She knew without looking that her eyes had changed to the dragon’s. Scales now covered her hands, neck and jaw line. She must have looked like a monster. But despite that, Ryu’s gaze was loving as it met hers. He looked at her as if he didn’t see the monster, only the woman.
“What are you doing here, dragon slayer?” Ryu asked without moving his eyes from Tate’s.
“I’m here to escort you to see the prisoner.”
“That will no longer be necessary.”
“The Lord Provost instructed me to act as escort,” George argued.
Mistake. Ryu didn’t like being corrected. He liked it even less when it came from someone who had screwed up as badly as George had.
The thought was enough to force Tate back from the ledge she’d been on. She didn’t know if it was the threat to one of her own in her own territory or the disquiet the blade caused, but for a moment there, she’d wanted to destroy George. Not Ilith. Not some combo of the two. Tate had been the sole perpetrator of those thoughts.
She sucked in a shaky breath before releasing it, feeling her adrenaline fade.
Seeing her in control again, Ryu sent her a nod before facing George. “He’ll understand. I’m sure the Lord Provost didn’t tell you to attack Lady Fisher’s people in her own house.”
“He’s the one who attacked first,” George defended.
Night slunk to her side.I caught her sneaking around. Mia checked and her scent stops in front of your room.
The eyes of everyone present jumped to George in accusation.
She blushed. “No one answered.”
Dewdrop and Tate cursed as the two Veles hissed in anger.
Ryu’s eyes turned nearly incandescent from fury. “I’m sure your training taught you how territorial a dragon is and how invading their territory was never recommended because of the danger involved. This is a severe breach of etiquette and utterly inappropriate.”
There was a perfunctory knock from the door before it opened. Ben appeared in the doorway; his expression carefully neutral as he took in the scene.
There was no way he didn’t know what was going. With the volume they were using, she wouldn’t be surprised if her neighbor two doors down heard.
“Sir Benjamin, please take Lady Georgiana Rosewood into custody, pending disciplinary action by the Lord Provost and the emperor,” Ryu ordered. “We’ll find our own way to the prison.”
Ben snapped a salute before taking George’s arm. She watched Ryu with disbelief as Ben started to haul her out of the house, only now realizing the situation she was in.
Ryu was so much more dangerous than Tate in many ways. She preferred to immediately address any grievances. The worst she’d do was kill you. Ryu, on the other hand, was the type to raze your house to the ground while you watched then burn the ashes. If you were lucky after that, he’d end your miserable existence. If not, he’d torture you for a while longer.
Ben dragged George out of the house as the rest of them watched.
When she was gone, Dewdrop clapped his hands with a bright smile. “Alright, who’s up to visiting a prison?”
Not me. I have other business to attend to,Night informed them. He and Mia disappeared upstairs without a word.
Tate sighed when Dewdrop looked over at her. “I’ll go get dressed.”
* * *
Two hours later Dewdrop, Tate, and Ryu disembarked from the carriage bearing the Lord Provost’s crest, which Ben had left them for the trip. Dewdrop took in the two-story building located on the outskirts of the Lower.
“Not exactly the nicest place, is it?” Dewdrop grimaced.
No, it was not. From the outside, it didn’t look much different than other government buildings. Maybe a little more imposing since there were bars on the windows and a large fence on which several guard towers were posted. It was smaller than Tate expected of a prison that housed the criminal population for the entire city of Aurelia.
There was an air of desolation and despair, like the very walls had absorbed the negative energy of those passing through its doors for centuries. Its aura infected its surroundings, turning them bleak and solemn.
Even Tate felt affected, instinct telling her she didn’t want to enter. It was the sort of place that sucked out more of your soul with every second you lingered.
