Page 66 of The Silent Mountain
“He is not the only one who should get rest,” Stefan mutters.
I feel a twinge of annoyance again. “Pardon me?”
“Nothing,” he says. “I was just talking to myself, Your Highness.”
“I need to talk to Elio,” I say to Theodor. “If you are right, and he isn’t far off, then I assume you have an idea where to look.”
“I indeed have a vague idea,” Theodor says. He looks at me tentatively, as if he is gauging my reaction. It makes the vein on my neck pulsate slightly.
“So,” I say, not hiding how displeased I am. “You also believe I would harm my brother.”
“No, that’s not it,” Theodor stutters. “I… it’s just… as the king, Your Highness is the strongest of us, and one slap could break Elio’s neck.”
“What makes you believe I plan on hitting him?” I ask in return. When Theodor stays quiet, clearly flustered, I nod. “Exactly. So, where is he?”
“When Maggie, Elio and I ran from the war back in the day, we hid a night in a cave close by. It’s on clan grounds, but I know Elio still goes there when he’s thinking about something.” He looks at me. “It’s really just a place for him to recharge,” he hurries to explain.
Again, I feel a twinge of annoyance, but this time also a little hurt. What are they all thinking I am going to do to someone I love, to my brother? I just want to talk to him to see what’s going on with him. He is not reckless, usually. I have no plans to hit him or hurt him in any way. But Aengus forbid, I am a tad upset at him endangering his safety. I think back to my father. I can’t remember much about his reign. His focus was mostly on me as his heir and less so on Elio. He was nice enough but had a short fuse sometimes, not that he constantly beat me.
Judging by Theodor and Stefan’s reactions, I wonder what kind of ruler he was, and if maybe my memories are blurred due to the traumatic experiences.
“I can’t quite remember,” I tell them honestly, deciding to be vulnerable. “What kind of man my father was, and what kind of king, but I am not going to take Elio’s safe place from him, and I am not going to hit or abuse him in any way.”
“You are very different,” Stefan says into the silence. When I gaze at him, he shrugs. “To the former king, I mean.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You, utter a bad word about my father, the former king? I must be hallucinating. I always thought your loyalty lay with him, unshakably.”
“My loyalty has always been with you,” he says, very much to my surprise. It makes me recall what Alana said to me, not even a couple of hours ago, about how weird she found Stefan’s behavior during the war. She encouraged me to talk to him. I am starting to believe she is right, and he is indeed hiding something. “Your beast is more powerful than those of other dragon shifters. He is dominant, and royal dragon beasts are known to have a bad temper.” He turns to Theodor. “That’s what you fear?”
When he nods, I sigh. “It’s unfounded. My beast and I have both learned to control ourselves and be patient in the years in captivity.”
Theodor bows his head in submission. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to insinuate that you have no control over your dragon.”
I might be more patient than former dragon kings, but I certainly have had enough of that talk now. “Take me to my brother.”
twenty-one
A Safe Space
*FAVIAN*
Theodorwasrightwithhis assessment. My brother is hiding in a small cave further up the mountains, but still on clan grounds. It’s a warm, cozy cave, and I decide to feel thankful for its existence. If it weren’t for the cave, who knows what would have happened to Elio when he was on the run?
Elio looks up when he sees me, with a look in his eyes I can’t quite gauge.
“Do you also believe I am going to beat you?” I ask him bluntly.
He looks at me again. He has the same blue eyes I have. In general, we look quite similar, just that his heart and his features are softer. I wonder if I would have been like that too, had I grown up in loving surroundings. “No,” he finally says.
“Thank Aengus, finally someone who doesn’t believe I am violent and abusive,” I say while sitting down next to him, stretching my tired limbs. “This is a nice place.”
“It is, isn’t it?” Elio asks. “It’s so warm and comforting, despite being in the middle of the snowy mountains. You can come here too if you need it.”
“You are sharing your comfort place with me?”
“In return, you promise you won’t yell at me,” he says with puppy eyes.
I snort. Alana is right. I am a total softie when it comes to my little brother. I wonder how much of a puddle of melted snow I would be with my kids. For a second, I see Alana in front of me, holding our baby in her arms. That is clearly a future worth fighting for.
