Unmade (Unborn #4) - Amber Lynn Natusch Page 0,51
know you well, Khara, but it is plain that your knowledge and understanding of worldly things is far different than others’, including mine. The fact that you ask me that question is further proof of that observation.”
“You did it to make amends with Casey.”
He nodded, then turned his gaze to the fire. “If such a thing is even possible.”
“You love him still.”
Silence. “I never stopped.”
I pondered his statement for a moment, turning the implications over and over in my mind. He still loved a being that had turned on him, justified or otherwise, and tried to kill him. Tortured him and sent him fleeing from Detroit. How the Dragon could still love my brother after such treatment befuddled me.
“What went wrong between you two? Because from what I know of Casey, he is, beyond a doubt, fiercely loyal. If he once felt for you as you do for him, then whatever you did must have been a betrayal.” I stared at his profile until he met my eyes. “And if it was, I wonder how I shall take this news.”
“I would share my side of the story,” the Dragon said, “for there are always two sides. But if Casey has not shared his, then I shall keep mine secret as well. It might be best for all parties involved.” He turned back to the fire, and quiet settled around us for longer than was comfortable.
“Then tell me how you came to love him instead, so that I may quash the anger growing inside me at the thought of you betraying him.”
He gave a faint nod, then took a deep breath. “When you have lived as long as we have, you come to know many kinds of beings—survive many situations. Your brother was notorious, even amongst the great and terrible PC. The spawn of Hecate—a son of the Underworld. He knew darkness—understood it. It tainted him so deeply that his irises turned black over time to better represent that darkness. I know this because I encountered him on occasion over the decades—had run-ins with the PC while my kind still reigned. I was young then, though. Young and naïve and smitten with this dark, beautiful creature I could not have—who would never want me. Until dire circumstances forced us together, both literally and figuratively.”
“What happened?” I asked, leaning closer.
“The king of my kind grew greedy. He left the mountains in search of humans to enslave and eat. The PC caught wind of his plan, and all hell broke loose, as they now say.”
“He started a war with my brothers?”
Another nod. “The battle was long and blood-filled, and few of my kind survived. I was young at the time—barely a man by human standards. When it became clear that we could not defeat the PC, some of the females began absconding with the young to ensure the survival of our species. I went with them to keep them safe. Just as we were about to emerge from a secret exit under the mountain, Casey stepped in front of us, covered in blood and scales. He took one look at us all and smiled as he wiped his blades clean on his leathers. When I stepped forward, putting myself between our party and him, that smile fell and his eyes widened.
“I don’t know how long we battled. Long enough for the others to escape. Long enough for the feelings inside me to rip me apart. I thought that Casey would kill me—that I would fall at the hands of the one who haunted my every dream. My every thought.”
“But he did not kill you,” I said, forcing the Dragon to meet my gaze.
“No. He did not. We fought until my body grew weak and my fire was exhausted. When I could no longer remain in dragon form, I changed back, leaving me weaponless and vulnerable. Casey advanced on me and pushed me back into the rock wall of the cave, his blade only a hair’s breadth from my face, his dark gaze only inches from mine. Even though death was imminent, I could not look away from him. I wanted his black eyes to be the last thing I ever saw. But death never came. Instead, I felt the pressure of his blade relent. Then his lips were on mine, locking us in a frenzied kiss. When he broke free, his hardened expression had returned. He ordered me to go and never come back. I did as he said.”
A pang of sadness tugged