Page 136 of Haunted

In case Ahnalyn acts, I twist my hand, and she stops, frozen in place, unable to speak.

I don’t have to worry about Seren. She’s bound in the back.

I stalk over to Aneirin’s crumpled body and rip the dragon stone from his neck.

“It never fails that someone has to play the hero. I thought you’d come and rescue your precious dragon.” I dangle the stone in front of myself. “So beautiful.” I long for a dragon connection. Neifion, I miss you. If anyone has a right to feel hatred, it’s me. “You know, Ahnalyn, I once had a stone.”

Spite filled, I stride over to her and yank her stone off. I put both of the dragon stone necklaces into my pocket. “Do you know what it’s like to feel every breath of your dying dragon?”

I narrow my eyes. Ahnalyn never felt the crushing blow of having her dragon murdered before her eyes. I experienced that. I felt him die! “No, you wouldn’t. I can assure you, it would haunt your dreams.”

Seren charges the barrier but crashes into it.

“But what does haunt your dreams, dear Ahnalyn?” I whip around to face Seren. “Be still. You’re wasting your strength.”

“Let them go. If a dragon is what you want, you already have me,” Seren says.

“Very noble, Seren, very noble. But you’re no good to me. You’re loyal to Niawen’s memory.”

“I warned her you were evil. She never should have trusted you.”

I wiggle a finger back and forth in front of Seren. “Tsk, tsk. Now, Seren. She did trust me, and loved me, and she gave me exactly what I wanted. See—she stands here right before me.” I run a finger down Ahnalyn’s cheek.

Seren hisses, but I am enthralled with my child.

“A daughter… and a grandson.”

A cry tears at Ahnalyn’s throat, but she’s nearly soundless, unable to form the wail that surges inside. A deep brokenness mars her heart-center as the truth solidifies in her mind.

He can’t be my father, she’s almost certainly thinking.

The truth could never be clearer. That’s right, Ahnalyn. Accept the truth.

The truth in her eyes also tells me one thing.

I will never measure up as a father.

I make a note to pay Owein a visit.

I turn to Seren, disgusted with Ahnalyn’s whimpering. “Oh yes, I once had a dragon, and he was taken from me. I only want what’s mine! I need a dragon who’s loyal to me. A new hatchling will take to any rider if they have their dragon stone. Give me an egg, Seren, and you can have your freedom.”

Seren’s claw scrapes down the invisible barrier. “I would never give you one of my eggs!”

I pace the cave. “Which one of these three is most precious to you? Cephias, your loving mate”—I close my fist in the air, compressing my energy around Cephias until he bellows. I release him before his ribs crack—“Aneirin, whose death would cause Cephias unbearable pain and agony; or Ahnalyn, the daughter of the rider you failed? You abandoned Niawen, Seren. You left her with me—Lord Caedryn, Master of Deception! Stupid dragon. And over a petty squabble. You should by all rights suffer the same fate.”

“Shut up! You’re despicable. Leave us alone!” Seren yells.

I brace my hands on Seren’s barrier and spit my words. “And Niawen realized too late how cruel I can be. She thought she’d left me, but I let her go. I had what I wanted. She was carrying my child. I only had to bide my time.”

I whirl around, wrap both my hands around Ahnalyn’s neck, and squeeze. I don’t intend to kill her, just frighten her. Ahnalyn gasps, limp in my grasp.

“Stop it. Stop it!” Seren yells. “I’ll lay you an egg. Just let them go. Let them go.”

I release my hold on Ahnalyn. My hands throb, and I wipe them on my cloak. “There, I knew you’d come around to it.”

Mellowed and pleased, I turn to my dear child. “But oh, your mother was exquisite. You have her features.” My voice deadens. “I’m going to give you wisdom to think about, half-emrys. From your father you also inherited an attribute other than your dark hair.” I lean in and whisper, “Can you feel the darkness? Can you feel the power? I passed a great legacy to you.”

Ahnalyn’s eyes bulge, but her protest is stifled because of her inability to move, although she struggles in vain to free herself.

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