Page 84 of Swift Wings Shadowed Heart
“Well, well, aren’t thebondedimportant?” Nate teases, but there’s no malice in his comment. He mock-punches me on the shoulder.
They head out, and I wish I could follow them. I wish I didn’t have to worry about being discovered as a murderess and a Weaver.
Making mistakes with Vaylen would be yet another thing you have to hide, Rhea. Don’t do it,says the wisest part of me. I need to listen to it. I really do.
Taking a deep breath to gather myself, I head to the High Prime’s office. In front of the door, I crack my neck and assess the way I feel. I’m pleased to find a measure of calm settling over me—even more pleased to discover it isn’t coming from Zephyros. He has been quiet since last night for some reason.
Ready or not.I knock on the door.
“Come in,” Vaylen calls.
I step inside the office. The Chief Inspector isn’t here yet. Vaylen sits at his desk, going over a document. He doesn’t look up. I shut the door behind me and stand at attention, arms linked behind my back. He makes a few notes, then finally lifts his blue gaze to mine. His wide chest rises and falls visibly as if he has suddenly gone breathless. He stands, the chair scraping the stone floor behind him. His uniform is pristine, and so is his hair and clean-shaved jaw. It’s hard to believe he’s the same man I had between my legs last night.
My core pulses with a jolt of desire.Wrong thought, Rhea. Wrong thought.That one certainly didn’t come from the wisest part of me, which means it came from the dumbest.By the four winds!I need another cold shower.
I break eye contact and look straight ahead to the wall behind him. I’m worried he will ask me if I’ve made up my mind about his proposal, but he keeps things strictly formal.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you while the Chief Inspector questions you?” he says. “As your commanding officer, I’m allowed to do so.”
I think about it for a moment, fidgeting with my mother’s ring, and decide that I do want him to stay. It would be good to have a witness. Wouldn’t it? Besides, he must believe I didn’t have anything to do with Cindergrasp’s death. He wouldn’t get involved with someone he suspected of committing murder.
“You may stay,” I say.
His mouth stretches into a little smile. He seems glad, and I can’t even begin to imagine why that is because before I can put my mind to work on the task, a knock comes at the door.
“Stand next to me, Skysinger Wyndward.” Vaylen retakes his seat.
I do as he says, so when Chief Inspector Cragmere comes in, we form a unified front in the face of the incoming threat.
Cragmere lets the door swing closed behind him. He removes his felt top hat, tucks it under his arm, and nods in greeting. He wears a heavy, dark blue greatcoat that hangs almost to his ankles. Beneath it, a dark waistcoat and a starched white collar peek out. His gray, waxed mustache curls at each side of his thin mouth with precise symmetry.
“Good morning, Chief Inspector Cragmere.” Vaylen remains seated, which speaks of his status. As High Prime, he outranks him by at least three levels. “I hope you had a pleasant ride.”
“Quite so.” He smiles, his beady eyes flicking to me for an instant.
“As you are aware, Chief Inspector Cragmere,” Vaylen says, “we are short on training time, so let’s get started and, most importantly, let’s keep it brief.”
“Of course.” He reaches inside his jacket and pulls out a small notebook and pencil. “I only have a few questions for Ms. Wyndward, so it should be brief.”
“The proper address is Skysinger or Skyrider Wyndward,Chief Inspector Cragmere,” Vaylen says, his deep voice calm and authoritative.
Cragmere blinks. “Apologies. I thought she was still in training.”
“She is, but she already has a dragon, one that she’sbondedto.”
“Bonded, you say?” Cragmere’s sparse eyebrows go up, though he doesn’t really look surprised.
“Yes, bonded. This isn’t common knowledge, of course. There will be an official announcement from the King to all citizens when time allows, so I trust your discretion. But I thought the mention was relevant.”
Cragmere grunts as his lips purse. “No one is above the law, High Prime Stormsong. Not even a bonded rider. If Skyrider Wyndward was involved in Neutro Cindergrasp’s murder, no amount of bonding will save her.”
Vaylen rises, slowly walks around the desk, then casually leans against its front, arms crossed. Even half-sitting, he towers over the little man, and his pristine appearance makes the fastidious Chief Inspector appear like a disheveled street ruffian.
“The law also requires that each citizen respects their Goddess’s Chosen. I only meant to make you aware of your… oversight when you referred to Skysinger Wyndward as Miss Wyndward. Instead, you chose to make what sounded like a threat based on… what exactly?”
The tip of Cragmere’s pencil, posed on the small notebook, tears through the page. He lowers his hands to hide the way they tremble, but there is no disguising his anger. His face is red, and the beads of sweat peppering his forehead seem to be doing nothing to cool him off.
I glance at Vaylen, my chest warming at the way he’s sticking up for me. He really is all the things he’s rumored to be. A true leader who serves his people and not only those above him.
