Chapter Five
Not again.
This could not be happening again.
The deafening silence broke apart as everyone watching gasped and muttered to each other. I stared at my new kindred, shock and horror freezing me in his arms. He stared back at me with similar feelings broiling in his brandy colored eyes. He was beautiful, skin dark bronze, thick and lush lashes lining his black eyes, a neat beard covering the bottom half of his face, lining his sharp jaw. Why were all my kindreds so damn attractive? It seemed like at least one of them should look like a chewed up old hunk of a potato.
He set me very carefully away from him and released me like touching me burned, stepping back and looking over at the dragons who brought me in. “What the hell is going on, Marcus?”
The one I rode with answered. “We found her near the border and brought her in on suspicion of espionage.”
My new kindred took a menacing step towards Marcus. “And you harmed her? I smell her blood.”
Normal people couldn’t smell blood. Did some extra senses remain from their pasts as dragons?
“She was in that condition when we found her, Bastian. She claims she was making an escape from captivity.” He conveniently left out the bump on my head was from him.
“Who held you captive?” Bastian spun to ask in a demanding tone, fire flashing in his eyes.
I backed away from him, ignoring the bond tugging me towards him. “It’s a long story.”
He stalked closer, backing me into the wall. “You will tell me.”
I shoved him. “Back the hell off. I’m not obliged to tell you anything.”
He scowled. “You are my kindred. I want to know who harmed you.”
Marcus stepped forward. “We have to take her to the Assembly, Bastian. You know this.”
Bastian snarled. “I am the Assembly.”
Marcus stood firm. “You’re not all of it. And she’s barely standing on her feet. She’s exhausted and in pain. We planned to let her rest and clean up while we gathered the Assembly.”
Since when? They made it sound like I was headed straight to the dungeon. Being the kindred to a dragon on the Assembly apparently got me special treatment.
“I’ll take her to my quarters for that while you gather them.”
“She may be your kindred, but she still has to answer for crossing the border.” Marcus really refused to stand down. It was actually a bit impressive.
“Understood. I’ll bring her there.”
The woman frowned. “Go easy. She looks terrified.”
Bastia growled and swept me up in his arms, ignoring my shriek. “There are hundreds of stairs between here and my quarters. You need the help. I will not harm you.”
He couldn’t even if he wanted to. But the rest of them could. Finding my fifth kindred here might have been a blessing if it kept me safe. But I didn’t want another kindred. I hadn’t wanted any of them, but how was I supposed to be the kindred for a prince of Faligrey and a dragon on the Assembly? And joining with the assassins and the prince was one thing. They were close and knew each other and loved each other. They would not accept a dragon into our strange relationship very easily. And I had no plans to ask them to.
How many more kindreds did fate plan to drop into my lap? It was getting a bit ridiculous. Was it my penance for denying every bond fate brought me? Would I keep finding them until I stopped fighting it and accepted what was in store for me?
I didn’t regret accepting the other four, so maybe there was a fit for this one as well. But I didn’t see how. And I wasn’t sure how much to tell him, how much I could trust him.
For now, I planned to stick to the story I planned. It was safest and probably smarter.
Bastian set me down outside of a door and reached into his pocket to pull out a key, unlocking it and gesturing for me to enter. I swallowed nervously before stepping inside. It was simple and filled with books. It reminded me a lot of Aster’s rooms. The walls were stone like the rest of the place. It was darker than the halls and market downstairs, no natural light making it in here.
I jumped when he shut the door behind us, closing us in together. Alone. I turned slowly, eying him warily.
“You can wash through the door in there and then I want to take a look at your wounds. I’ll gather some clothing for you while you clean up.” He pointed at the door on the left side of the room.
I nodded and hurried for the bathroom, leaning against the door between us with closed eyes and a breath of relief, the pain growing back to full force in my chest. I sank to the floor, choking back tears, wanting my kindreds. My real kindreds. I wanted them here, holding me, surrounding me, kissing me. I’d find my own way out of this, but it didn’t lessen my wish for their presence and comfort.
I gripped my matted hair in my hands, hissing as the pain shot through my fingers, reminding me I needed to clean my wounds if I ever wanted to play the ukulele again. I missed my instrument as much as I missed my kindreds.
I sniffed and brushed the tears away and forced myself to my feet and over to the tub. The water spluttering from the faucet had a strange smell, like minerals and metal, but it wasn’t unpleasant. And it was scorching hot. I couldn’t begin to guess how they managed it. The entire place was overwhelming. I expected to feel trapped and claustrophobic, trapped beneath a mountain, but the air was clear and the space was plenty roomy and bright.
It was amazing, what they had built here. No wonder they were able to keep their secrets and remain so private.
The hot water stung my wounds, making me wince and hiss as I sank my aching body into the tub. I was tempted to soak and try to relieve some of the soreness, but I didn’t trust Bastian not to burst back in if I took too long. Or as soon as he found clothes for me.
I hurried through the bath and wrapped myself in two towels to cover as much of my body as I could. I eyed the cloak Saber bought me, ripped and covered in filth crumpled on the floor. It was too disgusting to wrap my clean body in. I hoped it could be cleaned and repaired. It was the last thing I had left of them. I couldn’t lose that too. I left my reeking clothes where they were, but gathered up the cloak into my arms, rubbing my fingers along the fabric, thinking of Saber and his sweet smile when he gave it to me after I lost my green one. I missed his thoughtfulness and our quiet discussions that lasted late into the night once the others fell asleep. Would I ever experience it again?
With a final stroke, I dumped it into the soapy bathwater, hoping a long soak might save it. I jumped at a knock on the door and Bastian’s muffled voice asking if I was all right.
I opened the door and scowled at him. “I’m fine.”
His eyes took me in from my bare toes and all the way up my body to my head, his nostrils flaring. Did they really have better senses than regular humans? Something left over from their ancestors who could supposedly shift into dragons? It was certainly looking that way. Which meant it would be even more difficult for me to find a way out of this mess.
He spun around and stomped to the middle of his room where his large bed stood. “Come sit. I have some medicine for your wounds.”
I eyed him with suspicion, but forced myself over to him, refusing to show my nervousness. He frowned at me as I hopped onto the bed, my mouth set in a tight line.
“You look better now that you’re clean.”
Was he attempting to compliment me? He needed more practice. “Thank you?”
He knelt in front of me. “Show me your wounds.”
My voice wavered at the sight of him kneeling at my feet. “It’s nothing major.”
“Show me.”
“Fine.” I sighed and pulled the towels away from my arms and pulled them a bit up my legs, revealing the still raw skin on my wrists and ankles and my scabbed fingers.
“You did this getting away.” He pointed to my fingers. “You dug at the restraints until you freed yourself.”
How could he tell? “Yes.”
He opened a jar and released the scent of lavender and herbs into the air. “This should speed up the healing and prevent infection.”
I nodded and sat in silence as he spread the cream over my wounds, relief immediately sinking into me. He avoided my eyes while he worked, focusing on his task, giving me the freedom to inspect him. Bastian was older than my other kindreds, hints of gray in his beard and sideburns, tiny lines around his eyes. He looked like he was in his early or mid-thirties, probably ten years or so older than me. His lips were set in a stern line, clearly not excited his kindred was me.
A part of me was mildly offended, but I understood how he felt. I didn’t want him anymore than he wanted me. Maybe he’d help me escape so we could both get on with our lives.
He closed the jar and rose with a giant step back. “Get dressed. You need to explain yourself to the Assembly.” He turned on his heel and left the room.
I hurried into the strange clothes, relieved to see a black cloak to cover up the tight green trousers that formed to my hips and thighs like a second skin and the golden blouse with a plunging neckline I tied off at the waist. Hopefully, this was the fashion for dragons and not some creepy choice made by my new kindred.
At least it was better than the green dress Whist had me wear when we first met.
Bastian burst back into the room and I clutched the cloak to my chest, keeping it closed with my bandaged fingers. He looked me up and down before giving me a short nod and gesturing for me to follow him.
I swallowed hard, my chest thudding as I shadowed him through the spiraling hallway, almost groaning aloud at the sight of more stairs. He took my arm and most of my weight as we began the endless trek to the Assembly chambers.
My body shook and my breaths released in short gasps by the time we made it to the door. Bastian pushed it open and stood back for me to walk through.
I tossed my head into the air and straightened my back, brimming with false confidence.