Page 4 of Fractured Sky
Dallin didn’t usually yell at people.In fact, he prided himself on being calm and keeping his cool even in complicated and heated situations.Today, though, he snapped.
“The fuck this has nothing to do with me,” he yelled at Tyne.
Tyne’s eyes widened, and he took a step back as if he expected Dallin to attack, which was ridiculous.He would never hurt anyone, let alone one of his brothers.He did have enough of this mess, though.
Dallin was on a roll, and he couldn’t stop.He wasn’t sure he wanted to.“You’re one of the lucky ones.You got your shield back.Your dragon is here at the castle, and he’s doing everything he can to fix whatever he broke when he was a different man.I wish I could’ve had that opportunity.I wish Sol was here.He’s not.He’s with Carlyle, and I have no idea what’s going on.I don’t know what Carlyle’s doing to him, but there’s a good chance he’s hurting him, and I might never see him again.Why the fuck would you waste the opportunity to be with Meyer?Why would you waste a second chance whenIdon’t have one?”
“He was going to leave me.”
It took Dallin a moment to understand what Tyne was saying.“What?”
“Meyer.He was going to leave me.That’s why I’m so angry at him.It’s why I don’t want to spend time with him.The spell against Carlyle was supposed to be the last big spell we worked together.He was going to leave after that.”
Dallin sucked in a breath.That was the last thing he’d expected, especially with the way Meyer was trying to get Tyne to talk to him.He wasn’t the same man he’d been back then, though.He wasn’t Peyton.
Tyne turned before Dallin could say anything.Dallin didn’t try to stop him.He didn’t think he would succeed even if he did.He didn’t know if Tyne had intended to tell him that, but the secret was out now, and Dallin had no idea what to do with it.He didn’t know what to tell Tyne to make everything better because there was nothing that could make that happen.
Tyne’s shield had been leaving him.Of course he was angry.Of course he was pushing Meyer way.
But Meyer wasn’t Peyton.He was a different man, and he had no idea what he’d done back then.He deserved to, and he deserved to be given another chance.
Dallin wasn’t sure Tyne would give him one.
* * * *
SOL WATCHED CARLYLEstorm away.It was becoming routine, and while Sol was glad that Carlyle wasn’t hurting him, he couldn’t help but wonder if that was just because he hadn’t yet reached the end of his patience.
Carlyle was frustrated and angry.He was trying to do something to Sol, but it wasn’t working.How long would it take for him to decide it was Sol’s fault?What would he do when he did?
Sol glanced around the cell.What Carlyle thought of him was clear, and he didn’t have a lot of hope that would change anytime soon.He was an instrument, something to use, and if Carlyle couldn’t use him, he would discard him without thinking twice about it, which was something Sol was trying to avoid.
This time, it didn’t take that long for Graham to appear.He didn’t have a tray, but it was early for Sol’s meal.No, Graham was here to clean up the mess Carlyle had left behind, like always.
“Hey, Graham,” Sol said in what he hoped was a friendly tone.He couldn’t tell anymore.He’d been alone for too long.
Graham ignored him, which wasn’t a surprise.He quickly went to work, picking up the mess and reaching for a broom.He’d have to mop, too.There had been liquids in whatever Carlyle had thrown to the ground.
“He’s getting angrier,” Sol murmured.“I’m kind of scared.I’m pretty sure he’s going to hurt me eventually.”
Graham stopped moving.He glanced at Sol and bit his lower lip.Sol prayed he was finally getting somewhere.
He pressed closer to the bars.“Please.I know you don’t want me to die.I don’t know what Carlyle has on you, but I promise I can help you escape.You need to let me go first, though.”
When Graham hesitated, Sol knew he had him.He needed to give him an incentive so he’d let him go.He needed to convince Graham that this was the right thing to do.
“What the fuck is going on here?”Simon snapped as he walked in.
Sol sighed.He’d been so close, dammit.
“Nothing,” Graham murmured, staring at the floor.
Sol was pretty sure they were brothers because they looked like each other, but it was clear that Graham was scared of Simon.He’d never seen Simon hurting Graham, but he didn’t need to see it to be sure that if he hadn’t yet, he would.Both he and Carlyle were getting antsier as the days passed.
“You’re not done cleaning up yet?”Simon asked.
“Almost.”
“I’ll finish here.Go back upstairs.Carlyle wants a snack.”
