Page 61 of Dragon Unleashed

“You know if he asks Farrell…” She drifts off into silence.

“He won’t. Minotaurs will fly before Chano asks Farrell anything.”

“Give Chano time, Lorelei.”

Why the hell did I delay? Chano’s mine. Deep in my gut I know it now, with a certainty I didn’t have before.

“We’re fated. It’s meant to be.”

“Two months?” he bellows. “You knew, all that time.”

I didn’t expect him to turn up at my dorm demanding answers. I wanted to go to him. He’s pacing our small room like an injured rhino, bashing into things, tramping over Naeve’s precious yarn. I lay a hand on his thick bicep, trying to ignore the fact I’m shaking.

“I didn’t know how to tell you, Chano. I didn’t understand what happened between the upper demons and royalty until recently. And when I found out who my mom might have been… It’s not like I grew up a royal, Chano!”

He yanks his arm away and I wince. The skin on my hand might be mostly healed but it’s super sensitive.

“But you did know I’d care. You chose to keep it from me.”

Burying my head in my hands, I sigh. He’s right.

“I was scared I’d lose you. I swore I’d never care for anyone again, and then you barged into my life.” I stand in front of him, stopping him pacing and forcing him to look at me. “I wasgoingto tell you, after the ceremony. I wrote it all down so I wouldn’t chicken out. You found the note, you know I’m telling the truth. I thought if I told you after… I thought there was less chance of it tearing us apart.”

Chano scowls, shaking his head like he’s clearing it. “You wrote…” He hesitates. “You wrote that? I thought… No.Farrellhanded it to me.”

“Sure, and Farrell wrote my name on the bottom too.”

“There was no name, just a hand-drawn genealogy chart and a photo.”

“I…I wrote three long pages. I explainedeverything.”

Chano just shakes his head.

“And Farrell gave it to you?”

I’m going to kill him.

I grab both Chano’s forearms, ignoring the sting from my wound. “I love you, Chano. I wasgoingto tell you.”

He backs away, breaking out of my grip. “Once you’d trapped me. It’s not enough, Lorelei. Thank all the hells that our ceremony failed. At least the Fates have more sense than me.”

His shoulders drop and he turns on his heel and walks out of my room.

My hands bunch and I squeeze my eyes shut.

Farrell.

He did this. He caused this to come out in the worst way possible. With the worst timing. I’m ninety-nine percent sure Farrell gave Chano that photo deliberately. After he went rootingin my bag,afterhe took out my heartfelt letter and left only the stark truth.

When I finally find Farrell, he’s holed up with Silas, training like a madman. He’s so focused on battering the dummy in front of him he doesn’t notice me step into the gymnasium.

Silas’ gaze flicks up to me only after I’ve been in the room a few seconds, and he nods approvingly. Even if I can’t bond my fated, at least I’m learning. I’ve never been able to sneak up on either of them before. Silas lays a hand on Farrell’s shoulder, muttering in his ear and jerking his chin in my direction.

“I need to talk to you, Farrell Cuelebre.”

“Get the rest of the allegiance, they should be here,” Farrell snaps at Silas, barely looking in my direction.

Silas bows his head and makes for the door, offering me a sympathetic smile as he passes.

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