Dragon Heartstring(14)

“Demetrius. I have mended men with broken bones, lacerations, open gashes, severe burns. All kinds of wounds and injuries. I can help them all. But if a Morgon man or woman is shot by a Volt gun, he dies. There is no coming back. This weapon was created for one purpose—to kill Morgons. I’m a healer. I must do what is right. No matter the danger it may put me in.”

He stared at me for a moment, seeming to understand the sincerity of my words. “I see.”

We sat in silence, both absorbed in our own thoughts when the waitress walked up with our plates.

“Here you are. Two house specials.”

The sandwiches were stacked with deli meats and cheese on a fresh roll with chips.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Can I get you anything else?” she asked, smiling at Demetrius.

“I think we’re good,” he said, barely glancing up.

She nodded and left us alone. We set to eating in tension-filled silence. Until finally, I said, “Don’t worry, Demetrius. I know my father is taking precautions. More of the clan is coming up from the Feygreir Mountains for the hearing as a show of force. It will be fine.”

He studied me with his sandwich halfway to his mouth. I could see the wheels spinning in that handsome head of his.

“Yes,” he assured me with a small smile. “It will be fine.”





Chapter 5





“Mr. Grayson is here to see you,” said Nadine through the desk comm.

“Fine. Send him in.”

I stood and straightened my tie before striding to the door just as Nadine opened it. The man who walked through was not the friend I knew at the university. He walked with a limp and a cane and wore his hair much longer, partly hiding the burn scars along the right side of his neck, jaw, and cheek. The look in his eyes was different as well. Where there had once been confidence, perhaps vanity, there was now only menace. Still, I reached out a hand to shake his. He did the same, his hand withered from the burns, more evidence of the last day we’d seen one another.

“Aron,” I said, taking his hand in a firm grip.

“Demetrius,” he said, not bothering to hide his animosity.

“Shall we sit?” I gestured toward my small conference table near the glass wall overlooking Gladium’s towering business district. “Nadine, can you get us some water please.”

“Of course,” she said, rushing away and closing the door.

Aron took his time and made a show of limping slowly to the table, propping his cane next to him, and easing into his chair. I settled next to him and waited. He stared at me for a minute, measuring my suit and my face. We were both men of keen observation and calculation. Holding myself in a casual but business-like posture, I refused to give him the satisfaction by asking what prompted this visit.

He finally smirked and said, “I suppose you’re wondering why I’ve come.”

“Naturally.”

“It should be no surprise if you’ve heard of the upcoming hearing at parliament.”

“You’re referring to the proposal to ban the Volt gun,” I said, laying it out on the table. No need to play games.

His steely gaze narrowed. “Yes. You know of it then.”

“I am a board member of the Chamber of Commerce. Any parliament matters that affect the Gladium commerce are brought to our attention.”

Of course, it was brought to my attention before the Chamber got news to the board. But I wouldn’t tell this bastard.

“I see. And what is the Cade stance on the matter?”

“The Cades will support the ruling of parliament, of course.”

“Of course.” He grinned, distorting his face into something altogether sinister. “Still so careful with your words, aren’t you, Demetrius?”

The niceties were over.

“Always.”

Nadine stepped in carrying a tray with a pitcher of cold water and two glasses. The glass rattled as she slid it between us. She glanced at both of us, then quickly exited the room and closed the door.

“Perhaps I should be more direct,” he said with a sneer. “What is the stance of your sister? Jessen?”

“What do you think it is, Aron?”

“I don’t give a shit what she thinks. It’s what she plans to say publicly that I’m interested in.”

Yes, Jessen would be at the hearing, but I wasn’t sure whether she planned to speak. Perhaps she did.

I sat up straighter. “If my sister plans to speak to parliament about her experience four years ago, then I will support her. She is my family.”

He grunted with disgust. “I imagine you will. But if I were you, I’d tell your sister to stay at home.”

Leaning forward, not quite sure how I managed to keep my temper in check, I asked, “Is that a threat, Grayson?”

“Of course not. I would never threaten the almighty Cade family.” He grabbed his cane. “But she might want to be careful when she takes that half-breed kid out to the park next time. Anything could happen to him.”

In a blink, I had my fists in his jacket, and I jerked him to his feet.

“If you go anywhere near my nephew, I’ll kill you myself.”

He grinned, tightening the scars around his right eye. “As I said before. I’m not threatening anyone in the Cade family. However, Jessen might toss a warning to her friend proposing this ban. That Icewing bitch might get what’s coming to her.”