Page 64 of Wild Bond

I glared back at him as I entered, and a full smile lit his face, taking my breath away for a whole different reason. He gestured to the set of doors leading out onto a small balcony behind him, overlooking The Tower compound below. “I rarely use the stairs. That’s my doorway. Dragon rider, remember?”

I suddenly felt like an idiot. “Oh.” I felt Skye’s humor at my expense once again and shoved her off my shoulder in retaliation.

She let out an undignified squawk but caught herself easily, extending her little wings and gliding smoothly to the floor. She swiveled her head to glare at me then turned with her tail in the air and pranced over to investigate something “shiny” that caught her eye under Rake’s bookcase.

You deserved it, I said in the bond, but she didn’t deign to reply.

Rolling my eyes, I turned back to Rake.

He was smirking, flashing that crooked smile.

I took in the large bed, polished wooden desk, bookcase, armoire, and the unlit hearth with a leather chair before it. I noted that everything, including the weapons resting against the wall, and even the papers on the desk, were neat and organized. My study of the room was interrupted when Rake stepped close and pulled me in. His lips met mine in a kiss that was slow and deep as his big hands wove into my hair. It felt like a greeting and an invitation all rolled into one delicious meeting of lips.

When he pulled away, my eyes remained closed, and his forehead touched mine.

“You taste too good,” he complained.

My eyes opened, and his hands dropped from my hair. I breathed out slowly. I couldn’t help licking my bottom lip to savor his taste.

He saw the movement. “Be careful, little thief, or you will distract me from why I called you here.”

“You mean you didn’t summon me here to ravish me?” I teased, not sure where my sudden bravery had come from. It might have been the fact that we had done little more than kiss since that night in the bathhouse, and part of me had been hoping that he had summoned me here tonight to change that.

“Unfortunately, no,” he stated dryly, though his eyes were molten embers that told me he was seriously considering the idea.

My mind immediately went into the proverbial gutter, and I had to mentally beat away the images that look conjured up. I felt Skye’s humor and curiosity in the bond at my dirty thoughts and told her in no uncertain terms to mind her own business.

“Then why did you summon me?” I asked, hoping he didn’t notice the slight flush now in my cheeks.

He gave me a knowing look that said he knew exactly where my mind had gone, but thankfully didn’t comment. Instead, he said, “I found Lessa.”

A half hour later, Rake and I were entering a familiar part of the lower city as he explained, “One of my contacts informed me Lessa has been staying here.” He motioned to the dirty second story window above a small seamstress shop. I could just make out a small glowing light inside, visible in the quickly darkening twilight around us. “He wasn’t positive it was her at first, but then was able to confirm that she was here this morning. The shop is owned by an older woman named Una who has run it for several years.”

My heart thrummed with excitement that I was finally going to be able to see Lessa again after so long. I also felt an immense sense of relief that she was still alive after all this time. She had always been a sweet, somewhat fragile soul despite all she had already endured at such a young age. I had looked out for her as much as I could before being imprisoned. In fact, I had nearly saved up enough coin and had been planning to run with Lessa, and take her far away from Dessin and far away from Master Safan’s reach, before I was caught.

Skye and Naasir were once again keeping tabs on us from the air. Flying lazily in the sky far overhead so as not to draw attention or spook anyone on the street. I had warned Rake that the Lessa I knew was understandably skittish and to keep an eye out. We were both once again wearing dark cloaks. I wasn’t too worried about being recognized, but I would still rather avoid it if we could.

Rake held the door for me, and a small bell rang as we entered the little shop. Several dresses displayed on wicker dress forms were the first thing that caught my eye. There was a small counter in one corner, and I could just make out a light coming from the back room.

We both stepped inside and were greeted by total silence. We waited for several seconds, but no one came to greet us.

“Hello?” I called into the quiet, but there was no answer. I began to get an uneasy feeling. No one in the lower city would leave their shop unattended. That was a quick way to have all your goods stolen.

“Maybe someone is upstairs?” Rake ventured.

I nodded, and we both made our way to the back room where a small lantern sat lit on a side table next to what appeared to be a half-sewn dress. Rake led the way up the rickety curved stairway to the second story. The bedroom was small—more of an attic space—with a bed, a pile of blankets and a pillow on the floor beside it and a simple desk and chair. Rake had to stoop so as not to hit his head on the exposed rafters.

No one was here, either. But it was the knocked over chair and broken teacup on the floor as well as the second unattended lit lantern that really made the uneasy feeling grow to a pit of dread in my stomach.

“Something happened,” I said, stating the obvious, but unable not to.

Rake nodded. “She—or they—left in a hurry.” His eyes met mine. “Or they were taken.”

I forced myself not to think of that option. “Or Lessa realized she was being watched and fled.”

Rake shook his head. “My man wouldn’t have been seen,” he said confidently, but a small frown marred his expression.

With one more glance around as if to make sure we had missed nothing, he turned and bent his large frame to gracefully descend the stairs. I followed after him. He didn’t pause as he made his way through the empty shop and outside onto the street and then across to the side alley of a building there.

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