"Oh." Her brow furrowed. "I don't think they're an actual part of this place. They looked liked someone had deliberately piled them along the edges of the cavern and then iced them over."

His brain raced. What sort of demon could create such an elaborate maze to hide his expensive baubles?

At last he gave a shake of his head.

The truth was that he didn't have a clue.

"I know why your family is here, but you haven't explained why my people are being held hostage," he said, the words clipped.

She sent him a confused glance. As if the reason should be obvious.

"Because of the ice that covers the gems," she told him. "We tried everything to get them loose. Fire. Explosions. Magic. Nothing would free the treasure."

He clenched his hands at his side, a fine film of frost coating his skin. His people had been kidnapped because an idiotic family of dark fey needed money?

"Whose bright idea was it to use frost sprites to act as your personal miners?"

She nervously licked her lips. "It was my younger brother, Jarvis, who suggested your tribe might be the answer to our problem."

"I'll be sure and give him my personal thanks," he growled.

She was wise enough not to try and plead for mercy for her brothers. They would have to pay for their sins.

"He a.s.sumed it would only take one sprite to destroy the ice surrounding the gems," she instead admitted.

Like that was supposed to make it better?

"But?" he pressed.

"The sprite couldn't penetrate more than a few layers."

"So you kidnapped more of my people." It was an accusation, not a question.

She gave an embarra.s.sed nod. "Yes. Their combined magic has allowed a few of the jewels to be taken from the ice."

"So why kidnap me?"

"There's a large object in the floor," she said, reminding Finn of the bulge he'd noticed in the center of the cavern. "My brothers are convinced it must be even more valuable than the treasure at the fringes." She gave a small shake of her head.

Disbelief that the mystery item was valuable? Or that her brothers could be so stupid as to risk everything by kidnapping a prince? Finn couldn't say.

"The sprites, however, haven't been able to penetrate the magic that protects it."

He flicked his brow upward. "And you a.s.sume I can?"

"We've seen that you're more powerful than any of your people."

He shrugged. There was no denying what she already knew. "What if I refuse?"

Her face paled. "They'll kill your people one by one until you agree," she rasped.

It was exactly what he'd expected, but his power still lashed out, icing over the stream.

The b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.

"And if I agree?" he ground out.

"I...don't know." The platinum eyes darkened with distress. "I truly don't."

CHAPTER EIGHT.

Char returned to Baine's lair and headed straight to his private rooms. His visit to the pack of trolls who were hidden in the mountains of Siberia had been...satisfying.

Usually he allowed his master's younger guards to collect on overdue debts. It not only gave them a sense of purpose, but it offered the opportunity to release their aggressive nature. After all, the creature who was stupid enough to try and renege on a deal with a dragon needed to be taught a lesson.

On this occasion, however, Char insisted on taking care of the problem himself. His smoldering frustration at Torque's continued absence was making him twitchy. Beating a handful of trolls into a b.l.o.o.d.y pulp was just what he needed to release some steam.

Now he was in dire need of a hot bath.

Something that was going to have to wait, he wryly accepted as soon as he felt the ground tremble beneath his feet.

Seconds later, Baine appeared from a portal.

For once, the dragon was wearing a formal robe in a dark jade color. Which meant he was just returning to the lair.

"Char," the male said, stepping into the corridor next to him.

Char offered a bow of his head. "Master." His nose flared as he caught the scent of Synge clinging to Baine's robe. "Were you allowed to speak with your father?"

Baine's eyes flared with amber heat. "For all the good it did."

Sharp disappointment sliced through Char. "He doesn't know where Torque is?"

"He claims he doesn't."

Char clenched his hands. "Do you trust him?"

Baine released a humorless laugh. "Not as far as I can throw him."

Yeah. That was pretty much how Char felt. Synge was a cunning, greedy b.a.s.t.a.r.d who would happily sacrifice Torque if it would somehow be to his advantage.

"What about Rya?" he demanded. Synge might not give a s.h.i.t about Torque, but from all reports he did have a soft spot in whatever pa.s.sed as his heart for his half-breed daughter.

Baine's expression hardened. "She's missing as well."

"d.a.m.n." Smoke curled around Char's feet as he struggled to contain his worry.

Baine reached out to lay a hand on his shoulder. "I've sent servants to try and locate Rya's mother," he a.s.sured Char. "As a Shinto she'll have the skill to locate her daughter no matter where she might be."

"Her mother doesn't stay in the harem?" Char asked in confusion. Most concubines preferred to remain within the luxury of a dragon's lair.

"No. She has a home in Hong Kong," Baine explained.

"What if she's not there?"

"Then I'll send the servants to search for Rya's grandparents." He grimaced. "Unfortunately, that could take some time."

Char's brief flare of hope dimmed. Baine's expression wasn't encouraging.

"Why?"

"The Shinto tribe travels through the deepest forests of Asia, and they're very good at hiding from others. Even dragons."

Char scowled. "What do we do in the meantime?"

Baine gave his shoulder a squeeze. It was as much a warning as an offer of comfort. The older male knew Char wanted to be out there hunting for his missing friend.

"We wait," he said in tones that told Char there was no use in arguing.

Char heaved a resigned sigh. "Great."

Rya wasn't happy.

Not an unusual occurrence when it came to her aggravating betrothed. Usually, however, it was because he was intent on ignoring her. What female wouldn't be offended by the knowledge her potential consort couldn't be bothered to spend five minutes in her company?

This time it was because he was deliberately putting himself in harm's way.

Suddenly she understood why he'd been so frustrated when she'd impulsively leaped into danger. Of course, the realization did nothing to ease her temper.

Pacing the barren floor, she whirled toward the doorway when she at last heard approaching footsteps.

Seconds later, Torque returned to the main chamber, his expression impossible to read.

"Well?" she demanded, moving to stand at his side.

His lips twisted into a humorless smile. "I was right about the dragon."

Torque wasn't a male who easily revealed his inner emotions, but she was fairly certain he wouldn't look quite so grim if they were about to escape.

Still, she had to ask. "Is he willing to help us?"

"It's a she." He gave a small lift of his hands. "And not exactly."

Her brows drew together. He'd been out there with another female while she'd been worrying herself to death?

"This isn't the time for puzzles," she snapped.

He blinked, clearly startled by her sharp response. "I agree. Unfortunately, I don't have any answers," he admitted, his gaze sweeping over her face.

She sucked in a deep breath, telling herself that she was being ridiculous.

Of course he was talking to the female. Yeesh. How else was he supposed to communicate?

"Did you ask the dragon if she knows who is holding us captive?"

"I did." He hesitated. Which couldn't be good. "Unfortunately she's clearly suffering from some sort of mental distress," he at last said.

Rya studied him in confusion. "What does that mean?"

"She didn't make much sense," he said in rueful tones. "If I had to guess I'd say she's trapped in the ice the same as we are. Perhaps for a very long time."

Her eyes widened. "What sort of demon has the power to hold a dragon captive?"

"I don't know," he admitted, glancing back toward the doorway. He clearly wasn't any happier than she was about the thought of being in the hands of a demon who could imprison a full-blooded dragon. "And she couldn't tell me," he continued. "She doesn't remember how she got here. Or who was responsible. She couldn't even remember her own name."

A shiver inched down her spine. Until this moment, she'd been more frustrated than frightened. She'd just a.s.sumed they would find a way out of the ice. Or that someone would come in search of them.

Now...

Now it felt as if the walls were closing in on her.

"Why did she create this place for us?" she abruptly demanded.

She wouldn't give in to panic.

Or at least she was going to pretend she wasn't panicking.

"I think she's trying to protect us," Torque said, stepping closer. Had he detected the sudden leap of her pulse? "She wants us to stay here."

"For how long?"

He shrugged. "I don't think she knows."

The walls inched in closer.

"So we're supposed to sit here and wait for an unhinged dragon to tell us we can leave?"

His brows drew together at the shrill edge in her voice. "It's certainly preferable to our previous cell."

She wrapped her arms around her waist. "That's not the point."