragon rider trials took place every three years—though I still didn’t know where that was since its location was only known to dragon riders. Princess Mercedes, the daughter of the queen of Baldor, had been behind the attack. She had been trying to create dragon riders—including herself—by unnaturally forcing the bond with magical potions. But she didn’t succeed, and had died in the process. In a strange way I felt like I could relate to the princess—not that I could ever condone what she had done or the unnatural, cruel means by which she had tried to achieve her aim—but I could understand her desire to be a rider and what it was like to be one of the few members of your family who wasn’t one. I knew how alienating that could be. And how that might drive someone to do something extreme.

“Help with what?” Helene asked, bringing me back to the conversation. “And what does Three Points have to do with it?”

Malik’s jaw hardened before he spoke, and I found myself wanting to reach over and clasp his hand. Instead, I curled my fingers in my lap.

“Three weeks ago, a member of my Fangdar and his dragon attacked Taveran during our Unari Celebration. Twenty-two were killed and a small portion of the city was damaged.”

No one looked surprised by this information.

“Why?” Rakim asked.

Taj looked at the other spymaster. “Haven’t your spies already told you that?”

Rakim shot him a cold smirk. “There is speculation, but I should like to hear your version of events.”

“Don’t trust your people, Rakim?” Taj shook his head in mock sympathy. “I’m surprised. Aren’t most of them friends of yours from your less than reputable past?”

“My relationship with my informants is none of your concern,” Rakim drawled. “And having a ‘less than reputable past’, as you call it, is rather helpful for someone in our position. You would know that if you had held the position longer than a few months.”

I wasn’t sure where to look as I watched the proverbial chess match playing out before my eyes between the two spymasters. I was enjoying it immensely and got the feeling the two men were as well as they tested and prodded each other.

Taj opened his mouth—no doubt intending to counter what Rakim had said—but unfortunately Malik stepped in.

“The honest truth is, we don’t know why the attack happened,” Malik admitted, giving Taj a hard look as he continued. “Ramin claims no memory of the entire event. The last thing he remembers is walking into a side street with his wife, being attacked from behind, and then waking hours later with no memory of what he had done.”

“And you trust this rider?” Helene asked. “You believe this Ramin is telling you the truth?”

“He is a member of the Fangdar,” Taj said in answer.

“If you believe your man is telling the truth and was not aware of his actions,” Rin said, “then what do you think happened?”

“I think he was being controlled,” Malik said, “most likely by some kind of magic. And if my theory is correct, then whoever is doing this has the ability to control another’s mind and influence their actions. What happened in my city is just one example of what can happen when that person is a dragon rider.” Silence fell as everyone considered how horrifying an idea that was. “No one should have that power over another. It's evil. If someone has that capability, it affects all of us. And they must be stopped.”

Rakim just stared at him. “I agree. But how are we to know that you are not secretly behind this? Your father would have loved using such a weapon.”

“Despite what you might think of me, I am not my father.” Malik put particular emphasis on the word my and stared back at Rakim with a pointed look I didn’t understand. “And do you really think I would bring it to your attention like this if I were behind it?”

Again, the room fell silent.

Rakim and Rin shared a look. Then the spymaster looked back at Malik and said nothing, which I supposed was his way of agreeing to hear him out.

It was my sister who ventured to get us back on topic. “So you believe the attack on Taveran and what happened at Three Points are connected, then?”

Malik nodded. “There are too many similarities to dismiss. It is part of why I asked you all here. You were each present during the attack on Three Points. I thought perhaps you might have picked up on something I might have overlooked.”

“What similarities?” I asked, not wanting to interrupt but feeling like if I was going to contribute anything to this conversation, I needed to at least understand why Malik thought the two incidents were connected. Helene had told me some things about the incident, after all, but not everything.

I was grateful no one seemed annoyed at my confusion.

It was Rin who answered me. “The riders that were forced to bond and attack the mountain were only partially aware of what they were doing. They were in a drugged, semiconscious state, almost as if they were being controlled.”

“I’ve personally questioned the alchemist who aided Mercedes, and all the children and adults who were kidnapped and forced to bond,” Rakim said. “Each was given many variations of a potion before one actually worked. And many of the ones that failed caused people and dragons to sicken and die. Thankfully, all the rogue riders have now lost their bonds to the dragons completely, and the dragons have been set free. So far, there do not seem to be any lasting effects.”

“If this is something similar,” Taj said, “then perhaps Ramin was being controlled by a potion of some kind?”

“Mercedes called it an elixir,” Rin clarified. “She even admitted that she and her mysterious partner had been working on several. When I woke up on the mountain after she kidnapped me and Skye, I had several cuts on my arms and found out later I had been experimented on while I was unconscious. The alchemist she was working with said they had even tried pouring it directly into my blood, but it didn’t affect me because I was already bonded.”

“Mysterious partner?” I asked.

Rin grimaced. “When I discovered Mercedes was behind the attack, she mentioned having a partner, and she wasn’t talking about the alchemist. All we know about him is that he’s male. We also assume he is a dragon rider since she would not have been able to find Three Points without a rider’s help in the first place.”

“But Mercedes’ goal was to forge a false bond. Not to control people’s minds,” Helene pointed out. “Can we really assume the two attacks are connected?”

“It might not have been the goal, but it was a side effect,” Rin said. “It wasn’t controlling them completely, but they became suggestible. Whoever was helping Mercedes probably realized that and abandoned the goal of creating more dragon riders in favor of something even more heinous.”

“What were the symptoms of those who were given the elixirs?” Taj asked. “The ones that failed.”

Rin’s expression turned contemplative. “Dry, peeling skin, unnaturally red bloodshot eyes, sweating and uncharacteristic strength—”

“Red eyes?” I blurted.

Everyone looked at me.

Rin’s eyebrows rose. “Yes . . . why?”

My cheeks warmed. “It’s nothing, well . . . maybe not nothing.” My mind was suddenly whirling as I tried to organize my thoughts. But something had clicked into place for me when Rin said that.

“What is it, Leida?” Malik asked.

“Fleshfire,” I finally explained. “The Fleshfire addict that ran into me in the street that night. He looked unwell. He was sweating, and he had unnaturally red eyes . . . and you told me that Fleshfire addicts experience blackouts as well. They have very similar symptoms.” I looked to Rin. “Close to what you are describing.”

Malik’s eyes flicked between us, considering. “It could be a coincidence, but I never thought to compare the two.”

“There have been no unusual reports surrounding Fleshfire—either the drug itself or those taking it. At least, no more than any other substance,” Taj argued. “Nothing to suggest people are being controlled or manipulated while using it. Except the blackouts, and if you have too much, it can kill you. The only unusual thing is how suddenly it appeared on the market and how rapidly it has taken hold.”

“Still, it’s worth looking into,” Malik stated. “I don’t believe in coincidences.” He looked at me, a glint of pride in his eyes, and my chest warmed. “Fleshfire is the best theory we have, even if it’s just speculation. We will have to start investigating it more thoroughly. I want to know where it’s coming from, who the suppliers are, and what’s in it. Maybe then we can find out if it was in fact used on Ramin and who is behind the attack.”

“Did you notice anything odd about Ramin’s eyes when you first spoke to him after the attack?” Taj asked Malik.

Malik shook his head. “No, but that was some time afterward when he was himself again and it had likely worn off.”

I suddenly thought of something else— “Astrid!” I blurted.

Everyone looked at me.

“Astrid?” Malik repeated, looking slightly confused. “Your maid?”

I nodded. “Remember when we found her in the corridor with Salim and thought she was drunk or might have been drugged? Her eyes were unnaturally red and bloodshot, and then she dealt with a fever and chills the next day, so much so that she had to stay in bed. And she couldn’t remember what had happened to her . . . her memory was spotty.”

“You believe she was drugged with Fleshfire?”

“It seems likely.”

“This maid,” Rakim asked, “did she remember anything useful? What she was given or who gave it to her?”

I sighed. “No, she remembered nothing helpful.”

“Have there been any other incidents of anyone else acting out of the ordinary?” Helene asked, her eyes flitting between Taj, Malik, and me. “In the palace or elsewhere?”

Taj looked to Malik, and Malik nodded before he spoke. Taj explained about the rider that had attacked and burned down part of a town with his dragon a few months back.

“Did you question him?” Rakim asked.

“Of course we did,” Taj said, “but at the time, it just seemed he had a fit of some kind or he was lying. He appeared completely sane. He claimed he didn’t know what happened, that he didn’t remember doing it.”

“Question him again,” Malik ordered. “Now that we know what questions to ask.”

Taj nodded.

“The question that I’m most interested in,” Rakim interjected, “is why hasn’t there been another attack since the one on your city? What is this person, or whoever is behind this, waiting for? What is their goal?”

No one had an answer.