“A…friend is in trouble. I need to go.”
“But it’s movie night.” Had Curtis always sounded so possessive? Besides, he’d clearly told Curtis of his plans tonight. Hadn’t Curtis had plans of his own?
“I’m sorry. But he’s had a death in the family and needs me there.”
“Aww…I’m sorry.” Curtis sounded anything but sorry. “Anything I can do?”
“No, but thanks.” Curtis had always been such a great friend. Elouan shouldn’t think badly of him. “I might not be home tonight. I need to see what’s what.”
“Okay.” Curtis reached into his pocket, pulled out his cellphone, and clicked a button.
“What are you doing?” Elouan asked.
“Just texting Dad.”
“Oh, okay. I’m taking my bike. See you later.” Elouan ran upstairs to grab his leathers. Where were his chaps? His boots? What else might he need? Ah…there they were. His fingers trembled as he zipped his chaps. He shoved his feet into his boots, paused long enough to tie them, then grabbed his motorcycle keys off the dresser. Jules needed him.
He came back down to find Curtis waiting.
Holding a gun in a two-handed grip. “I…I can’t let you go,” Curtis said, voice wavering.
“Curtis! What the fuck, man?” Elouan stopped, one foot still on the first step. Dude must’ve lost his mind! “What the hell are you talking about? Why not?” He eyed the gun, then the indecision on Curtis’s face. If he moved fast enough….
“I know the guy you’ve been seeing, Jules, is an omega dragon.”
“What? No! He’s human!” Elouan swallowed hard. How could Curtis know when Elouan had only just worked out the truth?
“Then why were two beta dragons guarding him?” Accusation dripped from Curtis’s words.
Were.Notare.“Two beta what?” Elouan’s heart pounded in his ears. He hadn’t lived through his uncle trying to kill him to be taken out by a friend. “Curtis, you’re talking nonsense. Jules is human. So are his aunt and uncle.” The words tasted like a lie in Elouan’s mouth, but his need to protect Jules overrode his need to tell the truth.
“No, he’s not. He’s an omega, and he’s not for you.” Beads of sweat trickled over Curtis’s brow. His hands shook harder.
What the hell was going on? Elouan lifted both hands, dropping his jacket onto the floor. “Look, Curtis, I don’t knowwhat you think you’re doing, but you gotta let me go. Jules is waiting.”
“I heard you tell him to meet you at the coffee shop. Don’t worry. Dad will be there, along with a few friends.” A tear slipped from his eye down Curtis’s face.
Elouan’s heart stuttered. “Leon? What’s he going there for?”No! No! No! This couldn’t be happening!
"Father’s court ordered him long ago to find and stop the last Sandy Shoals omega from coming back to Adrakus if he ever wanted to return. Oh, I don’t know how you did in three years what we’ve been trying for one hell of a lot longer, but we…we have him now. With the omega kept under guard here, there will be no alliance without him to mate with the Mountain Meadows king. Their land will belong to Dad’s court.”
Alliance? Mountain Meadows? Teron?“What the hell are you talking about? You’re not even a dragon.”
Curtis visibly winced, then resolve wiped away any vulnerable expression. “A powerful mage has opened a portal. If we obey him, he will welcome Dad and me. He even said he can make it so I can shift.”
Oh, fuck. “Are you out of your mind? No mage alive can keep that promise. What’s his name?”
“Gwythyr.”
Rage thrummed through Elouan, hotter even than that night three years ago. “Curtis. Listen to me. Gwythyr is the reason I had to leave Adrakus. The reason my father is dead! He pretends to serve my uncle, but he serves only himself. Once you’ve done what he asks, you’re disposable.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because I’m your friend. I have been since the moment we met.” Elouan confessed, “I love you, man. You know that. We’re bros.”
The gun wobbled in Curtis’s grip. “Gwythyr said you’d try to influence me, but that you’ll do whatever he says to keep your brothers safe.”
Could Curtis have a hold over Daire and Anrai? No. One good sniff said he lied. Well, Elouan could lie too, and hope the lie didn’t prove prophetic. “Don’t you know that the Mountain Meadows king died years ago?”
