Page 37 of Knotted By the Triad

“The wagon driver.”

He was the one who'd taken the large envelope from the assistant earlier and shoved it inside his jacket. We needed that money as evidence.

“How the hell did you lose him?” I roared.

“He doubled back near the western ridge. We picked up his trail again twice, but every time we got close, he disappeared. The last time we saw him, he was holding pieces of blue stone marked with the same symbols as the golems.”

Magic. He knew how to work the blue shards.

Daemin joined us. “I'll find him,” he volunteered.

“Take two of your assassins with you,” I told Daemin.

He motioned toward two of his men. They immediately joined him. Together, they headed in the direction the guards said the driver had run off to.

“Daemin,” I called out.

He glanced back at me.

“I want him alive. We need answers.”

He nodded before he and the two assassins disappeared into the trees. I turned my attention to the remaining smugglers. They'd been gathered under heavy guard, and most were conscious now, including the bastard who'd shattered the pendant.

He was on his knees with his wrists bound behind him and additional restraints around his ankles. I walked directly toward him.

“Where did you get the pendant?” I asked.

He smiled, blood seeping between his teeth.

I crouched and grabbed his jaw. “Who gave it to you?”

He said nothing. My dragon stirred, wanting to be set free.

“You brought Dragonblight into my territory using forged clan authorizations. You had an enchanted object capable of summoning golems, and there's an entire operation hidden inside that warehouse.” I tightened my grip. “You're going to tell me who you're working for.”

His smile widened. “You think this ends just because you caught us?” He leaned in as far as my grip allowed. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

I leaned closer until our faces were inches apart.

“Leave this one for me,” I told the guards without taking my eyes off him. “I want to personally torture the information out of him. By the time I'm finished, there won't be an inch of skin left on his body. If that doesn't make him talk, I'll force him to shift and start peeling scales from his dragon.”

I lowered my mask. His smile disappeared. It was my turn to smile.

“Soon, I’m going to show you who you’re dealing with.” I released him and stood. “Search him again. Every seam in his clothing, every pocket, his hair, his mouth. Then gag him. After what that necklace did, I'm not taking any chances.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I turned toward the others. “Search all of them again. Thoroughly. Then separate them for transport. No more than two prisoners with each group. Everyone goes directly to the dungeon.”

Several of our men had been injured during the battle, but everyone was alive. That was what mattered.

“Prince Kai.”

I turned as an Iron Guard approached, carrying a piece of cloth. Several glowing blue fragments rested inside. The pendant.

“Wrap each piece separately and put them with the evidence. No one touches them with bare hands.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”