I pull my lips into a thin line. I can’t argue with those points.
“And how are your people suffering?” I ask with genuine curiosity. It’s not that I’m calling him a liar, but I don’t know as much about the shifters as I would like, and this could be a chance to learn more. They’re very private and rarely even leave Torrynth.
His face falls, like what he’s about to say physically pains him. “You couldn’t know what it’s like… born to be one thing but having that urge suppressed, unable to act on it.”
“The urge to… shift? To fly?”
He nods, and his eyes are swimming with torment. Since getting to know him just a little, I’ve only known him to be a happy, smiling person so far. “Every single day, it’s like there’s something in us begging to be set free, but we can’t release it. The closest comparison I can think of is… perhaps to imagine the feeling of missing a limb… I don’t know.”
“Why are you sharing this with me?” I ask, feeling the pain in his words.
“I don’t want you to pity us. We loathe that over anything. But I want you to know… I think I trust you. I think you did hear some things, and you’ve yet to repeat it to anyone. And not only that, but you saved Daegan’s life. Why? I haven’t worked that out yet. I don’t know what your whole goal is here, but I think maybe we could be friends. Even allies.”
“And what if you’re wrong?” I ask, crossing my arms. My voice doesn’t come out as powerful as I intended it to.
His lip pulls back, his crimson irises gleam. “I don’t think I am.”
“I was also the one who turned him in, you know…”
“Yes, I know. But you thought you saw something else. You reacted. You might have even been in shock.”
I let my eyes flutter shut for a moment, the trauma of last night overtaking me again.
“You haven’t gotten out of this castle much, have you? Seen much of the world?” His voice is gentle, but I get defensive anyway.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that I don’t think you’ve seen much death and violence. If any at all.”
“I’ve been places…” I say softly, averting my gaze.
“Where?”
“None of your business.”
“Okay. Well, I mean what I said. What do you think?”
“What about Daegan? Did he put you up to this?”
His face becomes more serious again. “No. Daegan… he doesn’t know about this. In fact, he’ll probably be extremely upset with me over this conversation. He can be very stubborn, you see…”
I snort. “I never would have guessed.”
“Look, can we just keep this between us for now? I haven’t even talked to him since he’s been released. He was sent to another meeting with your father and his father. And speaking of… I should probably go now.”
“Okay, well…I’ll see you around, I guess?”
He smiles, letting out a chuckle as he turns and jogs off into the distance.
I watch him go, puzzled about the entire interaction and unsure what to do from here.
Chapter 13
I’ve slept through three nightmare-filled nights without seeing any of the dragon shifters, my father, or even Adrian.
All alone.
I haven’t even felt that prickling feeling of someone watching me from the shadows.
