Page 42 of Dark Fae's Desires
I swallow. “So, you’re happy with that?”
“Oh, yes, baby girl, very happy.”
I smile to myself and then stand up. There’s something I need to hear from him. As well as Theo and Rook. Only Jerrick gave me his absolution, and now I need it from Trey.
“Do you forgive me for what I did with Anders?”
He’s startled and rises as well. “Of course. I was never upset with you to start with. I knew as soon as you walked out of here earlier what you were going to do. It’s why we followed you. I knew you wouldn’t let him take you back to the palace.”
“Oh,” I mutter.
“Don’t look so surprised,” he chides, taking my hands. “I know you. It’s been a whirlwind, without a doubt, but I knew you the first time I saw you.”
“Such a charmer.”
“I’ve been called far worse, so that is music to my ears coming from you.”
I frown. “About Lianna…”
“I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
“Did you love her?”
“No, not even a little bit.”
“Then why go after your brother’s wife?” I have to know his reasons.
“She came after me, and Rex and I were no strangers to sharing a woman. I guess, I figured it would be the same. When it wasn’t, and he didn’t believe me that she’d thrown herself at me, taken her word over mine, it made me bitter. I wanted to hurt him. I had nothing else in my life to show me that what I was doing was stupid and childish. Then I met you, and…” He closes his eyes briefly as he smiles. “…you changed my whole world.”
“What about Delly?”
His face goes cold. “What about her?”
“Did you want her?” I hate the jealousy I hear in my voice. It makes me cringe.
“Yes,” he says, looking me in the eye. “She is beautiful;she is the Dragon Empress, and she is married to Rex. I saw no downside to pursuing her.”
“And now?”
“Now I know your beauty eclipses hers, inside and out. I no longer plead fealty to the Dragons. Rex can have her and be happy. I haveyou,so as far as I’m concerned, I win.”
I grin. “You have a way with words, you know that. I should worry.”
“Don’t,” he says seriously. “I’m only speaking the truth.”
I nod, accepting that. “Anything you want to know about me?”
His eyes go sharp, and I wonder what’s on his mind.
“Actually, yes,” he says and pulls away from me slightly. “Rath’Na. You intend to ask him to stay?”
“Yes, if he will.” I hope this isn’t going to cause an issue. I find him a fascinating creature, having lived so long, and there’s no denying he is really good-looking. We have a nice banter, and he helped me through the worst moments of my life. I hope they will all understand that and know there’s nothing more to it.
He contemplates that for a while. “He is my… well… not my grandfather, but he fathered Tiamat’s other sons. Not my father, so he says.”
“Oh,” I say, taken aback. “I—I didn’t know your father was a Dragon Prince.”
“That’sthe part you didn’t know?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.
