Chapter Thirty-Nine

Rhyse

I didn't wait to see what happened next. I just acted.

This was my once chance to see Emma freed and safe. I couldn't waste it.

A bolt of lightning spat from my mouth, searing into Dillon's head, burning away one of his eyes. The intensity of the lightning cauterized the wound as it went, leaving little bleeding, but the damage was serious, and he immediately took off in the other direction, bellowing in agony.

That still left the others, however, and they came at me from two separate directions. I dove, throwing them offline, and ducked out from under Sven's claws while taking only a glancing blow from Isaac that pulled free a single scale of mine.

Surfacing again, I watched from the corner of my eye as the mysterious attacker pitched Rikell over the edge. I had no idea who they were, the thick bushy beard and long unkempt black hair kept me from recognizing them.

That all changed as the other dragon—and there was no doubt it was a dragon, given the force with which he'd dispatched Rikell—jumped onto the rail and dove toward the sea, shifting as he went.

Only a certain few dragons possessed the mottled orange and black coloring of the monstrous beast diving into the depths.

But only one was as tall as this mystery man.

Vicek.

The heir to the throne of dragons ducked beneath the water and tore into the unsuspecting Sven.

Working together, the two of us quickly sent Dillon's lackeys to the bottom of the ocean. That left only the boss to be dealt with, and he was beating a quick retreat.

"Look after the girl and the ship," Vicek said as he watched the other dragon go. "I have a score to settle with someone."

I could only imagine the rage Vicek felt at finally knowing who'd attacked him. Not just that, but Dillon was, in effect, responsible for the entire war between humans and dragons.

A "score to settle" was nothing compared to that.

"What are you even doing here?" I asked, making my way to the ship. "I sent word to the palace, but that was this morning. There's no way you could have gotten it that fast."

"I didn't," Vicek agreed, rolling his neck in a long twisting fashion, loosening it up. "The sovereign and I had already deduced there must be someone on the payroll. Not enough human items were appearing among our people to account for what would be taken from these ships. Which meant it was going elsewhere. So, I disguised myself and volunteered to work a few trips with Rikell. He's always in need of new help, so it didn't take long before he called me."

"Rikell," I said, shaking my head. "Of course. Who else trades with the humans?"

"There are a couple. They're also under investigation," Vicek said. "Now, if you don't mind …"

"Happy hunting," I said wickedly. "Go get it."

Vicek turned his head and smiled broadly. "You, too." He glanced up at the ship, where Emma was waiting.

"I think I will."

I didn't care about seeing Vicek take off in pursuit of Dillon. Instead, I ducked under the water and then launched myself into the air and onto the deck of the ship, where two other crewmen stood.

"Either of you upset over what happened?" I asked, eyeing them warily as Emma rushed to my side, throwing herself into my hug.

"What did happen?" one of them, a big burly dragon with a bushy beard and skin worn hard by the sun and the wind, asked.

I briefly told them. They looked at one another, and then the speaker spat over the side.

That was all the answer I needed.

"I'm so sorry," I told Emma, holding her close. "I should never have let you go. I should have figured it out. But I couldn't leave you in danger. I needed to know you were safe. But I should have told you, should have fought for you. I won't make that mistake again. Can you give me a second chance?"

Emma, still tucked tight into my side, nodded slowly. "I think so."

Only think? I tried to cover my dismay.

"I have one condition, though," she said. "And if you ever break it again …"

"Name it. If I can, I will grant it," I said as solemnly as I said.

"Trust me," she said plainly. "I need you to trust me, Rhyse. Tell me what's going on. Educate me on the danger and why you're doing things like sending me away. Don't leave me out. If I'm going to stay, then you need to tell me everything. No holding back."

"Everything?" I asked softly. "Are you sure you want that?"

"Positive," she said. "No secrets. Promise?"

She held out her pinky finger. "I promise," I said, taking it.

"Good. Now, is there anything else you should tell me?"

"I love you." I said the words, forcing them out before my nerves could get the better of me and stop me from speaking.