I blinked slowly. “I don’t know,” I lied. “I woke up on the street.”
His eyes widened. “What? I couldn’t have missed you. I circled the city a dozen times last night.”
“Yeah, but what about during the day? When you’re supposed to be on patrol, and I was jumped by a horde of angry shifters?”
“What? Are you serious?” He scanned my bruises. “Your injuries are mostly superficial, right? You’re okay?”
Heat simmered through my veins. Was he kidding me right now? Still, I almost believed the concern in his eyes. Almost. “I blacked out. I don’t even know how I’m still alive.”
A low growl slipped from his throat. “Father’s Fae were in a spat near The Pit last night. Several shifters wound up dead.”
“Father’s Fae?” My heart skipped. Did he mean Tarik?
“Yeah, his employees. Several of them, if I’ve heard right. Led by that damn redhead you’re so hot for.”
I rolled my eyes, but warmth spread up my core. If I had any hesitations about saving those Fae, at facing the risks, they were put to bed by Alec’s words. “I vouched for him because I cost him his last job.”
Lies. I hated how the words tasted.
His eyes narrowed. “That’s your only involvement with him? Father seems to think there’s more going on.”
“Alec, you’re in my apartment almost every morning. You know I come home after patrol and sleep all day. And I’m always on patrol at night. You usually know exactly where to find me. When would I have time to have the ‘hots’ for anyone?”
Slowly, Alec nodded and I could see the conclusion in his expression. The belief. “In any case, Father wants to see you. Should I— I should come with you.”
“No,” I said quietly. I firmly believed that guilt changed a person’s mind—and Alec’s was clearly spread across his face. But he didn’t need to involve himself further. “If I’m in trouble, I’ll accept the consequences. You should finish your patrol.”
He nodded, pulling open the door for me. I muttered my thanks. Squirrel Butler had a set of clothing waiting for me and I slid them on before climbing that accursed staircase. I didn’t know what Mordecai wanted. Definitely nothing good.
“In loyalty and service to the Great Dragon.”
Mordecai made me wait. My heart thundered in my ears. Ten beats. Thirty. Eighty. Still, he didn’t snap his fingers. Perhaps he enjoyed the sight of me kneeling. I choked back the growl that pushed against my lips. I couldn’t afford to die right now. My wings pressed on my spine, a reminder that this time I could flee if needed. I would be damned if he branded me again.
Finally, the snap came and I stood, straightening my back and clasping my hands behind me. Mordecai circled slowly, eyes tracing the wounds that peeked from the edges of my clothing. My bedraggled hair. The slight rightward lean of my posture, as I tried to reduce the weight on my still-sore leg.
“What happened to you?” he asked. His icy stare captured my gaze. Relentless. Watching for a lie.
“I don’t remember most of last night,” I said quietly. My fingers lifted reflexively to my lip—the ring was gone, likely lost when I shifted the night before. I tucked my hands into my pockets, suppressing the urge to fidget. “I was jumped by a large group of shifters. They overpowered me, and I blacked out. And no, I don’t know how I’m alive.”
Mordecai remained expressionless, then slowly nodded. “My Fae were caught in a brawl outside The Pit last night. Several shifters wound up dead, and many of my men were wounded.”
“I thought your men were the shifters?” Asking such a loaded question was pushing my luck, but his temper seemed mild today. For the moment, anyway.
“Shifters who attack my daughter are no men of mine.” He shook his head and growled, the sound not directed at me for once. I resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow. “Can you remember any of the specific shifters involved, sweetheart?”
“My memories are foggy,” I said, stalling for time. I was loath to encourage Mordecai to more violence, even if the shifters deserved it.
“Descriptions, perhaps?”
I hesitated, then spit out a few generalized shifter traits, watching as he jotted them down on a notepad.
“I’m going to question my Fae, as well. If I can find these shifters, I’m calling for their executions. I don’t tolerate disloyalty, and using group force to overtake one of my Enforcers is unacceptable.” My stomach flipped. I didn’t particularly want to watch half a dozen men be killed. Immune to my discomfort, he glanced up. “Do you remember where you were after the fight?”
“No. I woke up in the street nearby. I don’t remember walking there, or being moved there. My mind is still a bit foggy.”
Those icy blue eyes locked onto my face, studying my reaction as he said, “I heard one of the Fae carried you away. Is this true?”
I schooled my expression into one of innocent confusion, rubbing at my temples, at the very real headache rising with the pressure in my chest. The panic. But I said carefully, “I’m not sure. If so, they’re as bad as the shifters. I woke up on the street.”
He stepped around his desk and rested a hand on my cheek. I ignored the flinch that trembled up my spine. “I’m sorry this happened to you, my darling. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help.”
“Father—” I swallowed the bile that rose at that word. “Where was Alec when this happened? He didn’t help me, before or after.”
Mordecai withdrew his hand. “Daytime hours have been so quiet that I asked him to help Jocelyn pick up supplies for the mines. Don’t blame Alec. The mistake was mine.”
I stared at him. Who was this man? The Great Dragon didn’t apologize or accept responsibility like this. What game was he playing? But I said, “Yes, Father.”
“That said, I have to get down to the mines.” He wouldn’t meet my eyes,
