Page 21 of A City of Flames

That only makes me question more. “Why not?”

“He’s been doing what he does long enough for us to track him, and he’s never once flown, not like other shifters we’ve come across.”

I frown. There’d have to be a reason he can’t fly. Dragons have always known how to on their own. It’s an instinct for them from birth. Perhaps he’d sustained an injury at one point that didn’t heal his wings. But that only opens up more questions for someone who is supposed to be powerful, holding all three dragon powers and immune to steel.

“Why does everyone say he has no weaknesses, then?” I ask. “Surely being unable to do the one thing he was born to do can help us.”

“Except what he lacks in flight he makes up for with all the power and agility he has.”

A sharp sigh expels out of me, I hadn’t meant to do it so loudly, but the Golden Thief is already testing my patience.

“I once saw him.” Lorcan’s gaze suddenly appears miles away. “A few years back in one of the districts. I’d used a spear on him, but his reflexes were stronger. He grabbed it mid-air, broke it in half, and threw it before it pierced my armor, my chest, and all through to the other side.”

I don’t say a word. I only stare at him blankly in shock. The Golden Thief is known as someone dangerous; yes, everyone thinks of him that way, but what is his purpose in stealing if he is likely the one creating those new creatures?

Is it a distraction? If it’s not rulers from different lands, then what is the Golden Thief’s endgame in this?

“We’ll catch him,” I say, at last, a sudden determination in my voice. “I know we will.” I just have to figure out the Ivarron part.

“I hope so, a threat like him—” He pauses, wincing and looking away like the whole ordeal is too frustrating. “Just be careful... shifters aren’t the only dangers in Emberwell.”

He means the new breed.

“I will be,” I say, although I don’t sound the most convincing.

“Good.” He nods before bowing his head. “Then I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of your night, Miss Ambrose.”

“Nara,” I correct. “You can call me Nara.”

He smiles, a white and beautiful shine against the night. “Goodnight, Nara.”

* * *

Walking through hallways, I falter on my feet seeing Rydan lean against the wall. I’d meant to express my gratitude over the other day during supper. Still, in truth, I was avoiding his possible irritating tendencies Freya had spoken of.

Sucking in a breath, I stroll towards him. At the same time, his head turns, and his gaze latches on me.

“Rydan, right?” I ask as he faces me front on. He nods. “Can we talk?”

“We may,” he replies curtly, yet his eyes shine with amusement.

Ignoring it, I clear my throat. “I want to thank you for what happened the other day in the mess hall.”

He purses his lips as a frown warps his features, like he has no clue what I am talking about.

“Adriel and Oran?” I prompt, refreshing his memory which seems to work as his expression smooths, and he clicks his fingers with a nod. “I just thought you didn’t need to...”

“I was simply making sure you didn’t ruin my dinner by bludgeoning those two,” he concedes, and now it’s my turn to frown at that. I wouldn’t have bludgeoned them. I’d have scared them, perhaps cut them a little, so they knew their place—I pause on that idea, not needing to get into what could have happened.

“Well, thank you either way,” I say. He doesn’t reply. His eyes stay on me with slow and careful blinks. No smile present, but you can see he wants to by the corner tilting a tiny fraction. A beat of silence goes by, and I walk backward, hesitating whether I should say something else but seeing as there is nothing, I whirl to face the other way.

I hardly make it past a few steps before he’s saying, “you know, I saw how you defended Link that day.”

I turn back around. Rydan pays no attention to me, just his fingernails this time as he adds nonchalantly, “have to say I was impressed.”

“Did you expect something else of me?”

“Despite hearing you were related to Nathaniel Ambrose, I expected you to suck, yes, so now I have even more competition.” He drops his head with a dramatic sigh before glancing up at me. “I suppose it’ll be more thrilling this way.”

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