Page 33 of The Eternal Choice

“So, if you weren’t her mate, then you only carry hatred for your brother for succeeding in the challenge and taking the job you thought belonged to you,” I state. “Still a dick move not to get over your big ego and support your brother in my opinion.”

“Which means we still don’t know who is feeding the inside information to Tony,” Ernestino states with a load of frustration.

“We do.” Nario jerks free from the grip I still had on his shirt. “I was down here when I followed Leandro. He acted strange after I asked him about a phone call he received that I caught the end of. When I caught up with him in this tunnel he was placing an explosive. We fought, he detonated the explosive and I was caught underneath the rocks when the tunnel caved in.”

Again, no lies.

“Leandro? He’s the one responsible for giving inside information? He was Sienna’s mate? Fuck. Nothing makes sense anymore, and how the fuck can two brothers betray a clan leader?” Pain is edged in Ernestino’s voice.

“I didn’t betray you,” Nario snarls.

Shit. I taste a lie. Why? Ugh, maybe deep down he feels like he did? There’s no exact logic to my ability to taste lies. It also involves the feelings and emotions of the people themselves and how much guilt they feel, or their state of mind for that matter.

Giving his shoulder a shove I state, “Not fully acknowledging or supporting your clan leader is a form of betrayal. Though, it doesn’t compare to what Leandro did. I have no clue about his motivations, but he could have spoken up about being Sienna’s fated mate any time before your father accepted her for the arranged marriage.”

Nario and Ernestino share a look.

“What?” I ask.

Ernestino rubs the back of his neck. “The arranged marriage was discussed and agreed upon behind closed doors. Only the clan leaders were present along with their second in command, which was Nario at the time since our father was training him to follow in his footsteps. No one saw her, or was supposed to see them until the mating was in place. The marriage was a formality and would have taken place a few weeks later.”

“Like our union announcement to the clan,” I muse.

“Yes,” Nario grunts. “Things need to be planned and there’s a trial period for mates.”

“A trial period?” I gape at both brothers.

Both wince and I hold my hand up. “Okay, you do realize dragons are the most complicated and insane supernatural creatures I’ve ever encountered, right? Because you guys don’t just have issues, you have a toilet roll filled with instructions that don’t make any fucking sense.”

Nario grins. “Welcome to our world, sis.”

I flip him the bird and it makes him elbow Ernestino in the ribs. “She’s starting to grow on me, like a toadstool.”

“A toadstool,” I grit, ready to punch the idiot’s face.

“Focus, people,” my father snaps. “Lucian still can’t get a hold of Creed. If it’s Leandro who was Sienna’s mate and is working with Marshgloom, then it’s safe to say we should go over there and check.”

“Agreed,” Ernestino rumbles and we all jump into a run.

Nario is right next to me. A question flows through my mind due to the information he gave when he caught Leandro placing the explosive in the mine.

“What part of Leandro’s phone call made it suspicious?” I ask Nario.

Nario throws a glance in my direction. “Attack the gate and get inside as planned.”

“Get inside. No one got inside, right?” I muse.

Nario glances forward. “Don’t know, I was dealing with other shit.”

“What can they do if they get inside?” I wonder.

“Depends.” Nario’s steps falter.

I come to a stop next to him. “On what?”

“What’s the holdup?” Ernestino asks.

Without glancing at Ernestino I reply, “Give us a minute, we’re trying to find out.”

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