Page 2 of The Alliance

I couldn’t lie to my mate, and so I told him the truth.

“I thought you were proud. You had your mask in place and didn’t let any of your emotions show.”

He nodded and his voice was quiet when he spoke. “I was frightened. I didn’t know what to do.”

It was impossible for me to hold him tighter without crushing him but I pressed my lips against his skin, wanting to show him how loved he was.

“You don’t need to be frightened now. You’re safe here. And we love you.”

From across the room, Seren said, “Yeah, we love you, Morgan.” Then he ruined the moment by asking, “Isn’t it weird that the Hoskinses all tell each other that they love each other all the time?”

I huffed out a laugh when Morgan actually nodded.

“You agree it’s weird to say you love your family?”

He peeped up at me, his blue-silver eyes soft and beautiful. “Yes, it’s weird. But I like it.”

Again, I knew he was building up to saying something and I tried not to rush him, only held him close so he’d feel safe and he’d know he could say whatever he wanted to. It was a few minutes before he suddenly said, “Father never said that.”

“Never said what?”

“That he loved me.”

Seren pulled a face. “Lord Somerville? He’d never say he loved anyone. Was he capable of love?”

Morgan shrugged, and I felt the tension in his shoulders as he did it. It was hard for me to learn about his past and not be able to put it right for him. At least I’d be able to make the future good for him.

“He loved Alexander.”

Seren pulled that face again. “He loved having Alexander’s power. He liked the glory of a golden dragon in his clan, proof of his pureuasalblood.”

“I suppose,” said Morgan. “It explains why my father was always so disappointed in me, anyway. Because I was just plain silver.”

Seren said, “Silver like the rest of us.”

I said, “You’re the most beautiful silver colour, Morgan.”

He gave a little chuff of laughter. “I don’t mind being silver. I understand now that my father wanted me to be different. I literally wasn’t what he wanted. I wasn’t born that way. Wasn’t born golden.”

“I’d never have expected Alfie to be golden,” admitted Seren. “I didn’t think we’d get another golden dragon in our clan at all. Alfie’s nothing like Alexander was, although I was very young when Alexander died, so I can’t remember the details. I remember being scared of him, though. I’ve never been afraid of Alfie.”

“Alfie’s special,” said Morgan, and I smiled to myself. He’d used the same word to describe Alfie long before anyone knew he was a golden dragon, before he was the elder of the clan, before hehad any power whatsoever. Morgan had always thought his brother was special, and it was that love shining between them that made me sure this alliance was going to work.

It meant too much to us to let it fail.

Seren had sat still for long enough, apparently. He jumped up and began to pace again.

“When are they going to get here?”

I checked my phone. “Ten minutes.”

He sighed heavily. It was strange, to see him wound so tightly. I’d got used to seeing Seren relaxed, full of fun and cheek and energy.

I glanced at Dane, but he didn’t seem to understand any more than I did.

Before I could say anything, Morgan surprised me by pushing out of my arms and walking over to his cousin.

Morgan almost never left my arms willingly. He was always snuggling closer to me, letting me wrap him up and he smelled happiest when he was pressed right into my side. Having him walk away from me – even only a few feet away – shocked me.

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