Wings of Frost

by J. D. Monroe

  “I mind that you stopped,” she murmured. With a devilish smile that she felt more than saw, he claimed her mouth again. God, the man could kiss. Delicious heat pooled between her legs. She dared to touch him, running her fingers through his thick, dark hair. He made a satisfied sound, tilting slightly into her touch. Her fingers traced over the silver chain around his neck, determined to explore the delicious chest under his shirt.

  All at once, one hand closed around her wrist and the other tightened in her hair. She instinctively leaned closer, but he took his lips from her, pulling away completely. He wasn’t hurting her, but there was no escaping his grasp. His eyes were wide, filled with fear for an awful moment as he searched her. Cold air bit at her heated skin.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have,” he said.

  “No, it was…”

  “We should go. I have a lot to explain when we get back,” he said. Averting his eyes, he released her. Her cheeks burned with humiliation at the sudden rejection. “What’s your next move?”

  “Are we pretending that didn’t happen?” she asked. “Did you think I was going to hurt you?”

  He smiled, but his eyes were filled with sorrow. “I wish I didn’t,” he said. One hand crept to the chain, adjusting it under his collar. “I’m sorry, Marlena.”

  She would always be a monster to him, deep down. “I understand,” she said numbly. “I’ll go with you to Skyward Rest if that’s what you want. I want to help stop this for good.”

  “Some people there aren’t going to be happy with you. I won’t let them hurt you, but don’t expect a warm welcome.”

  “I appreciate the honesty,” she said. “They can do what they have to. I’ll still help.” She pulled down the visor to check her makeup. Black crescents smeared under her eyes. At least she’d looked good for a few hours before her humiliating meltdown. She dabbed at the mess as she spoke. “I need you to know something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Back in Natar, I didn’t play you for a fool,” she blurted. “I didn’t know I meant it at the time, but I did. I had your back. Up until we walked through that Gate, I thought I was playing you, but that was when I realized I’d already made a choice. Protecting you felt like the most important job in the universe.”

  “Then why did you leave?”

  With a deep breath for courage, she stole a look at him. He actually looked hurt. She wasn’t sure whether to feel validated that he’d cared or guilty for causing him heartache. “I’ve been following their orders without question for almost ten years. When that guy told me to run, I just did it.” She laughed bitterly. “I thought about turning right around and coming back. To you.”

  “To me? I tried to kill you.”

  “Yeah,” she murmured. “You also insisted that there was something good in me. You didn’t have to.”

  “I’m not a liar,” he replied. She fixed him with a stare. He reached out to cup her cheek. His skin was unusually warm as his thumb traced over her lips. Then he shook his head and pulled his hand away. “We should get going. I can drive if you need to rest.”

  She slumped with disappointment, then scolded herself. Did you think you’d just get to make out with the hot dragon as a reward for one good deed?

  Once Velati called back to Skyward Rest again, he took the driver’s seat while she reclined in the passenger’s seat. With nothing except the clothes on her back, she felt unmoored. The Chosen had been a constant for most of her adult life. Even knowing what she knew now, having seen the ugliness they wrought, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had committed an even worse sin by betraying them.

  But there was an anchor in the storm of fear and confusion. There was this beautiful man, his skin marked like her own, brimming with power. It went against everything she’d learned of the Kadirai, but she knew beyond a doubt that she could trust him, even if he could never trust her in return. And for just a while, that would be enough.

  Somewhere in Louisiana, she dozed off. She awoke at a gas station in Alabama and kept a drowsy watch for the last stretch of the drive to Asheville. Her heart raced as the road sloped up into the mountains with the forest closing in over them. By now, the Chosen had to know she’d turned on them. Once they found the farmhouse empty, they’d be calling for blood. Not only did Marlena take their precious subjects, they’d captured Arianna. Mr. Lang would put a price on her head.

  Somehow, that scared her less than she thought. Even if she was struck dead before she walked through the gates of Skyward Rest, she could breathe her last knowing that she’d tried to redeem herself.

  The forest gave way to an open clearing. The pale gray stone of Skyward Rest was incongruous; a palace in the middle of untamed wilderness. Its yellow and orange silk banners swayed gently in the breeze, though the skies above were empty.

  Velati drove around the main building, heading for an underground garage. As the sun faded into the cool darkness of the concrete cavern, she tensed. This was it. If there was any doubt in her mind, it was her last chance to run.

  Before she could speak up, Velati squeezed her hand lightly. “I have your back. And I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” She nodded, savoring his touch for a sweet moment before she had to face the rest of the Kadirai.

  They got out of the car and walked down the central aisle of the parking garage, then into an elevator that took them up. The small vestibule opened into an open, airy lobby, where a reception desk stood in the center of a ring of couches. Velati spoke quietly to the woman at the desk. Her eyes widened, drifted to Marlena, then back to Velati. She nodded rapidly and picked up a radio.

  Trying to calm her nerves, Marlena inspected the open area. Skyward Rest was a curious blend of seemingly ancient stone, carved into intricate designs, with modern technology like flat-screen TVs and quiet ambient music. She felt like she was sullying the serene place by being here.

  Footsteps clattered across the stone floor as quiet conversation rose. Velati stepped in front of her. A formation of Kadirai stormed their way, with Rosak’s imposing figure at the point. Behind them, Sohan followed at his slower pace, silver eyes sweeping over her with an inscrutable expression on his face.

  “Stay here,” Velati said sternly. He strode forward to intercept them. As he closed the gap, two of the Kadirai in gray uniforms split away, coming toward Marlena. One carried a pair of familiar-looking silver manacles, while the other carried a gun. She instinctively took a step backward, scanning over her shoulder for a retreat.

  The woman with the gun raised it slowly. Her fine features were fixed in a glare. “Put out your hands.”

  “Whoa,” Velati said. He backed up, putting himself between Marlena and the armed woman. “That’s not necessary.” Heat swelled in her chest as she fought the instinct to defend herself.

  Rosak glared at Velati. “Get out of the way.”

  “No,” Velati said. “She’s agreed to help us. You’re not going to manhandle her. You’re—we’re going to treat her with some fucking decency.”

  “I will not jeopardize all the people in this place because you have a hard-on for the enemy,” Rosak said. “We already discussed this.”

  Frigid air burst from Velati in a shockwave. The tattoos on the back of his neck glowed blue-white, pulsing like a slow heartbeat. “And I will not be ordered around by a fledgling who needs to swing his dick to feel like he’s in control,” Velati retorted.

  “Boys, that’s enough,” Sohan’s gruff voice broke through. “You trust her?”

  “I do,” Velati said. “I’ll take responsibility.”

  “We’ve been down that road. She’s already proven her word is shit,” Rosak said. He gestured to his female subordinate who stepped forward with the gun. “Get out of the way.”

  “You’re going to shoot me? Really?” Velati asked.

  “I’ll do whatever I need to protect my people,” Rosak said. “Would you?”

  A growl rumbled in Velati’s chest. Marlena’s breath plume
d in a thick white fog as she stepped out from behind him, heart pounding. “Please stop this,” she said.

  All eyes followed her. A week ago, she would have been pleased to see the fearful expressions on their faces. If she wanted to, she could simply command Rosak to leave her and Velati alone. Instead, she put her hands out, palms up. “It’s fine.”

  Velati grabbed her shoulder, ice radiating from his touch. “No. I won’t allow it.”

  “I appreciate your vote of confidence,” she said. She wasn’t sure he meant it, or if he just didn’t want Rosak to order him around. Either way, it was nice to hear. “But I also understand that you all have plenty of reasons to fear me.”

  “We don’t fear you,” Rosak said. His gaze faltered for a moment, pale gray eyes sliding away from hers. A lie.

  “Then you have reason not to trust me,” she said. She pushed her hands out, stepping out of Velati’s protection. “Lock me up if you have to. I’m here to help, and if isolating me makes your people feel safer, then I accept that. It’s not unreasonable.”

  Rosak held her gaze, gesturing for one of the male guards to approach. “If this is a trick, I will end you.”

  I’d like to see you try, she thought. Though she held his gaze without flinching, she kept her mouth closed. She offered no resistance as the guard secured the manacles around her wrists. The familiar heat of power faded, leaving a dull ache in her chest. This time it was a relief, like they’d taken away the monstrous part of her and left only Marlena, like she’d been before the Chosen came along. “Can I make one request? Since I’m being cooperative?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “What?”

  “Can I have a pillow this time?”

  Fifteen minutes later, she was back where she had begun, in a small prison cell. Like they were sending a message, Rosak’s guards took her back to the same cell she’d been in before. She surveyed the stone cell and sat down with a sigh.

  Home sweet home.

  The woman with the gun remained at the door as the other two guards walked out. “I’m watching you,” she said mildly.

  “Okay,” Marlena said. “Good to know.”

  Rosak entered the room. “Piryne, that’s all. Send word to the queen that our guest is here,” he said.

  The woman nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  After Piryne left, Rosak leaned against the wall and fixed her with a cold stare. “Are you really here to help?”

  “I really am,” she said, staring up at him.

  “I don’t care what the Arik’tazhan said about you. You fucked us in Natar. I don’t trust you.”

  “To be fair, I helped you in Natar,” she said.

  He scowled. “My job is to protect my queen and my people. If you so much as look at one of them wrong, I will tear you limb from limb, and I will enjoy every minute of it.”

  “I understand,” she said calmly. “I know you don’t believe me, but I have no intention of hurting anyone.”

  “For your sake, I hope that’s true.”

  After Rosak left the room, she stared at the featureless ceiling for a while, visually tracing the darker veins of stone in the smooth gray surface. Despite her surroundings, she was at peace. Even if they kept her down here to rot for the rest of her life, she wouldn’t hurt anyone for the Chosen ever again.

  A while later, the door slid open again. Marlena tensed, eyes flitting to the door. A now-familiar figure entered, his tattooed arms laden down with a stack of linens and pillows. Velati glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t give a shit, tell him I’m down here,” he spat. “He can come and take it up with me, and I’ll remind him of who outranks who.”

  “Sir…”

  “Tell him,” Velati barked. “Go away.”

  She gaped in surprise. “What was all that?”

  “Someone trying to tell me what I’m allowed to do,” he said.

  “You don’t like that.”

  “I certainly do not,” he replied. “Scoot over.”

  She moved over to let him deposit his hoard of fabric onto the stone bench. A smile tugged at her lips. He’d brought two fuzzy blankets, a thick white down comforter, and several fluffy pillows that looked like they’d been stolen from a luxury hotel. “A blanket would have been fine.”

  “You said a pillow,” he replied. “You were specific.”

  “Not if you’re going to be in trouble.”

  He snorted in derision. “Please. This is at the bottom of the list of reasons I’m in trouble around here.” His expression darkened. “I’m sorry about this.”

  “It’s fine,” she replied. “You looked like you might kill someone over it, and it’s not worth it.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I meant what I said. I won’t let them harm you.”

  “I know.” She held up her wrists, fitted with the wide metal cuffs. “And I can’t do much to anyone else. If that makes them feel better.”

  He sighed. But instead of speaking, he sat down on the edge of the bench. She sat next to him, heart fluttering as she leaned into him slightly. To her delight, he leaned toward her, a pleasant solidity to anchor her. “I’m sure there will be a great deal of arguing and shouting ahead,” he said. “And honestly, if it wasn’t me in these circumstances, I would do exactly what Rosak did.”

  “You’re smart.”

  He chuckled. “I don’t know about that.” He took a deep breath. “Just hold out for a day or two,” he said. “And if anyone lays a hand on you, you tell me. I’ll make sure they don’t have a hand to do it again.”

  “I’ll be okay,” she said. The fierce protectiveness was nice. “When they’re ready to talk, I’ll be here.”

  Without looking up, he placed his hand on her leg, fingers pressing gently into her thigh without moving. “In the car, I kissed you.”

  “Yeah. I was there,” she said mildly. The simple touch sent a shiver of delight through her.

  “I can’t stop thinking about it.” That made two of them. “I hope I didn’t hurt you. All of this is confusing. And I know it’s not fair, but all I could think that it was one hell of a long play.”

  “You didn’t hurt me,” she lied. A pang of sorrow stitched through her gut. “It wasn’t a long play, but I would have thought the same thing in your place.”

  He chuckled and squeezed her thigh, sending a shock of molten heat into her core. “Maybe we can try it again when things make a little more sense.”

  “I don’t know if there will ever be such a time.”

  He cupped the side of her head and kissed her temple. “Well, a dragon can hope.” As he pulled away, she noticed a high flush in his cheeks. “I’ll be back soon. Hopefully with better accommodations.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  It took three laps around the main floor of the palace for Velati Rimewing’s heart rate to return to normal. He was angry at Rosak, anxious about having brought Marlena here, and all of it was shaken with a volatile dose of animal lust. No matter how vociferously he denied it, he was thinking with his dick. Couldn’t help it, not with the lingering memory of Marlena’s lips on his.

  He made a detour to the dining hall for coffee. As he was topping off his cup, his phone vibrated with a text from Sohan.

  Sohan: Big chat. Tempest war room in twenty

  Shit. He had to get his head on straight. He hurried to his room for a quick shower. Standing under the hot spray, he tried to release the tension that held his lungs in a vise. He’d made promises to Marlena, but the cost of keeping them might be higher than he could manage.

  If he was smart, he’d detach himself. Let it go. Treat her like an asset, a tool designed with a single purpose. One could treat a sword with respect, keep it sharp and polished, without forming an unhealthy attachment. And one never forgot what the sword was for.

  But she wasn’t just a weapon. The woman who’d run away when she was given orders was a puppet of the Chosen, conditioned and brainwashed within an inch of her life. The woman who’d protected him from the white dragon, betrayed
her people to save dragon prisoners, and wept like a child when it was finally done…that was Marlena. Beneath the frightening power was a good soul. He knew that with absolute certainty.

  Regardless of her past, she mattered. And not just in an abstract way, in the way that every individual mattered on some cosmic scale; she mattered to him. He needed to protect her because he cared about her. He wanted her. It would have been easier if he didn’t, but there was no reasoning with his heart, which was as stubborn as the rest of him.

  He hastily toweled off and dressed in his last set of clean clothes. He was going to have to find a laundry or start begging clothes off Sohan. His phone buzzed again with a text.

  Sohan: where are you? Get your ass here

  He groaned and shoved the phone into his pocket, then ran to the main building. By the time he reached the conference room in the Tempest Wing, he found a full table already waiting on him. Half a dozen pairs of eyes followed him as he took a seat next to Sohan. “Sorry I’m late,” he said. Sohan and Dyadra sat on opposite sides of the table, while Rosak sat at the head, flanked by his two lieutenants.

  “Is your guest comfortable?” Rosak asked. His cool eyes fell on Velati. “Or should I send room service?”

  “I’d suggest you avoid the passive aggressive bullshit with me,” Velati replied calmly. “Say what you want to say to me.”

  “Fine. I think you’re compromised and that you’re prioritizing your own desires over the best interests of your people,” Rosak said. Velati shrugged. “Do you disagree?”

  “Of course I disagree,” he said. “But I’m not going to keep defending myself to you. I know where my loyalty is.”

  The other man’s face reddened. “Then why the scene over the girl?”

  “Marlena,” Velati said pointedly, “is not malevolent. Naïve, yes. They manipulated her and turned her into a weapon.” Before Rosak could interject, he shook his head. “And as soon as she saw what they were really doing, she was horrified. She called me and asked me to help her.”