Tanis swallowed hard against the tears that misted her eyes. No hatchling should ever know such horror that it drove them from their home.
Why had she not been there that day?
Any other time, she’d have at least stopped by to chat with Davin for a little while. Instead, she’d spent that fateful day by the lake, reading.
If it’s the last thing I do, I will avenge you, brother. I swear I’ll see your enemy in pieces.
The unicorn is your enemy, too.
No. The unicorn race was an enemy to hers. As was the bastard unicorn who’d kidnapped her as a girl.
This particular unicorn had given her a chance to right a wrong. Granted his payment was harsh, but she had made the choice. Unlike Baracus, he hadn’t kidnapped her and forced her to serve him against her will.
She’d sold her freedom for her brother’s dignity. And she was grateful for the unicorn’s assistance. Without him, she wouldn’t have this chance.
“Thank you for helping me.”
Dash was astonished by her sincerity. Honestly, he’d hoped his bargain would have awakened her common sense and kept her from her foolish quest.
Sadly, she was too similar to him. He would have made the same deal to get back at the mongrel who’d killed Renata.
I should have chosen something else for payment other than her freedom.He regretted it already. No one should ever be bound to another.
Having been forced into captivity himself, he couldn’t bear the thought of it for anyone. It was why he’d vowed to never marry. End of the day, he couldn’t stand the idea of anyone having any kind of sway over him, no matter how innocuous.
But the deal was cast. He’d forgotten that others weren’t as fiercely protective of their freedom as he was. There was nothing they could do now except see it through. “I just hope you don’t hold this against me. Remember, you wanted to be human, lady dragon.”
She actually laughed. “Indeed. And, since you now own me, might I ask your name?”
“Dash.”
She pressed her lips together with a determination he was sure would get her into even more trouble. “Regardless of what happens, I will always be grateful to you, Dash.”
A part of him wanted her name as well, but names held power. They made the bearer real. Personable.
And since he had no doubt that they would become enemies once she killed the human she was after and came to regret this bargain, he had no intention of learning hers.
He was certain he would be her next target for execution. And he couldn’t blame her. He wouldn’t want anyone to have any authority over him, either.
When she eventually came for him, he needed to have no reservation in taking whatever steps required to protect himself.
He who hesitates dies.It was the one lesson he’d learned most in life.
Dash wanted nothing to put that hesitation in his attack. And he wondered if that had been what had killed Renata.
Had she hesitated when she should have struck?
Flinching, he wanted to bury that memory so deep inside that heneversaw it again.
If only he could.
Every time he closed his eyes, he imagined her death. Her panic and pain when they’d driven her aground and then cut her horn from her forehead. The guilt that he hadn’t been there to protect his sister was overwhelming. How could he have let this happen?
Just how much had she suffered? It was said that having a horn removed before death was the most excruciating pain a unicorn could endure.
No one survived it.
While he’d failed to protect her, he wouldn’t fail to avenge her.
