House of Dragons (Royal Houses 1)

“Which makes them even more valuable,” Kerrigan said. Her eyes flicked to Fordham. “The weapons deal.”

He nodded. “That’s what we saw. Those were no ordinary weapons, and Clare is no ordinary dealer. That’s why she interrogated us, thinking we were working for the Society.”

“She thought that they had found the new stash of artifacts,” Kerrigan put together.

“Yes, and she must be working with Basem to get these artifacts onto the streets.”

Ellerby looked faint. “If that’s the case, then… we’re already too late.”

“Too late for what?”

“To stop him.”

Fordham left Ellerby’s side and came to stand with Kerrigan. “On the contrary, I think we finally have a shot.”

She looked up at him, filled with determination, and nodded. “I think you’re right. We will do what we can to save your nephew.”

Ellerby’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t even know if he’s still alive.”

Kerrigan ground her teeth. “Then we will get revenge for what he has done to you.”

“We need to go,” Fordham said. “We have to get back by daybreak.”

“Thank you for meeting with us.”

Ellerby stepped forward and took her hands. “I am truly sorry. I hope that we meet again on more favorable terms. You are always welcome in my home.”

She nodded once and then followed Fordham. They slipped out the back door this time. Neither said a word as they slunk through the streets of Archdale to where they had left Tavry. They found him waiting impatiently. He shook his long, powerful neck.

We must be off. The time is nigh.

They scrambled onto Tavry, and he burst into the sky before they were even completely situated.

Did you find what you were looking for?

“Yes,” Kerrigan said. “Unfortunately.”

She hugged Tavry’s side and tried to keep the terror from overwhelming her.

Basem Nix was a formidable opponent on a good day, but this was above and beyond anything she could have imagined. They had stepped into the middle of a tangled web, and she didn’t know what their next move was or where they would land.

* * *

Dawn blurred bright across the horizon. Kerrigan’s heart sank as Draco Mountain came into view. They were late. Tavry had been certain that they would need to be there before daybreak. She hadn’t thought they had dawdled, but they had had to navigate an unknown city.

Tavry flew into the aerie with ease, landing effortlessly.

She slid off Tavry’s back. “Thank you.”

Don’t thank me yet, Kerrigan Argon.

Kerrigan was about to ask why, but then she realized that she didn’t need to. Helly stormed toward them. Her carefully placed bun was disheveled. Her black robes rumpled. Her eyes spat fire. Kerrigan had never seen her look so angry.

Fordham dropped to his feet next to her, straightening at the sight of Helly. “This isn’t good, is it?”

“No,” she whispered.

“What in the gods’ name do you two think you were doing?” Helly all but shrieked as she approached them. “You were both out of your beds, a dragon missing. Do you know what would have happened if the council had been alerted?”

Kerrigan winced. “We were only trying to help—”

“I don’t want to hear it!” Helly slashed her hand down to stop her from speaking further. “I don’t want a single word out of either of you. We had a deal.” She glared at Kerrigan in fury. “What you did was reckless and dangerous, not to mention theft.”

Mistress Helly, Tavry began.

But she whirled on her dragon and flung a finger out. “We will talk about this later.”

Tavry’s wings flared in outrage, and then the beast took to the skies once more.

Helly sighed, rubbing her temple. Kerrigan didn’t know anyone who had been in a fight with their dragon. They were bound together. They shared so much that it was hard to stay mad at one another.

“You were gone,” Helly said, her voice stiffening into pain. “Just like Lyam. You were just gone.”

“I’m sorry, Helly, but if you’d let me explain.”

“No, I need no explanation. I understand precisely what you did. But have you forgotten what happened with Lyam?” Helly asked, sounding sick to her stomach.

“Of course not.”

“Then, what you did is cruel, if not simply reckless.”

“Mistress Hellina,” Fordham began formally.

But it was the wrong move. She turned her anger on him. “And you! You could be expelled from the tournament for this. Did you consider that?”

Fordham’s jaw set. “No, but we are trying to solve a murder.”

“Murder? What murder?” She looked between the two of them. “What happened to Lyam was a tragic accident. Whatever you two have been doing, you’re finished.”

“Just listen to us!” Kerrigan cried. “An assassin was sent after me. We witnessed an illicit weapons deal. There is more at stake than you know. Basem Nix is trading illegal magical artifacts, and he still has Ellerby’s nephew.”

Helly shook her head. “That’s enough. If you had any of this information, you should have come to the Society with your concerns. We handle criminal investigations in Kinkadia. It is not left to a Dragon Blessed and a tournament competitor. You will cease your operation immediately and allow me to handle it from now on.”