Page 92 of Lost in Fire

I force myself to remain steady. I knew this was coming. From the moment they captured us, I knew Hargen would pay the ultimate price for my choices. But hearing it spoken aloud makes it real in a way that steals my breath.

“He’ll never bow to you,” I manage. “Fire or no fire.”

“Perhaps. But this particular fire will be… special.” Vex’s smile is predatory. “You see, you won’t merely be watching his execution.”

The doors swing open, revealing the chamber beyond. Syndicate officials line the walls, their faces reflecting cold approval. At the center of the room stands a raised platform with restraints clearly designed to hold a sacrifice.

“You, Vanya Arrowvane,” Vex announces loud enough for the entire assembly to hear, “will be the one to execute Hargen Cole.”

The words hit me like dragon fire to the chest. For a moment, I can’t process what he’s just said. Then rage explodes through me with enough force to make my vision blur.

“No!” The word comes out as a snarl. “Never. I don’t care what you do to me, I will never—”

“You’ll never what?” Vex interrupts, circling me like a hungry animal who’s caught the scent of blood. “Hurt the man you love? Betray your precious mate bond? Oh, my dear, deluded Shadowhand, we’ll see about that.”

I fling myself at him with everything I have, binding magic be damned. My partially shifted claws rake toward his throat, but the guards are ready for me. They slam me down to the stone floor hard enough to rattle my teeth.

“I expected that response,” Vex says mildly, smoothing down his jacket. “Which is why I have something special to help you see reason.”

He gestures toward a side chamber I hadn’t noticed before. The door swings open with deliberate slowness, and my heart stops beating entirely.

Ember.

My daughter stands in the doorway, her hands bound behind her back with the same silver chains that burn against my own wrists. There’s blood on her temple, her clothes are torn, and her beautiful eyes are filled with tears she’s too proud to shed.

“No.” The word is barely a breath, all my strength leaving me in a rush. “No, you didn’t. You couldn’t have—”

“Your hybrid abomination tried to follow Daddy’s heroic example,” Vex says with satisfaction. “Apparently, sacrificial stupidity runs in the family.”

Ember tries to step forward, but the guards flanking her tighten their grip. When she struggles, one of them presses a blade to her throat.

“Mom, I’m sorry,” she says, her voice breaking. “I couldn’t just sit back while you and Dad were in danger. I had to try—”

“Silence!” Vex barks, and he nods to the guards. They force Ember to her knees and fit a metal brace around her neck that clearly causes her pain. She gasps, her back arching as the device activates.

“Stop!” I scream, fighting against my own restraints. “She’s just a child!”

“She’s an aberration that should never have been born,” Vex says dismissively. “The fact that she draws breath is an insult to every pure-blooded dragon who has ever lived.”

The casual cruelty in his voice makes me want to rip his throat out with my bare hands. This isn’t just ideology to him—it’s personal hatred.

“Now then,” he continues, turning back to me with renewed focus, “let me explain your choice. You can execute Hargen Cole with your own fire, or I can execute your daughter with mine.” He pauses, letting the words sink in. “Choose carefully. You won’t get a second chance.”

“You’re insane,” I whisper, staring at him in horror. “You’re talking about murdering a child!”

“I’m talking about cleansing our bloodlines of corruption.” His eyes burn with zealot’s fire. “This Syndicate has been compromised for too long, infected by those who think mixing our sacred heritage with inferior blood is acceptable.” He spreads his arms wide, addressing the gathered officials as much as me. “Once I’ve purified our ranks, I’ll extend that work to the entire dragon community. Every mixed bloodline will be eliminated. Every hybrid put down like the aberrations they are.”

The scope of his madness crashes over me.

Genocide. He’s planning genocide.

“The pure will inherit everything,” he continues, his voice rising with fervor. “Dragons will reclaim their rightful place as the apex of supernatural evolution, unmarred by weak blood and diluted power.”

“No one would support such madness,” I say, but even as the words leave my mouth, I see the approving faces around the chamber.

Vex’s smile is triumphant. “Oh, my dear Shadowhand, you have no idea how many of our kind share my vision. I’m not a rogue actor—I’m the tip of the iceberg. The pure-blood movement grows stronger every day, and soon we’ll have the numbers to implement the final solution.”

My blood turns to ice. If he’s telling the truth, if there really are that many extremists within the Syndicate and beyond…

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