AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Merciless and treacherous creature!
“It’s not three true loves, but four,” I ground out, clenching my jaw with every word.
A deadly silence from my mates stretched, hurting me more than any loud objections, for I’d hurt them. How I hated myself for that.
Sphinx gave me a satisfied smile. “The path ahead is long, merciless, and treacherous, Daisy Danaenyth, who wants to be the new protector of the Dragon Realm and your mates and the people who don’t want you.”
“Will you step aside and let us pass now?” I grated.
“I have something else for you to muse in your spare time, Keeper-to-be,” he said. His sightless eyes reflected the dark stars and their terrible secrets.
Gain the first and lose the last. Keep the last, and the first will be shattered bones. Heart doesn’t know. Heart betrays. Heart breaks. Heart divides. Heart deceives. Only the greatest sacrifice and boldest move wins the wickedest game.Sphinx sank into the ground, yet his words didn’t disappear; they echoed in the chamber of my pounding head.
That dark promise, like the nightmare I had, dragged my heart into the deep, damp ground with him.
Sybil chirped,We won! We won!
She flew ahead of us toward the cornfields. Henry chased after her as if she were a butterfly.
I averted my gaze from my mates. I’d rather my heart to be the only one broken, but I seemed to be the one who was going to break a lot of hearts.
“Go on,” I said, and followed Sybil’s trail.
We prowled through the path. My mates’ hurt devastated me. Blaze’s, and even Rai’s silent accusation of “Aren’t we enough for you?” in their wounded eyes haunted me. They thought I had something going on with Elvey behind their backs.
I understood their perception of my betrayal, and right now I could barely face them. My own shame wouldn’t leave me alone.
I had no intention of adding one more man to the mix and making the situation even more complicated. I’d just gotten used to the pattern and rhythm with my three alpha dragon princes. They were, for sure, more than enough for me. They were my anchor and my world, and they were always there for me.
But how could I tell them that? Would they even believe me when I did?
I loved them with all of my heart. But still, another man outside their circle tugged at my selfish heart. If I could choose not to have feelings for Elvey, I would.
I wanted to turn to my mates and tell them how sorry I was, but it wouldn’t mend their hurt feelings while my heart also had one more spot for another man.
I didn’t want to lie to any of my mates.
I walked ahead of them in heavy silence.
In the middle of the path between rows of corn, I gave them a backward glance, and all three of them stared back at me. Just then, a shadow of wings flitted by overhead.
“Protect our mate!” With a shout, Blaze lunged at me to shield me.
Rai raised his longbow, an arrow with an iron shaft was nocked and flying through the air before I could even draw a breath. There were over two dozen arrows inside his hip quiver. Rai was said to be one of the best archers in the Oslan Dominion.
Elvey had laid out the conditions he knew about Arianrhod’s quest: no more than seven companions, no magic except the magic I could draw from the land, no shifting, and no technological weapons.
Iokul’s eyes darted, seeking threats around the cornfields and leaving the sky to Rai.
Rai’s arrow didn’t find the target.
“It’s not a dragon,” Rai said. “It’s something else. It intentionally keeps out of our sight.”
“Maybe it’s another test?” Blaze asked.
I stepped back from Blaze’s shielding, my twin daggers in my hands. I wasn’t going to be in his shadow or anyone else’s. “I can fight. I’m also a dragon.”
Who would have thought there would be a day the retired three Furies—the very definition of nightmare—would be regarded as a damsel?
