Page 43 of Echoes of Fire

The guards cursed and fled.

A Drakarn I’d never seen before slouched against the frame, his emerald scales catching the fungal glow in a way that made his entire body seem to smolder with a strange green fire. Unlike Rath’s warrior-straight posture, this one moved with liquid indolence, a half-eaten fruit skewer dangling from his claws.

“Well,” he drawled, eyes raking over me, “you’re shorter than I imagined.”

I pressed harder against the rumbling wall, fingers curling around a loose stone shard. “Who the hell are you?”

He took a deliberate bite of fruit, juices running down his wrist. “Vyne. Rath’s favorite nuisance.” The barbell through his tongue glinted as he spoke. “He’s currently two sectors away chasing false leads, thanks to Krazath’s little friends. Which leaves you with me.”

“Bullshit.” My grip tightened on the shard. “Prove it.”

Vyne sighed dramatically and reached into his tunic. My muscles coiled—until he produced Rath’s mating dagger.Mydagger. He flipped it hilt-first toward me, the blade embedding in the floor between my boots.

“He’ll kill me when he finds out I touched that,” he said, licking fruit residue from his claws. “His mate’s blade shouldn’t bear another’s scent. Sentimental fool. I nicked it from your quarters before coming to find you.”

I wrenched the dagger free. “If you’re here to help, get me the fuck out of here.”

“Youarefeisty. I see why he likes you. Unfortunately, no can do.”

“What?” I surged forward, jerking the knife from the floor and pointing it at him like it would be any help with cell bars between us.

“First, I don’t have the keys. The guards were scared, but they’re not completely stupid. You’ll be let out bright and early tomorrow for the Mating Challenge.” He tossed the skewer aside.

My blade trembled in my grip. “The what?” I remembered Rath bringing it up, but I’d forgotten about that completely. And I’d certainly never agreed to it.

Vyne’s tail flicked, its tip tracing idle patterns on the floor. “The Mating Challenge. It’s the traditional method for weeding out weak bonds. Or disposing of political embarrassments.” He leaned closer, the fungus painting his smirk toxic green. “Guess which category you’re in?”

I clutched the dagger tighter. “Rath wouldn’t agree to this.”

“That doesn’t matter.” Vyne produced a vial from his belt—liquid fire swirling like captured lightning. “The Forge Temple started this; Karyseth is challenging your bond in one of the few ways that can’t be denied. Either you both survive the trial tomorrow and prove yourselves, or …” He mimed an explosion with his free hand.

“So why isn’thein a cell?”

Vyne rolled the vial between his claws. “He may be by now. No one’s been stupid enough to volunteer for a Mating Challenge in … a decade? Maybe more. We’re all a bit rusty on the formalities. If he finds you before tomorrow, your life and his will be forfeit. But I’m not sure he cares about that right now. I’ve spoken to some of your friends. They say you’re the smart one.”

“What are you getting at?” I didn’t like this man, and I couldn’t trust him. What kind of friend would act this way?

“If you ever want to be accepted in Scalvaris, you need to undergo this challenge and survive. It won’t satisfy Karyseth—nothing but your death will—but she’s only one woman. The rest of the city will fall in line, especially with Darrokar backing you.”

He sounded a lot like Terra had all those weeks ago when this all started. I really wished it was her who was talking to me.

But, damn it all, I saw his point.

My pulse hadn’t stopped pounding. “How does it work?”

“Survive until sunrise. Someone will take you to the testing grounds. You and Rath face the dangers of the test—geothermal vents, shadow predators, the usual fun.” He slid the vial through the bars. “One drop melts steel. Two?” His pierced tongue flicked over a fang. “Don’t be nearby.”

I pocketed the acid, noting how his levity didn’t reach his eyes. “Why are you helping?”

“Rath’s the only one who laughs at my jokes.” He turned to leave, scales rippling with false nonchalance. “Oh, and human? Try not to scream when the skin sloughs off your bones. It’s undignified.”

Alone again, the vial settled against my thigh, its threat as volatile as my thoughts.

Did you know?I silently asked Rath’s ghost.Is this your idea of romance?

My fingers found the dagger’s hilt—Rath’s craftsmanship, Vyne’s theft. Both Drakarn men leaving scars in different ways. I tested the wall’s weak point, volcanic grit raining down as I pried loose a handhold.

I wanted out of this cage more than almost anything else. The vial in my pocket could get me out.

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