Breath of Fire (14 page)

“Yes, you will,” Julian said.

Petyr’s body fell to the floor like a rag doll. There was a moment of silence before a great whoosh filled the room. Fire engulfed Petyr’s body, and he turned to ashes in front of my eyes.

All I could do was stare in disbelief. I’d been witness to some horrible things in my line of work, but I’d never seen another Drakán with the ability to kill with just a thought. Dragon fire had to come from a dragon’s breath. Didn’t it?

Icy claws of terror scraped at my belly, and I stood up quickly, only thinking of the need to escape. To survive. I couldn’t take my eyes from Petyr’s ashes.

“I’m tired. I think I’ll go to my room now,” I said, backing slowly toward the doors.

“Come now, Rena, surely you’re not so squeamish. I know your father, after all.”

The way he’d said, “your father” was rather snide, and I wondered if there was something personal between Alasdair and Julian that I wasn’t aware of.

“No, I’m not squeamish. I just wasn’t expecting your methods. How do you manifest fire without your dragon form?”

He smiled but didn’t answer my question. “I don’t delay justice when it is needed. A swift punishment is the best way to keep things in order.”

“Unless he was innocent. But you only asked for his repentance, not if he was actually guilty.”

“Your sense of fair play is very—human,” Julian said with distaste.

I almost made a comment about how human blood also ran through his veins, but I remembered it didn’t. Not really. His mother had been a descendant from another clan and his father was one of the banished warriors, so Julian had very little human blood in him at all.

“What about the Council? You didn’t ask their permission to kill.”

“I don’t need permission from the Council. As my power has grown, I’ve become my own Council. They can no longer defeat me and they know it.”

Which meant Alasdair had known Julian couldn’t be defeated, and he’d sent me to find him anyway. The evidence was stacking against Julian. He was the descendant of two different lines of Drakán and his power was unmatched by even the Council. I couldn’t imagine anyone else being more suited to the title of Destroyer.

I could tell he’d chosen that moment to read my mind again because his eyes turned to blue ice, and he stood slowly from his chair. I made a conscious effort not to take a step in retreat, but it was hard. Really hard.

“This is my clan, Rena Drake. And anyone who questions my authority is welcome to challenge me. My word is law and my decisions final.”

“All societies thrive when there is true justice,” I said, much more bravely than I felt. “For you to dole it out as you see fit simply makes you a tyrant, no better than the other Archos who mistreat their clans.”

“There is a difference in how I provide for my people and how your father abuses yours. Do not get our ways confused because you were witness to the event. I could have tortured him, prolonged his pain. That’s what your father would have done.”

“And he listens no better than you do. No one wishes to live their lives in fear of being condemned to death before they ever have a chance to live. I know the people who live with this fear. And making them live that way is its own cruelty.”

“You know nothing, Enforcer. Petyr brutally murdered his human mate and left their two children to starve—twin boys nearing puberty who have shown great promise in their powers. There were witnesses to her murder, but it doesn’t matter. I am linked to all my people, even the human mates, through a blood oath. I know every thought and deed that crosses their minds. I know when they feel joy. And I know when they suffer. Does a man like Petyr deserve for me to draw out his death just so I can hear his endless excuses? I would never show such weakness.”

His explanation caught me by surprise. When he put things in that perspective I could understand his reasoning. I’d never heard of an Archos tying himself to his people through a blood oath. And I wondered why Alasdair didn’t do it with our people. I wondered if he even knew he could.

“What happens when someone in your clan merely disagrees with your methods or your rules? Is it instant death or are they allowed to voice their opinions? All of our people should have a choice in how they live. And if they make the wrong choice there should be consequences, but the choice should be theirs.”

“But we aren’t people, are we, Rena? We’re monsters with the instincts of animals, even though we have many human traits. And what you might think are simple choices could possibly affect our entire race. I am their executioner, just as you have come to be mine, but I am also their greatest protector.”

He looked at me with an intensity I couldn’t decipher, as if he wanted me to understand something I wasn’t quite grasping. I couldn’t think of anything to say. It was a rare moment for me to be rendered speechless.

“Xana,” he called out.

Xana appeared once again in the doorway of the dining room in her black leather, only this time there was a whip coiled at her side. She stood silently, waiting for instructions.

“Please show Ms. Drake to her room. I believe she’s feeling the jet lag from her trip.”

I had no choice but to follow Xana deeper into the dragon’s lair.

Chapter Twelve

Xana led me down a long hallway. The black granite was a familiar motif. Enormous gold-leafed mirrors flanked each wall, and I watched my many reflections, fascinated how the red of my dress stood out like a flame against the gold of my skin. My slippered feet made no sound against the hard floor.

We came to a curved staircase at the end of a hallway. The steps were so opaque you could barely see where one began and the next ended. The handrails were columns of twisted black iron that spiraled to the upper floors. Xana led me up three flights and down another long hallway before stopping in front of a heavy oak door. She left me there without so much as a goodbye.

I was truly alone. I opened the door to my new prison and was pleased to find it was more than accommodating. The bed was large—lush with a red satin comforter and sheets. Sheer drapes in a matching shade were tied back to the corners of a massive four-poster bed. It wasn’t a bed made for sleeping, and it immediately brought images of carnal pleasures to the forefront of my mind. Julian had done this on purpose, I was sure.

Thick black carpeting had replaced the granite and was soft under my feet. The walls and ceiling were painted a flat black to match. Red satin curtains hung from the windows. I was relieved to see there was actual electricity in the room instead of the candles that seemed prevalent throughout the rest of the palace. Gleaming gold sconces flanked the doors and windows and a fluidly curved chandelier hung from the ceiling.

The luggage I’d left at the airport was neatly stacked in the closet. My clothes had been unpacked and put away by some unknown servant. Not that I needed the clothes I’d brought. A look through the wardrobe and drawers showed a full selection of clothing for every occasion. A look at the exclusive tags showed they just happened to be in my size. Hanging face front on the door of the wardrobe was a peignoir of the sheerest silk. I rubbed the fabric between my fingers, and my dragon sighed in envy. I closed the door before I could think better of it, and put myself out of temptation’s way.

A lady’s writing desk sat in the corner, complete with stationery and a gold pen. And on top of the desk sat my purse. Before I could think better of it, I rushed to it and pulled out my cell phone. I automatically dialed Noah’s number and held my breath until I heard his voice on the other end.

“Rena,” he said on a whoosh of relief as soon as he picked up. “Thank gods you called. I’ve had a terrible feeling all day, but I haven’t been able to see anything.”

Just hearing his voice released the tension I’d been holding in my shoulders. “That’s not unusual. You’ve never been able to read me. My shields are too strong.”

“No, I mean I can’t see anything. Not your brother. Not the average person walking past me on the street. My visions are completely gone. Someone has me blocked. I can feel the guards they’re forcing down on me. I don’t know how they’re doing it, but it’s pissing me off. Are you okay?”

After the power I’d just seen Julian wield, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he could control another psychic across an entire continent.

“I’m fine,” I said, deciding to keep Julian’s power to myself for now. “I’m in one piece at least.”

“Do you need me? I can be there in a heartbeat.”

“You’ll have to tell me how you’d accomplish that before I let you. You have too many secrets, Noah.”

I had so many emotions fighting for space within me. I didn’t know Noah well, but I was drawn to him. Not the dragon in me. But the
real
me. He made me nervous with his mysterious answers and his need to protect me with his life. His need to love me. Even thinking about his words from the night before gave me chills. Love was foreign to me. But there was something comforting about it at the same time. I didn’t know how to deal with these emotions. But I knew I needed normalcy in my life. I wanted normalcy. What made me even more nervous was the chance that I might get Noah killed by bringing him into Julian’s territory. It would put an end to normal, that’s for sure. I couldn’t risk his life by exposing him to Drakán business. No matter how strong his own abilities.

“Rena—” He hesitated. “My people are looking over our situation. They’ll eventually give in and let me tell you what I know. Just be patient.”

“Yeah, that’s really not one of my better personality traits.” I rubbed at my gritty eyes with my fingers. “Just stay put for now, Noah. I don’t think this is a mess you want to get in the middle of.”

I could practically hear his silent struggle to argue on the other end of the phone, before the struggle eased and his breathing changed.

“I miss you, Rena. All I’ve been able to think about is how hot your skin feels against mine. How good you feel in my arms. I woke up this morning with the taste of your lips on mine and the need to be inside you.”

I gasped at the image that invaded my mind, and my nipples hardened into tight buds against the soft silk of my dress.

“Noah.” My voice purred with desire to the point I almost didn’t recognize it. “You confuse the hell out of me. I can hear the lust in your voice, just as I can hear the secrets. And the worry. What’s really bothering you? Besides me being here.”

“Don’t ever doubt that I want you, Rena. I’m so fucking hot for you right now I feel like I’m going to explode. I’m worried about you because I care about you. That’s how relationships work. And I don’t know how to warn you to be careful without spilling the secrets I’m oathbound to keep.”

“I’m not asking you to break your oath. I understand secrets better than anyone.”

“Just know that you’re special—in different ways than you think. And I think you might be in greater danger than you realize. Just know there are others outside your own race who might wish to do you harm. You have to keep your senses open and your guard up all the time. They’ll strike when you’re weak.”

“Believe me. I’m used to that concept.”

“Just promise me you’ll be careful. And watch your back around the man you’ve decided to hunt. He’s dangerous. I don’t know what it is about him, but he’s more than you think he is. And you’ll be blinded by his strength and drawn to his power.” The bitterness in Noah’s voice rang out loud and clear.

“What is it you’re trying to tell me?” I asked.

“Yesterday, before my visions were blocked, I kept seeing you with someone. The same scene played over and over again. His hair was as dark as yours, and his hands were pale against the gold of your skin as he claimed your body. Your lives are entwined somehow. But so are ours, Rena. Remember that when you’re with him.”

“Is that why you put on the hot and heavy phone sex? So I’d remember you while I’m fucking him? How damned noble of you, Noah.”

“No, the hot and heavy was an added bonus. I’m just trying to help you. People who care about each other do that. I’d say love, but I wouldn’t want you to panic.”

“You’ve known me a fucking day.”

“It only took me a minute.”

We were both breathing heavily and something that felt suspiciously like tears gathered behind my eyelids. I didn’t know how to deal with this. I was tired of everyone in my life playing me to their own tune.

“It seems like things would be a lot easier if I just said to hell with you both.”

“You’ll want to before this is finished. But there are some things you can’t control the outcome of. Prophecies are a bitch like that.”

“Wait, what do you know of prophecies?”

“Enough. They’re not unique to your people, you know. Just take my advice and be careful. You won’t forget me when you’re with him.”

Shit
. Noah was already talking like me sleeping with Julian was a done deal. Hormones were the last thing I wanted to add into the mix of this disaster. I had to stay away from Julian, plain and simple. My thoughts were so deep I didn’t catch all of what Noah was saying.

“I’m sorry, can you say that again?”

He hesitated before repeating it. “I just want you to know that I’m okay with it. I know your role in this is predestined, and I understand that you have to be with him. I’m not going to say I won’t fight a little harder to make sure you remember that our destinies are entwined as well. I want you. I’ll still want you when you get back.”