Page 102 of The Breeding Cave
“You need my help, and you know it,” Gideon said. “We’re stronger together.”
I loathed how right he was. I fucking loathed it.
But if I wanted Yeosin back, he could help me. So could the Colossals. Only problem? I didn’t trust either of them, and I didn’t want to start when Yeosin’s life was on the fucking line. How could I?
“I don’t trust you,” I growled, heading through the forest. “Just don’t get in my way.”
“I won’t,” Gideon said, placing a hand on my shoulder and twisting me north. “They went this way. I know where they live. I’ve been following them for years, gathering intel on them. We’ll get Yeosin back, I promise.”
CHAPTER
FIFTY-SEVEN
GIDEON
I trudged through the dense forest with Luciano a few feet behind me, his glare burning into the back of my head. The dark canopy cast shadows across the overgrown ground. The scent of pine drifted through my nostrils, reminding me of a time long, long ago.
When Luciano and I had run through this forest, first as a playful game of tag, then while we were training to become warriors, then during the night that the dragons attacked us, when he told me to run and never look back.
That night, he couldn’t save me.
That night, I died.
That night, I had burned alive.
I peered over my shoulder, and Luciano scowled at me.
“Turn around and keep moving.”
After turning back on the path, I let my gaze fall to the ground. Luciano didn’t trust me, and I didn’t blame him. I wouldn’t have trusted me either. There were things that I couldn’t explain, secrets burned into me.
“Luciano, I?—”
His foot collided with the center of my back, and I hit the ground, belly-first. Still holding his wound closed, he stumbled over to me and kicked me as hard as he could in the ribs.
“I said to keep fucking moving.”
“You’re acting irrational,” I said, taking another swift kick.
He placed his foot against the side of my head, pinning me to the ground. “Where have you been for the past decades? I buried your body. I fucking buried you. And now you’re back? Now you’re alive?!”
“I can explain.”
“I gave you enough fucking time to explain, and you couldn’t. I’m not following you to my death,” Luciano said. “I’m not going to let you fucking kill me too. I’m going to find Yeosin myself, and then we’re leaving.”
“Leaving for where?” I asked. “The dragons will never allow that.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” Luciano spit, shoving me away and walking in the opposite direction. He had no fucking idea where the dragons’ den was, and he would never find it. Not as a beast. “Leave me and my mate alone.”
Once he was far enough away to where I knew he wouldn’t kick me again, I stood up on shaky legs. “She’s my mate too,” I called to him.
He tightened his fist, his entire body tensing as he stopped in the middle of the forest.
“How long have you been watching her?” he asked. “Stalking her.”
“Longer than you.”
Luciano whipped back around and glared at me, blood seeping between his fingers. If he didn’t get help quickly, then he would pass out, and I’d have to drag his ass all the way to the mountain so the rest of our pack could heal him.
