Half oni. Those words staggered her. And it explained so much about him. When he talked about an inner demon, she’d thought he was being poetic. Metaphoric.
No. In his case, it’d been literal.
“Are you all right?” Dash asked, putting his hand on her arm to help steady her.
She nodded. “I’m just trying to make sense of this. It was not what I was expecting you to say.”
At least now she understood why he never spoke of his mother. Why he and Ryper were so cautious around others. Given how much the unicorns despised the Tenmaru, there was no telling how they’d react.
It was possible they’d revolt and overthrow him.
Yes, this was one hell of a secret he’d just given her. One that could destroy not only Dash, but his entire kingdom.
She stared up at him. “No one else knows?”
Dash let out a long breath before he made a face. “Just my uncle.”
She leaned in to whisper, “What uncle?”
“Marthen.”
Of course. She should have known. Now that he said it, she could see the similarities in their features. Even more in Ryper’s.
“Anyone else I need to know about?” Tanis asked.
“Other secrets aren’t mine to give. Please realize that I’ve given you something that I don’t want anyone else to know about.”
That made sense to her. Although if she had a mother as powerful and respected as Naomi, she’d want to shout it from the highest parapet. There were times he must feel the same.
How awful to have that fear inside. For both of them. It had to be hard to never be able to publicly claim each other as family.
That made her ache for him.
“Have no fear, Dash. I won’t tell a soul.”
Still laughing, Ryper rejoined them. “That is going to crack me up for a long time to come.”
Dash grimaced. “You’re sick.”
“Yes, I am. Can you blame me given our childhood?” Ryper indicated Tanis with a nod. “I assume you told her?”
“I did.”
He clapped Dash on the back. “You know, I think you’re pissed about the wrong thing.”
“How so?”
“We’re not the ones dressed in oni armor. Apparently, the queen picked a favorite and it’s not us.” He squeezed Dash’s shoulder. “I’m going to let that sink into your thick skull while I go find Dove.”
Tanis rose up on her toes and kissed Dash’s cheek. “I know that look. I often had it when my brother irritated me to the point I wanted to skin him to make a pair of shoes.”
His gaze softened as he smiled. “At least I don’t have to worry about you in battle any longer. She told you about the armor, correct?”
“That nothing can penetrate it. Yes.”
“And the rest?”
Her stomach sank at his tone. What had Naomi withheld? “Rest what?”
