Page 24 of Dragon’s Ending

I shrugged, dragging the shirt off. Wasn’t it obvious? “My dragon can tear this down in minutes.”

It took him an instant to understand what I’d said. Probably because he seemed stuck staring at my naked torso. But then it evidently hit home. His eyes flicked up to mine, and he looked at me properly. Not the way most people did, unable to hold my gaze or with an edge of unease. He was simply, quietly, certain. “You can’t shift in daylight.”

I huffed out a breath. “It’s not like I’ll be flying. No one’s around.”

“You can’t know that. And that’s not the point.” There was absolute conviction in his voice. He wasn’t trying to control me. He was simply sure of his ground that what I’d suggested was a bad idea.

I picked my shirt up and slowly put it back on. Because I knew he was right, that this was possibly a step too far, even for me. I would have shifted without a second thought if he hadn’t objected, but now he had, I recognised he might have a point. I also wasn’t sure I could trust him not to tell Rhodri if I ignored his objection.

Not that Rhodri would give a flying fuck about the state of the castle—he was very good at getting rid of things when he decided they no longer had any purpose—but if he heard that I’d shifted in daylight, that would be it. He’d finally wash his hands of me completely.

“So what’s your big plan?” I goaded him.

He’d returned to studying the wall as I did my shirt up, craning his neck to one side to try and see behind one of the stones. He could see absolutely nothing if his exasperated huff was to be believed.

“Just keep trying,” he said.

So I left him to it for a while, wandering around. Trying not to think about what he’d told me, about the red dragons’ ability, and a whole new dragon family appearing from nowhere. Huge changes were happening out there, and my father hadn’t told me a thing. Not even a hint as to why Berstow was here—which I still wasn’t sure about. For a moment, I wondered if Rhodri knew Berstow was passing on his findings to his own head of family. And what he’d do if he found out.

But mostly, helpless rage constricted my chest, made my eyes burn in the wind. Rhodri would never change. He’d never trust me. His inner circle would know, but not me. Never me.

I climbed a pile of fallen stones and looked out over the valley, tracing the path of the river. I wanted to fly its length, to reach the wide open sea where nothing restrained me. No one to judge, to look at me in fear or hoping for illicit excitement. I wanted…

I wanted to be free.

Chapter Eleven

BEN

By the time I left the bathroom, hair still wet from my shower, the house was quiet. I winced at the floorboards creaking beneath my feet as I made my way along the landing, doubtless disturbing everyone’s sleep.

I’d briefly considered going up to the castle in the dark and shifting to look at the markings the way Evelyn had asked, but I didn’t feel comfortable being there in dragon form without a Bedwyr there to vouch for me. Dominic had disappeared the instant supper was done. Anyway, it was one thing for this afternoon’s invitation to have spilled out. Another entirely to seek him out and ask him for a favour.

I’d thought about asking Phoebe, but perhaps I should work up to inviting her to accompany me to a dark, lonely castle in the middle of the night. Evelyn’s request would have to wait a day or so longer.

The door next to mine opened, and Rae stood there in a dressing gown. Teddy was clutching her hand tightly, his face blotchy with the unmistakable signs of recent tears.

“Oh, sorry,” I said, stepping back to give them space.

“You’re all right,” Rae replied softly. “Bad dream,” she added, glancing down at Teddy, who scowled at the floor.

“I’m not a baby,” he muttered.

“No,” she agreed. “But even grown-ups have bad dreams sometimes.”

That seemed to mollify him, because he looked up at me, eyelashes still clumped from crying. “I’m having hot chocolate,” he informed me, as if this was an important development.

“Then you’re clearly winning,” I said, because I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Rae’s lips curved faintly as she steered him gently past me and down the stairs.

The quiet settled back around me once they’d gone, and I was glad to close the door of my room behind myself. I didn’t know how this house managed to turn even silence into a threat.

As I drew back the covers and climbed into bed, I found myself thinking about Teddy. Seeing him had brought back the memory of Dominic crouched beside him, listening to a lecture on pine cones as if it were a matter of genuine importance.

When I set that against the memory of Dominic at the castle, it made no sense. He’d shrugged out of his shirt with the intention of shifting and tearing down a section of medieval wall in broad daylight simply because it would be quicker.

And yet he’d been patient with Teddy. Gentle, even. I realised how quick I’d been to dismiss him as arrogant and spoiled when, in fact, I didn’t understand him at all.