Marthen’s spirit drifted over to him. “You might want to think of something to tell them,” he whispered.
The problem was that Dash had no idea how to explain their relationship to anyone. Not even to himself.
You’re High King.
He didn’t have to explain anything. That was the only advantage of his position. Fuck them.
Let them speculate.
Holding his head high, he headed for Tova’s keep and did his best to ignore their curiosity.
Tanis noticed that Dash traveled behind the others. “You don’t trust them, do you?”
“Do you?”
She thought about it. “I want to.”
“But?”
“I probably have the same issues you do. I’m cautious of anyone wanting to help, especially those who have a reason not to, and given the amount of money being offered for your head... why would they help? Doesn’t feel right, does it?”
“Right?” he asked. “I hate being so jaded all the time. But my life has taught me that when given the opportunity to stab someone, even a friend, most will take it.”
She reached down and patted him on the neck, agreeing completely. She’d witnessed the same thing.
Dash savored that comfort. It was nice to have someone who understood him. His sister had always chided him for his mistrust.You’re so judgmental! Must you always see evil in everyone, Dash? Give them a chance and they might surprise you.
While Renata had always made him feel terrible for being so wary, Tanis made him feel normal. But then, she knew the same world he did. Not the safe one Renata had been sheltered in.
“Sorry I wasn’t there when you woke up,” he said to her.
“It’s fine. I’m glad you weren’t under attack or dead. But I have to admit, beast, I was a bit scared when I found you in what was an awful situation, from my vantage point.”
He smiled at the memory. “Yet you ran to my defense even though you were terribly outnumbered. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Dash paused and turned his head so that he could look back at her. “Seriously, Tanis. Thank you. It was reckless and suicidal. And a part of me would like to beat you for it. But I’m truly grateful that you were reckless and suicidal.”
She leaned forward in the saddle to hug him. “Again, you’re most welcome. Just next time, pick better odds for us.”
He laughed and started forward. “I’ll do my best.”
Us. Dash didn’t comment on that one word even though it rang out inside him. He’d never really been anusbefore. It felt...
Terrifying.
But good. She had no reason to stand at his back. Yet she hadn’t hesitated.
No female had ever done that for him. All he could remember were the times when he’d been flung into an arena, alone, and left to battle on his own.
Prove your worth!
No matter how much he’d won, he’d still felt worthless. Undeserving. That had been the rage that had turned his horn red when he’d been far too young to remember it.
And that was the thing about horns, they could change color at any time. For any reason. To a unicorn, it reeked to have your soul on display for the entire world to see.
Or at least those who knew what the colors meant.
