Chapter 23
D ash stumbled as Tanis’s words reached his ears. Had he heard them correctly? Honestly, he wasn’t sure. “What?”
She leaned over his neck again and gave him a fierce hug with her entire body. “I love you, my beast. Should anything happen to either of us today, I wanted you to know my secret, as the last thing I want is to die without having told you.”
Tanis gasped as Dash literally disintegrated from beneath her. She started to fall into the dark shadow only to have it wrap around her and pull her against the rock hard body she’d come to know so well.
Before she could speak, he gave her a kiss so fierce that it left her breathless. Hot and cold. It was demanding and carried with it an unbelievable passion.
Everything faded away as she breathed him in and felt his strength enveloping her entire body.
At least until Dove cleared his throat to get their attention. “Anyone happen to notice an army going by? War coming? Any of this sound familiar?”
Dash pulled away from her lips to give him a stern glower. “Must you?”
“Must I annoy you? Yes. Battle...” He pointed over Tanis’s shoulder. “That way. You might want to join us since we are actually fighting for your kingdom, High King Hard-head.”
Ryper flew back toward them. He opened his mouth to speak only to have Dash hold his hand up to silence him.
“ You, go. I don’t want to hear it,” Dash said in a voice that brooked no argument. “We’ll be along right behind you.”
Rolling their eyes, the two of them, along with Halla, drifted off into the army.
Dash cupped her face and smiled down at her. “Wish you’d told me sooner, Dragon.”
“Sorry. I’ve never had good timing in anything.”
His eyes burning her with their tenderness, he shook his head. “Not true. You are perfect in every way.” He returned to being a unicorn.
Tanis was aghast as she found herself back in the saddle. How did he do that?
“And for the record, Dragon. I love you, too.” With those words spoken, he flew through the portal and landed them next to a beautiful manor hall.
Tanis barely had time to take everything in as her head reeled from his declaration.
Dash loved her. While a part of her had suspected as much, it was different hearing it from his lips. That made it more permanent. More real.
He loved her. That knowledge had her heart soaring. How could this even be possible? She’d headed out on her journey to find her brother’s killer.
And she’d found the last thing she’d ever expected to have.
Someone who loved her.
How could this be?
She’d been hated for so long that the thought of anyone loving her was as alien a concept as Karura and Keegan becoming best friends.
It just didn’t seem right.
Amazed, she savored the sensation of Dash carrying her up a small rise toward a manor house that sat on the hill as if it owned it. Regal. Polished, it was a great thing of beauty.
But that wasn’t what she was focused on. She wanted to talk in private with Dash. There were so many things she wanted to ask him.
Tell him.
Please let us have that time later...
As Dash started for the house, a crow flew at them. “They’ve been taken, Sire.”
Dash froze as he heard Chrysis’s words. “What?”
“Meara’s centaurs struck just after Ronan left to find you. They took the Outlaws hostage.”
He was baffled by her words. How could this have happened? The Outlaws were natural born warriors. Every one of them.
Even outnumbered, they should have escaped. Especially Elpis. As an oni, she couldn’t be held unless she wanted to.
“What of Ronan?”
“He returned after they were taken. Once I told him what happened, he went after them so he could gather intel for you. He’s in the trees around your palace, watching and waiting to give you a report.”
“And Meara?” he asked.
“She has her army gathered at the elfin portal to wait for you to come through it.”
Well at least Meara hadn’t learned of their new plan. Small comfort that, but it was a comfort, nonetheless. And he’d gladly take it.
Dash glanced around at their troops and considered the best way to handle this. It was hard to attack when he didn’t know where his friends had been taken.
No, where his family had been taken. The Outlaws were the closest thing to a family he’d ever known. He couldn’t put them in danger, even though he knew they could take care of themselves. The last thing he wanted was to give an order that cost one of them their lives. Especially not after losing Renata.
“Ryper?” he called for his brother who immediately flew to his side then tucked his wings in.
“You want me to secure the Outlaws?” Ryper asked.
That was why his brother was so valuable to him. He knew his thoughts without Dash having to voice them. “Take some of Naomi’s army with you. No need in doing something that dangerous without backup.”
Ryper inclined his head to him before he manifested his staff and walked toward their mother to ask about taking those soldiers.
Dash considered his options. It would be a forty minute march for the elves to reach the portal. His mother’s soldiers could get there in seconds. Long before one of Meara’s spies could reach her.
Divide and conquer.
“Commanders?” He summoned the elves to him as Tanis slid from his back and he transformed to his human body.
Dash met Baldur’s curious stare as Hinrik, Tova, the twins and their other leaders joined him. But his first comment wasn’t to Baldur. “Tanis, I want you, Keegan and the elves to march to my palace and secure it.”
She arched one vibrant red brow. “Where are you going?”
“I need to lead the others through a portal to route Meara.”
Tanis opened her mouth to protest.
Dash laid a tender finger against her beautiful lips. “I need you to secure my palace. Last I heard, your brother’s killer is there. You have an oath to fulfill, and I have a queen to kill.”
The concern in her dark eyes warmed him. “I would rather guard your back.”
“And I have no one else I can trust to secure my throne and hold it.”
Tanis froze as she heard Dash’s words in her head. But surely, she wasn’t the only one he trusted. “What of Dove?”
“He’ll go with you to protect you and show you the back road to the palace.”
“Who’ll protect you ?” she insisted.
He glanced over to his mother. “Naomi isn’t going to risk a centaur being crowned High Queen or King. She hates them more than I do.”
Nice way of publicly hedging while speaking an absolute truth. He was a politician. And a damn good one.
She narrowed her gaze. “Fine. I better see you at the palace.”
“You will. Promise.”
She pulled him against her and took a moment to savor their embrace, while praying it wasn’t the last one they’d share. “Don’t break my heart, beast,” she whispered in his ear.
Dove kicked his horse forward as Dash pulled away to join his mother. “Don’t worry, Tanis. He might be a unicorn, but he has nine lives.”
She laughed at the thought. “Thank you, Dove.”
“My pleasure.”
Viggo rode to her side. “It’d be my honor to share my horse with you, princess.” He held his arm down for her.
Smiling, she took his hand and allowed him to pull her up behind him. “Thank you, Viggo.”
“You’re very welcome. Besides, my mother would have my arse if I let anything happen to you or the High King.”
“Well, we can’t have that.” Smiling, Tanis held on to him as he kicked his horse forward to follow after Dove.
And if she had any doubts about her feelings for Dash, this quelled them. While Viggo was also exceptionally handsome, it was like riding with her brother. She felt none of the electricity or desire Dash caused every time he came near her.
The difference was remarkable.
You better stay safe, beast . Having found Dash, she couldn’t bear the thoughts of returning to her solitary life. She had no idea how they’d manage this relationship going forward, but she was determined to try.
Dash paused beside his mother who was riding a huge okuri inu—yokai wolf. Bigger than even a bear, it made his mother look tiny on its back.
“I thought the okuri inu were escorts.”
She gave him a peeved stare. “He is escorting me. Straight to battle, or are we wasting time?”
“We’re going for Meara. Can you have your dragon conceal himself?”
“He’s not a dragon... he’s a dragon-eater.”
Dash shook his head. “Whatever he is, he’s large enough to give them warning and time to attack.”
Naomi whistled to the Karura. He instantly vanished, yet Dash knew Kyran was still there. He could feel the thrumming breeze caused by Kyran’s wings.
“Thank you.”
Naomi inclined her head to him. “Lead us to victory, my precious king.” She pulled the reins for her okuri inu and turned it toward the elfin gate and the portal she’d created for their larger members.
One by one, all the members of her army vanished. This was why his father had been determined to wipe the Tenmaruns out. They were almost impossible to battle. If you weren’t one of them, you couldn’t see them coming.
Dash didn’t have that problem. Being part oni, he had no trouble seeing them as moving wisps.
In all honesty, he was grateful that Tanis wasn’t with them. While he knew her armor would protect her, he really didn’t want to see her in battle.
Especially not after her confession.
Trying not to think about that or how much he really did love her, too, he ducked through his mother’s portal and came out with his mother’s troops near the ruins where he’d found Renata’s body.
It was hard to believe so little time had passed. In some ways, it seemed an eternity.
Right now, it was a blink and that blink hit him hard. He could see the image of his sister lying dead in the grass. Feel his grief over her loss anew.
Don’t think about it.
He needed to focus on the battle and not his emotions.
As much as he’d loved his sister, he loved Tanis even more. This fight was for her. To make sure she had a safe place where no enemy could touch her. Where no dragon could ever again make her feel like she was unworthy when she was the noblest creature he’d ever had the honor of knowing.
She was his heart, and he would make sure no one ever again hurt her.
As they neared the centaur army, Dash stopped.
“Why do you hesitate, waga ko ?” His mother’s voice was loud and clear in his head.
He jerked his chin at their enemies. “ Take Meara hostage. Do not kill her.”
His mother gave him a fierce scowl. “ Why ever not?”
“Because I want to torture her.”
“Oh. Why didn’t you say so?”The proud smile on her face sent a chill down his spine. There was the evil mother he knew so well.
The world had no idea how lucky it was that his father had been married when the two of them met. Though to be honest, he was surprised neither of his parents had murdered Renata’s mother just to get her out of their way.
He really did wonder how Shalia had escaped that death sentence.
Not that it mattered.
Right now, the only thing of importance was the army that had yet to detect them.
Dash met his mother’s gaze. “They’re your troops, Gosei no kimi —” Sovereign lady. “You call it.”
She didn’t hesitate. Her order for battle rang out. The oni rushed forward to attack.
Turning into a unicorn, Dash ran straight for Meara as she and her troops turned around in a panicked frenzy to battle them.
Decades worth of pent-up fury drove his hooves into the ground and carried him quickly toward his sole target. He wanted to bathe in Meara’s blood. To let her know the fear and horror that she’d mercilessly meted out to him and his brethren.
Over and over, he saw the faces of the young hostages who’d died from her beatings and abuse.
Saw Yutaka. The guilt, grief and anger inside him demanded blood vengeance.
Meara would pay for it.
One of her human soldiers rode out to cut him off. Dash was having none of that. He turned human to slash at the first one who reached him, then blasted the second one with a fireball Tanis would have been proud of.
He cut through them with little effort. Returning to his unicorn body, he leapt over the third one.
Meara drove back the oni she was fighting just as Dash reached her.
He lowered his head, intending to skewer her with his horn just enough to wound her.
His unicorn horn caught her shoulder at the same time he felt something hot pierce his side. Thinking it was a dagger or sword, he started to laugh until he realized what she had in her hand.
Renata’s wand.
Dash went down hard. Everything around him began to swim. He couldn’t focus his gaze. Unimaginable pain tore through him as he lay on his side and looked up at the cold bitch he hated most.
Hers was the last face he wanted to see. Meara had haunted him enough.
Closing his eyes, he conjured an image of Tanis. His only regret was that he would break her heart, after all.
Please forgive me, my dragon.
Naomi felt the pain in her side and knew in an instant that her son had been stabbed.
Not by regular means.
That damn horn from that whiny little bitch she should have strangled at birth. Damn you, Cratus!
Why had she allowed him to talk her into mercy?
Unmitigated rage tore through her as she flew from the back of her mount and made her way through the air to her son. If she lost her baby to them...
She’d bring them back to life to torment them for eternity!
Meara looked up at her approach and paled. With a shriek of terror, she ran into the crowd.
The only thing that saved the centaur from her wrath was the sight of Dash lying on the ground, bleeding. Naomi lowered herself to him so that she could pull his unicorn head into her lap. He was barely breathing.
“Kyran!” She summoned her second-in-command.
In the form of a man, he appeared instantly at her side, then paled as he saw the condition Dash was in. “ Gosei no kimi?”
“Kill them all, except for their leader. I want Meara alive!” She would enjoy making her suffer and if Dash died, Meara would pray for death, too. “And find that damn wand!”
For now, she had to attend to her son, and Marthen better know some spell to save Dash’s life.
Otherwise, she’d be mourning her brother, too.