Page 43 of A Touch of Iron
I sighed and repeated a summarized version of what I’d been told. “Yeah. During the war, dragons were hunted almost to extinction, leaving only one. The last dragon disappeared before they could kill him, but he promised to return one day when he was needed.”
“I see you don’t know the full story.” Kazimir’s eyes glittered, delighted to impart unknown knowledge. He flagged down the waitress for another round, waiting until she dropped them off before speaking. “The last dragon’s name was Aiden, which is Irish forlittle fire. He was the youngest of the dragons and the weakest, deemed the least likely to survive the war. But as we all know, he did. It was said that he would return when the fae were in crisis, but as you can see, the last dragon was nothing special. A weakling who got lucky and survived until the bitter end.”
I struggled to follow Kazimir’s line of thinking. “What are you trying to say?”
He sighed. “What I’mtryingto say is that the last dragon was nothing special,just like you. The stories claimed he would return once he regained his strength to help us in our time of need, and he did just that. Don’t you think?”
I shook my head. “Why? Because I have the orb?”
He nodded. “Exactly. You’re the strongest fae across the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Once you’ve mastered all the elements, you’ll be unstoppable. You are the one we’ve been waiting for.”
“So what?” I shrugged. “Am I required to help the rebels because of that?”
“No,” he said carefully, “but I’m sure you’ll find your own reasons for wanting to help.”
The last thing I wanted to do was get involved with that band of revolutionaries. It seemed like it would just add more to my long laundry list of problems. But Kazimir seemed so sure I would help when faced with an offer I couldn’t refuse, according to him. The offer was freedom, but what did that mean?
“I see the wheels turning in your head, but I wouldn’t stress about it now,” he said cryptically.
I furrowed my brows. “How do you know all of this? Are you involved with Jon and the others?”
He chuckled. “If you haven’t noticed, Violet, it’s my job as the right hand of the Unseelie King to know everything that goes on inside and outside of the court.”
My eyes widened and I gaped. “So you told him what the rebels plan to do, yet you still want me to get involved?”
He shook his head. “I’m very selective with the information I divulge.”
He didn’t specify further, and I didn’t want to ask. Obviously Kazimir couldn’t have told the Unseelie King everything, but I didn’t know if that was good or bad. One thing I’d come to learn was that Kazimir was as loyal as everyone made him out to be.
But loyal to whom?
* * *
After we knocked backa couple drinks, Kazimir and I returned to the castle and parted ways. As I roamed the empty halls, I contemplated everything he had told me. He never once called himself my father; rather, he insinuated he knew and left it at that. His caginess all but confirmed he had no intention of playing the parental figure, which left me clueless as to his true intentions.
Was he helping me or was he pushing me into a deeper hole?
I turned the corner and looked down the hallway to my room and saw Alec pacing outside the door, obviously waiting for me.
I blew out a breath, realizing the time had come. I couldn’t ignore him forever. And honestly, deep down I didn’t want to ignore him. Alec had wedged himself deep in my heart without me realizing what was happening. From the moment I first met him in Ansel’s apartment to now, our relationship had done a complete one-eighty. The person I once thought I could never trust was the person I trusted with my life.
Alec spotted me standing at the end of the hall. “There you are! Where have you been?”
I shrugged, mumbling, “Around.”
He stormed toward me. “Around?That’sthe answer you’re giving me after we – no, let me clarify – afteryouwere attacked in the village?”
So he’s not pacing outside my room because of what happened between us in the alleyway? Am I the only one trippin’? Way to play it cool, Vi.
“I just needed some time to clear my head.” I ran a hand through my hair. “I—”
“Do you regret it?” he blurted. It was the first time I’d heard him sound unsure of himself.
“No!” I all but yelled. “Not at all. It’s just …”
“Ansel,” he answered for me. “You’re still not over Ansel.”
I shook my head quickly. “No, that’s not it, but it does have to do with Ansel. Even though I will never get over what he did to me, it feels strange being with you … his brother.”
