Page 17 of A Touch of Iron
“Why?”
He approached the pot and gave it a good stir, then peered over his shoulder and smirked. “Someone might try and poison you.”
Suddenly uneasy, I watched as he eyed me and turned back to the pot, continuing to stir. I never once considered the fact that he could be planning to lure me out to his cottage to kill me. Which was stupid, since we were all alone in the middle of nowhere with no one to call upon for help if I needed it.
“Well, for starters, they say poison is a woman’s weapon. I doubt you’ll try to kill me with a bowl of soup.” I raised my chin defiantly, forcing an air of confidence I didn’t feel. He didn’t seem like the type who would use poison to get rid of someone. He looked like someone who took great pleasure in torture.
Creed chuckled. “Don’t be so sure of yourself, Aurora. Poison is not only used by women. It’s used by the weak. Those too afraid to get blood on their hands.” He paused and then sat down on the log. “But you’re right. I wouldn’t kill you with a bowl of soup.” He looked over at me with a grin.
Fidgeting, I picked up a twig from the ground and snapped it in half. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure. You can ask. Doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know you live here with your mother and she’s an air elemental, but don’t you want to be around other fire elementals?”
“Hmm …” He rubbed his chin. “Well, of course I want to be around my kind, but unfortunately, I can’t.”
“Why?”
“That’s not for you to know. But maybe you can help me.” He peered over at me slyly.
I shrugged. “What do you need help with?”
“I’m looking for an item.” He stood and grabbed two bowls from the ground. Slowly, he ladled soup into each one and handed me a bowl before sitting down.
“What are you looking for?”
“A necklace,” he replied simply.
I waited for him to expound or provide a description. When he didn’t, I prodded, “A necklace? That’s it?” I scoffed. “What’s so special about this necklace?”
Creed brought the spoon to his mouth, heat vapor trailing in the cool air. Blowing gently, he took a sip. He stared thoughtfully into the flames and gave a sad smile. “They say this necklace can tame a dragon.”
I furrowed my brows. “A dragon? Are there such things as dragons? Calypso hasn’t mentioned them.”
Creed lowered his head and laughed quietly. “No. Dragons were eradicated a long time ago.”
“Then what’s the point of this necklace?”
He turned his steely gaze to me. “Will you help me or not?”
He wanted a useless necklace. Was it a priceless heirloom he merely wanted for its value, or was it something else? Calypso’s warning about him rang through my head like alarm bells. I considered if sitting there with Creed in the dark was a good idea or not. But his request to find a necklace to tame a dragon that no longer existed seemed like a useless artifact. What harm could it possibly bring?
I nodded. “Fine. I’ll help you.”
He eyed me for a moment and then sighed as if I’d given the wrong answer. His reaction confused me. He looked away. “You can’t tell Calypso about this. It’s our little secret. Understand?”
Something was up with this request. If I was being asked to keep it a secret from Calypso, it was probably something I shouldn’t be doing.
“Understand?” he repeated a bit louder.
“I-I understand,” I stuttered, pressured into answering. He didn’t scare me, but he certainly intrigued me.
What secrets was Creed hiding?
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