Dominant’s POV

“Five ninety—”

She broke eye contact, her gaze shifting back to Talent. “I admire your determination, but in future, don’t throw your life away for nothing.”

Talent fell back, his body limp, and his breath shallow.

As the girl turned back to look at him, Dominant wondered if what he was seeing was real. How could it be? How could she be?

The girl, the woman, the person, who’d haunted his dreams for weeks after he escaped the mine until she’d finally become like a half remembered dream he wasn’t even sure existed; and now, she stood in front of him, a sad smile on her face. “I’m sorry to meet you here like this. I knew that you would escape.” She smiled softly. “You’re stronger than I realized.”

Dominant wanted to speak, to tell her that he’d found her, but he wasn’t sure what he would say. Could he even claim to have found her? It might be more accurate to say she’d found him, though from her tone it almost sounded like she’d known where he was before coming. Had she been looking for him all along?

He swallowed. “I waited for you,” he said, his voice shaking.

Her smile widened. “I appreciate that, but I couldn’t have returned there.”

“What the hell is this?” Lord Kastin asked stepping down from the throne.

“I don’t know what you mean,” the woman said, glancing back at the high lord, “but I believe we‘ve just established equality and may now begin negotiations.”

Lord Asher shook his head. “Who are you?” He turned from her to a slightly taller woman with twisted horns growing out of her head and a pair of great wings on her back. She was a drakess if he recalled correctly.

Dominant had been told they were base, demonic beings, but he only saw beauty when he looked at her. She was beautiful and graceful, and her presence was intimidating in a way that was both powerful and attractive. Dominant had never met such a person before.

“Who is she?” The High Lord demanded without giving Five ninety one a chance to answer his previous question.

The drakess smirked and raised an eyebrow, “Are you sure you want me to answer that here?” Her lilac eyes shifted from the Lord, to Dominate. “I wonder if it might be better to ask your champion.”

Lord Kastin narrowed his gaze. The two of them seemed to be having an invisible war of wills that Dominant couldn’t comprehend. After a moment, the lord sighed, shaking his head. “Fine, but I expect answers,”

The drakess smiled, her expression smug and satisfied. “I can assure you, I have the answers you seek and more. I just hope you’re prepared for the price.”

The high lord glared at her.

Dominant wasn’t sure what to make of the situation. He wasn’t sure why the drakess was here, or how she knew the woman who’d saved his life. He wasn’t sure why the woman who saved his life had come here, or how she had defeated Talent. He had followed the black cat from his room, and when the kitten clawed at Five ninety one—he realized she might actually have a name now, but he didn’t know it—he struck with a simple water bullet before realizing who she was.

As Lord Asher grappled with the drakess for the upper hand in negotiation, Dominant found himself drawn in to five ninety one’s bright pink gaze. She was staring at him, a soft smile on her face, her expression warm and comforting.

He recalled the time when she followed him to his secret cave. He remembered the way she’d curled into his arms, how she’d shared her fears of a life outside the mines, he felt her warmth and thought of the question she’d asked him. “Are we friends?”

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Five ninety one tilted her head forward in a slight nod. “Yes, always,” she answered, taking a step towards him.

Dominant didn’t realize he’d spoken the question aloud, but he was glad to hear her response. He took a step forward, his arms reaching out to embrace her, but a hand gripped his arm, holding him back.

It was Mila. She shook her head. “Don’t, for now at least, she is an enemy.”

Dominant blinked. “What are you talking about? She’s…we’re…”

Five ninety one backed away saying, “She’s right. For now, at least.”

Dominant’s heart ached. He didn’t understand, and he wanted to follow her, but the grip on his arm was strong and her words were clear.

The Drakess passed between them, her wings flexing to force Mila back and to break line of sight between Dominate and five ninety one. For a brief moment, he could see only her face, and it felt as if they were alone in the room. The woman’s lips moved silently, but Dominant believed he recognized words, ‘I’ve been waiting to meet you.’

Then the drakess stepped aside and the illusion was broken. Five ninety one followed the horned woman out of the room. Dominant felt as if a piece of him had gone with her and he wanted nothing more than to chase after them.

Mila’s grip on his arm tightened and she yanked him back, forcing him to turn away.

“Dominant, I was told you were unable to attend.” The high lord said, his voice steady, but his face was a mask of barely controlled anger. “I think it would be best if you returned to your room to rest.”

Dominant nodded. He did still feel weak and casting that one spell had strained his body in an unexpected way. If not for the surprise of seeing five ninety one, he might have collapsed. As it was he was exhausted and needed to sit down.

“I’ll help him back to his room,” Mila offered.

Lord Asher nodded. “Good, the rest of you, make ready with haste. We need to be ready for further treachery from those damned drakes, and our plans for the other lords may need to be accelerated.”

Dominant let Mila guide him away. As they left, he glanced over his shoulder and saw Talent still lying on the floor, unconscious, while a group of magistrates gathered around him. Sandra appeared concerned and Dominant could tell she was trying to help him, but with burns that bad he would need care from someone with a more specialized skill set.

The High Lord marched past his son without sparring even a glance, and the rest of the people seemed to ignore him too. Dominant couldn’t understand it. Talent was the lord’s son, but it was like he didn’t even exist to his father. Dominant couldn’t help but think of Talent’s warning. Was he truly destined to become a relic in Lord Asher’s Gallery? What about Talent? Surly the lord would not do something like that to his own child.

The walk back to his room seemed longer than Dominant remembered. He was tired, and his mind was racing. When they reached the door, Dominant stopped and turned to face Mila.

“What just happened?” He asked. “Who was that woman?”

Mila tilted her head, her falling over her face at an odd angle. “I…I was going to ask you; I got the impression that you knew her,” Mila said, the statement rising at the end like a question.

Dominant was confused for a moment, but he quickly realized she meant five ninety one. “I was talking about the woman with horns.”

Mila nodded. “Oh, that was Lord Asterith. The leader of the drakes. I don’t know much about her, other than that she’s a quite old and powerful judge. Hers is the only name Lord Asher truly concerns himself with. The other lords are like playthings to him.”

Dominant furrowed his brows, “What’s a drake?”

Mila blinked. “You don’t know?”

Dominant blanched, “Well, I know they are the descendants of dragons…. That’s what the books say at least, but there must be more to know.”

Mila smiled. “Yes, that much is correct, but I thought you would’ve learned more in the Raven’s, considering the number of beast bloods who are forced to work there.”

“Beast bloods?” Dominant considered the term for several moment. In the context of their conversation he assumed it must have referred to someone with beast like features, such as horns. “I don’t think I’ve encountered anyone like that before today.”

Mila shook her head. “That’s… well it doesn’t matter. You need to rest and there will be pleanty of time for questions on the way to Stellanorte. I’m sure you can ask Talent, he loves nothing more than to discuss those creatures; although, if you want a more educated perspective I’d ask Magistrate Sandra.”

“Sandra? Why her?”

“No reason in particular, but there isn’t much she doesn’t know.” Mila flashed him a grin, then continued, “Anyway, you need to get back in bed. I’ve been tasked with helping you to recover more quickly and if you aren’t ready for the journey ahead, I’ll be blamed. Do you want to be the reason I get punished?”

Dominant blushed, “Of course not.”

“Then, get some rest.”

Dominant nodded and went into his room. The door was ajar when they arrived and the kitten was nowhere to be found, but that wasn’t unusal.

Dominant sat on the bed, and his body trembled. His mind raced with questions, but one kept coming back. Who was five ninety one? He knew she didn’t think she could really be a number. There was simply no way a number could have such a dominating presence, even if they’d eaten a million crystals. But if she wasn’t a number, then who was she? What was her name? Why was she with Lord Asterith, and why did the Lord want to meet him?