The Warrior King (Inferno Rising #3) - Abigail Owen Page 0,44
little more attention. If they had, perhaps the answer to Rune Abaddon’s location would’ve been more obvious.
The Andes.
Clearly, the man had taken over the old, abandoned enforcer base deep in the Andes Mountains in Argentina, one of several that had been located on the South American continent at one time. Thanks to a treaty with other shifters in this region of the world, the previous High King Hanyu—Meira’s grandfather, in fact—had agreed to abandon South America and leave it for the indigenous supernaturals in exchange for their help identifying dragon mates in the region and sending them to the clans.
Pytheios apparently hadn’t seen any reason to break that treaty. Or had been too busy keeping his crown. Either way, it had been smart of Rune to hide here. Samael wondered how he’d located the place but didn’t ask.
After several twists and turns, Rune led them past a large room full of monitors, one similar to a room in Ararat, used for monitoring the mountain security along with any indications of dragon shifters in the region.
They didn’t stop there, though. Instead they continued on to a dragon-steel door, which stood slightly open.
Samael grabbed Meira by the wrist, pulling her slightly behind him. “No way in the seven hells am I letting her walk into dungeons.”
She jerked against Samael’s grasp as an older man appeared in the doorway. Tall and lanky, he wore his stark white hair cut short in a flat-top, military style. White eyes gazed out from a wizened face. A gaze that zeroed in on the woman at Samael’s side.
“Uncle Tyrek?” No mistaking the curious hope in her voice.
The man walked forward and took Meira’s face in his hands. A growl slipped from Samael’s lips, which earned him a sideways glance of warning, only to then be ignored. Not exactly what he was used to. As captain of the king’s guard, people tended to get the fuck out of his way.
“Skylar looked like your phoenix grandmother, with her black hair, but I see your father and your grandfather in you,” the man said to Meira.
She smiled softly and flipped a curl. “I’m the mutt.”
Samael had to swallow another growl at the derogatory word. He didn’t like anyone disparaging Meira. Not even Meira.
“The red dragon genes come through a bit,” she said. “Mama always said I was Dad but with the mix of all our bloodlines. Kasia’s a true redhead with our grandfather’s blood in her veins. Angelika is all Dad, white dragon with white hair. But I’m a mix.”
“Holy shit,” Rune muttered to himself. “Four of you?”
“Maybe,” Meira answered vaguely. And Samael found himself choking back an unexpected laugh.
Rune’s jaw clenched. Tyrek didn’t appear surprised in the least.
Comparing Meira to the man who was supposedly Zilant Amon’s brother, Samael had to admit to the resemblance. Meira was a softer version, her high cheekbones less angular, jaw not as sharp, but the same winged eyebrows, same catlike shape to her eyes.
Speaking of her sisters, however, reminded him. This wasn’t a family reunion.
Samael cleared his throat. “Angelika and Skylar will be frantic.”
Meira gasped. “Oh heavens.” She turned to her uncle. “Is there someone who might take this little girl?” She held out the kitten, who’d stayed still and quiet this entire time. “And I need a mirror. One positioned so that it will not hint as to where I am.”
No doubt to protect Tyrek and the people shielding him—traitors or not—more than herself. More strays to take in like the cat her uncle was eyeing with concern. Terrific.
Without a quibble, Tyrek looked to Rune. The two men silently debated, possibly shifting a small part of their bodies so they could telepathically discuss. Then Rune grunted, took the kitten, and handed it to one of his men. “Take it to the common room.” He shot a look at Samael and Meira. “This way.”
He led them back through the twisting maze of the mountain home and down another endless corridor until it dead-ended. He reached for the last door on the left. “No one uses this suite,” he said. “There’s a mirror in the bathroom.”
Meira paused beside her uncle. “You might want to listen in on this.”
Tyrek raised his eyebrows at Rune, who gave them both a flat-lipped glare. “I’d like to be in on it, too.”
Samael stepped between her and Rune. “Fine. But you don’t come near her and stay the fuck out of line of sight.”
“Dragons,” Meira grumbled behind him, then gently pushed him