Now that was interesting. “How so?”
“Her father rules the Pyrigian Lands... our northern borders. My father may be king, but her father holds the most territory and commands the largest part of our army. He will do whatever Marla wants. As his youngest, she is his heart and soul. And while my father may not think much of me, Marla likes me, and she loved and adored my brother more than her life. Her gratitude at having her husband’s remains restored for proper burial cannot be understated.”
Her words impressed him. “You know politics?”
“I listen to things.”
Dash didn’t miss the note of sadness in her voice that reminded him of something else. “How did you learn to fight so well?”
Shame filled her eyes. “Which way is that castle, again? Don’t we need to get going?”
So, he wasn’t the only one who changed subjects when it struck a bitter memory. “Now you’re the one who’s avoiding a subject.”
She drew a ragged breath as she avoided his gaze. “Remember those kids playing in the street that you spoke of? I was one of them. Taken from home by a unicorn bastard and sold for bitter entertainment.” Her eyes held the shadows of her past horrors. “Let’s just leave it at that, shall we?”
Those unexpected words struck him like a fist to his gullet. It was a blow so staggering that Dash couldn’t catch his breath.
He knew her pain so much deeper than he wanted to, and it broke his heart that he hadn’t been able to spare her the past that haunted him.
“Tanis...”
“Don’t, Dash.” She held her hands up and moved away from him. “I don’t want to hear that you’re sorry or anything. You don’t get it. No one does. And I don’t want empty sympathy. The past is the past, and there’s nothing to be done about it.”
He caught her arm as she started away from him and pulled her to a stop. His anger, pain and grief churned inside him. When he spoke, his voice was a full octave deeper. “My father traded me for peace to the Thassalians when I was a colt and barely able to defend myself.”
Recognition hit her dark eyes as she understood instantly what he was saying. Centaurs and unicorns were natural enemies. Since the dawn of history, they’d fought for dominance. Because they were half-human, centaurs had always believed themselves to be the superior equine species.
And once unicorns developed the ability to shapeshift, it’d only fueled their hatred of each other. Because the unicorns no longer tolerated centaur arrogance, they set out to destroy itand the entire centaur species. And because unicorns could turn fully human, the centaurs hated them all the more and became determined to wipe them out.
“I know your pain, Dragon. And I am sorry no one was there to protect you.”
Tanis’s heart pounded as she realized that he was one of the mysterious handful of survivors who’d returned home against all odds. Those who’d been given up for dead.
No, one of those who’d been turned over to his father’s enemies and left for dead.
“You were one of the hostages sent to Queen Meara’s court to maintain peace?”
His gaze hollow, he nodded.
She sucked her breath in sharply as she felt for him. “How old were you when you were sent?”
“Seven.”
Tanis couldn’t imagine the horror of her father sending her out to die. At least she’d been a teenager when she’d been captured. Mostly grown.
And she’d been the fool who’d refused to listen to her father and others who’d warned her about venturing off on her own. She’d always thought they were being stupid and paranoid. What did they know?
Back then, her father would have done anything to protect her.
She couldn’t imagine him offering her up to their enemies. “I’m?—”
He placed a finger over her lips. “No apologies. I do understandexactlyhow you feel.”
Yes, he did. For the first time in her life, she was standing in front of someone who knew her nightmare. Who’d walked through the same hell...no, a worse hell...and who bore scars she could relate to.
“Then you know why I can’t leave you, beast.”
“And you know how grateful I am.”
