Page 47 of Killian
“I only suggest it because your father took issue with it,” Brogan replied.
“I fancy men, Brogan,” Aleksander retorted, his dark gaze irritated.
Brogan blinked heavily as Dravyn processed his own reaction to his cousin’s news. Dravyn had not known Aleksander preferred men, but it made no difference to him. In his mind, people were free to love whomever they wished, regardless of what King Ethelin had preached in their youth.
“You do?” Brogan asked. “Well, that is news to me.”
“It is of no consequence; I prefer men too,” Zane offered.
“I am attracted to both men and women,” Marcus replied with a shrug.
“I am fond of women myself,” Madeline added with a smirk.
Larissa chuckled. “I should hope so. What of you, Noirin?”
“Men catch my eye,” Noirin said. “But I recognize a beautiful face, whether it be male or female. Of course, no one compares to the lovely men and women sitting at this table.”
“Aleksander, I would take you to task for keeping a secret from your best of friends, but we spent too many years separated for you to have had the chance to make such a confession,” Brogan remarked, returning to his meal. “If you take no issue with Dravyn being attracted to a man, why do you not welcome his mate to our home?”
Dravyn sighed and stared at the cooling food in front of him. Although he’d been enjoying the fruits of Noirin’s labor in the kitchen, he suddenly lacked an appetite. “Are you upset he is magickind and not a dragon?”
“What use do I have for dragons other than the ones reviled by our kind?” Aleksander asked, his voice dripping with resentment and vitriol. “I do not lump myself in with other dragons, and neither should any of you. We are D’Vaires first. Set aside by our kind. Deemed cursed by those who fancy themselves the rulers of our people. Fate has forsaken the dragons, and it is well-deserved. Imagine hating someone for no other reason than having a festering black heart. Can you fathom what it must be like to wake up in the morn and decide innocent people need to die to satisfy the evil in yourself? No, I do not hate magickind. I cannot even bring myself to hate dragons despite their ill treatment of my family. But I will not toil at their sides or welcome them into our home. I am glad Fate picked something besides a dragon for you, Dravyn. I hope he is a peaceful man.”
“We are still learning about each other, but I believe him to be,” Dravyn replied, hoping he was correct. If he did not grow so conscious of himself and his every word in Killian’s presence, he would have gained more knowledge of the man. But Dravyn gave in to his fear each night and ran to shift into his dragon so he could escape. It was foolish, but Dravyn had lived too long catering to tyrants and lacked trust in himself.
“If you do not dislike magickind and you are not against two men sharing a matebond, then why would you prefer Dravyn’s other half to stay away?” Marcus asked.
Aleksander swallowed so heavily, Dravyn heard the sound from several chairs away. Their King bowed his head, and his long locks slid forward to block much of his face. His shoulders sagged. “Killian the Dwyer you called him, yes?”
“Yes,” Dravyn replied.
“The ruler of his people.”
“Yes.”
“Once before in my life, I met the leaders of a race. Things did not end up well for them.”
“Aleksander, you cannot take the blame for the murders of our Emperors,” Brogan stated furiously. “It was not your fault. Do not buy into the delusion that you are cursed by Fate. No, the truth is far from that. You have gifts. A gold circle in your eyes. There is no other living dragon we know of that has such. The truth is, you were hidden away because you may have a very real claim to the throne.”
“No,” Aleksander replied. “I do not. Fate marked me as a King distinctively. I felt the burn in my eyes as the silver and gold were added. Do you recall that moment? Our last name was etched onto my arm for a precious few moments. I did not experience that after the death of our Emperors. While I cannot explain the glimmer of gilt around my irises, it has nothing to do with the empty throne of dragons.”
“Be that as it may, my father could not be sure everyone would treat him like a leader if a man with gold in his eyes was known,” Zane said. “Brogan is right. You were hidden for a reason.”
Dravyn’s mood soared at the knowledge that Aleksander held nothing against Killian, but it was tempered by his sadness for his cousin. The man had deserved far better than the horrible treatment he’d endured for a century and a half at the hands of the Imperial Duke and his ilk.
“It would be an honor for me to introduce you to Killian,” Dravyn told Aleksander, meeting his dark eyes. “I do not know when I will ask him yet, but someday I want him to know all of you.”
Aleksander’s gaze remained wary, but he nodded. “I will respect your wishes, and the honor would be mine.”
“Good, then it is settled,” Noirin stated, reaching out and patting Dravyn’s arm. “As soon as you are ready, invite him, and I will cook a feast for us to enjoy.”
“Thank you,” Dravyn answered, eager to find the courage soon to do as his sister requested.
???
Instead of embracing his bravery for inviting Killian to his King’s tiny court, Dravyn was nervously donning a cloak for an evening with his other half.
“Dravyn,” Noirin called out before Dravyn made it out of the door.
