There was a time when those words would have driven Dash into a feral rage. Indeed, when he’d been held in Meara’s court, he would have attacked like a mindless colt, intent on nothing more than driving his horn through Ferox’s dead heart.
But he was no longer that same angry unicorn who’d hated his father.
The same ’corn who’d denied his birth and wanted to scream out at the universe for what it’d done to him.
Hewasthe High King.
With a calm, calculated smile, Dash approached Ferox. “I had no control over where and how I started out in this world. But I am High King, and when I march my army into Licordia, and I will, your mother is going to have a very bad day.”
He started to walk away, but he couldn’t quite manage it.
With a glance to Ryper, he turned back toward Ferox. “And I’d rather be an unshodden half-breed than a ridling botfly.”
Ryper shook his head as Dash headed for Tanis.
“Botfly?” she asked.
“You don’t want to know.” Ryper laughed.
It was Dash who answered. “They’re parasitic nasty things.”
She made a face. “So, what’s our plan now?”
“Same as before. I’m going to take back my kingdom.” Only now, he had a renewed purpose and determination.
Chapter 20
Keegan poked at Tanis with one of her giant claws. “Does it hurt to be human?”
The question amused her. It wasn’t that long ago she would have asked the same thing. “No. And it’s not as bad as you’d think.”
She looked skeptical. “If it’s anything less than nightmarish awful, it’s better than I think.”
Tanis laughed. “Humans aren’t any different than we are, except they take up a lot less room.”
Keegan arched a brow over her words.
“I admit when I was a prisoner, I didn’t feel quite so benevolent toward them. But my latest experience has given me a whole new,” and much better, “perspective.”
“It was a human who murdered your brother.”
“A human couldn’t have done it. During our fight, Ragna admitted she was the one who killed Davin.” And Tanis still couldn’t believe Ragna had done such an awful thing. Dragons were supposed to be better than that. Even in the darkest ages of Indara’s history, she’d never heard of a family tearing itself apart.
Tearing apart others...
Naturally.
But the nest was supposed to be sacrosanct.
Keegan carefully stretched out beside her, making sure that she left room for Tanis. “Do you plan to go home once this over?”
Tanis felt like Keegan wanted her to say yes, but truthfully, she only wanted to stay with Dash. “I swore myself to King Dash’s service in exchange for being allowed to seek my vengeance.” She left out the part that he’d freed her. Mostly because she was hoping he wouldn’t make her leave.
How are you going to stay in his lands?
The one thing Keegan’s presence was bringing home to her was the fact that dragons didn’t fit in their world. The elfin palace wasn’t built for their size or weight. While the elves were being exceptionally kind to Keegan, it didn’t change that one basic fact.
Dragons were huge.
