Page 73 of The Storm of the Empire

“She had to leave, and I will tell them she had business to stay here for once the ship leaves. I think I have good reason for everything I’ve done. What’s your excuse?”

If he wanted to play, I was going to as well.

“I’m trying to help you. I think you have so much more ability.”

“What are you trying to say?” I moved to close the door and froze when movement in the cell behind him caught my eye.

I knew that face.

TWENTY-FOUR

LUKA

Istepped up to the bars to get a better look at him.

Even emaciated and filthy, I would know his face—not that we had ever met. It was as if Nyx had been starved and beaten for months and thrown in a cell to rot.

This had to be his brother, Kol.

But weren’t they sure he was dead? At least Zaria, Jaxus, and Kiera had been, Nyx had searched for months before he finally accepted the truth.

“What is it?” Faolan asked.

I glanced between Faolan and the prisoner. “You’re not going to like this.”

He waited.

“I know him.” I pointed into the darkness.

“Have you finally cracked?” He looked exasperated.

I back tracked. Maybe I needed to get information out of him before I absconded with a half-dead fae in front of him. This guy might not even have been Nyx’s brother. So before I totally blew my cover, I wanted every last drop of information I could get.

“Who are you transporting prisoners for?”

“I don’t even know if they are prisoners. We just move what we are told to. I don’t know who all these guys are.” His anger pitched again.

“They are in irons, and they aren’t prisoners?” I can’t take my eyes off Kol. His eyes are closed. If I could only see the color, I would know for sure.

“They are probably dangerous, and I don’t know.” This clearly wasn’t uncommon in the circles he’d moved in, so I couldn’t take that.

No more information was ever given than absolutely needed.

“What is this line of questioning about?”Faolan snapped.

An idea hit me.

“Is this male a dragon?” I gestured at the emaciated form laying in the cell.

Sighing, Faolan reached for the lever holding closed the cell door. Tentatively, he slipped inside, and I filled the doorway behind him.

He stepped closer, nostrils flaring before he backed away quickly, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket. “He’s coated in Dragon’s Bane.”

“What?! How did you not know when you opened the door?”

“It’s hidden. Mixed with other substances. There isn’t a lot, but it’s there.” He kept the hanky over his mouth and nose. “They’ve moved Dragon’s Bane on our ship before, and as long as the crates aren’t open, I’m fine. It’s how they get past the inspectors. But I’ve—” His chest heaved in ragged breaths.

Was he actually having a reaction or was he just alarmed?

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