Slowly, I backed away from Mylo and the twin dragons, but my path was blocked. I turned to see two men with stern expressions behind me—Cobalt and Jade.
“Come with us, Rorik,” Cobalt said in a low voice.
I was too ashamed to look back at Saffron. I followed his older brothers away from the scene, ready and willing to accept my punishment.
The elder dragonsled me back to their castle. Nobody spoke. They escorted me down a long corridor on the main floor to a sunny, open room with glass walls. Tables and chairs were strewn around. It felt too bright. Inappropriate. I’d expected them to drag me down into a dungeon to torture me instead.
“Shift,” Cobalt ordered.
I didn’t argue. I did as he asked. The drying blood felt uncomfortable against my human skin.
“Sit down.”
I took a seat in the nearest chair. The dragons remained standing as they watched me.
This is where it ends,I thought.
Cobalt didn’t tear his gaze from me as he spoke to Jade. “Do the others know?”
“Yes. They’ll be here soon,” Jade replied.
“Viol?”
Jade exhaled through his nostrils, sounding resigned. “I don’t know where he is.”
“Aurum?”
“I’m having him taken care of,” Jade replied evenly.
My heartbeat quickened. “He’s alive?” I asked.
Cobalt worked his jaw. For a long beat, he was silent, but not calm. His aura was different than the man who’d offered me his clothes earlier. This version of Cobalt was dangerous—and rightfully so.
Finally, he spoke in a low growl. “You didn’t want him to be.”
The words felt like being struck. I hung my head and remained silent.
“Answer me,” Cobalt demanded.
I flinched at his powerful voice. But at the same time, I commended his restraint. He could’ve torn me limb from limb by now. It baffled me why he didn’t. If I’d committed this heinous of a crime back in the tundra clan, Sheba and Knox wouldn’t have hesitated to kill me on the spot. I expected it.
What I didn’t expect was the dragons’ reserved judgment.
“Nothing I could say would undo my mistake,” I murmured.
“You’re damn right it won’t,” Cobalt snarled. “You nearly killed my baby brother.”
I saw Jade’s eyes widen. Even he seemed surprised by Cobalt’s fury.
Cobalt glared at me. His sea-blue eyes were hard. “You’re lucky I don’t end you.”
“Do whatever you must,” I insisted. “I accept my punishment.”
Even if it means never seeing Saffron’s smile again.
My stomach tied painfully into knots. After what I’d done, I doubted Saffron would even spare me a glance. In that case, I’d prefer Cobalt strike me down...
Cobalt grunted. “Put this on.”
