House of Shadows (Royal Houses 2)

“What about Dozan?”

Kerrigan balked. “Are you suggesting Dozan Rook?”

He paced away from her, running a hand through his hair. “I hate him, but he’s useful. He has that healer, remember?”

“Amond,” Kerrigan said. He’d healed her after she was stabbed by Isa, and he’d done it in a couple minutes rather than hours. Not to mention, he hadn’t drained off an ounce of her magic. It had connected them somehow, but it had been safe and quick. “I hadn’t thought of him.”

“If he knows healing beyond the bounds of what Helly knows, then it’s worth a try.”

“Dozan won’t do it for free.”

“Then, give him whatever he wants,” Fordham growled. “Your life is on the line.”

Kerrigan crossed her arms at the words. They both knew what Dozan Rook wanted from her. It was something she could no more give him than she could give Fordham at this point. She wouldn’t put it past March to know of her affiliation with Dozan as well. He might even have spies in the Wastes.

“Only one problem: I’m still on probation.”

Fordham blew out a breath. “Well, you’re not banned from leaving the premises.”

“I’m sure that doesn’t mean I’m supposed to go traipsing around the Wastes.”

“Then, don’t let anyone see you.”

“Fine. I’ll talk to him,” Kerrigan said.

Fordham visibly relaxed at her words. As if he’d been imagining an argument about the whole thing. But she couldn’t argue with him, not about this. He’d found her on the floor. Things were escalating, and she needed any solution to what was happening to her.

She shucked on her favorite black cloak and forced Fordham to be her lookout as she took the back way out of the mountain. She inhaled deeply as she walked the streets of Kinkadia. The mountain was home, but the city belonged to her in its own way. She hadn’t really been out of the mountain since her arrest, except for the errand to Parris and flying into Rosemont. That certainly wasn’t the same as being anonymous in the city.

She wove through the crowded roads, crossing over the divide from Central and into the Dregs. Taverns lit up the night, and music belched onto the streets. She wanted nothing more than to dive into them all and forget all the stressors on her. But first things first. Getting these blackouts under control was the main priority.

Crossing the threshold into the Wastes felt like coming home. Kerrigan had spent countless hours here. She hadn’t realized she’d missed it.

Kerrigan kept her cloak hood up as she headed toward Dozan’s private residence at the top of the Wastes. He lived and worked from on high. No one could be higher than the King of the Wastes.

“I’m here to see Dozan,” she told a guard.

He grunted, “He’s not taking visitors.”

“Tell him Red is here, and he’ll see me.”

The guard’s eyes bulged. “Red? The fighter?”

“Indeed.”

“Man, I’m a huge fan.”

Kerrigan laughed. She had fans. It was beyond surreal.

“Miss seeing you in the Dragon Ring.”

Kerrigan missed it too. But that time was behind her. “So, can I see Dozan?”

“Yeah. Let me introduce you,” he said, stalking up the stairs ahead of her. He knocked on the door, “Boss, Red is here.”

An audible sigh on the other side of the door. “Let her in.”

Kerrigan pushed past the guard and entered the dimly lit space. Dozan Rook sat behind his enormous mahogany desk and stared down at a set of throwing knives in front of him. Kerrigan had only made it two steps inside when one of those knives was poised at her throat as someone grasped her from behind.

“Red is a clever moniker,” a woman rasped behind her. “I believe you owe me a debt.”

Dozan didn’t even look up. “Clare, release her.”

“I told her the next time I saw her, I’d kill her,” Clare Rahllins crooned.

This was easily one of the last people Kerrigan wanted to meet in Dozan’s office. During the tournament, she and Fordham had infiltrated Clare Rahllins’ weapons deal when they were trying to figure out who had killed Lyam. It ended up being Basem all along, and Clare was caught in the cross fire. After Clare’s men finished torturing Kerrigan and Fordham, Kerrigan had managed to free them by using her spirit magic, and they’d walked away unscathed.

Kerrigan reached for calm. The last thing she needed was to black out right now in front of both of them. “Release me.”

“You deserve this,” she spat.

Dozan finally lifted his head. His eyes were narrowed, and his mouth twisted into a smirk. “If you damage her, Clare, then you will pay for it in pounds.”

Clare gritted her teeth and then shoved Kerrigan away. “Fine. What is she doing here?”

Kerrigan clutched at the small trickle of blood that ran down her neck. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“I’m glad that you’re here, Kerrigan. It saves me the trip of sending Clover to retrieve you.”