Page 125 of Phoenix Burn

Haki paced three short strides to the wall, spun smoothly, and then paced back, before confessing. “This all started when she leased Talakai from the Guild. The Guild leases bonded operatives, but their fee is so high only the extremely wealthy can afford it. At first, I thought she wanted a fancy bodyguard—but then I heard what she was really doing with him. Sick, twisted things.”

Jacques stroked his chin. “I have heard about her...Désirs tordus.She apparently has a room full of—”

“The details aren’t necessary at the moment,” Cara interjected, with a glance toward me.

“Oui, of course,” Jacques offered, interlocking his fingers.

I stared at him in horror. Talakai was being tortured? Matt growled.

Haki’s mouth twisted as he picked up the narrative. “I notified the Guild, but she’d paid well for him.” His eyes reflected his anger. “My Kala has currency. Bought Talakai’s freedom from the Guild, but Xumi still refused to give him up, even when we offered more—said it wasn’t enough.”

He peeled lips back from lengthening teeth before continuing. “So I went in after him. I don’t think Xumi knows I was there that night unless she’s broken Talakai, and he told her. I think she came after me because she discovered how close we were at the Guild.”

He paced to the wall and back, before adding, “But I do not know why she wants the Bellati. She—collects anything male. It could be as simple as that.” His metallic eyes flashed. “I have had enough of being her puppet, but I cannot risk Kala.”

He turned to pick something up off the table. A long cylinder of leather and metal. “These are blueprints. Her copy directs the Bellati into her fortress. But they have been modified from the original—she has laid a trap for your friend. I also brought a copy of those I used when I rescued Talakai the first time—they show the lower levels of the fortress, including the underground river I used to gain access.”

He handed the cylinder to Cara. “Please. Someone needs to help Talakai. The things she does—it almost destroyed him before. I thought if the Bellati was forewarned, he might be able to avoid her trap, and get to him.”

I had basically stopped breathing, and Matt’s growl had become a continual rumble.

Jacques cast me a sympathetic look. “She won’t kill him just yet,ma belle.And Dragons arerésiliente.”

It was meant to be reassuring. Maybe it was, but not much. I straightened. If Xumi had laid a trap for Sebastian—could he really evade it, and still rescue Talakai?

Cara was working out logistics. “When did Sebastian gate into Xumi’s realm?” she asked Jacques.

The Satyr stroked his chin. “Just before dawn. He went through to Giava to investigate her primary stronghold.”

I swallowed. That was hours ago.

“It would take him time to investigate,” Cara stated. “He is likely still in Giava. Is that the closest gate to where she holds Talakai?”

Haki shook his head. “Her fortress is on the outskirts of Mierva.”

“There’s a gate in Mierva,” the Watcher said.

Haki nodded. “As a Dragon flies, it would take hours to go from one to the other. But if Sebastian knows there’s another gate...”

Cara’s lips straightened. “It will have taken him time to infiltrate the fortress. I’m betting he’s still in Giava.” She lifted the canister. “I’m going after him, to warn him. Jacques, can you send Anna and Matt back to the academy?”

The Satyr nodded. “Assurément, ma chéri.”

“We’re coming with you,” I protested.

The Watcher shook her head. “You cannot help with this. I must stop Sebastian before he stumbles into that trap, and I might have to move fast to do it. Go back to the academy and wait for further direction.”

My mind spun. Talakai, and now Sebastian. I wanted to help, damn it. “But Talakai—”

Cara slung the cannister over her shoulder. “Once I find Sebastian, we’ll form a plan to get Talakai out. You aren’t trained for this, Anna. Let us handle it.”

No.We needed to find Talakai...

Matt tried. “Ash said—”

“I know what Ash said,” Cara snapped. “But at the moment, this is about Sebastian, not Talakai.” To Jacques, she repeated, “Send them back.”

The Satyr cast me an uncertain look, but answered Cara with, “Oui, mon ami.”

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