Page 74 of Caress of Fire
The guard nodded silently, his face twisted with anger.
Fedryc cast another wide glance over the assembled people. They had come all the way from Virhot because they thought he could protect them. Because their own High Lord had betrayed his sacred duty and had turned against his own people.
Because a woman under his own roof had let insanity enter her heart and turned to evil to fulfill her greed.
“Secure the Lady Isobel in her rooms.” Fedryc turned to another guard. “She is under arrest for the murder of Lord Aymond, for murdering the human, Delradon and mixed blood population of Alwar, and for being a Knat-Kanassis acolyte. Have word sent to Captain Brandlo.”
The guard stared at Fedryc with wide eyes, but turned around and ran to do as he was instructed.
Fedryc moved, leaving the girl with her big, broken heart behind. Leaving Aifa and her frail, resilient soul behind.
With death on his mind Fedryc walked to meet with his father’s murderer.
* * *
The guards stoodon either side of the door to Isobel’s bedroom. They knocked, again, then waited politely. Fedryc stared at them with a scowl. No matter the accusation, the guards would always see Isobel as the Lady of the castle, not a murderess. Not until he had proof and not just the accusation of a traumatized human child.
But at least he had evidence enough to lock her up for a short while, until he could find out some more.
The door finally opened and Isobel stared at them, her silver eyes wide and uncomprehending.
“Isobel Haal.” Fedryc locked gazes with his aunt and she frowned in return. “You are under arrest. Stand aside so my men can search your rooms.”
His aunt’s aristocratic brows rose halfway to her hairline and her mouth gaped open. She froze for just a short instant, then it was gone and her features twisted with outrage as Fedryc motioned for the guards to move in. They brushed past Isobel, their gazes down but their eyes full of resolve as they began to search her large rooms, fully furnished with the woman’s expensive belongings. Furniture from the far corners of Dagmar, ancient paintings from masters of years long gone. Jewelry adorned with precious stones stolen from planets dead long ago.
She loved precious things, rare, expensive things, things that reminded her how special she was, being born a Draekon.
How could I have not seen the evil that lay in her heart?
“What are you doing?” Isobel turned around, grabbing a fistful of her red evening gown. “You have no right!”
“I have every right,” Fedryc corrected her, cutting her short as she started yelling at a guard who stepped into her bedroom. “This castle is mine. You live under my roof, under my rules. And now, I am searching your rooms. Goddess protect you if they find what I fear they will.” Then, turning to the young guard, “Proceed. Leave nothing out.”
The guard shot a short, suspicious glance at Isobel, then disappeared inside the room.
Isobel stomped in front of Fedryc, her face flushed and her eyes shooting flames.
“How dare you?” Her voice shook with anger, but also with fear. “Your father would never have acted this way!”
“Then I suppose you shouldn’t have murdered him.” Fedryc could feel the beast writhing inside him, pushing to break free, but he held on tightly to his control because he knew that if he didn’t, he was going to murder his aunt.
“Murdered your father?” Isobel took a step back, then blinked multiple times. “Are you insane? He was my brother!”
“Yes.” Fedryc’s voice morphed, and Isobel’s eyes grew fearful. “He was. Neither he nor Nissar would have been suspicious of you, his only sister, living with him here on Earth for over a decade since her mate’s death. He trusted you.”
Isobel exhaled, then her eyes went wildly around her room, now unrecognizable with everything strewn around on the floor. She frowned, the very picture of hurt and outrage. Her mouth opened and closed, like she wanted to say something, then forgot it before it left her mouth.
“You can’t be serious.” She looked back at him, the pain on her face clear as day, her beautiful silver eyes full of tears. “I would never hurt Aymond. He was the only one who stood by me when my mate died, offered my daughter a home. I loved him.”
Fedryc stared at her and doubt insinuated itself inside his mind. She looked so sincere, so hurt. Could he have misinterpreted the young girl’s words? But how many small dragons looked like jewels? There simply was no one else.
Just then, the guard stepped out of Isobel’s bedroom, his face as white as a sheet. “My Lord.” His voice was heavy with fear and he stepped sideways, motioning for Fedryc to come closer. “We found it.”
“Found what?” Isobel twisted around, setting bewildered eyes on the guard, then on Fedryc.
Fedryc gave his aunt one last look, then walked past her, past the guard and stared at the carved stone cup adorned with a silver lid. A dragon was curved on its surface, and three nestling circles were drawn on its belly.
“Sacer sanguis.” Fedryc whispered the Knat-Kanassis words and behind him, the guard inhaled sharply in shock, or terror, or both. “Aeterna vita.”
