“And did you have any luck in locating yourbrother?”
“No, but I did uncover a couple of leads.Unfortunately, my brother Brokk and I were ambushed by traitorsbefore following through on those leads. Brokk was badly injured.However, I plan to return to hunting Orin and Varo as soon as Ican.”
However, he planned on making sure theystayed out of the Lord’s hands once he found them.
“Wonderful,” the Lord said and settled backon his throne. “Because some of those rumors claim thatOrinis the one gathering more recruits for the rebellion.”
Cole’s blood ran cold. He wanted to look athis father, but he didn’t dare take his eyes off this madman forone second.
“I’m sure they’re rumors, my Lord,” hisfather demurred. “But if not, then we will stop such a thing beforeit ever gets started.”
The Lord didn’t look at him as his gazeremained focused on Cole. “Oh, I’m sure I can count on you not tofail me.”
“Of course, my Lord,” Cole said.
“Because no matter how close they are,brothers always secretly hate each other. That hatred is ingrowninto them. They compete for their parents’ love and, in doing so,they grow to loathe one another.”
Orin, Varo, Brokk, and all his brothers hadpissed him off countless times over the years, but even when theywere pummeling each other, he’dneverhated them. Not evenwhen his impetuous, stubborn brothers joined the rebellion did hehate them.
He’d grieved their deaths, and he still did.However, he was not going to correct the Lord. He’d let the crazyprick think he hated his brothers if it made the Lord happier.
“Unfortunately, no matter what a child doesto its parent, that parent still retains some love for them. Isn’tthat true, Tove?” the Lord inquired.
An uneasy feeling twisted in Cole’s stomach.He did not like the direction this conversation was taking.
His father hesitated before replying. “I loveall my children, yes, but my loyalty is toyou. Orin andAlvaro chose the wrong path and will face the consequences of theiractions.”
“That they will,” the Lord agreed. “But Imust question if you’ll help them escape when the time comes.”
“I wouldneverhelp them escape, myLord,” Tove said.
Cole’s uneasy feeling grew, and this time, hecouldn’t stop his gaze from traveling to the dragons. Two of thebeasts had crept closer and were only ten feet away.
He contemplated grabbing his father andrunning from this place, but the dragons would never let themgo.
“I want to believe you, Tove, I really do.However, though I have no children, I know the bond between aparent and their child is special. I do recall the love of myparents; my mother died to keep me alive,” the Lord said.
Cole wished his mother hadn’t been soselfless.
“I assure you, my Lord, that I would handover any traitor, son or not,” Tove replied.
The Lord tapped his fingers against his chinand stared down at them. “I truly want to believe you, but I can’t.Kill him.”
Cole had just processed the command when thedragon closest to them surged forward. With a snap of its powerfuljaws, it consumed the top half of his father’s body. Blood sprayedover Cole. His father had to be in serious pain, but he didn’t makea sound when the dragon chomped down again.
Cole twisted his head away when the next snapof those jaws caused another wave of hot blood to spray him. Andthen the dragon swallowed.
CHAPTER 63
It took a few seconds for the full impact of whathappened to hit him. In that time, Cole became acutely aware of theblood sliding down his face and dripping off his chin. Each drophitting the gray stone floor sounded like a gunshot fired inside asteel room.
His head slowly turned back to where he lastsaw the father he loved so much. In the place of the man who’d beenhis dad, mentor, and best friend was only a pool of red liquid.
The man who broke through his unbearablegrief over the loss of Cole’s mother and saved a lost boy who wasdrowning in his sorrow was gone. The man who, for a month after hismother’s death, had come into Cole’s room every night when he wokecrying.
When Cole proved to be inconsolable, hisfather would carry him into his room and settle him in his bed.Nestled against his dad’s side, Cole would finally fall asleepagain.
Over the following five months, his daddidn’t bother to put him in his room first but simply let him sleepbeside him from the night's start. Cole had outgrown such things,but he still recalled those nights and the love sheltering him evenafter his mother’s love was gone.
