Fuse, page 12
She hadn’t thought of that either. “Oh…”
“We need more bodies, but it’s not clear where to get them.” Flare held the glass by the rim and swirled the scotch.
A thought came to her. “What about the slaves? The ones on the island you mentioned? They’d probably jump at the opportunity to fight. They have nothing to lose.”
Flare’s expression softened as he stared at her. Like clouds parting the sky to reveal the sun, his approval shone through. “That’s not a bad idea.” He turned to Bridge. “What do you think of that?”
“Not bad at all.” Bridge looked at her in a new way.
“Would the dwarves help us? What about the elves?” If they had a chance to rid the evil humans from the land, surely they’d take it.
“No,” Flare said with a sigh. “We’re on our own.”
“The dwarves would never leave their caves,” Bridge said. “And the elves will never leave their magical fortress.”
“How do you know?” Cora might be ignorant, but if there was even a small chance, they had to try. “Have you ever asked?”
Flare returned his glass to the table. “No. But it would be a waste of time.”
“You don’t know that.” How long had it been since humans communicated with the elves? A lot could change in hundreds of years. “I say we give it a shot.”
“They won’t speak to us.” Bridge shook his head. “They hate humans.” He nodded to Flare. “And they hate dragons even more. There’s no way in hell they would even hear us out.”
Maybe they wouldn’t listen to a human or a dragon, but they might listen to someone of their own kind. “I could speak to them.”
“You?” Flare didn’t keep the surprise out of his voice. “Why?”
“I’m half elf, remember?” She wasn’t full-blooded, but she was still their kin. If Flare took one look at her and recognized her bloodline, then the elves would realize the same thing. “It’s perfect.”
Bridge turned to Flare. “Hey, that’s not a bad idea at all. It is perfect, actually.”
Flare held his silence.
“All she has to do is speak to them,” Bridge said. “Maybe they’ll hear her out.”
His eyes swelled with darkness. “Or they’ll murder her right where she stands.”
Cora’s blood ran cold.
“Remember, she’s an abomination. She has a mixed bloodline.” Flare lowered his eyes to the surface of the table. “They might want to annihilate her so she can’t ever reproduce and continue this anomaly in their DNA.”
Cora swallowed the lump in her throat. “Would they do that?”
“I really don’t know,” Flare whispered. “But I can’t rule out the possibility.”
“I wasn’t aware they were such a violent species.” Whenever people spoke of them, they mentioned their grace and elegance, not their bloodshed.
“Well, they are.” Bitterness was in Flare’s voice. “While the dragons were being enslaved, they quickly turned their backs and fled into their hiding places. If you ask me, that’s just cowardly.”
Cora began to realize that Flare had a personal issue with the elves. Perhaps that was why he had been so cold toward her when they first met. Even now, he wasn’t exactly warm—and she was only half elf.
She could only deduce that Flare had been alive during that time. He’d witnessed the war himself. He spoke of those times like he was there. But that would have been 422 years ago. Could he really be that old?
Bridge picked up on the rising anger emitting from Flare. “Anyway… I think we should still consider it.”
“As do I.” Cora refused to believe any species would murder a harmless visitor on their doorstep. Maybe she was an idealist, but it didn’t seem practical. “I think we should find this island in the sea and enlist the help of the dragons. Then we should convince both the dwarves and the elves they should join this fight. Once we have those three things, we can rescue the slaves and any free people who may want to join us. Unless we have a formidable army marching behind us, people aren’t going to believe us.”
“But how do we expect the dwarves and elves to join us if we don’t have anyone besides the three of us?” Bridge picked up the bottle of scotch and realized it was already empty. “It’s a circle within a circle.”
“I don’t know. But we have to start somewhere.” If they did nothing, the Shamans would hunt her endlessly, the dragons would never have their freedom, and slavery would continue to be as common as the rising sun every morning. Something had to change—now.
Bridge ran his fingers through his hair, his eyes staring at nothing in particular. “Well, where do we start?”
Flare was no longer participating in the conversation. He was closed off and brooding in his own world.
“I think I should travel to the elves and ask for their help. Meanwhile, Flare should search for the island and speak to the dragons. Since he’s one of them, there’s a good chance they’ll listen—”
“Or think it’s a trap.” Flare finally spoke up but with a pessimistic attitude.
“Then make sure they know it’s not a trap.” They would accomplish nothing if they gave up before they started.
“You don’t understand dragons,” Flare said. “They’re irritable, stubborn, hostile—”
“They are just like you.” Cora gave him a deadpan look. “I know how they are.”
Flare clenched his jaw, his typical behavior when he was seething behind his eyes.
Cora ignored his look and continued. “And Bridge can stay here to gather news, or he can venture to the dwarves.”
Bride released an uncontrollable laugh. “Me? You think I should venture to the dwarves?”
“Why not?” As far as she could tell, he had a pair of legs and a voice. What more did he need?
“They wouldn’t hear me out, some ordinary human. They need an elf or a dragon.” Bridge retained his smile like the possibility still amused him. “Not some scholar. I’m more than willing to help but in a way that’s actually productive.”
“You’re a scholar?” Cora became intrigued. Now the maps and books throughout the house made more sense.
“Yes,” Bridge answered. “My job is to preserve history in its truest form. It sounds simple, but it’s really not. Separating fact from lore is actually very difficult.”
Would he know who her parents were? “I believe you.”
“I wouldn’t want you to be involved anyway.” Flare finally broke his impenetrable silence. “It’s too dangerous.”
“Psh.” Bridge brushed it off. “Nothing is too dangerous for me.”
“Well, I can’t lose another friend. I’ve lost too many already.” When Flare said such things, it showed the man underneath the scales and weapons. He was just a heartbroken man without any hope.
Cora had seen it before.
Bridge patted him on the shoulder. “Thanks, man.”
Flare nodded in return.
“So, I can speak to both the elves and the dwarves,” Cora volunteered. “And Flare can travel to the island—when we find it.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” Bridge said. “I’ll continue to work on the location.”
Flare’s eyes met hers, his thoughts hidden deep down inside.
“What do you think?” Cora could tell he was in a vicious mood again. When he was a man, she could read his expressions much easier than when he was a dragon. It was much more difficult for him to hide.
Flare downed the rest of his glass before he inverted it and placed it on the tabletop. He wiped a drop of scotch from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve. “It doesn’t look like we have any other choice.”
Fourteen
Cora had never been in love before, but she realized she’d fallen deeply into its throes.
The bed made of straw was the most comfortable thing she’d ever slept on. The sheets were soft and cool, keeping her body at the perfect temperature. Never in her life had she slept so well.
It could only be love.
The door to her bedchamber opened, and Flare walked inside.
Jolted by his unexpected presence, she hiked up the sheets over her body and covered herself. “Damn, you scared the shit out of me. What are you doing?”
Flare shut the door then came to the bed, a wicked grin on his lips. He was particularly amused. “You doing something nasty?” He lifted up the sheets and tried to take a peek.
She pulled the sheet back down and gave him a merciless glare. “Excuse me?”
“You know…giving yourself a treat.” He winked like an arrogant bastard. “And I bet you were thinking about me.”
She still had no idea what he meant. “I assure you, I wasn’t doing whatever it is you think I was doing.”
“I don’t know…people only jump like that when they’re hiding something.”
“Or maybe I just didn’t expect you to walk in here without knocking.”
“If you’re worried about that, why not just lock the door?”
“There’s a lock?” She couldn’t find one when she tried to lock it before she went to sleep.
He chuckled. “Let me give you some advice. Always lock the door before you touch yourself.”
Touch herself? “Flare, get out of my room. And don’t walk in like that again. Knock first.”
He cocked his head to the side, his eyes lit up with interest. “You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you?”
She wasn’t sure if she should admit to it or not. “It’s late and I’m tired. Good night.”
A chuckle escaped his lips. “I’ll take that as a no. And that means you’re really missing out.”
She lay down again and pulled the sheets to her neck. “I don’t really care, Flare.”
“I’m talking about masturbation. You’ve never done it?” He sat at the edge of her bed and leaned over her. “I can teach you. The women tell me they love it.” He waggled his eyebrows at her in a sleazy way.
She rolled her eyes and turned on her side so she wouldn’t have to look at him. “Goodnight, Flare.”
“Come on.” He shook her shoulder gently. “Don’t be such a prude.”
“A prude? I don’t even know what that is.”
“It’s a woman who denies her sexual freedom. And believe me, that’s no way to live.”
All this talk of sex was making her uncomfortable. “Is there a reason you came in here?”
“Actually, yes.” He glanced at the fireplace. “You want me to start a fire for you?”
She wanted to kick him right between the legs. “If I wanted a fire, I would have made one myself. I’m not one of your typical damsels in distress. I’m perfectly capable of doing things on my own.”
“Except touching yourself…”
She turned over and smacked him hard in the shoulder. “Get out, Flare. I mean it.”
He rubbed the area and chuckled. “You’ve got one hell of an arm.”
“I wonder if your nose will think the same.” She pulled her right arm back and aimed.
“Whoa, hold on.” He grabbed her arm and pushed it down to the sheets. “I’ll play nice.”
She lay down again and waited for him to leave. “Will you let me get some sleep now?”
“In a minute. I wanted to talk about something.”
“Can’t it wait until the morning? You know, when I’m rested and less irritated.”
“Less irritated? I think that’s arguable.”
She prepared her right hook again.
He laughed then pushed her arm down. “Man, you’re feisty.”
“I just value my sleep.”
“Or you’re lazy…”
“That’s it.” She sat up and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. “I’m kicking your ass right now.”
“Oh, really?” he asked with a laugh.
“Yes, really.” She didn’t care that she was just in a t-shirt. She was too pissed to care about being conservative.
Flare gripped both of her wrists then pressed his mouth against hers. Immediately, she stopped moving. His lips were warm and soft, not callused like she assumed they would be. His scent washed over, the distinct smell of man. The scruff along his jaw rubbed against her delicate skin slightly.
The whole thing happened so quickly that Cora could barely process it. She’d never kissed a man before, never come close to it. And now, her first kiss was with an arrogant man who insulted her every chance he got.
She gave him a hard shove. “What the hell are you doing?”
“What?” he asked innocently. “It works on the other girls.”
She wiped her mouth with her forearm. “Well, I’m not like the others. Don’t do that again.”
Now he looked truly offended. “You didn’t like it?”
“Why would I?” She was told her first kiss was supposed to be magical. If the chemistry was right, her lips would burn. But that was simply unwelcomed and rushed.
Flare couldn’t wrap his mind around what she said. “It’s just… They always like it.”
She rolled her eyes and got back into bed. “Maybe you aren’t as good as you think you are.”
“Or maybe there’s something wrong with you.”
“Doubtful.” She lay down again and waited for him to leave. “So…goodnight.”
He grabbed a chair from the corner and dragged it to her bedside.
She groaned under her breath and wondered what time it was. She should be enjoying every moment of sleep before she was traveling across the land again. Her body would be pushed to the limit.
“I’ve been thinking about our conversation earlier, about our plan.”
At least it was something relevant. “Okay.”
“I’m not sure if it’s the best idea for you to see the elves.”
“Why not?”
He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “I don’t trust them, Cora.”
“You don’t trust anyone.” The only time she saw him truly relax was around Bridge, his old friend.
“For good reason.” His attitude completely changed now that they were being serious. “I know you’re strong and capable, but sometimes, that’s just not enough. Not every opponent you face can be defeated.”
“I’m not going to challenge the elves to combat. I just want to talk.”
“Well, maybe they don’t.”
It really didn’t matter what might or might not happen. She still needed to travel to their realm and at least make the attempt. “Not going isn’t an option. And you can’t send someone else. I’m your best hope.”
He massaged the knuckles of his right hand, his eyes following his movements. “You know what I think?”
“Hmm?” The sooner this conversation was over, the sooner she could get to sleep.
“I think your real motivation is your lineage. You hope you’ll see your parents again—or at least find out what happened to them.” He slowly lifted his head and met her gaze.
She looked away because she couldn’t deny the allegation. “I admit I’m curious to see where I come from.”
“You’re approaching a treasure chest expecting to see gold and jewels inside. But when you open the lid, there will be only cobras.” He didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts, getting right to the point. “If you were abandoned outside a village that’s a week’s ride away, it can only mean one thing. For whatever reason, you were not safe in Eden Star.”
She didn’t want that to be the truth, but she didn’t see how she could deny it. Her parents left her in the street because they didn’t want her or couldn’t keep her. What did she hope to find in Eden Star?
Flare didn’t take any joy in being right. The same sadness in her heart shone in his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
She knew he meant it, somehow. She was beginning to understand him more than ever before. He was covered in layers, superficial walls to hide who he truly was. But as she peeled them away, she saw the extraordinary man beneath it all. “I know…”
“For what it’s worth, I know what it’s like to have parents that let you down. I know what it’s like to hope for love but only receive disappointment. You aren’t alone.”
It was the first time he’d voluntarily revealed something personal about himself. When he said he didn’t trust anyone, that was a lie. Slowly, like a blooming flower in the spring, he was beginning to trust her.
“I still want to go,” she whispered. “Even if I’m only met with disappointment, I have to try. I’m our best chance of convincing them, simply because I share their likeness.”
Flare nodded because he couldn’t deny that truth. “But you don’t have to. If you change your mind, we can figure out another way.”
“I won’t change my mind.” She was certain of that. Whether she met her end or was exiled from Eden Star, that was okay. She knew she would regret it far more if she didn’t even try.
Flare didn’t try to change her mind again. This time, he let it be. “Your guardian truly loves you.”
The thought of Dorian made her heart convulse painfully. She missed his cheerful face, those playful eyes. Even when the rest of the village whispered behind her back, he defended her. And she wasn’t even his daughter. “I know he does.”
“I could sense it in the air when he was near you. It was powerful, blinding.”
“Because of the dragon?”
He nodded. “I’m susceptible to vibrations and emotions. Like I said before, I can’t read minds. But I can definitely sense moods.”
“That must come in handy.”
“Sometimes.”
She sat up in bed and pulled the covers with her. It didn’t seem like Flare was leaving anytime soon. “Why is this important to you?”
“What?”
“Freeing the dragons. It’s a huge undertaking, and it doesn’t sound likely that it’ll ever work. So, why are you willing to risk everything, including your own freedom, to change things? Couldn’t you just find the island and live the rest of your days there? Why fight?”
The expression on his face was strikingly similar to the one the dragon possessed. It was unreadable, like a solid wall. He didn’t even blink. All he did was stare, the cogs in his mind turning furiously. “When you’re connected to a dragon in this way, you become a single person. I feel what he feels. Seeing the rest of his glorious species used like machines is heartbreaking. It pains him every single day that passes, and for an immortal being, that’s a long time. I need to right all the wrongs that were committed—for him.”
