Page 25 of Fractured Sky
“I know that shooter movies are your favorite.That’s not the point.The point is that I’m not isolating myself, which means that I kept my promise.”
“You haven’t talked to your dragon yet.”
He was right.Sol hadn’t reached out to Dallin, so Dallin hadn’t reached out to him.He’d promised Sol that he wouldn’t push him, and he wasn’t, even though it was hard.He wished he could go to Sol and tell him about their shared past, maybe ask him what he was planning on doing.Dallin needed to know if he had to look for a new shield.
He hoped not.He hoped that after taking his time to wrap his mind around everything, Sol would continue being his shield.To know for sure, though, Dallin would have to ask.
Thinking about it was terrifying.What if Sol rejected him?What if he decided he wanted nothing to do with Dallin?After all, he didn’t know Dallin.He didn’t remember him, and it had to be weird to know that Dallin had been in love with the old version of him.Dallin wouldn’t blame Sol if he never wanted anything to do with him or the other mages ever again.
Sol had to feel like being one of them had put a target on him.He wasn’t wrong.Carlyle had taken Sol’s memories to get revenge on Dallin.He’d probably kidnapped Sol to do the same.Dallin wanted to ask Sol about what had happened during his time with Carlyle, but he wasn’t willing to bring up painful memories.He was pretty sure that the other mages were doing enough of that.
“I told him I would give him time to wrap his mind around everything and to heal,” Dallin explained.“We saw how bad things could go with the other dragons.I don’t want any of that to happen to Sol.”
“I get that, but ignoring him won’t help.”
“I’m not ignoring him.I’m giving him time to decide what he wants to do and to think about our bond.”Dallin sighed.“You know how it goes.Sol has no idea of who he was before.He wasn’t the one who entered the bond with me.That was Kent, and Kent isn’t here anymore.Solis tied to me, a man he doesn’t remember.Anyone would need time, and I’m happy to give that to him.”
“There’s such a thing as too much time, though.”
Tyne wasn’t wrong.It was a miracle that Carlyle hadn’t attacked yet, but he would.When he did, all the mages and dragons needed to show a united front.They needed to fight together, like a family.
“I’ll talk to him,” Dallin said.“But you still need to talk to Meyer.”
Tyne grimaced.“I promise everything’s fine with him.”
“He’s still walking around looking like someone killed his puppy, so I disagree.You promised that you’d talk to him.You didn’t keep that promise, and I don’t like that.”
At least Tyne had the good grace of looking guilty.It wasn’t what Dallin had in mind when he’d reminded him of his promise, but he’d take it.
“It’s complicated,” Tyne argued.
“I never said it wasn’t.Carlyle is going to attack us, though.We all know that.We need to be ready when it happens, and your dragon needs to know how to protect you during the fight.”
“He’s been training with the other dragons.”
“But he hasn’t been training with you.He doesn’t know how you’ll react to him physically saving you.He doesn’t know your boundaries and what you’re willing to let him do while you work.He doesn’t knowyou.He’s never going to know you if you don’t give him a chance, and you promised you would.”
Tyne looked like he wanted to argue, but he just rolled his eyes.“Fine.I’ll talk to him.”
Dallin wasn’t sure he could trust him, but he didn’t have a choice.
He got up from his armchair and went to hug his brother.He wished he could soothe Tyne’s pain, especially now that he understood it.Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do about it.The only people who could do something about this mess were Tyne and Meyer.
Dallin kissed Tyne’s cheek and pushed him toward the door.“Do it now.”
“Do I really have to?”
“You promised, so yeah.You talk to Meyer and find a way to work with him, and I’ll talk to Sol.”
“Fine.”Tyne paused.“I hope everything goes well with your dragon.”
“I hope the same goes for you.Remember that Meyer isn’t Peyton.No matter how angry you are at Peyton, he doesn’t exist anymore.Meyer is just wearing his face.”
Tyne groaned.“There had to be a better way to say that.”
There probably was, but Dallin didn’t care.He’d gotten his point across, which was what he’d wanted.Hopefully, Tyne was finally ready to face his past.
Dallin wasn’t sure he was, but he had to do it, whether he liked it or not.
