Page 85 of Forged in Fire
Chapter 26
Riven
It’s mid-morning when I push through the reinforced doors to the Collective’s headquarters. The scent of gun oil and electronics hangs heavy—familiar territory. Different faction, same paranoia.
It’s been a hell of a morning already. It took forty minutes to get security to allow me clearance to enter the premises—even with my considerable powers of persuasion.
But that’s not the thing that’s bothered me most.
I had to leave Iris’s bed before dawn, her skin still warm against my ribs, to handle business with Veyra. Rebecca’s terrified face in the secluded park feels like a lifetime ago, though it was only hours. The name Malakai Steele burns in my head.
Tearing myself away from her was worth it, though. The Guild won’t be coming for Iris. I made sure of that.
Viktor’s people watch me as I pass. Dragon-touched means nothing here—I’m the assassin they supposedly left behind in Romania. The one who should be dead or captured, yet somehow walked out and reached Seattle in less than a day. Their suspicious looks follow me down the corridor.
Let them wonder. Some truths aren’t meant for sharing.
The war room sits deep in the facility’s gut, walls lined with displays and enough firepower to level a city block. A tall, silver-haired man hunches over a table scattered with satellite photos and intelligence reports. Viktor Parlance; I recognize him from reports I’ve read. Beside him, the unmistakable Caleb Craven reviews what appears to be assault plans, his expression carved from granite.
Both men look up when I enter. Neither smiles.
“Riven Barlowe.” Viktor’s voice carries decades of command. “The Nightshade Guild’s most acclaimed assassin. Your reputation precedes you.”
“Really?” I say. “That’s disappointing. I’ve gone to great lengths to stay under the radar.”
“Information is a currency I’m skilled at trading in,” he says. “Not much escapes me.”
“I’ll bear that in mind.” I change the subject, “Thank you for agreeing to see me.”
“Not that you gave us much choice, but I’ll admit, I was curious.” He folds his arms across his chest. “You look remarkably healthy for a dead man.”
I settle into the chair across from them without invitation. “Reports of my death were greatly exaggerated.”
“How?” Caleb’s question cuts straight to the bone. “From what my mate said, you were basically done for. She was pretty sure you were captured.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. As you can see, I got away.”
Viktor’s good eye narrows, studying me with the intensity of a man who’s survived centuries by reading people correctly.
“You escaped a Guild facility?” There’s disbelief in his voice. “After torture?”
“They decided that dead operatives serve no purpose. Live ones, properly motivated, can still complete missions.” I shrug. “They released me with new orders. I chose not to follow them.”
“What kind of orders?” Caleb asks.
“Irrelevant. Point is, I’m here. And I have information about why Kieran was targeted in the first place.”
Viktor leans back, fingers steepled. “We’re listening.”
“Malakai Steele contracted the Guild for the elimination. Payment went through three weeks ago, full advance. Professional hit, no questions asked.” I pause, allowing the information to sink in.
Caleb’s expression darkens. “Malakai Steele?” he all but snarls.
“I’m guessing you know him.” The question is rhetorical. I know the men have history.
“I used to consider him a mentor, one of our clan elders,” he mutters. “Until he decided he didn’t like our politics and positioned himself as leader of the Circle of Fire.” His expression grows even darker… if that’s possible. “Took my mate and tried to tap into her power.”
I can’t imagine that won him Caleb’s approval.
