A Kingdom of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales Book 3)(40)

I stood, transfixed, my mouth hanging open.

He doesn’t fuck around, my dragon said, in awe.

Only when the guard stopped struggling did Micah release him and step away, out of reach of the guards and their clubs. His stare was still on Govam.

“Someday that’ll be you,” he said in a voice out of a nightmare.

Tingles coated my flesh, and my dragon stirred, a soft purr winding through her at the display of power and violence.

Govam blinked placidly. “Maybe, but it won’t be you who gets to me.” He pointed at me. “It’ll be her.”

Two of the guards grabbed the feet of the newly fallen and dragged him across the floor and out.

Govam turned his attention to me. “Mind yourself. This isn’t the place to act up.”

“This is exactly the place to act up,” Micah said.

Govam turned and walked toward the far door as the last of the dragons were put into cages. Four cages stood empty around the perimeter of the room.

“Those will be for three wolves and two faeries,” Micah said, leaning against the bars, noticing my scrutiny. “The faeries get put in the same one.”

“Where are the wolves and faeries?”

I noticed Tamara in the center of the room, scars crisscrossing her deeply tanned skin on full display. She stood straight and proud, her pose strong and her shoulders squared. It looked like she was daring someone to come near her cage.

Actually, that was probably exactly what she was doing.

“The ones that go in the cages should be out any moment,” Micah said. “The rest come out after the guests are here.”

Three other dragons were also nude, all in the center of the room. Everyone around the perimeter wore a prisoner’s version of finery—puffy, ridiculous dresses or ill-fitting suits or tuxedoes.

“How the fuck is this allowed?” I asked, anger burning brightly. “Dolion spoke of a magical council. And even if there weren’t one, these people are from other kingdoms. Mine is conquered at the moment, sure, but yours isn’t. The wolf kingdom isn’t under demon control, right? How are they okay with all of you being in this situation?”

“They don’t know.” Micah brushed some lint off his suit as he leaned toward me, the fabric hugging his sturdy frame and large shoulders. Despite the situation, he cleaned up like a champ, the clothes bringing out his striking good looks and hiding all the scars from years of abuse. “We’re missing persons. All of us were essentially kidnapped, and they bring us here to rot. The only escape is death.”

“You can’t actually believe that.”

His frame didn’t droop, but his eyes held sorrow. “I don’t know what I believe anymore, Finley. We were so close to escape. We thought we had everything figured out. Turned out we’d been two steps behind all along. I keep up the illusion of hope for the others, but… Even if we have access to our dragons, it’s too far to fly to the mainland. The boats are closely guarded, and they’re magically steered in a way I don’t understand.” He shook his head. “I really don’t know if there is a way off this island. Not with our numbers. No one has ever escaped that I’ve heard of. Certainly not in my time here, and I’ve been here for what feels like five lifetimes.”

The little cracks within him were showing. This strong dragon wouldn’t be broken by the whippings or these ridiculous parties…no, it was the thought of no way out that would do him in. A thought that was clearly eating him alive.

I strengthened my resolve. Firmed up my determination.

“We will get out of here, Micah. Now you have backup to help lead the charge. I’m bringing you fresh energy and new ideas. We’ll get out because I have to get out. The fate of a kingdom is riding on my success.”

His eyes traveled my face. He looked at me for a long moment before finally nodding. “Okay.”

“Okay.”

Movement caught my eye, guards escorting more people. I could distinguish the wolves right away, prowling forward like they were on a hunt. A male and female each had two guards escorting them, and a third shifter, who looked around the room with eyes cut from granite, had three. He noticed me immediately, and from the way his gaze then flicked to Micah, he recognized the importance of my proximity to the alpha dragon. As he passed our cages to get to his own, his nostrils flared. Sparks of menace lit his eyes, and his gaze bored into mine.

“Same team, friend,” I called out.

“Shut up, dragon,” a guard barked, and I grinned, because fuck him.

The wolf noticed it, and his eyes narrowed a little before he turned his gaze front-facing again, not a hitch in his step.

“He’s in the same position I am,” Micah said softly as I noticed the two fairer folk being escorted up the other side of the room. They almost glided, like they were skating on ice. Their slight frames lent more grace to their movements. Each had pointed ears and what looked like baby-soft skin. They looked alike, and I wondered if they were the sisters who had been mentioned.

“We’re all in the same position you are,” I replied as one of the faeries turned to glance my way. Beautiful indigo eyes speared through me.

“I mean, he was with me during the escape. He had as much riding on it as I did. And now…he’s trying to keep his people motivated. He’s having a harder time of it than I am. Wolves aren’t so goddess-awful stubborn as dragons. They aren’t as willing to kill guards for no real benefit.”