Fully restored, Dragon reemerged from his healing shift with more questions than answers.

He eyed the mercenary standing at the ready a few steps from him. Surrounded by darkness, she directed her blind gaze at him, her head tilted to the side, using her hearing to gather information.

“Are you in an amorous mood?” she asked, surprising Dragon into a laugh.

He was but didn’t dare tell the truth. “You have nothing to worry from me, fair maiden.”

At the accolade, the assassin stiffened, her eyes darting lower to her hands she kept fisted. From her earlier strip, he knew that white filigrees tattooed most of her naked skin as if she were covered in a fine web of Celestian lace. One single curlicue adorned the left side of her face, starting at her ear and sitting over her high cheekbone before framing her almond-shaped eye.

“What happens now?” Her voice was low and husky and had a foreign lilt, a pleasant mix of Solarian and Celestian.

“I’ll take you to my convoy, and hopefully, you tell me anything I need to know before we reach Sol Palace.”

“Or what?”

“I’ll have to release you into the capable hands of the Fifth Moon Confederation, and I’m sure one of their interrogators will make you talk.” He shrugged. “I hope it won’t come to that, because I personally hate violence in any form.”

The idea that this strong woman would end up in one of the confederate interrogation chambers didn’t sit well with him. And if he were completely honest with himself, he didn’t want her to be harmed. It didn’t make sense, because the assassin’s only task was to kill him, and if he dropped his guard for only a moment, she would try to end his life.

“I said I wouldn’t touch you, but I’m afraid some contact is inevitable from now on.” He paused to let his words sink in. “I’ll bind you so we can get out of here.” He stood and went to retrieve the long fabric strip that had flattened her chest. With the corner of his eye, he saw that her tilted head followed his movement. “Stand and turn.”

She hesitated for a heartbeat before slowly obeying.

“Wrists behind you.” His command was met with a slight tremor of her hands. “Now.”

The assassin’s arms slid behind her back, her hands resting palms up against her sculpted butt. Even in this submissive pose, the woman maintained a regal posture with her chin high and her legs slightly open.

Dragon’s mind wandered to a different scenario, where a soft pillow cushioned her angular body, and he would impart her lessons in pleasure.

“I thought you were in a hurry to leave,” she said, abruptly interrupting Dragon’s thoughts.

His large hand descended upon her wrists, grabbing both of them and marveling at the small size of her bones. The assassin was tall, and her height had tricked him into thinking she was a man, but she was indeed a woman and a severely underfed one at that. Fearing he would bruise her, he relaxed his hold and began wrapping her united wrists with the fabric binding, only to finish his work with a series of expertly woven knots that would tighten if she tried to free herself.

He stood behind her. “Close your legs.”

Again, it took her a moment to obey, but as soon as she did, he tied her ankles together with the remaining length of the bindings.

“Nothing will happen to you if you cooperate.” The assassin didn’t deserve his constant reassurance, but he couldn’t help but notice the way she slightly trembled at his touch, and how she stood proud, even now that the tables were turned and she was defenseless.

“Carellian, let’s go.” Dragon nodded at his loyal draglet, who kept a heavy and yet vigilant eye on the assassin’s every move.

After shaking his head from side to side, Carellian closed his wings, lowered his long neck, and sauntered into the main cave. Dragon grabbed the mercenary by her waist and hoisted her up on his shoulder, securing her legs to his chest as he followed his draglet outside.

Once in the larger chamber, Carellian leaned his shoulder toward Dragon, who climbed to his seat one-handed and maneuvered the woman belly-down on his lap, her head and legs dangling on either side of the draglet. With one soft caress between Carellian’s shoulders, Dragon commanded him to take flight.

A moment later, they exited the cave and started ascending the vertical corridor of the Cracked Dome.