Chapter Forty-Five. When You’re Betrayed
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
WHEN YOU’RE BETRAYED
JAMES
“And you can craft gold.” My mother’s eyes water in sincerity. “I’m so proud of you, James. So proud.”
“You’re proud of me?” It’s not as if my mother hasn’t ever spoken those words before.
But now they stick to my insides like tar.
It was my father. My strict father who’s never complimented me.
We were supposed to be against him. I was going to save my mom from this gilded cage.
And now she speaks of gold-crafting like it’s an honor?
I only have this ability because Farren was falling to her death.
And now I know she fell on Mom’s orders. Nity died on her orders.
“Why?” Farren asks, tears also in her eyes. “Why did you kill Nity? Why did you hurt my father?”
Mom sighs and her face hardens in concern. “I’m sorry, Farren. The gold dragon was never supposed to be killed. Your father was never supposed to be hurt. Things got … out of hand.”
“Out of hand?” Farren echoes like she’s trying to understand why she almost died in my arms. Why I had to wait to see if she would wake up in the hospital and then tell her that Dr. Walsh was down the hall in critical condition.
My jaw clenches so hard I think I might crack a tooth. “She didn’t ask for an excuse or apology. You’ve never cared about metal. You don’t even like dragons. So why? Why did you do this?”
“Honey, let’s talk later. Right now, we have to leave.” Mom flips the trunk closed and buckles it with a clack of sound.
My mother always talked about leaving, returning to Hardsill and escaping Forsen.
Even as she sat on the couch downstairs and agreed I should bail off Hort and pretend away my broken arm.
She talked about leaving as much as she told me that Dad doesn’t mean what he says, that he just wants the best for me, would never hurt us.
Even last night on the phone she reassured me she could make up a story about visiting Aunt Roisin in Hardsill if her diversion fell through.
Your father won’t hit me, she’d said. No, he’ll just drive his fist into the wall beside her head.
Smash glass close enough to cut. But after all these years, this is how she leaves?
By destroying the last golden dragon. “How could you?”
“James, I will do anything to protect you.” Mom swings around and clutches my hands. “Anything.”
I drop out of her hold. “Don’t put this on me. Don’t you dare claim murdering Nity was for my sake. I never asked for anything like that.”
“You didn’t have to. I’d die for you. I’d even kill for you.”
“And now you have,” I say, and it comes out like my father, cold.
“James,” she sighs my name like I’ve failed an assignment.
But what right does she have to be disappointed in me?
“She was just a dragon, your life is more important. Dragons are dangerous beasts, killers. I never wanted you, my son, anywhere near dragon racing. Every time you flew…” Her eyes clench shut as she pauses.
“I thought after you almost drowned, I had proof of how we could lose you, and all because of your father’s obsession.
But he didn’t stop. I never wanted to live like this.
We need to escape him. With gold, we can. ”
“Then where’s the rest of it, Mom?”
She frowns at my tone. “Rest of it?”
“The rest of the gold,” I demand, tired of playing games, or repeating my questions.
“But I heard the dragon fell in the ocean. Isn’t this all of it?” she stammers.
What?
Mom shakes her head like that’s not an issue. “This is still plenty. It’s enough to start a new life, James. We can finally leave!” She’d sounded excited on the phone last night. Hopeful. Now, I know why.
My eyes flicker to Farren and my heart stops at her expression. She’s guarded, bending into a stance like she’s willing to fight me for it. “I can’t let you. The hatchlings need it,” she breathes.
“Hatchlings? What hatchlings?” Mom asks.
“The dragon you killed had three six-week-olds,” I answer.
Mom inhales. But with a little shake of her head she wipes that fact away.
My mother was always cold, unhappy, but I’ve never seen the woman who raised me as callous as my father.
Maybe I wasn’t paying attention. But when he broke my arm, I think her worldview shattered.
He crossed what she’d assumed was a firm boundary.
Being slapped or spanked could be justified as strict lessons.
Crushing my arm until I collapsed from pain, however?
He couldn’t continue to claim he had my best interests at heart after that.
“How did you do this? Those men were Dad’s scalers.”
“I had help,” she confirms. “I—”
Help as in those poachers? “Do you have any idea how vicious those men are? What they did? And you let them come for Farren, for the Walshes, for good people. You let them kill her.”
“I didn’t want that dragon dead. Believe me.” Her tone edges into exasperation.
“As if your intentions matter now. She’s gone. She’s GONE!” My voice shakes. “And you allowed it. Allowed them to butcher her.”
“Careful. You’re sounding like your father, son,” a voice says behind us. We all turn at the intruder. Dr. Burke stands in the doorway with steely gray eyes.
“We should get going as soon as possible,” Dr. Burke says. “Ready, Aine?”
“John … he refused to leave when you called. He could tell. So, I said I was going to Hardsill for a few days, but…” Mom’s words fade and my eyes jolt to that fresh hole in the wall. But then I freeze when Mom slips into Dr. Burke’s arms.
“I know. Let’s get out of here now.”
She nods like she trusts him. Like they are together. I stagger backward, like I’ve been punched.
“I know this is all quite sudden and you have a lot of questions.” Dr. Burke presses his lips together like he can’t quite say the rest. “But I’m here to help your mother, son. I’m here to help you.”
I had help. This was his mother’s help? This is who sent those poachers? Art’s words ring again in memory. This is all for you. For your own good.
But … But Dr. Burke is nice. I’ve known him almost my entire life. He wouldn’t have sent those poachers. He’s the opposite of a killer.
“How? How did you help?” I want to hear him admit it.
“Come outside,” Dr. Burke says. “I’ll explain.”
Farren raises her hand, a blade of gold extending outward like a threat. “I don’t want explanations and I don’t need them. Take us to the rest of the gold. Now.”