Scorched Fury: A SkinWalker Novel #5 (DarkWorld: SkinWalker) (30 page)

I nodded. "We came hoping to find you, but why did you try to have us killed?"

"What?" She gasped. "No. I did no such thing."

"Someone did. After you left us at the diner, Lily was injured and I was too. Badly."

She shook her head. "I go to Sand Beach sometimes to think. Not many people know that I go. I doubt it would be received with enthusiasm. My guards understand. They take me, watch over the portal and me. They trust me."

"Clearly they don't trust you enough. Whoever we encountered in Sand Beach were prepared to protect you to the death."

"What do you mean?" she asked on a whisper.

"I killed someone there. A shadow mage."

She looked confused. "I don't know any shadow mages. Most human mages aren't even allowed into Dracys."

I frowned. "So if you don't know who is protecting you, then maybe they aren't protecting
you
as much as they're keeping people
from
you. They must have seen us together at the beach or the diner, then targeted us after you left. Eliminating possible friends that may lure you away."

She snorted. "I'm not that important. I advise the queen, yes, but I hardly warrant such drastic measures. Not killing, surely." Confusion simmered in her tone.

"But you warrant a twenty-four-seven guard?"

Her shoulder lifted in a dainty shrug. "I do have a lot of state secrets up here." She tapped her temple.

"And so does Andyr. You don't see him guarded all day, do you?"

"Good point," she said, her mouth twisting in a wry smile.

I sighed. "Something else is happening here, Sienna. Something we can't yet understand. But whatever it is, it can wait. Right now, the most important thing as far as I am concerned is Logan. I need you to help me save him." I stared at her, my voice pleading.
 

"How can
I
save him?"

I shook my head. "I don't know. He's a fire mage and you are brother and sister. Your fire is there somewhere, deep inside you." I didn't want to tell her that there was more than just fire lurking within her. But that didn't stop me from probing. "Do you ever dream of strange, unusual things? Magical things?"

She stiffened, and even in the darkness I could see her face pale. "Like what?"

I lifted a shoulder. "I can't be sure. Maybe fire? Being burned? Maybe you dream of throwing fireballs, or breathing fire."

She nodded but her neck was tight as she shifted her gaze to the city lights. "Even if what you say is true, and my dreams do mean I have the same powers as Logan, how can I help him? What can I do?"

I wasn't blind to the agony in her voice. Whatever bond she had with Logan, however tenuous, it was unbreakable. And filled with emotion.

"There are theories. That maybe your fire can help him heal. That just being with him will help him recover faster. Whatever happens, we will do everything we can to help you get back home and make this place safer for you." I touched her arm, and she glanced back up at me.

"You don't have to keep trying to convince me, Kailin. I will go back with you, if only to meet my brother." I nodded. "I will do what I can to help him."

I sighed with relief. "Thank you. You have no idea how happy I am to hear that."

She patted my hand. "We do have a problem though. As much as I'd like to go back with you, I doubt the queen will allow it."

"Then perhaps we don't give her a choice?"

Sienna raised an eyebrow. "Let the games begin."

CHAPTER 42

T
HE
NEXT
MORNING
, S
IENNA
FETCHED
ME
early to grab a quick breakfast in the morning room before the Senate meeting. Although much smaller than the great dining room, the place was a miniature version, right down to the decor and the floor-to-ceiling window.

We'd barely swallowed coffee and a dark, almost black flaky pastry that reminded me of burnt croissants, when a guard entered and announced that the Senate was ready for me.

I held Horner's leather folder tightly as I entered the room, ready to do battle with these stubborn men.
 

But I needn't have worried.

The absence of Andyr was significant enough to confirm my suspicions, and enquiries as to his whereabouts received a number of vague and evasive responses.

The Queen Regent sat at the head of the table, a mere puppet to the gathered Senate, her skin pale and tight as she nodded and smiled, all the while exuding a quiet fury. Beside her sat General Vyrian, who I was surprised to see with a seat on the Senate. It would have made sense had he been the queen's brother, so perhaps he was family.

All points on the list were agreed to, the Senate stating that they required a paired management system for each mine, one overseer for the Elders and one for the Senate to maintain transparency.

Decisions of sell prices were deferred to a later date, but at the end, I thought the Elders would be happy with my progress.
 

I'd done my part.

As the General got to his feet, effectively dismissing me, I cleared my throat. "I do have one small request." He raised a bushy eyebrow. "I'd like a tour of the mine. Just so I can brief the Elders on what we need to help upgrade in terms of machinery. If that were required."

"I'm happy to show Kailin around, if that's okay with you?" Sienna asked. In the face of the table filled with mostly unreadable faces, I could feel her concern that they may decline.

The General cleared his throat. "I'm afraid the queen wishes to see you first. In private." He gave Queen Lyra a hesitant glance then met Sienna's eyes with what looked like fatherly sympathy.

Was nobody really who they first appeared to be?

The room emptied and I followed the men out, spending the next few minutes pacing the stone floor while Sienna spoke to the queen.

Less than five minutes later, she stalked from the room, her cheeks red. The look she gave me announced trouble.

"You may have to miss out on your trip to the mine." Her voice was filled with anger and frustration, her spine stiff as she grabbed hold of my arm and pulled me down the hallway.

"What's the matter?" I hissed.

Sienna looked over her shoulder. Her guards were about twenty feet behind us so she lowered her voice and said, "If you want to get me out of here, we need to do it now. Andyr moved up the wedding date. The Queen just told me to get my affairs in order. I will be married in three days."

My jaw dropped. "What the hell is he up to?"

Sienna shook her head, pulling me down the stairs. "I have no idea. He tried to kill you, and now he wants to move the wedding date up. Sounds to me like he feels threatened."

I snorted. "Sounds like he feels my growing connection to you is a threat to him."

She stopped in her tracks, on a stair halfway down the flight, and stared at me, confused at first until things clicked into place. "You think I'm the real reason he's here?" She frowned. Then shook her head. "I'm of no value to him. Why would he risk so much just because of me?"

"I think I know why."

She raised an eyebrow as if daring me to come up with a good one.
 

"Do you ever dream of flying?"

At my question, Syn's face paled, and she let go of my hand. "How would you know such a thing?" She inhaled sharply and continued her descent. I followed.

"Because what happened today on the balcony tells me that you are of more value then you realize."

Stopping at the base of the staircase, she turned sharply to me and asked, "What happened?" She sounded impatient, the words slicing through her teeth.

"We were falling, you and me. We weren't far from the ground, seconds away from being splattered all over the market square. And from nowhere a golden dragon appeared and carried me to safety." I kept my voice low.

"I thought we both fell. I'm sure . . . That's what I remembered," she whispered.

"We did both fall."

"But if the dragon saved you then how did I get back to the balcony?"

I met her gaze head on. "How do you think?"

Sienna shook her head. "You think the dragon was me?"

I nodded.

"Dear Goddess."

CHAPTER 43

We agreed that we keep up the pretence of the mine visit and use it as a means to make a getaway. We returned to my room to prepare for the visit.

"By the way, how did you manage to get the queen's permission?"

She gave a firm nod. "I bargained for it so I'm damned well taking you."

"Bargained?" I asked as I packed my rucksack.

"It was one of my conditions."

"You gave her conditions?" I asked, smirking. I grabbed the leather folder.

Sienna handed me my satchel. "Yes. I agreed to the marriage as long as I can assist the Emissary of the Elders during their tenure in Dracys. And as long as I don't need to sleep with him for the first five years."

I choked and ended up coughing up my laughter. "You're kidding right?" Tucking my folder into the satchel, I sat it beside my rucksack, now ready to leave.

Sienna folded her arms and lifted her chin. "Not kidding. In Dracys a woman can choose if, and when, she wants to bed her husband. It was a law that Queen Shrya's great grandmother passed a few centuries back."

This time I did laugh. "No wonder the men want to control things. They're being deprived." I sniggered. Moving to the balcony I shut the glass door and pulled the drapes.

Sienna grinned. "I totally agree. Now, just give me a few minutes to pack a bag and arrange our transport, then I'll come fetch you."

I frowned. "I don't want to leave you alone. I'll come with you."

"I'm just a little worried about our bags. If someone suspects anything they may be inspected."

My turn to negate her words. I pointed to my chest. "Diplomatic immunity."

She smiled. "Ah yes, I forgot." A contemplative frown creased her brow "If that's the case then you may as well hide my stuff inside your bag. I won't pack too much." She grinned as we headed to her room.

True to her words she packed light, taking only a small silk jewel bag, and a single change of clothing.

With a nod Sienna smiled and headed for the door. "Let's get moving. It's a long way there."

As we entered the corridor I asked, "Surely we can get us a pair of wings? This city is full of dragons, isn't it?"

Sienna smiled, glancing over her shoulder at the guards who fell into step behind us. "I never said we'd be walking did I?"