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MEYER COULDN’T STOPthinking about Tyne’s reaction as he flew.He’d been angry, but there had been something else there that Meyer was still struggling to identify.
He could feel Tyne’s weight on his back.Part of him was happy that they were finally in this position because he’d wanted to fly with his mage since he’d been told about the entire mess, but it wasn’t a happy moment.They were going on a mission for Jarvis because they needed to kill Carlyle, and Meyer and Tyne still hadn’t talked things out.Meyer had decided he’d give Tyne one last chance, but he wasn’t sure Tyne wanted that chance.
Meyer had hoped they were finally getting somewhere after Tyne had fretted so much over him when he’d been wounded.Clearly, he’d been wrong.They were right back where they started, and Meyer had no idea how to change that.
He wasn’t sure he could.He could keep on apologizing for something he didn’t remember doing, but until Tyne gave him a chance, nothing would change between them.Whatever they were about to do had made Tyne return to the harsh man he’d been before Carlyle had hurt Meyer, and Meyer wondered if he’d ever get the other Tyne back.The walls around Tyne were back up, and Meyer had no idea how to break them down.He hadn’t done anything to do so the first time around.
Maybe he needed to break his other leg.
But he couldn’t stop thinking about Tyne’s expression before they started the flight.He’d been angry, but mostly, he’d looked nervous and even a little scared.He’d told Meyer that they were headed to a clan to pick up ingredients, but he hadn’t mentioned why it made him react the way he had.There was something there, but Meyer wouldn’t find out what that something was unless Tyne told him, and there was no chance that he would.
Obsessing over it wasn’t going to help.It had been a long time since Meyer had allowed himself to fly the way he was today, and he wanted to take advantage of it.He wanted to enjoy it, even though Tyne was sitting on his back like a dark cloud.If Tyne wanted to tell Meyer what was going on, he would.If he didn’t want to, well, Meyer supposed he’d find out soon enough.As soon as they got wherever they were going, he’d have his answers.
That kind of scared him.If the clan they were visiting scared Tyne, there had to be a good reason.Meyer wasn’t sure he wanted to find out, but unfortunately for him, he didn’t have a choice.Jarvis had chosen him and Tyne to go, and even though Tyne clearly hated Meyer, it was Meyer’s job to protect him.
He had no idea what would happen between them once Carlyle was defeated, but he could take a good guess.He’d probably never see Tyne again, and he’d be left the only dragon without his mage.
How would that work?He was sure there had to be a way for a deep bond between mage and shield to be broken, but he’d never asked any of the mages how it worked.Even when he’d realized that Tyne hated him, he’d always hoped that they would work things out eventually.He couldn’t imagine doing something so horrible that Tyne wouldn’t want to at least try, but maybe he’d been wrong.Maybe he hadn’t been a good person when he’d been Peyton.
And maybe Tyne would never forgive him for whatever he’d done back then.
* * * *
TYNE COULDN’T STOPthinking about the past.He’d been running from his family and what had happened with Peyton for decades, but he couldn’t anymore.He was going home—a home he hadn’t seen since Peyton had vanished.Even worse, he was going homewithPeyton.
Except Meyer wasn’t Peyton.Tyne hadn’t told anyone back at the clan about what had happened recently.They knew Peyton was gone, but they had no idea that he was back or that he’d lost his memories.It was going to be a shock for everyone, and while Tyne didn’t care how they reacted or felt about this mess, he’d realized that he needed to warn Meyer.
It wouldn’t be fair not to tell him what had happened.Tyne had resisted until now because he hadn’t had a reason to expose his heart and the pain he still felt, but Meyer was going to find out one way or another.Someone at the clan was bound to say something, and Tyne wouldn’t be able to control what was happening.If he told Meyer first, though, he could tell him everything.After all, Tyne had been one of the three people involved.His old clan knew what had happened, but not everything.Tyne had left pretty soon after it had all happened, and he’d refused to come back.
Even though Tyne didn’t have a choice, he waited until the last possible moment to squeeze his knees around Meyer’s dragon body.It got Meyer’s attention, and the dragon turned his big head toward Tyne, who gestured at him to land.They hadn’t reached the clan yet, but Tyne could see the massive house where they lived already.He didn’t have much time.
It took Meyer a moment to find a suitable place to land.When he did, he jostled Tyne’s body.Tyne barely paid attention to that.He slid to the ground as soon as he could and started pacing.
Meyer quickly shifted.He was silent for a moment, and Tyne waited for him to ask why they’d landed, but he was scared.This was the moment he’d been trying to avoid.Meyer had been begging him to tell him what he’d done as Peyton and why Tyne was so angry at him, but Tyne had wanted to keep his story to himself.He didn’t need to expose his pain and resentment.
He didn’t have a choice.
“What’s going on?”Meyer asked eventually.He was running out of patience, which was understandable.Unfortunately, understanding how he felt didn’t make anything easier for Tyne.
“I need to talk to you.”
Meyer frowned.“About what?Did Jarvis text you?”
“About what happened between us.Well, between Peyton and I.”
Meyer snorted.“Is this you finally admitting that I’m not Peyton?”
“It’s me telling you that we need to talk.Are you ready for it?”
“Tyne, I’ve been ready to know what the fuck happened since day one.Tell me.”
Tyne opened his mouth, but no words came out.He rubbed a hand over his face, telling himself that once this was done, he’d never have to talk about it again.
It was a lie, but maybe it would be enough to convince himself to say the words.
“Look, whatever it is, you know I’m sorry.I might not remember what I did as Peyton, but it’s clear it hurt you, and as Meyer, I never want you to be hurt,” Meyer said gently.“So I apologize in advance.I’m sorry you went through whatever you went through, but I’d like a chance to show you I’m not that man anymore.”
