Page 50 of Caress of Fire
“The order has not been destroyed. If anything, they are even stronger now.” Fedryc spoke with an even voice, even though his anger at the thought of any harm coming to Marielle threatened to spill out like lava. “And I have good reason to believe they murdered my father.”
Lord Aldric stood up straight, his cold façade unmoving, betraying nothing of the feelings of the man behind it. It took less time than before for him to nod.
“Rumor has it you took a human Draekarra.” Lord Aldric tilted his head and Fedryc knew the Draekon was assessing him. “But there was no formal ceremony.”
“I was born and raised on Dagmar.” Fedryc shrugged much more casually than how he felt. “I sealed the mating accordingly.”
Lord Aldric eyed him intensely before lifting an eyebrow. “I see. And why would you think the order killed Lord Aymond? There could be any number of reasons why a High Lord was murdered. Aalstad was powerful and many others could have been jealous of such riches.”
“Yes, my father had enemies, as do we all,” Fedryc bit out his words, wanting to give the High Lord of Katanie a clear indication that he was not to be trifled with. If he appeared weak in front of Lord Aldric then his chances of securing an alliance were slim to none. “Nissar was poisoned withVenemum Ardere. A poison you are familiar with.”
The revelation seemed to wipe away Lord Aldric’s suspicion and his face became more alert. More open.
“Three nights ago, a young servant girl was found dead in her room,” Fedryc continued. “She left a suicide letter taking the blame for the killing. That letter was covered inVenemum Ardereas well. My aunt, Lady Isobel, is still in the medical wing after touching that paper.” Fedryc left out the part where he himself was weakened, as well as Nyra. No one could know about that. “And three weeks ago, my Draekarra’s brother was kidnapped by a man wielding a blade poisoned withVenemum Ardere.”
Lord Aldric’s eyes went to the door behind Fedryc before settling on him again. “Then you know the threat resides in your house.”
“Yes.” Fedryc nodded.
Lord Aldric inhaled sharply and a shadow passed over his eyes. This touched him, the treachery of one of his own, and Fedryc knew why. Lord Aldric had almost lost his Draekarra when she was pregnant with his heir to the treachery of the woman who had been hired as a governess for the young Lady Shari. It was only the strength of Rhyl’s bond to Lord Aldric’s Draekarra that had saved the human woman as the toxicity of the pregnancy had taken hold.
“Whoever has allegiance to the order is one of my own,” Fedryc agreed. “My castle is under constant surveillance and my Draekarra safe in my rooms at all times, as well as my aunt and cousin.”
“Then why do you need my assistance?” Lord Aldric lifted his eyes to his white dragon, still circling above the landing platform. “You are the master of your house. Not me.”
“Because I fear there is more to this threat than some insane fool inside my house.” Fedryc forced himself not to fidget. This was where Lord Aldric’s assistance could mean life or death for all in Aalstad. “I fear another kingdom might have fallen to this threat. An entire kingdom led by a member of the order, and what they want is war.”
“Who?” The pupils in Lord Aldric’s silver eyes flashed vertical and animal for a second as the seriousness of the threat became clear, then he was back to his usual cool control.
“Lord Anion of Virhot came to me with a mating claim for my cousin, Lady Silva, the day after my father’s Mourning.” Fedryc spat out the name like it could poison his mouth. “I refused him.”
“She is too young.” Lord Aldric frowned. “She is only seventeen.”
“That is what I told him but he refused to hear reason.” Fedryc couldn’t contain the rage that poured out of his pores at the memory of Lord Anion claiming his cousin. “Then, a week ago, I was sent a message at the border of our two kingdoms.”
He brought out the picture from the folds of his leather jacket.
“A hundred mixed-bloods and their families. Murdered and displayed as a message to me. The mark of evil burned on their skins.” Fedryc felt the beast push inside him and somewhere out in the distant desert, Nyra screeched. “This was a message to me. To my Draekarra and all the mixed-blood children coming from the union of a Draekon and a human.”
“Virhot is a rich kingdom with ties to many others throughout this continent.”
Fedryc nodded sharply. “Aalstad cannot stand alone against enemies united under the Knat-Kanassis banner. And if we fall, there is no telling how far this war will spread.”
Lord Aldric inhaled sharply, his nostrils flaring like he was smelling a particularly foul odor. “You want Katanie’s help if war is declared.”
“Yes.” Fedryc took a step forward, coming closer to to the High Lord of Katanie. “But I want more than that. If war is declared, I want Marielle to be sent far away from here. I want you to offer asylum to my Draekarra and my aunt and cousin.
“Asylum will be granted.” Lord Aldric inclined his head coldly. “But that will be only a temporary solution should Aalstad fall.”
“Then Aalstad cannot fall.” Fedryc spoke harshly, biting out his words as he faced the cool façade of the Lord of Katanie. They were opposites, he and Aldric, but they had something in common that ran deeper than a fiery temper and frozen reserve. “You of all High Lords know we can’t afford to lose two kingdoms to the Knat-Kanassis. Not with an heir of mixed blood and a human Draekarra of your own.”
“I have three children and a human Draekarra.” Lord Aldric corrected coldly. “You are right. Katanie will not let Aalstad fall to the Knat-Kanassis. We will respond if we are needed, but let me give you a piece of advice I was given by Lord Emeril Fyr.”
Fedryc waited as the familiar name was spoken, along with the familiar horror now associated with him.
“The snake in your house is never who you think it is.”
With that, Lord Aldric gestured to his white dragon. Rhyl swooped down and in one practiced jump, Lord Aldric held on to his dragon’s talons, then made his way up to the saddle on the dragon’s neck as the beast took flight.
