Page 48 of Dragon's Revenge

“You don’t have to take my word for it. Come see for yourself. Let me return to my pack and join me. You’ll be able to meet the Doyle clan and confirm that none of them are evil.”

Duff had started shaking his head before Rhene was even finished. “You’d kill me.”

“I swear upon the True Alpha and the True Omega that no one from either pack or the Doyle clan will lay a hand on you.” Another wave of Erwan’s emotion came through their bond, and Rhene’s knees buckled, sending him to the floor as he kneeled in front of Duff. “Please. Please let me return. My mate needs me.” As an afterthought, he added, “And you need answers. Or you’ll never be able to accomplish whatever plan you’re executing.”

“I don’t?—”

“Before you kill someone, don’t you at least owe it to them and yourself to confirm they are guilty of what you’re accusing them of? Otherwise, you’ll be no better than those evil dragons you so fiercely condemn.”

Duff stared at him, and Rhene held his breath. Had it worked? Was he getting through to Duff?

Then something struck him. Duff didn’t know about the prophecy of Seamus the Librarian. He didn’t know that all of this was foretold. “Have you ever heard of Seamus the Librarian?”

“Of course. Everyone has. He was famous.”

“Did you know he had a vision about all of this?”

Duff froze. “A vision?”

“The dragons will be faced with the choice between honor and betrayal, and they must choose wisely. Old alliances will be reconsidered, with implications that will impact generations to come. But when the White Dragon and the True Alpha join forces, peace will reign.”

“B-but that was about that time, right? He must’ve said that way back when.”

“He did, but we believe it’s about our time, and he was talking about Lidon and Erwan.”

More words danced on the tip of his tongue, but he held them back. He’d made his case and argued his points. He’d said enough. Now, he had to wait for Duff to come to a decision.

ChapterNineteen

I’m trusting that the universe wouldn’t be so cruel as to take me from my mates when we’ve just found each other.

Delton’s eyes filled with tears all over again as his mate’s words kept repeating in his head. Adar had spoken the words with so much conviction. He’d been so certain of himself, of fate, of his future with his mates…and now it all hung in the balance. Had they tempted fate? Had it been hubris, and now the universe was punishing him for being so arrogant? It couldn’t work like that, but the thought was hard to let go of.

Oliver had finally stopped sobbing, but Delton still held the omega, who’d found a safe spot against his chest. They were on the clinic’s waiting room floor, Delton’s back slumped against the wall. His legs were going numb, but he couldn’t make himself move, as if staying in the exact same position would somehow ensure everything would be okay. If he shifted, something might happen.

Nonsense, of course, but what else could he do? His mind spun in circles, processing what Erwan had told them, trying to wrap his mind around what Adar had done. The alpha had fought Dempsey. Knowing Dempsey had powers and abilities Adar didn’t have, he’d still taken him on…and he’d still come out the victor.

He’d killed him, taking revenge for all the pain, all the violence, all the trauma the man had inflicted upon Oliver. Somehow, Adar had found the strength, the sheer willpower to win that fight, even with Dempsey cheating by using magic.

“It’s not worth it,” Oliver whispered, pulling Delton out of his head.

“What isn’t, love?”

“Killing Dempsey. Adar being this hurt wasn’t worth it. I’m not… He shouldn’t have…”

Delton kissed the top of his head. “Adar felt differently. To him, it was a matter of honor and justice. Dempsey had to somehow pay a price for what he did to you, even if that came at Adar’s expense.”

“But what if he…?”

Delton had no trouble finishing that sentence. What if Adar died? Enar had said Adar’s condition was critical. Not serious, but critical. It all depended on how the surgery went—and neither Enar, Maz, nor Quico were surgeons. Did they have the skills to save him?

“He’s not going to die.” The words fell off his lips before he could stop them, but they resonated so deeply inside him, with such truth, that he held on to them like a lifebuoy in stormy waters. His wolf somehow knew, and Delton wouldn’t second guess. “He’ll make it through.”

Oliver leaned back and met Delton’s eyes. The poor omega’s eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, his face all splotchy, and his nose runny, yet he still looked beautiful to Delton. “How do you know?”

“I can’t explain it, but I do. My wolf is certain of it.” A strange unrest tickled inside him, like the sensation of knowing he’d forgotten to do something. Something important.

He closed his eyes and focused, emptying his mind of everything else. His wolf was trying to send him a message, but what? It had to do with…Erwan. The White Dragon.

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