“Milady.” Slowly, he stood up.
He was dressed in a shiny new suit. His usually messy hair was carefully combed back.
“Is something the matter?”
“I came to inquire after our clan leader,” he said.
“No doubt, this conversation can wait till the morning.” I turned toward the door.
“I am sure milady understands that the balance of power has shifted. There are many players that may be interested in taking control of all three clans while Tynan is too weak to fight them,” Sage said.
The blood drained from my face, but I kept my expression blank.
“Who told you that your clan leader is incapable of fighting?” I asked in a calm voice.
Sage tilted his head to the side, watching me. I raised my chin higher, meeting his gaze.
“Milady, I would never allow myself to think that, but the news of the death of Rutherford and Halsey has already reached both clans, and men from the clans of white and blue have already started to arrive. No doubt, they’ll only wait till morning todemand an audience with Tynan. But, if you’re certain that he can face them, we have nothing to worry about.”
“I see. And what do you suggest?” I peered into his eyes, trying to figure out what game he was playing.
“First things first. I want to have a position as your personal adviser, to have some leverage while talking to the clan warriors.” He made a motion that looked like he was removing a speck of dust off his sleeve.
“Alright.”
“Then, I also need to have my own room in the palace. As your personal advisor, I can’t be staying in a shack."
“That’s reasonable. What else?”
“Of course, I need to be paid.”
“Of course. And as my personal adviser, what would you advise me?” I asked impatiently.
“Milady, we should delay the meeting between Tynan and the other clans until he is strong enough to face them. On my end, I’m going to start talking to them to buy us some time.”
I nodded, thinking about the hundreds of things that could go wrong.
“Did the healer come to see him?” Sage asked.
“Yes. He said that Tynan needs three to four days to recover.” I clenched the fabric of my skirt.
“I will make sure that the servants know not to talk to anyone. A lot depends on you, milady. Don’t forget who you are. You also have leverage.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Sage gave me a gallant bow and moved toward the door.
CHAPTER FOUR
FRID
My scales were continuously pelted with icy cold rain, making me delirious, antsy, ready to peel my own skin off. The wind went all the way through my flesh, chilling my bones even despite the physical exertion. I spent hours flying, and the night was almost at its end, when a new intrusive thought imprinted in my mind and I was incapable of shaking it off.
What if Victor was already dead? What if he didn’t make it?
I could not check on him while in the midst of flight. I frantically searched for a place to land, but then I thought that I would be wasting time, not getting us closer to the temples. And if I was able to land, I still needed to get him off my back. And lastly, there was no guarantee I could safely secure him to my back by myself. I clenched my teeth, continuing my flight.
When the first light of the sun, completely concealed by the clouds, was barely distinguishable on the horizon, I found a spot to land and carefully placed myself on the ground. I moved myhead, trying to see Victor and saw the slight rise and fall of his chest. My body was at its limits, but I could not sleep and I could not use the food that Alina packed for me, not in my dragon form. I looked up at the thick grey clouds.
