My heart feels as if it is being squeezed from my chest. If they harm you in any way…

It’s going to be okay, Dakh. I promise. Her thoughts are full of love. Stay where you are and talk to me, okay? Just talk. Keep me company. It’s not so miserable now that you’ve found me.

My claws dig into the concrete, but I do as she asks.

46

SASHA

It’s a long night. I try to settle in on the couch and get comfortable, but my arms ache from being pinned behind me with the cuffs. Dakh sends me a steady stream of thoughts, all of them urgent and anxious, even when he’s just more or less sending me images of where he’s at. I know he’s on the verge of losing his shit—there’s a lot of ravens in his thoughts—but he’s trying really hard. I force myself to remain calm, because I know if I panic, he’s going to come knocking on my door.

And I can’t have that. Not until I figure out what this Azar guy wants.

Sometime in the middle of the night, someone shows up, rousing me from a fitful sleep. “Hello?”

“Food for the guest.” The door rattles, but I recognize Emma’s voice “I was sent to check on you.” She shuts the door behind her, then pulls down my blindfold and smiles at me. She’s got a bottle of water, the key to the handcuffs, and a bit of beef jerky. She moves to my side and unlocks the cuffs. “They told me I can uncuff you now. Whatever they’re working on is in place.”

“A trap?” I whisper. I’m both glad I’m getting the cuffs off and wary. Azar must be up to something.

“I think so, but no one will tell me what it is. I’m supposed to hand you this, though.” She holds out a piece of paper. It’s a faded pamphlet for a hotel. This one, probably. It just confirms that I’m supposed to lure Dakh here.

Drawn by my thoughts, Dakh is instantly alert, nudging me mentally. I have to concentrate on Emma, though. I push his thoughts aside for the moment. “I told Dakh to stay away,” I tell her. “I don’t want him coming until we know what’s going on.”

“Smart. Tell him I said hi and we’re going to get you out of here.”

Dakh pushes into my mind again. Tell your friend I am glad she is there for you if I cannot be.

Will do. “He’s glad you’re with me.”

“No offense, but I wish I wasn’t. There’s some serious shit brewing, and I’m scared of what’s going to happen when it all blows up.” She shakes her head. “The other dragon guy—the captive one—is losing his mind right now. You should see him. He’s all blood and fury.” She looks miserable at the thought.

“Maybe we’ll be able to save him, too. Until then, keep your perfume handy,” I caution her. “And keep a weapon on you at all times.”

“Girl, I’m the only young female in a band of two dozen nomads. You think I’m not prepared?” She pats her hip, where a suspicious-looking knife-shaped lump rests. “I can take care of me. You worry about you. They have to be planning something. I’m going to see what I can find out today. In the meantime, you lie low. Tell Dakh that it’s not clear and I’ll see what I can find out.” She glances at the door, then back at me. “I need to go before they wonder why it’s taking so long. I’ll try to be back as soon as I can.” Emma squeezes my arm. “Stay strong.”

“I will,” I whisper. “Thank you.”

She nods and then heads for the door, shutting it behind her. The guards say something, and she laughs, and I hear the click of the lock.

I get to my feet, rubbing my wrists. I try the doorknob, but it doesn’t move. I figured as much. I glance out the peephole and see that Emma’s still standing in the hallway, chatting with one of two guards. They look like they’re both carrying guns. Okay, so no going out the front door. I back away and drink from the water bottle as I move to the window and peel away the cardboard to peer out. I’m high off the ground—five, maybe six floors up. Not a ton, but nothing I’d survive if I fell. There’s no balcony, no fire escape, not even a rain gutter to climb down.

I’m stuck.

All part of Azar’s plan, I’m sure. He doesn’t want me to get out. He just wants me to get comfortable so I can call Dakh. The pamphlet, the uncuffing, the removal of the blindfold—all is so I can show Dakh just where I am.

I would come if you called, my dragon assures me. Even if it was my death.

And that’s exactly why I won’t call him.

I settle in on the couch with the jerky and take a bite, curling my legs underneath me. After a moment’s thought, I pick up the pamphlet. They’re not very sneaky, I tell Dakh.

It is as you said—they are not interested in sneaking.

Yep. They want me to scream like a terrified girl and have you come sailing in to my rescue. As much as I would love for that to happen, we’re not playing that game.

So we wait, he confirms.

We wait, I agree, studying the pamphlet again.

You recognize those images? You know where you are? he asks.

Sort of. I recognize the highway names and the hotel chain itself, but I don’t know exactly where in the city.

I could find you from the images in your mind, he tells me. From the view outside your window and from following your thoughts.

But you won’t.

I can practically feel his sigh. But I won’t.

Some time later, the door lock clicks and I sit upright on the small sofa, yawning as I wake up from my latest nap. Dakh’s thoughts are affectionate as I rouse, and I’m distracted by them. I expect to see Emma walk in, but instead, it’s a man.

A strange man.

He’s covered in long clothes from head to toe, so much that at first glance, I can’t see a bit of skin. He wears a dark hat over his head, covering his hair, and sunglasses covering his eyes. Under his hat, he wears a scarf over the lower half of his face as if to protect from dust, like cowboys did in the old Western movies when they were about to rob a train. He also wears a long duster jacket despite the fact that it’s still warm enough to feel like summer. Behind him follow two goons carrying rifles.

I sit up, unnerved. “You must be Azar.”

He pulls down the scarf over his face and grins at me, showing blunted, almost too-square teeth. They’re…odd. If they were once pointed like Dakh’s, he’s filed them down. Maybe he’s trying to look more human.