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“You really don’t think you could be the third in their relationship?”
Delton firmly shook his head. “Not a chance. You should see the way Adar looks at Oliver…” He swallowed the tightness in his throat. “I know most relationships here are triads, but I think Adar and Oliver might be the exception. They have a connection, one I could never match. Even if I tried and, by some miracle, they let me in, I would always be the odd one out, the third wheel. I would always feel like an add-on, never wanted or needed but merely tolerated. Sorry, but I value myself too much to settle for a relationship like that.”
“Nor should you. I’m not convinced you’re right, but I understand your line of reasoning. And I have to admit it’s hard to deny the bond between those two. Adar hasn’t let Oliver out of his sight since the day he arrived.”
“And Oliver doesn’t trust any alpha except Adar. That alone tells you everything you need to know.”
“I’m sorry. I truly am. Like I said, I was rooting for you. You deserve it.”
Delton took a deep breath. “Thank you. I appreciate that. But don’t feel sorry for me, not when Adar never rejected me.” He let out a little laugh that sounded more bitter than he had wanted. “The man never even knew I existed, so kind of hard to be upset with him, right?”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. I don’t think feelings care much for fairness, but you should know that better than I do.”
“You can’t choose what you feel or who you feel it for, but you can choose what to do with those feelings. And I’m choosing to let go. The last thing I want is to be known as the guy who, even years later, is still harboring hope of getting together with a man who’s been in a happy relationship for a long time. I can’t be that guy. Now, please, can we talk about something else?”
“The mission to rescue Queen Grian is leaving tomorrow morning while Rhene and Erwan head to Sweden for the Dragon Council,” Sivney said, not missing a beat.
“Good, good. How many people are going on the mission?”
“More than I wanted, so it leaves us a bit vulnerable here. That’s why we’re asking everyone to suspend their normal jobs and focus on our security and safety.”
“I have two patients scheduled tomorrow. You want me to cancel those?”
“If you can, yes, please. We want everyone to be available at all times.”
“No problem. I can do that.”
Sivney pushed himself up and stood, then looked down at Delton. “Both Adar and Oliver are taking part in the mission. Just thought you’d want to know.”
With a last nod at Delton, Sivney walked away, and Delton sagged against the tree. So Sivney had known, and he wasn’t the only one. Delton thought he’d been discreet in his attraction to Adar, but apparently not. Dammit.
Chapter Eight
Back at the Dragon Council - The Arctic Circle of Sweden
Erwan looked around him. Every man in the Dragon Council camp seemed to have come out of their tents for this confrontation, and they all stood and watched what was unfolding. If he gave an inch to his father and uncle now, he’d lose their respect forever. He had to claim what and who he was, even if he didn’t want to, even if the yoke of that identity was a heavy burden on his soul. He had no choice. This was his destiny.
He straightened his shoulders and took a deep breath. “I am King Erwan Doyle, king of the True Doyle clan, established after my father and uncle used dark magic to kill my grandfather and others. They have also tried to have me and my brothers killed, tortured the granddaughter of Seamus the Librarian, and we have evidence of more crimes. The Code grants me the legal and moral right to lead the True Doyle clan, and I have honor and truth on my side.”
Cladhaire stretched his right hand toward Erwan, but before he’d finished the movement, Rhene had shifted and stood in front of Erwan in his mighty wolf form. He let out a menacing growl, and Cladhaire staggered back. The gasps around them were satisfying. Wasn’t it interesting how these mighty dragons were still impressed by a wolf? Then again, Rhene was no ordinary wolf, and maybe they picked up on that.
“My mate is Rhene Hightower, pack alpha of the Hightower pack and brother-in-law to Lidon Hayes, the True Alpha of his generation. And I?” He took a deep breath. “I am the White Dragon.”
He shifted more fluidly than he ever had and stood before them in all his glory.
Fuck Cladhaire.
Fuck Baoth.
Hell, fuck them all. He was the White Dragon.
A chorus of gasps rose around him as he took a stand, his mate in wolf form by his side. What would the Dragon Council do now? Or, more importantly, how would Cladhaire and Baoth react?
“He truly is the White Dragon,” Gregor, the commander of the Fitzgeralds, whispered. “I never thought I’d see one in my lifetime.” He turned to the younger guy who’d been sitting next to him. “Get King Fergal. Now.”
“This doesn’t change anything.” Cladhaire had found his voice again, though he sounded a hell of a lot less confident than he had before. Or was that Erwan’s imagination? Maybe the difference was that he no longer cared what the man who had sired him thought, especially of him. He’d tried to kill Erwan. That negated any obligation Erwan had as his son.
“I hate to disagree, King Cladhaire, but it does. It changes everything,” Gregor said.
