“Take the boy to Ector and ask him to squire him for me.”
Halla arched a pale brow. “You certain? Last time we were there, Ector wasn’t so kind. He rather took issue with you, as I recall.”
Dash snorted. “Ector will get over it. Besides, this one has a destiny. Ector will be grateful to have him in his household.Trust me. And if he gives you grief, remind the surly old bastard that he owes me a favor. Tell him to take care of our Arthur. Otherwise, he’ll answer to me.”
With a curt nod, Halla took Arthur and left.
Tanis glanced around to make sure no one else was paying attention to them. “So... I’m not the only one you can make human, I see.”
Dash started to lie to her, but what was the use? Lies weren’t a unicorn trait. And he had much more important things to do.
“It’s not something we talk about.”
“Understood... and thank you for helping Arthur.”
Her gratitude embarrassed him. He wasn’t used to people showing appreciation where he was concerned. Only anger, resentment and demands.
Even Halla.
No, especially Halla.
Her smile turned speculative. “So... my lord, thought you didn’t want to get involved with others. Why the sudden change for the boy?”
“No change. I didn’t want the boy hurt.”
“Or me?”
He sensed that she was teasing him. “That, too, would have been unfortunate. Especially before you’ve had a chance to wreak your vengeance.”
“Indeed. But may I ask why you care?”
Dash wished he had an answer for her. It wasn’t like him to care at all. He just didn’t like to see others suffering. Not after what they’d done to him when he’d been a colt.
And while she was beautiful, it was a façade. This wasn’t her real body.
You know better.
The magick that allowed them to shape-shift didn’t naturally make someone beautiful. Like a unicorn horn, it echoed what was on the inside.
An ugly soul manifested as a hideous beast.
No one could hide their true nature from his spell. So, for the dragon to be so fair...
She was as naive inside as his sister had been.
And that naivete had killed Renata. She’d refused to see the ugliness that others hid so carefully. To believe darkness could devour all light. And that the goodness in her soul could become the ultimate weapon that an enemy would use against her.
Or him.
“You’ve yet to answer my question, Lord Unicorn.”
“What do you want me to say, Dragon? That I care for you?”
She burst out laughing.
He arched a brow.
“You were joking, were you not?” she asked.
