Page 8 of The Omega Slave

“But the bodies,” Kamir spat out. Half of them looked burned alive.

“Kamir,” Veda yanked at his hands and held them. “Listen to me.” When she was confident she had his attention, she let go. “You were busy saying the proper prayers and comforting the grieving, but I wasn’t. At least half the soldiers had burns thatcovered a different wound. There were some where you couldn’t tell, but on others I distinctly made out what looked to be an injury made by a blade.”

“A blade,” Kamir repeated in confusion, but then he shook his head. “But talons—”

“Would rip and tear, not slice cleanly. You would have noticed yourself had you not had so many demands made of you in there.”

Kamir gazed at his sister. “You think they were murdered with a sword then the burns were to cover it up? Blame the dragon?” He thought furiously. “But he can’t be so deluded that he believes we are in any position to wage another war on Cadmeera.” Kamir didn’t have to name his uncle. They both knew who he meant.

“I think it was a poor attempt, yes, but what I want to know is where he has the slave?”

Kamir stilled. “You think he lives?” His heart pounded so hard he expected his ribs to give way. Kamir thought furiously. “That’s why they had to be killed beyond identification,” he said slowly. “So no one would be able to miss a particular one. Were there five slaves brought here?”

“I don’t know. The only way of establishing that would be to visit the pleasure house, and I would expect they were accompanied by at least one master, possibly two.”

“I could send Mansala?”

Veda shook her head. “I really don’t think it’s a good idea to leave you unprotected at the moment, and I doubt if even I could slip out, the palace is so locked down.”

Kamir leaned his head back against the wall he had sunk down next to. “Which means he has to be here.”

“The palace is huge,” Veda protested. “There are a dozen places they could have him.”

But Kamir shook his head. “No, they couldn’t,” and he gazed at her. “Think, Veda. Where could they hide him in plain sight, and not have anyone identify him?”

She looked blankly at him for a second, then her lips curved in a grim smile. “You think he’s in the dungeons.”

“But I have absolutely no idea how to find out.” If he even attempted to go down there, the guards would panic and the slave would be killed before he’d even gotten into the anteroom.

They were both silent for a moment, trying to puzzle it out, when they heard a tap on iron bars lining the window, and Veda jumped up with a startled cry. Before Kamir could stop her, she’d unhooked the metal and swung it wide. Kamir gaped at the man who scrambled through before he clasped Veda to him and caught her lips in a scorching kiss. Kamir got to his feet as Veda pulled back. Draul Eryken, leader of the human alliance and wanted in all five kingdoms with a price on his head, sketched a bow.

Kamir rolled his eyes at the feigned deference because he knew that Draul had wanted nothing more than a revolution in Cadmeera until he had met and befriended Attiker. He wasn't wanted in Cadmeera any longer, but he knew His Highness, King Raz'mar, was keeping up appearances for the moment. He wasn’t sure how Eryken felt about Rajpur, but knew he was doing his best to help the revolutionary forces in Abergenny. Abergenny was an even bigger mess than Rajpur. He noticed Veda never questioned how he’d scaled a palace wall without being seen, nor how he knew where they were.

But then Kamir himself had announced it in front of many people half a bell ago.

Veda quickly told him what had happened, and he frowned. “Attiker is waiting for a signal, and I can absolutely guarantee the dragon isn’t Eldara.” He smirked. “Apparently baby numbertwo is on its way and her mate isn’t letting her out of his sight. She visits Attiker but that’s it.”

Kamir ignored the ridiculous statement because he was actually unsure if it was indeed true, but he shook his head. “Eldara isn’t a dragon shifter.”

Draul huffed out a breath. “So just let me check I’ve got this straight.” Veda rolled her eyes but waited. “You were expecting, with our help, to have to escape your kingdom today because you can’t shift into a wolf, which is a requirement, and Daddy was too busy fighting with his neighbors to notice it had never happened before?”

“Well, it doesn’t stipulate a wolf, but yes.”

“Then this pleasure slave appears and bam, you turn into a dragon?”

Kamir winced. “I think so.”

“Uh-huh,” Draul said skeptically, then winced himself when he got a certain princess’s elbow in the ribs. “So then apparently the dragon goes on a killing spree, except it’s likely that your uncle was responsible because of the injuries that Veda spotted, and anyone who actually saw what happened, except you and this pleasure slave, has conveniently turned up dead?”

Kamir didn’t bother wincing that time. It was hopeless.

“But the real problem is you think your uncle is acting shady because he’s got the slave locked in the dungeon, and he doesn’t know which of you is responsible for the dragon?”

“Stop calling him a slave,” Kamir snapped.

“Isn’t he?” Draul challenged and Kamir knew that he wasn’t looking at his sister’s bond mate, he was looking at the human responsible for sweeping a revolution through the entire continent.

“Draul,” Veda almost growled the name, and he held up his hand.

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