Page 19 of Shadow Wings
“The cost to others was all I thought about,” he corrected, his voice aching with a depth of pain that made my hearthurt.
Relieved, but distrusting, I pressed him. “Why did you lie? The entire time. You lied, played with my emotions, and now, somehow, I feel guilty because I don’t trust you and you want me to. But how can I? How do I know you’re not just playing”—with my heart—“some game again? Or that you have an ulterior motive like lasttime?”
He sucked in a breath. “You think it wasalla lie? You believethat?”
I remembered Tyr’s gentle caress . . . the sweetness of his kiss. I thought of the tears he’d shed while wiping away my blood after Jotun beat me. I recalled the jokes and hope Ty gave me, his companionship. However, through Ty, Tyrrik had betrayed my plans,our plans,for the rebels to free us, the plans he’d helped me make, to Irdelron. Tyrrik had killed Arnik and all of those rebels. The Drae had put so many people in danger . . . even me, so he could break his bloodoath.
“So we could be free,” he said. “All of us. Is what I did really any different than what Caltevyn or Dyterdid?”
“You hurt me,” I said with difficulty. “A lot.” So much I wondered if I would ever be able to trust anyoneagain.
I’d always thought I’d be able to tell if someone was lying to my face. I’d seen other people in love before, matches where one partner lied or cheated, and wondered how someone could be blind to their partner’s duplicity. I never thought I’d be one of those blind fools. I never thought I’d love someone with thosequalities.
“I did lie. And I hated it. If I could’ve come up with any other way to break the oath, Iwould’ve.”
His words rang with honesty . . . but then, they’d done that before too. “So you say,” I mumbled, rolling toward the wall. “It’s been less than a week, and I don’t know if I have it in me to forgive that kind of thing. Just don’t deceive meanymore.”
8
Aloud roarstartled me awake. I sat up, smacking my head on the granite above. Before I could swear loud enough to bring the cave crashing down, a hand covered mymouth.
Be silent,Tyrrik said in my mind.He’s outthere.
Who?
Yourfather.
My father. Emperor Draedyn.Pops.Pretty much the worst being in the entire realm. As a Drae he was all but invincible, like Tyrrik, but much older. More powerful, too, remembering Tyrrik’s comment about the emperor being alpha. As emperor, he had the entire populace at his disposal. His war of expansion had cost the realm countless lives.Are you sure he’s my father? How would you even knowthat?
Your mother told me. Before shedied.
I can’t believe that I’m related to someone who kills so easily . . . or who experimented with Phaetyn andDrae.
He’s desperate enough to win the war that he’ll try anything to create a strongerarmy.
I took Tyrrik’s hand off my mouth; there was no need for him to force me to be quiet. Before I could release it, he turned his palm to mine and heldtight.
The Drae outside roared again, and the darkness of night was suddenly alive with flame, the orange blast stretching a few feet inside ourcave.
My heart leaped into my throat, but irritation overrode my fear when Tyrrik squeezed my hand. I lifted our joined hands, shaking them a little.Why are you holding myhand?
It’s better than youscreaming.
I was not going to scream. If I did scream, it would be athim.
Are you sure? Because you were the one who took myhand.
I glared at him and withdrew my hand, but he re-captured it, tugging me off the bed. I followed him deeper into the caves as Emperor Draedyn lit up the sky again with a deafening roar offlame.
He’s calling toyou.
Really?That took creeper to a whole new level. Like I was a hypnotized donkey orsomething.
Can’t you feel his call?Tyrrik stopped our hurried escape to study me. His gaze traveled over my face, relief appearing briefly when I shook myhead.
If he can feel us, why doesn’t he come in and join us?I didn’t understand what was keeping us safe. The caverns were narrow, but certainly if the emperor shifted back to his human form, he’d be able to chaseus.
He can only feel your general location and doesn’t know about these caves. They were discovered by the Drae long after Draedyn left the clan. Our alpha decided we needed new secrets when Draedyn ascended the throne; the old caves were abandoned, and the new ones were a guarded secret for ageneration.