Page 157 of The Bond That Burns

I forced a smile, trying to reassure her. “Look, just trust me on this. Please. You know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

I was giving her the ultimate guilt trip. I cringed internally, waiting for her to see through my bullshit and say no. This was awful. I hated lying to her like this. Hiding what I was going through from her was one thing. But getting her to lure her dragon back... It felt wrong. I felt utterly disgusted with myself for doing it.

But she was nodding reluctantly. “Fine. I’ll talk to him. If you have information for him, I know he’ll want to hear it.”

Relief and guilt warred inside me. “Thank you.”

The terrace door opened behind us. Theo stepped out, his expression grim.

“Blake,” he said, glancing between us. “Viktor wants to see you. Now.”

A chill that had nothing to do with the winter’s night settled over me. Of course, Viktor had to choose this exact moment.

But there was no avoiding it. Not if he’d sent word for me.

“Fine.” I looked back at Pendragon, already stepping towards the door. “I’ll be back for our meeting at midnight, I promise. Wait for me, all right?”

She nodded, her face so open and trusting for once that it made my heart hurt. I wondered if it was the last time I’d ever see it that way.

I pushed open the doors to Viktor’s chambers. He was already seated behind his desk. Even though he’d been the one to summon me, he didn’t look up immediately, just kept scribbling something on parchment, the scratch of the quill setting my teeth on edge as I waited for him to give me his full attention.

“Blake,” he said, finally, setting the quill down and leaning back in his chair. “I trust you’re enjoying the ball.”

I stared down at him. Right. The ball he’d purposely yanked me away from. “Why am I here?”

Viktor raised a brow. “Such impatience. I thought I taught you better manners.”

My parents had taught me everything good that I knew. Viktor had been the one to try to strip it all away.

But I kept my temper and didn’t reply. He was goading me but that was nothing new.

“Aenia is missing,” he said abruptly.

I stared at him, hoping I’d misheard. “What?”

“The foulblood girl,” he said, each word clipped. “She’s on the loose.”

“How?” I demanded, stepping towards the desk. “She was under guard, restricted to one suite in the castle. A healer was supposed to be supervising her at all times. I’d arranged everything. I...”

“Yes, yes,” Viktor interrupted. “You were very conscientious. I’m well-aware. Don’t expect a pat on the back for it. She was being moved to a different location when the incident occurred. My men are searching for her now.”

“Moved?” Fury was bubbling in my chest. “Who ordered her to be moved?”

“Who do you think?” Viktor asked lazily. “The castle you were using was no longer available.”

“What?” I stared. “Why? What happened to it?”

I half-expected him to say Aenia had burned it down. But instead he replied, “It’s been given away. To the Pansera family as part of Regan’s dowry. A suitable gift for a bride, wouldn’t you agree?”

“You moved my sister so you could give Regan a fucking wedding present?” My voice shook with rage. “And now she’s gone? If you’d told me I could have dealt with Aenia myself. I knew you were insane, but are you such a fucking idiot as that, Uncle?”

I’d crossed a line and I knew it. The trouble was, I couldn’t seem to make myself care.

Viktor’s expression hardened. “Watch yourself, Nephew. You forget who you’re speaking to.”

“Oh, I know exactly who I’m speaking to,” I shot back. “A man too concerned about his cock for the first time in a century to care when he’s fucked his family over.”

Viktor stood, the movement slow and deliberate. “You dare to speak to me in such a way? After everything I’ve done for you? For your mother?”

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