The Rebels of Gold (Loom Saga #3)(102)

From where she stood, it was a gorgeous world order.

“And how are they?” Coletta inquired, growing impatient with the Fen’s endless humming, pen-tapping, and pacing.

“None of them are showing the same signs as Yeann. It seems the Xin organs you have acquired work well.”

“If only there were more. You said with one Dragon we could make another Perfect in how long?”

The Alchemist thought a moment. “We’d have to time regrowth . . . too many organs out at once and the body won’t heal. One Dragon can make one Perfect Dragon in . . . I’d estimate two weeks? If all the organs aligned.”

It was too long. She needed more Xin organs sooner over later. Coletta’s eyes settled on the Dragons in their cages once more. Even if there were more to sort, a success would still be a success, and she would do well not to forget it.

Instead of allowing the limitations to frustrate her, she let them bolster her sails.

“My queen.” Ulia appeared in the doorway. “Forgive the intrusion, but Yveun’Dono requests your presence.”

“Where is he?” Coletta’s voice was impassive toward the summons.

“The sun room.”

“Continue as planned,” Coletta instructed as a final note to the Fen. Even if they’d only found one Xin Dragon to harvest organs from, Coletta would still have him move forward at whatever snail’s pace he could. It was better than nothing.

“Right . . .” The man’s agreement trailed off as he looked at the other empty cells in the room, no doubt imagining what it would be like to have them all filled with swiping, snarling, rage-filled Perfect Dragons.

The Fen’s greatest fear was Coletta’s sweetest wish.

Yveun’s temperament had not much improved from their last interaction. The balm of Fae’s touch had done little, if anything, to soothe him, and her departure for Loom had only made matters worse.

Coletta dismissed Ulia halfway to the room Yveun had made his center of operations for managing the various battlefronts they faced. She adjusted the beads around her neck, then entered. Yveun sat behind a low desk positioned in front of a great vertical circle, atop a pedestal, overlooking a balcony. Coletta saw it for what it was—fanfare. The real work happened in Gray Rooms and secret gardens.

“That necklace is new,” Yveun observed with a glance.

“I thought it fitting.” Coletta touched it delicately even though it was likely as sturdy as the bones in her fingers.

“Taking Rider beads for yourself?”

Sure enough, the necklace had been crafted from Dragon bone in the same fashion as the beads the Riders wore to mark their kills. “I think I have earned this many beads and more.”

“It’s the ‘and more’ I am most interested in.” Yveun hoisted a folio and tossed it toward her feet. The papers scattered across the floor—transcripts of the reports from the Hall of Whispers. “I’m in need of much more from you, Coletta.”

Coletta merely arched her eyebrows. “I’m not sure how making a mess of your notes helps me produce it.” She folded her hands and stood tall, hoping to convey that she had no interest in collecting up his documents for him.

“We are thwarted at every turn on Loom, Perfect Chimera have begun to fight alongside Xin, and Tam’s interest in struggling against the abominations seems to be wearing thin.”

Wearing thin because there was no more gold to tip the scales in Rok’s favor.

“And you, what have you done?” Yveun approached with purpose. “You have played Alchemist with your Fen toy, doing little for our plight.”

“I have given everything for our plight.” Coletta stretched her mouth wide, showing her teeth and reminding him of all she had endured for the sake of their dominance.

For the briefest of moments, he softened into the man she was accustomed to seeing when it was just the two of them, alone. Yveun reached out one of his massive hands and ran it almost tenderly across her necklace. “It suits you.”

“Thank you. Now, with regards to Tam . . .” Her demeanor shifted and the moment evaporated like fresh blood. She had his levelheaded attention and she needed to capitalize on it while she could. “We do not need them.”

“Coletta—”

“Yveun,” she interrupted. He had to hear her; everything hinged on him putting aside his prejudice and truly listening to what she said. “You know what Fae has done on Loom. With just her and two other Riders, she took down an entire Fenthri stronghold.”

“A feat my Riders could always boast,” Yveun countered.

“There were casualties then,” Coletta reminded him. “Fae thrives with not so much as a scratch. On Loom, a Perfect Dragon is the perfect predator. Think of what we could do with them here, on Nova.”

“No.”

“Without Tam’s assistance we must do something to sway the tides back in our favor.” Coletta had always known that pride made men stupid, but she never appreciated how stupid until that moment.

“Then acquire more gold and buy back their loyalty.”

“There is no more gold,” she said for what must have been the hundredth time. “We are sitting atop an army, yet you do not wish to mobilize.”

“I will not see Xin organs in my house’s Dragons.”