Page 82 of The Ice Prince's Fated Mate
What use could Andrik have for such an item? They were wildly illegal and actively punishable. Unlike trading in Grounded, which was only legal on paper, not in the real world.
This was it. I stood up straight as the realization hit home. This was the proof we needed, proof that illegal things were occurring within Mirko’s household. If his son was dealing in Heart Scales, and we could trace that to Mirko himself, he could be brought down.
So where in the abyss is Dirk?
The hooded figure rolled their neck, and then started away down the alley in the opposite direction. Still no sign of Dirk.
If he didn’t appear soon, Andrik, or whoever it was, would get away, slip into the street at the other end of the alley, and be gone. And our proof would be lost with him.
Unless I followed him.
I shouldn’t. I wasn’t trained for anything like that, nor did I know the city well enough. But Dirk wasn’t coming, and it was only the two of us. What choice did I have?
Cursing the entire stupid situation and every corrupt Elite ever, I slipped from my hiding spot and made my way across the street and into the alley.
Despite the risk, I couldn’t let the suspect get away. Finding this proof and stopping his uncle meant a lot to Dirk. He and his brother were trying to change things.
I thought of Anna and the risks she had taken going after Milly. A responsibility to do what was necessary, to changethings for other Grounded so they didn’t have to suffer like we had. Like I had.
No way could I let my friend do that while I hid, as terrifying as it was.
So I walked slowly down the alley, doing my best to move from hiding spot to hiding spot to prevent a casual glance over his shoulder revealing me. There were plenty of places to use as cover, from jut-outs on buildings to piles of boxes stacked against stores and shadows galore.
I reached the door where Dirk had disappeared, pausing for a pair of seconds while hoping frantically that he was just taking his time to follow before he left the market.
But he never came. I walked past the door to the market, fighting down the knots in my stomach as they threatened to turn my feet around and propel me back out of the alley.
We went down another alley, a much smaller one. I fell back even further. Why was he going this way? But when he turned onto another large alley soon after, I relaxed. Andrik was likely just making sure he didn’t go home the same way he’d left.
I couldn’t blame him, knowing what he held in one hand.
I crept to the meeting of alleyways, my shoulders against one wall as I prepared to peek out and see how far away he’d gotten. I drew in a slow breath, counting down from three.
Three. Two.
“It isn’t polite to follow someone, you know,” a voice said from around the corner.
I yelped, backing away as the hooded figure rounded the corner from where he’d been waiting.
Whistling sharply once, he waited as more figures dropped from the rooftops. Three behind. Two more in front. All of them in the gray garb of Hunters.
I turned in a slow circle, analyzing the situation and trying to come up with a plan on how I could escape so I could get back to Dirk.
A surge of energy filled my muscles. Not just adrenaline. A cold lizard presence filled my brain and my body.
My dragon. It had been a long time since I’d felt her presence so keenly. Not since the mountains had we been this united, focused on the same goal.
Thank you.
For the first time in my life, she was present when I needed her most.
Power all but crackled through my veins, though I knew I was still in dire straits. Taking on the six of them was a fool’s game, dragon or no dragon. So I didn’t try. I focused on the one in the hood. He was still holding on to the heart scale, which meant his right hand was occupied, making him the most vulnerable.
The main street wasn’t far away. I just had to get past him and run as fast as I could. Then I could scream for help, and the city guard would come. It wasn’t the best plan, but it had a much higher chance of success than fighting off all six men.
Surprise would be key. They thought I was a Clippy, weak and fearful. Helpless. So I played the part.
“Please. Just let me go,” I said. “I didn’t do anything.”
