“Where are the dragons?” Ferrula growled as she skidded to a halt.
“They can no longer land here,” the lead guard said, smug and calm. “Runes line the castle perimeter. Your dragons are circling above, but they cannot break through.”
I reached out for Kaelith with everything I had.
Nothing.
Just silence.
The cold void of absence that chilled deeper than steel.
The others exchanged a glance, and then, without a word, they ran.
Tae shouted, “We’ll bring the Horde!”
Jax grabbed Naia’s hand and pulled her through the castle gates. Ferrula and Cordelle followed, faces grim. The Lowborn Squad ran, but I noticed Teren glance back with murder in his eyes.
They didn’t run out of fear.
They ran for us.
As the last of them disappeared into the streets, the lead enforcer turned back toward us.
He stepped forward slowly, lips curling into something between a smirk and a sneer.
“Let’s see how loyal your dragons really are,” he said. “When they watch you bleed.”
“Who ordered this?” Zander demanded, his voice a low growl barely contained beneath his fury. The guards held us fast, but he didn’t flinch, even as they forced him to his knees beside me.
The lead enforcer stepped closer, eyes glittering like wet stone, a smile as smooth and venomous as a snake.
“Does it matter?” he said, his words deliberate, savoring each one. “You won’t live through the night. And your whore…”
His eyes slid to me, heavy with cruel intent.
“She’ll service most of our men before we allow her to die. Cyran needs to be reminded of who truly rules here.”
My skin went cold.
Not just from the threat, but from the truth laced behind it.
I’d assumed this arrest was political.
That it came from Warriath. A power move. A warning.
But now, kneeling here with Zander beside me and Kaelith silent in the skies…
I knew.
This wasn’t Theron.
Someone here had powerful friends.
“Did you steal the supplies?” I asked, keeping my voice even despite the tremor beneath my skin. “Or was that just a ploy to get us here?”
His smile dropped.
The slap came fast, splitting my lip and snapping my head sideways.
