“So, you could have left the Ruecrags then. A year ago. But instead, you, what? Took over?”
“He was in charge. They needed a leader.”
Anger bloomed in her chest. “Then don’t blame any of this on love. You knew right from wrong. You knew how you were hurting your own family when you just up and disappeared. You knew how much it would hurt me, Meg.” She sucked in a breath. “Not to mention, you ran…you ran away without a thought… after I was shot. You didn’t even try to make sure I was alive.”
“Power is just as potent as love.”
Mallory’s chest tightened as she waited for Meg to continue. Instead, Meg went silent. “That’s it? That’s all you’re going to give me?”
Meg met her gaze steadily. “It’s the truth. Just not a comforting one.”
Mallory waited and hoped, ridiculously, for more. Excuses. Explanations. The possibility of regret. But Meg only looked away, conversation clearly over.
“I’m not going to tell Mom and Dad that I found you,” Mallory started. She needed closure and Meg had obviously made her choice. “Unlike me, they settled in denial a long time ago, and they’ve moved past the pain and worry you caused. There’s no sense dumping all this crap on them now. I’ll keep this secret between us. I just want you to know that I’m at peace now as far as you’re concerned.”
Mallory turned back toward the door as disappointment settled heavy in her heart. Jakob was waiting with concern written plainly across his face.
“Nothing useful?” he asked quietly.
She shook her head. “Just that love messes people up.”
Jakob’s expression softened. “That part, at least, is accurate.” He pulled her into a hug. “But I do have a surprise for you that might cheer you up a bit.”
“What’s that?”
He kissed her silly. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
“Has anyone told you that cliches are irritating?” she asked with a giggle.
He silenced her with another kiss. “Dragons don’t care about speaking in cliches.”
The surprise came later that afternoon.
Mallory was in the library halfway through her book when laughter echoed from down the hallway. The castle had been quiet so the sound was loud and exaggerated.
She sat up straighter in her chair. That wasn’t just laughter. She knew that laughter.
Theirlaughter.
Mallory’s fingers tightened on the book.
“Mallory?”
Her heart slammed so hard it hurt. She turned and there they were.
Brooke, all curls and energy was already halfway into tears. Her eyes were bright and shining like she’d been running on pure adrenaline for days. Violet stood beside her, posture elegant and controlled as ever, though the careful composure cracked the moment their eyes met.
For one suspended heartbeat, Mallory couldn’t move. Her chest tightened in a good way and her breath caught like she’d forgotten how lungs worked.
Then Brooke closed the distance in three long strides and threw herself into Mallory’s arms.
“Mallory!” she gasped and hugged her so hard Mallory let out a very undignified squeak. “You didn’t even say goodbye before you came back here. You don’t get to just disappear off the face of the earth and not expect us to hunt you down!”
“I…well…” Mallory laughed, the sound wobbly and wet all at once. “I’m here. You weren’t really speaking to me once we got home, so I didn’t bother you. But I’m still breathing. That’s a good sign.”
“Not speaking didn’t mean we didn’t care.” Brooke pulled back just enough to look at her face with her hands still locked behind Mallory’s shoulders. “And you better be breathing. I have stress lines now. These are your fault.”
Violet joined them then with her arms wrapping around both of them. “We had theories,” she said mildly. “About what was going on. Not all of them were comforting.”
