“So be it,” Masaru grumbled. “I’ll consider your words and visit with the goddess. We’ll speak again soon.”
“I have one other request,” Caelan quickly shot out before Masaru could dismiss him completely. “While you’re speaking with the goddess, I want to see Drayce.” He clenched his teeth and corrected himself at the confused expression on Masaru’s face. “I think he’s called Takahashi Souta here. I wish to see the dragon that was sent to guard me.”
For a heartbeat, Masaru’s expression was unreadable, but his mouth suddenly split into a grin that twisted Caelan’s stomach. There was nothing reassuring about that look. “Of course. I’ll have it arranged.”
Caelan offered a small bow of his head. “Thank you.”
He left the dragon lord’s study as quickly as possible, trying to ignore the rapid thump of his heart and the queasy slosh of his stomach. This was not good.
EIGHT
Drayce Ladon
Drayce moped. All of his attempts to break out of his prison cell since his brother’s visit two days ago had failed miserably. Brute force in his dragon form only resulted in headaches and a sore throat. And sneakiness in his human form apparently wasn’t his forte.
If he had Rayne’s smarts, he would have been out of there already.
Or even Eno’s fighting skills.
A sigh tumbled from his chest and he buried his face under his tail. Maybe it was best if he didn’t get back to Caelan. He had to have found a better bodyguard than him by now.
“Hey, pet!” a guard bellowed down the corridor. Drayce flinched at the sound as it bounced off the stone walls. “Your owner is here to see you.”
Owner? Drayce lifted his head. The guard wouldn’t dare refer to his father that way.
Oh, fuck! He meant Caelan.
Panic and hope warred in his chest. He tried to uncoil himself and straighten to face the bars, but the damn space was too small. He attempted to shift, but the collar’s power was still in effect. He couldn’t face Caelan like this. There was no way he could explain anything to the man. Part of him didn’t want to face Caelan at all after the years of lies, but his heart screamed for a glimpse of him.
The pulling sensation suddenly vanished. The guard had released the collar and a sob of relief welled up in his throat. Drayce instantly shifted into his human form, falling to his ass in the cell as Caelan stepped in front of the bars.
No one had ever looked so good or frightening to him in his entire life. Caelan Talos was his everything. He had been for years, and one word from this man could shatter Drayce completely.
After months of planning for this moment—no, years—now that he was faced with Caelan, all the words were trapped in his throat. He wasn’t sure what to say except to beg for Caelan’s forgiveness.
What frightened him the most was that Caelan’s face was utterly unreadable right now. He’d known Caelan for so long, understood his every mood and thought, better than even Rayne, but at that second, Drayce couldn’t even guess. There was a cold distance to Caelan he’d never seen. What had happened to his friend after he died? Was his Caelan still in there?
“You lied to me,” Caelan stated in a low, hard voice.
Drayce’s own voice cracked. “Cael.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I trusted you more than anyone else.”
Drayce scrambled across his cell on his hands and knees to the bars, using them to pull himself up. His entire body was shaking. Everything was poised on the edge of a cliff. His next words would either save him or plunge him into the abyss. “I promise, Cael, I didn’t have a choice. I had to swear an oath never to reveal my true nature unless it was a matter of life and death. I could only show myself if it was to save you or protect the Godstone. My life was forfeit if I ever told you or anyone the truth.”
Reaching between the bars, he stretched out a shaking hand toward Caelan. “I swear, I wanted to tell you. Every day that went by I wanted to tell you the truth.” Hot tears streaked down his cheeks and his words grew more fractured. “I wanted to tell you everything, Cael. You’re my best friend. I want you to know everything about me.”
Oh gods, please, he prayed to any of the gods willing to listen. Even if he never understands, never forgives me, if this is to be the end, just let me touch him one last time.
“Please Cael, I’m so sorry. So very sorry.”
It happened so quickly, Drayce was sure it was a hallucination. Caelan grabbed his hand, pressing his lips to his dirty palm as he stepped right up to the bars. He reached inside and pulled Drayce as close as he fucking could and their lips brushed, Caelan’s warmth mixed with cold metal.