Page 67 of Heart of the High King
“Of course, they’re good friends and you’ll need a support system,” Dr. Suricata responded.
While Rafferty liked both men, his thoughts weren’t leaning toward commiserating about his diagnosis. What he wanted was justice.
∞∞∞
When the Reverent Knights discovered that Rafferty was finally ready to talk about what happened, they told him that they wanted to bring the Lich Sentinel and the Arch Lich to the hospital to handle the interview. It was unclear whether they thought he needed moral support or if they wanted a sentinel present to make sure he didn’t try to lie to them. Either way, it was fine with Rafferty, and he was sad to say he’d delayed them for nearly a week.
It took him time to deal with his diagnosis, and he’d channeled his emotions into physical therapy. While it might not be pretty, Rafferty was managing steps on his walker. From the moment he first woke from his coma, the men striding into his hospital room had tried to give him things, as well as Their Majesties.
Managing to keep them relegated to toiletries and some clothing, now that he was dying, he happily accepted the laptop and phone. The way Rafferty saw it, the electronics were simply on loan, and could be passed on to someone else once his pyre was ablaze. Since he was finally up and around, he was making good use of the jeans, shirts, and combat boots. Rafferty tried it with sneakers, but the braces made it too uncomfortable. It was nice that he had pants that fit appropriately and most of the stuff was dark, like the dragon that had deserted him.
The moment the computer had arrived, Rafferty had connected to the hospital Wi-Fi and searched for Aleksander. There was no news from D’Vaire, and he wasn’t surprised—the High King preferred home and family to making a splash, which Rafferty found commendable. Of course, the man who used to be his best friend and still held his heart had pictures around the web and Rafferty had stared at them for hours.
It had broken him, and he’d cried for what might have been. For a split second, he’d considered using the phone to dial the number he had memorized so long ago, but what could he offer but an apology?I’m sorry I left you. I’m sorry I trusted my fucking family. I’m sorry I spent so many centuries treating my dragon cruelly, which made him leave at the first chance he got. I’m sorry I didn’t escape sooner. I’m sorry I’m going to die. I’m sorry I fucking failed you.
“How are you feeling?” Conley asked, taking a seat next to Drystan.
“Okay, I guess.”
“Lie,” Mortis said.
Rafferty scowled at the wolf and swore he smiled back at him.
“I hear you’re walking,” Chander remarked.
“Yeah, I got all the way down the hallway today. It’s making the wounds on my hips bleed, but that’s what bandages are for, I guess.”
“Are you comfortable in your wheelchair, or did you want to get into bed before we talk?”
“I’m good in the chair.”
“Where do you want to start, Dermot?” Drystan asked.
“Let’s start with who I am. I used to live in Court Kestle; then my father and brothers kidnapped me from my bed and took me to a mine. I spent five months there. I was starved, beaten, burned, whipped, and they got creative. That’s why I have a weird assortment of scars on my body.”
“What’s your real name?” Alaric asked.
“Rafe.” No longer would he be Rafferty; he’d be the man Molly made him, not the one his father had tortured. “About eleven months ago, my name was Duke Rafferty Kestledraconis. My father is King Charlton, and my brothers are Dukes Sullivan, Nollan, and Neil. Though the twins helped drive me to wherever the mine is, I never saw them again. Only the other two sick fucks hurt me after that.”
“Where’s the mine?”
“I don’t know. I guess Kentucky, since that’s where I wound up in the hospital. I was blindfolded and a hood was over my head, so I don’t know where they drove to. When they starved me enough that I could get out of my manacles, I managed to escape. I guess you know what happened from there or at least what information the humans were willing to give you.”
“They haven’t given us much, and I’m going to guess if we waltz in and confront your father, he’s not going to simply confess.”
Rafferty shook his head. “Nope. It’s not the first time they’ve done this. I grew up with a woman called Molly who is Seneschal Duke-mate Kendrick D’Vairedraconis’s mother. They confessed that they killed her and were pissed that they didn’t get to torture her because he kept asking questions about his missing mom. They got off on hurting me. I’d guess that they’ve done this before. Looking back, there were certainly people that just disappeared. I was living on a fucking cloud or something, because I never connected the dots.”
“They victimized you, Rafe. None of what happened is your fault nor should you take any guilt for clues you are convincing yourself that you missed. Nothing could’ve prevented this tragedy other than the men at fault not going forth with their plans,” Conley said.
“Have you contacted anyone in your family since your escape?” Drystan asked.
“No. Not at Court Kestle and I didn’t talk to Kendrick either. Not that I would call him, I hardly know him, and I have no idea who I can trust.”
“Kendrick’s your brother too, right?” Chander inquired.
“Yeah, I’ve even visited him at D’Vaire. It’s nice,” Rafferty responded, mentally rolling his eyes at his penchant for using that word. It conveyed nothing of the true grandeur of the people and the place. There was no way he’d reveal his connection to Aleksander now or ever. When his soul was rebirthed, they’d be together but their relationship in this life was done.
For another hour, they went over some of the finer details of what Rafferty remembered about his trip to the mine, and he gave some insight into what his experience there was, but they questioned him gently, which he appreciated. They weren’t things he’d ever want to talk about, but he knew it was important to get it out so they could move forward with his case.
