Page 95 of Claimed by the Savage Dragons
‘Where are you going?’ asks Tor.
‘To find out why Aziel did this, what he’s been doing. Glenen was burning papers when we found him. There must be a reason.’
I’m vaguely aware of Tor following me as I go back into the office. I step over Glenen’s body and hear Tor spit on him as I look through the papers that are scattered around. There’s nothing important, but then I spy a couple beside the fire that must have slipped out of a folder before they could burn.
‘It's a message to Aziel,’ I mutter. ‘From Void.’
‘Onyx’s right hand in the Sky Demons?’
I nod as I read. ‘It’s dated to before Drey even challenged Morcai. They made an agreement. Aziel destroys the Stormriders, and in return, he gets a place in their faction. That sonofabitch!’
‘That’s why he was counting on Mari. Having a Tribute would elevate his status in a new faction,’ he mutters, ‘and it’s why he sabotaged everything then tried to kill Drey without challenging him. He never wanted to be Commander. His plan was to slaughter us all!’
‘Sir?’ Orin is at the door, looking around the office with wide eyes as if he's never been in it before. He probably hasn't.
‘What is it, Orin?’ Tor asks.
‘I heard Glenen, sir. He was talking to Julius. Before. He was bragging about how he stole the human out from under your noses. The Tribute. He didn't bring her back here.’
‘Did they say anything else, Orin?’ Tor asks. ‘Think. Just like I taught you. Take it slow. Consider everything.’
He nods. ‘They didn't say anything else, but Glenen… He did have a scent on him. I remember thinking it was weird. It smelled like oil or gasolene.’
Tor and I glance at each other.
‘The old factory,’ I say.
Tor nods. ‘Close, but still out of the way. Derelict. The smell would hide them even without Glenen’s little gift.’
We go back to the main room and find Del administering shots. Thirty men are already sitting on the floor with their heads in their hands groaning.
We tell Drey what we know. His jaw tightens but he says nothing, no doubt blaming himself.
Tor puts a hand on his shoulder. ‘It’s not your fault.’
‘Of course it is,’ he whispers.
‘No, my friend. Aziel was poisoning you. For months. He was probably doing the same to Morcai. None of us realized how much of a threat he was. But he hasn’t succeeded.’
Drey looks incredulous and gestures to the room. ‘Look what he’s done, Tor! Half our faction could still die from this.’
Del looks up from where she’s injecting another listless patient. ‘They’ll all survive, Drey. Even though I’m only administering half doses. Orin said he thinks it was in the mead last night. Lucky for us he didn’t drink any. We caught it in time. Everything Aziel has done can be undone. But you need to go and find your very pregnant mate. Now.’
Chapter Ten
MARI
I'm on a cold cement floor. I have been since I woke up. I don't know how long it's been. The room is dark and damp. I can hear the long-off whirring of machines that remind me of the dam, but they're different. There's a smell in the air. Fumes. I haven't seen or heard anyone. I think I'm here all alone.
Metal cuffs dig into my wrists. I'm chained to a radiator in an old office with some rotting desks and computer equipment that's dusty, like storage room. There are shelves on one side with moldy, rotted cardboard boxes stacked up around them.
I try not to move because it makes the chains clang and I'm afraid that someone will remember I’m here and come. At the moment it feels like I’ve been forgotten, and I want to keep it that way for as long as possible until help arrives.
Do my dragons know I’m gone? They must by now. I sniffle. I can’t believe I let myself get taken like that. What an idiot.
I shuffle to sit against the wall. I can’t stand up, but I can lay down to un-crick my back at least. I rest my head against the freezing bricks. If I get out of this, I’m pretty sure I’ll never be warm again.
My stomach cramps again, and I try not to think of the implications of these pains that are coming at what I think might be regular intervals.
