Chapter Thirty-Two
I smiled politely at Bara before I took Vasren's arm, and we followed the Deldin man down a corridor with Bara and Eliel behind us and my “guards” after them.
The Deldin man's sleekly furred, long, white ears were bound down along his neck, their tips coming to a perfect point on his upper back.
The gold band around them reminded me of the jewelry Eliel wore. They both had the look of manacles.
We passed more skeletons and skulls displayed under glass cloches and spotlit in wall nooks.
The other decor consisted of carved masks, beaded headpieces, and woven baskets.
No paintings or statues as you'd find in most manors.
Lord Bara didn't want an artist to paint him a picture.
He preferred reminders of his adventures that would summon pictures in his mind.
Just before we entered the dining room, a white moth fluttered into our path. I stopped short and stared at the thing, shocked to find a living insect fluttering around Death Manor. It was as lovely as Eliel, with pink spots on its alabaster wings, feathery antennae, and red eyes.
“Damn it all!” Bara slid in front of me.
I thought he was going to kill the moth and begged, “Oh, please don't hurt it.”
“Worry not. This moth is valuable to me,” Bara assured me. Then he did something even more shocking than the sight of the moth—he bit the pad of his finger and held it out.
As I frowned at the drop of blood welling on the thick black pad of his fingertip, the moth fluttered into a spiral that took him to Bara. It landed on Bara's finger, and a tiny tongue flicked into the blood.
“What the fuck?” Behez muttered from behind us.
“It's a white emperor moth.” Bara carefully lifted it. “They're carnivorous. If you'll excuse me, I must take it back to its cage. I don't know how it got out. Hiln, show my guests to the table.”
“Yes, my lord.” The Deldin man bowed. “Right this way, please.”
I watched Bara walk away with the moth perched upon his finger and then followed the Deldin into the dining room.
He stood to the side and held out an arm to indicate the circular table in the center of the room.
There were four chairs, but only one had a slim back meant for wings.
While Vas, Eliel, and I took our seats, Drellan and Behez took up positions against opposite walls.
I made sure to take the seat between Vasren and Eliel.
That possessive asshole wouldn't want my Dragon near his consort.
Plus, I wanted a private word with the Lelurra, and this was the perfect opportunity.
Once the Deldin was gone, I didn't waste any time.
“Eliel,” I whispered.
The man looked over at me.
“Are you here willingly?”
His lips parted. “Yes, of course.”
“Are you enchanted?”
His lips parted, his eyes briefly flaring with hope. “No, why would you ask that?”
“How can I help you? Can you tell me?”
Eliel's gaze slid to the doorway and then to Vas.
“He wants to help you too.” I laid my hand over his on his lap.
Eliel started to tremble.
“If you can't say the words, can you draw my attention to what's holding you here? Is it a magical item? Or does he have someone you love held hostage?”
A tear slid down Eliel's cheek as he lifted his hand. No, not his hand—his wrist. Peeking out from beneath a wide, gold bracelet was a white ribbon identical to the one Bara wore.
Just as I reached for it, Bara came into the room.
“The moth has been safely returned to his family,” Bara declared.
Eliel lifted his hand to quickly swipe away the trail of his tear and then bent his head. Bara frowned at his lover.
“That's a relief.” I drew his attention away from Eliel. “Can you tell me more about these moths? Why do you have them?”
As Bara sat down, Hiln returned with a rolling cart laden with four plates of food. Bara leaned back for the man to set down his plate and then said, “I keep them to clean my trophies. They eat so delicately that they can clean a carcass without damaging the bones.”
“Interesting,” Vasren said. “So you must hunt a lot.”
“Oh, yes. For food and pleasure.”
Eliel shivered. I looked from him to Bara.
Yeah, the Hulfrin's expression was chilling.
If Vasren hadn't been there, I might have just killed Bara and been done with it.
But all of this would be hard enough on Vas with proof.
Without it, he would see me as a common murderer.
With any other man, I wouldn't have cared what he thought, especially since Bara's death would free Eliel.
But this was Vas, and I loved him. I cared about what he thought. Poor Eliel would suffer for it.
“Moths only live a little longer than a month.” I nodded my thanks to Hiln as he put a plate down in front of me.
“That's why each one is so precious.” Bara took Eliel's hand from his lap, put it on the table, and squeezed it. His claws sprang again, caging Eliel's thin fingers.
It felt like a warning. I just wasn't sure if it was toward Eliel or me.
Bara released Eliel's hand and motioned at his plate.
Eliel began to eat. I noted that in my mind—he doesn't eat until told.
Yet more proof. Was it enough for Vasren?
I looked over to find him staring at me.
The skin around his eyes twitched. I think he wanted to kill Bara too, but no, it wasn't enough proof for him.
“I keep them happy,” Bara went on, oblivious to the silent discussion of his possible death. “I feed them, give them a natural environment to thrive in, and they lay eggs which then hatch into larvae. The cycle continues, and I'm never without moths to clean the bones for me.”
“Clean the bones,” I murmured, thinking about the bones that had just been delivered to him. Why would he need someone in Weiha to clean bones for him when he had those moths?
Something brushed my shoulder. I turned toward Vas, thinking it was him, but he was eating—his forearms braced against the table edge. I frowned and looked behind me. No one was there. What the fuck?
Bara cleared his throat. When I glanced over, his eyes were twitching.
Had that been one of the Raltven from my crew?
No, it was too bright in the room. An outline of their body would have given them away, and there was no reason for them to venture in there.
They were supposed to be investigating the house.
So who had touched me? A breeze? I glanced at the window.
Thick velvet drapes covered it, unmoving.
The window had to be shut. Not a breeze, then.
So, what was it? I was certain I hadn't imagined it.
Someone had brushed against me. I had felt the movement of air from their passing and the slide of fabric against my arm.
It was light, but definite. Probably an accident.
“I'm told you're in need of accommodations nicer than the local hotel,” Bara drawled.
Vasren set his fork down. “We won't be here long, so the hotel would be fine, but this is a mating gift for Kailan, so I was hoping to find something more suitable. I suppose I should have thought of that before we set sail, but I expected a crown city to have nicer hotels.”
Bara chuckled. “Welcome to Tabaa. They're a little . . . traditional here. But I find it charming.”
“You can afford to find it charming.” Vasren made a face. “You're not the one sleeping on a thin mattress.”
“Gods no.” Bara laughed harder. “But I have someone who can help you find something more suitable to your station. Hiln will give you their information when you leave tonight.”
“That would be greatly appreciated.”
“My pleasure. And after you're settled, I'd be happy to escort you to the tumuli.”
“The what?”
“The Lamatoka death platforms, my love.” I touched Vasren's hand. “Remember?”
“Oh! Yes, of course.” Vasren winced. “I'm afraid that's his interest, not mine. I prefer living things.”
“I'm sure you keep your own type of trophies, Lord Varra.” Bara smirked. “Dragons are great hunters.”
“Not all of us. I've only hunted once in my life.” He took my hand and kissed it. “I need no further hunts.”
“Ah, and there is your trophy.” Bara waved at me.
Vasren narrowed his eyes at Bara. “I don't consider my mate a trophy.”
“I meant no insult, but by your own admission, you hunted him. That makes him your prize.”
Vasren growled.
“It's all right.” I squeezed Vasren's hand. “I don't mind being a trophy.”
“You shouldn't. We hunters look after our trophies.” Bara reached out and stroked Eliel's hair.
Eliel just continued to eat.
It was fucking unsettling. Thoughts spun through my head. It had to be either an enchantment or a drug. The more I watched Eliel, the more I leaned toward the latter. He showed all the signs of a drugged man.
Abruptly, the image of Vas following Seina's commands came to mind. That hadn't been drugs, but was it an enchantment? I concluded it was an enchantment with a physical foundation—blood.
I glanced at Bara's wrist. Was I misinterpreting the actions of a drugged man? The ribbon could be meaningless. Just another decoration. Perhaps it meant something to Hulfrins or Bara's clan. I'd have to ask Drellan. And I needed to learn more about that moth.
“May I use your washroom?” I asked Bara.
“Of course.” Bara leaned back and called out, “Hiln!”
I stood up as the Deldin appeared.
“Show our guest to the washroom.”
“Yes, my lord.” Hiln motioned to the corridor. “This way, sir.”
I followed Hiln down the corridor and upstairs, where he left me at the door to a guest room. Odd that there were no bathrooms downstairs, but that worked in my favor.
“Thank you.” I went into the bedroom and then toward the attached bath. I paused at the bathroom door and listened for Hiln's footsteps. Just as I was about to leave the bedroom, someone touched my arm, and I jumped.
“Sorry, boss,” Sudar whispered. “It's just me.” He stepped into the shaft of light that came in from the hallway, and I saw a ghostly outline of his body.