Page 44 of Wild Flame (Wild Bond #2)

Chapter Forty-Four

“I am a High Priest! You cannot do this to me!”

The dragon looked on with disdain as the guard known as Yesh tossed the bound man unceremoniously to the ground, and he scrambled to his knees in the sand.

The man’s scent held the tang of one who once was bonded. But the mournful scent was buried under that of unwashed flesh and rotting fish. The dragon grimaced at the offensive smell, exposing his fanged teeth, and the man’s eyes darted upward. A trace of fear laced his scent as the dragon coldly returned his stare, arching his long neck forward so his muzzle hovered just over the head of his rider.

The night was still around them, with only the muted crash of waves in the distance. A single torch held by his bonded provided the only light in the remote inlet cove, save for the bright stars overhead.

“Any problems?” his bonded asked.

“None,” Yesh replied. “He was surprisingly easy to capture for a master assassin. No one saw us.”

“Good.”

His rider glared down at the man, and the dragon shared his feelings of disgust and rage as he regarded him. This weak man had plotted to kill his rider’s sister and mate and had caused his mate harm. He would always be a threat to them.

“I assume you know why you are here,” his bonded stated, betraying none of the seething emotions inside him as he spoke.

“Of course,” the man hissed. “The brat sent you to do her dirty work. The little coward couldn’t even do it herself.” He snorted. “She always was a disappointment.”

Fury lanced through the bond. “Leida knows nothing of this and never will. Though she will probably suspect once she hears of it.” The thought of her finding out, and the no doubt heated argument that would ensue, filled his rider with anticipation. His rider considered the man. “Any final words before I send you to the Dark Realms and the god you love so much?”

The man’s eyes widened. “Y-You cannot possibly mean to—”

His bonded leaned forward, cutting off the man’s protests. “Oh, but I do. You took advantage of a young girl when she came to you in good faith. She was hurting and vulnerable, and you saw your opportunity to use her. Then you proceeded to manipulate and torment her for years, along with many others. You took advantage of countless children, embroiling them in your schemes and bribed and threatened your own priests and priestesses. For that alone, you deserve to die. But not only did you abuse the power of your position, your delusions of grandeur also led you to conspire to kill a princess of Zehvi, and later, its future queen. So yes, priest, I mean to execute you.” He leaned back. “Your god would approve, I think.”

His bonded spat on the ground in contempt before he moved aside. The dragon raised his head to its full height as the man now cowered before him, opening his mouth to speak.

But the time for begging was done.

With immense satisfaction, the dragon opened his powerful jaws and released his flame.