Page 70 of Wild Bond

I lowered my hand, realizing it had been covering my mouth as he continued, “Zade discovered on our trip to Itrain that there hadn’t been an increase in the dragon trade as we suspected, but that there have been four similar disappearances there as well. All young children. All of which turned up later only to soon die of strange causes. There are also several adults that have gone missing as well, but they haven’t been found.”

“So, this isn’t just happening in Dessin,” I stated, my words not really a question, but Rake nodded anyway.

“It would appear so, and I have no doubt there are more that we just aren’t aware of yet.”

My mind raced. “So, you think whoever is behind these disappearances . . . whoever Safan is working for . . . is the same person who abducted Borden and ordered those chains? You think the same person captured that dragon and is somehow causing this strange illness that killed those people?”

It was then I realized that I had begun to pace before the fire and stopped.

Rake nodded. “It’s Pierce.”

I shook my head. “But why, though? He’s a prince, the heir to the throne, and on the rider council. Why would he kidnap anyone? Why hunt and capture a wild dragon? It makes no sense. What is his motive? Not to mention that if it was the prince, his dragon wouldn’t have allowed him to capture another dragon.”

“Not every bond between dragon and rider is like yours with Skye, or mine with Naasir for that matter,” Rake said. “Not all riders see their dragons as equals. Some have a relationship more like owner and pet. His dragon might not have any control over what he does.”

Unfortunately, what he said made sense. Over the past several months I had seen firsthand how different riders treated their dragons and interacted with them. The bond was like any relationship, and though unique in that it connected a rider and dragon mind to mind, and some would argue soul to soul, that wasn’t a guarantee that each pairing would have the same level of respect and care for each other.

I personally couldn’t imagine treating Skye as something lesser or subservient to me. The very idea seemed repulsive and wrong.

Skye mentally nudged me in the bond, assuring me that she felt the same.

Forcing myself to put those thoughts aside for now, I tried to return to the topic at hand. But it was hard to do. My mind felt like it was veering several places at once. The implications of what Rake was saying felt treasonous to voice aloud.

If what he was saying turned out to be true, and it was all connected, then Lessa was in more danger than I first thought. Thinking of her turning up in a few weeks and then dying from the same illness as Borden made me sick to my stomach. A cold rush of fear settled in my gut.

As I thought it over, my mind suddenly latched onto a random detail. “But Borden, when we questioned him . . . he said the man who bought the chains was older.”

Rake considered this. “Borden could have been mistaken. Or Pierce could have sent someone else in his place with his ring to purchase the chains.”

“Borden said the ring the man wore around his neck was silver. Wouldn’t Pierce’s be gold since he’s a member of the royal family?” I wasn’t sure why I was defending the prince so adamantly when he was a condescending bastard.

“Pierce had a special ring commissioned when he was placed on the Dragon Rider Council. It bears a crest with both the tree representing the Andor family line and the dragon rider symbol. It’s made from both gold and silver metal. He would have worn it around his neck to protect his identity. Borden wasn’t meant to see it.”

“That doesn’t make sense. Borden would have recognized him.”

“Not necessarily. Borden said the man kept his hood up. He didn’t see his face.”

“But we can’t know it was him,” I protested, gesturing in the general direction of the castle. Once again thunder boomed outside followed by a flash of lightning. “Borden was confused, and half-crazed. He wasn’t even sure what he saw.”

“I know that,” Rake replied.

“Do you?” I pressed, a hint of exasperation in my tone. “I know you don’t like the prince, but don’t let that color your judgment. And don’t forget that even if it is him, all we know he is guilty of is ordering some chains from a blacksmith. A blacksmith who is now dead and can’t tell anyone his story. Oh, and one of your contacts saw a tall man with light hair whomighthave something to do with the disappearance of a woman and little girl in the lower city.”

Rake stared back at me. “Are you done?”

I was breathing hard from my little speech, and once again, I had been pacing across his room. Taking a deep breath, I halted my steps and turned to face him.

Rake was leaning back against his big, polished desk, ankles crossed, still soaking wet, with his hair slicked back, watching me with a slightly exasperated expression.

I shot him an apologetic look. “Yes?” My answer came out sounding more like a question.

He shook his head again, and I knew I caught a hint of amusement that time.

“You’re right,” he said. “Pierce and I have a history, and I think he’s a self-important prick, but believe it or not, I don’t intend to go accusing him of anything. All we know is circumstantial at this point, and we need more proof before acting. Questioning Safan should help with that. Hopefully he knows something that can make all of this make sense.”

I felt a small measure of relief at his words, but not much. I opened my mouth to respond, when suddenly a surge of triumph and glee raced through me. An emotion that I definitely knew wasn’t mine. The feeling was quickly followed by an enraged roar that erupted from behind us.

RakeandIbothturned just in time to see Skye scuttling across the floor with a shiny silver goblet clutched in her mouth. Naasir was hot on her heals and looking murderous. Just as the black dragon was about to pounce on her, Skye shoved one of the balcony doors ajar, leapt onto the balcony rail and took off out into the stormy night.

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