Page 31 of Dragon Unleashed

“How…how so?” I keep my voice as even as I can while pressing down hard on the cut.

“It is not in Farrell’s best interest to have an allegiance member whose power is tethered.”

I suck my finger before wiping the remaining blood on my top. Silas snarls—a deep-throated, animalistic snarl. There’s no missing he’s a wyvern when he makes those kinds of noises.

“That isnothow we clean things in the rebel army.”

“Good thing I’m not in the army then, isn’t it,” I snap back.

“You will be. Except you’ll be leading it,” he mutters. “Never in all my days have I met a soldier with so much raw skill and yet a complete lack of training, and discipline.”

I stand straighter, forcing my shoulders back.He thinks I have talent.I can’t help it though—I’m too used to saying what I think. The words are out before I can stop them.

“I. Am. Not. A. Soldier.” With each word, I take a sharp pace toward him.

“So you say, young Lorelei.” He pats my head like I’m some wayward toddler before stepping away to rummage in his coat, folded neatly on a bench. “I have that gift for you.”

So much happened the night of the ball, I completely forgot he said he had something for me. I step closer, peering curiously over his shoulder. Silas slips a cold round object into my hand before moving away. My fingers close automatically around it, and I hold it to my chest. Slowly I open my grasp to reveal a perfectly round pebble. An odd kind of emptiness radiates from it, but nothing more.

“A rock? How nice. You shouldn’t have.”

“A very rare and expensive rock,” Silas says. “One of a kind. An abolition stone.” His mouth pulls down. “I hoped… Never mind. It will allow anyone who is slave bonded, or tethered, to speak one truth, uncorrupted by the magic holding them.”

I blink, my thoughts rushing.

“Do you understand?” he asks.

“You mean if the Virrey made me a slave, like Zephyr—”

Silas splutters then coughs to hide it.Yeah, I know, old man.

“If he slave bonded me, I could use this to alert someone?”

“Exactly.”

And he’s giving it to me. He believes it could happen. I sink into a crouch in the middle of the floor, turning the pebble over in my hands.

“You’ll need more than that to survive what’s coming. I suggest you stop seeing me as a threat and train with me.”

Slowly I drag my gaze from the rock to Silas.

“We’ll start without magic. If you can use that pointy little knife properly, and without magic, you might stand a chance. Plus,” he sighs, looking old suddenly, “if we don’t use magic to train I can’t be compelled to tell your secrets, can I?”

My stomach drops. He still has to report on me? Crap.

Silas walks off, feet trailing with none of the nimbleness he had while we were fighting. At the door he pauses and speaks without glancing over his shoulder.

“Dismissed, soldier.”

Chapter Fourteen: Lorelei

The door creaks as I push it open, ducking past the floaty silk drapes and stepping farther into Zephyr’s room. All damn day I’ve been trying to track him down. He’s been avoiding all his usual haunts since he got back.Is he avoiding me?

“Hi,” I call out. The room comes into view as I walk around the corner. The place is so Zephyr. I didn’t really appreciate it before, too caught up in our argument. What does his roommate make of it all? It’s overflowing with tactile fabrics, modern art on the walls, stacks of beanbags artfully arranged in the corner, silk scarves on the bedposts, and…wait…are those handcuffs?

I start at the shriek in my ear.

Hewie.

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