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I shake my head. “No. I just need you to promise. This is a dangerous world, isn’t it?”
He concedes with a nod of his head.
“Alright, good. Thank you.” I go to squeeze his arm to show my gratitude, but he pulls back, eyes flicking towards Midas.
“Better not, Ra’a,” he says with the first hint of a true grin I’ve seen from him.
I smile back and step away from the older dragon, making for my second target.
“Can we talk?” I say as I approach Cyrus.
He tilts his head, assessing me. “If you’re trying to talk me out of the challenge, you’re wasting your breath.”
“I just want to get to know you.” I look behind me to check that Midas isn’t paying attention. He’s glaring directly at me. I give him a little wave and mouth, I’m fine. The moment someone steps in front of his view, I grab Cyrus’ arm and drag him outside the temple.
He could stop me if he wants, but the curiosity on his face tells me he won’t. Good. I need him to be curious if this is going to work.
Chapter 24
Once we’re outside, I let go of his arm. “Walk with me?”
He narrows his eyes, but when I turn to walk along the island cliffs, he falls into step beside me.
“So tell me about yourself,” I say.
“You really just want to shoot the breeze?” He laughs. “Drop the act, little Ra’a.” He says the title with a sarcastic lilt to his voice.
“Why don’t you believe I’m Midas’s mate?”
He kicks a stone, watching it fall to the ocean twenty feet below. “My brother would do anything to remain on the throne.”
“And you wouldn’t?” I snap back. “You plan on killing him! Or making him kill you.” I step in front of him, putting my hands on my hips. “Push me off the cliff, Cyrus. I’m not a dragon. I can’t fly myself to safety. Push me, and all your problems go away. You’ll get the throne on a technicality and you won’t have to go through with the challenge.”
His eyes are wide with shock, or maybe horror. “I’m not going to kill you.”
“But you’ll kill your brother? Your only family?”
“That’s… different.”
He starts to step around me, but I give him a hard shove. “Push.” Another hard shove. “Me.” A third. “Off. The. Cliff.”
“You’re crazier than a fucking hatchling. What do you think you’re doing?” His eyes are firm, burning with cold blue fire. “I’m not a murderer.”
When he moves to shoulder past me, I step closer to him on the cliff side. I take a deep breath, knowing what I’m about to do is a huge gamble. If I’m wrong… No. I can’t think about that. I block Cyrus again, provoking him more.
“You will be a murderer. If you go through with this challenge and kill Midas,” I accuse. “What has he ever done to you? He’s a good king, and you know it. He’s a better king than you’ll ever be. You don’t deserve that crown—not when you’d kill your brother to take it.”
Cyrus spins on me. I let my foot slip. My arms pinwheel as my body tilts out over the ledge. Cyrus watches with horror, but just when I lose the battle and go backwards, he grabs me and pulls me up to solid ground.
We’re both panting as he drags me away from the cliff.
“I’m sorry,” he gasps. “I didn’t mean to.”
“I know.” Cupping his cheek, I offer him a small smile. “You’re right Cyrus. You’re not a murderer.” I feel a little bad for doing what I did to prove that point, but his tortured face makes me hope I’ve gotten through to him. I look him straight in the eyes as I say, “Don’t murder your brother.”
A roar bellows out of the temple. Midas. Shit. He saw.
He shifts into dragon form as he runs towards us. I jump in front of Cyrus and hold up my hands, trying to stop my mate from making the biggest mistake of his life. “Midas!”
