Page 93 of Wild Flame

A mixture of horror and disbelief flooded me. “That can’t be possible.” Dragons were infallible. There were only a handful of things in our world that could even remotely pose a threat to one.

“I assure you, it is,” he replied.

“How did I . . . how does no one know about this?” I whispered.

“Because it is something only known to dragon riders. It is one of our most closely protected secrets.”

I swallowed hard. “Then why are you telling me?” Helene hadn’t even told me. And I wasn’t quite sure how to feel about that realization at the moment.

“Because I trust you,” Malik replied solemnly. “And you are involved in this now. I’m starting to think that whoever is behind this, the attack on Taveran, the attempts on you and Zara . . . I’m starting to wonder if they are not all connected.”

I stared at him. I was beginning to think so as well. I was touched by his faith in me, even as guilt at what I was hiding from him reared its ugly head. I tamped it down. Trying to distract myself, I asked, “Why do you think the events are connected?”

“Only a rider would know Moonstone’s value,” he stated. “And few know about this location.”

“Who knows that it’s here?” I asked.

“My Fangdar. And now you. And since you only just found out, and my Fangdar would never betray me . . .”

“You’re sure?” I asked him. I had a hard time believing any of them would, and I didn’t know them like he did, but it would be foolish to not at least consider it.

“Not by choice,” Malik said. He stared at me.

It clicked into place then. “You think someone got the information from Ramin when they drugged him—when they made him attack the city?”

Malik nodded. “And if I’m right, that same person now has a chest full of Moonstone.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Lady Alora had offered to let us stay another night in her home before beginning our journey back to Taveran, and we had gratefully taken her up on the offer. After having dinner with her and her husband, who I was delighted to find out was as good of company as she, we had left them to Taj. The spymaster could be very charming when he wanted to be.

We sought our guest chambers only after Alora had again looked at Malik’s side and declared it nearly good as new. I couldn’t help thinking how amazing magical herbs and potions were when one was allowed to use them.

Upon returning to our room, Malik graciously allowed me the first bath, and I was feeling selfish enough not to argue. Azrun had flown out the window some time ago and hadn’t yet returned. “Hunting,” Malik had said. Malik had been kind enough to busy himself, cleaning and sharpening his weapons to give me privacy while I bathed.

I still felt somewhat uncomfortable about being completely bare in front of him, even if he had seen me naked before and he was my husband now. Due to everything that had happenedrecently—his getting called away, our fight, and his near fatal injury—we hadn’t been together since our Marking Ceremony. Everything still felt so new and painfully intimate that I was grateful he had given me some space.

Though, perhaps I didn’t wantquiteso much space.Gah!I didn’t know what I wanted. Even my own thoughts made me blush.

In an effort to distract myself, my mind turned to thoughts of what I had learned in the mines—what Malik had revealed. I now understood why Malik had felt he had to come himself, considering what had been stolen and the gravity of the secrets involved. It also made sense why his Fangdar took shifts being stationed here at all times. Not only to oversee the mines, but to protect the Moonstone hidden there. I had seen on Kheer’s face how devastated he was about failing in his charge. But Malik had simply put a hand to his shoulder and said, “Don’t be too hard on yourself. We all have to sleep sometime.”

Deciding I had worried about it enough for one day, I stood from the bath. Malik kept his back to me as I stepped out and grabbed a towel, but I knew every part of him was aware of me because of how still he had gone, his hand no longer running the oiled cloth up and down his sword.

Neither of us said anything as I quickly dressed in a nightgown and plaited my hair. The tension in the air was palpable, but I wasn’t sure what to do other than to ignore it as I rang for a servant and bade them empty and refill the bath. Again, we didn’t speak as they did so. When they finally left, I turned my back as Malik was the one who undressed and sank into the steaming water.

I had only listened to a few minutes of water sloshing about before the sounds ceased, and Malik’s teasing order broke the quiet.

“Come scrub my back, wife.”

I spun to face him. He was leaning back against the tub, his dark hair wet and swept back from his face, and his muscular arms resting casually on the sides of the tub. His entire body, from those wide shoulders to that expansive chest, was glistening with water droplets.

He was smirking, and from the taunting look in his eyes, I could tell he didn’t think that I would do it.

Oh, how wrong he was.I would do it just to show him. I held his challenging stare as I strode towards the tub. Stopping beside it, I extended my hand for the soap.

“Very well,husband,” I stressed the last word, “if you are incapable of doing it yourself.”

His eyes gleamed as he handed it to me.

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