Part 15 (1/2)
”Oh.” Her brow furrowed. ”I don't think they're an actual part of this place. They looked liked someone had deliberately piled them along the edges of the cavern and then iced them over.”
His brain raced. What sort of demon could create such an elaborate maze to hide his expensive baubles?
At last he gave a shake of his head.
The truth was that he didn't have a clue.
”I know why your family is here, but you haven't explained why my people are being held hostage,” he said, the words clipped.
She sent him a confused glance. As if the reason should be obvious.
”Because of the ice that covers the gems,” she told him. ”We tried everything to get them loose. Fire. Explosions. Magic. Nothing would free the treasure.”
He clenched his hands at his side, a fine film of frost coating his skin. His people had been kidnapped because an idiotic family of dark fey needed money?
”Whose bright idea was it to use frost sprites to act as your personal miners?”
She nervously licked her lips. ”It was my younger brother, Jarvis, who suggested your tribe might be the answer to our problem.”
”I'll be sure and give him my personal thanks,” he growled.
She was wise enough not to try and plead for mercy for her brothers. They would have to pay for their sins.
”He a.s.sumed it would only take one sprite to destroy the ice surrounding the gems,” she instead admitted.
Like that was supposed to make it better?
”But?” he pressed.
”The sprite couldn't penetrate more than a few layers.”
”So you kidnapped more of my people.” It was an accusation, not a question.
She gave an embarra.s.sed nod. ”Yes. Their combined magic has allowed a few of the jewels to be taken from the ice.”
”So why kidnap me?”
”There's a large object in the floor,” she said, reminding Finn of the bulge he'd noticed in the center of the cavern. ”My brothers are convinced it must be even more valuable than the treasure at the fringes.” She gave a small shake of her head.
Disbelief that the mystery item was valuable? Or that her brothers could be so stupid as to risk everything by kidnapping a prince? Finn couldn't say.
”The sprites, however, haven't been able to penetrate the magic that protects it.”
He flicked his brow upward. ”And you a.s.sume I can?”
”We've seen that you're more powerful than any of your people.”
He shrugged. There was no denying what she already knew. ”What if I refuse?”
Her face paled. ”They'll kill your people one by one until you agree,” she rasped.
It was exactly what he'd expected, but his power still lashed out, icing over the stream.
The b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.
”And if I agree?” he ground out.
”I...don't know.” The platinum eyes darkened with distress. ”I truly don't.”
CHAPTER EIGHT.
Char returned to Baine's lair and headed straight to his private rooms. His visit to the pack of trolls who were hidden in the mountains of Siberia had been...satisfying.
Usually he allowed his master's younger guards to collect on overdue debts. It not only gave them a sense of purpose, but it offered the opportunity to release their aggressive nature. After all, the creature who was stupid enough to try and renege on a deal with a dragon needed to be taught a lesson.
On this occasion, however, Char insisted on taking care of the problem himself. His smoldering frustration at Torque's continued absence was making him twitchy. Beating a handful of trolls into a b.l.o.o.d.y pulp was just what he needed to release some steam.
Now he was in dire need of a hot bath.
Something that was going to have to wait, he wryly accepted as soon as he felt the ground tremble beneath his feet.
Seconds later, Baine appeared from a portal.
For once, the dragon was wearing a formal robe in a dark jade color. Which meant he was just returning to the lair.
”Char,” the male said, stepping into the corridor next to him.
Char offered a bow of his head. ”Master.” His nose flared as he caught the scent of Synge clinging to Baine's robe. ”Were you allowed to speak with your father?”
Baine's eyes flared with amber heat. ”For all the good it did.”
Sharp disappointment sliced through Char. ”He doesn't know where Torque is?”
”He claims he doesn't.”
Char clenched his hands. ”Do you trust him?”
Baine released a humorless laugh. ”Not as far as I can throw him.”
Yeah. That was pretty much how Char felt. Synge was a cunning, greedy b.a.s.t.a.r.d who would happily sacrifice Torque if it would somehow be to his advantage.
”What about Rya?” he demanded. Synge might not give a s.h.i.+t about Torque, but from all reports he did have a soft spot in whatever pa.s.sed as his heart for his half-breed daughter.
Baine's expression hardened. ”She's missing as well.”
”d.a.m.n.” Smoke curled around Char's feet as he struggled to contain his worry.