The throne.They thought Tyrez might be willing to kill his brother to stage a coup.
Ice ran through his veins. How could they think that of him? He glanced at Razir, whose face was set in rigid lines. His brother must have worked hard to make this meeting happen.
Taran stopped about fifteen feet from Tyrez, and the guards fanned out to each side, putting themselves in the space between the brothers. Tyrez tried to ignore what their presence meant.
Taran was over one hundred years their senior, but as Legion soldiers they had shared many adventures. His eldest brother’s strong opinions had led him to butt heads often with Tyrez during missions. Nothing that lasted more than an argument or two. But as Tyrez scanned Taran’s face, he saw no trace of kinship. Or even regret.
Only anger.
Taran wasted no time in getting to the point. “I am busy preparing to go to war, and I am only here because Razir insisted and Mother backed him up. What do you have to tell me?” His gaze was hard and wary. A sentiment that echoed through the guards.
“I have taken the Watcher to examine the Dragon bodies at the fortress.”
Taran’s brows dropped lower. “They were rogues, Tyrez.”
“They were Dragons, brother. And Rindek destroyed them. Their internal organs were turned to mush.”
“Have you discovered the cause?” Razir asked. His eyes darted between his two older brothers.
Tyrez shook his head. “The Watcher is still determining it. Whatever it was, it acted fast. It dropped those Dragons in midflight.”
Taran’s eyes blazed. “Nothing that killed those rogues can ever affect a Legion Dragon. You are wasting my time.”
“What brought the fortress down around me was the same thing that hit me in the cemetery that night.” Tyrez saw Taran’s eyes grow more intent.
“A new weapon?” he asked.
“A new Torshin. Not Rindek. I didn’t see a weapon.”
“Not Rindek? He must have had a weapon.” His intense blue gaze rose to the scar on Tyrez’s brow, and he shook his head. “It still isn’t capable of taking us down.”
Tyrez’s rage surfaced. “Your arrogance will get them killed, Taran. Dragons are not invincible. Any plan Rindek has for his future has to include dealing with us. What if he has developed a weapon that can kill a Legion Dragon?”
Taran took a long stride forward, his eyes an incandescent blue. “None of this is any longer your concern, Tyrez. You are not one of us. Besides, I know what I am doing.”
Tyrez glowered at him, but he saw nothing but hatred in his brother’s gaze. He swallowed his pride and gave it one last effort. “Do not let what has happened with me blind you to this, brother. I plead with you, hold off on the attack until Cara has determined what caused their deaths.”
Tarn peeled his lips back from his teeth. “You are no longer my brother, and this is the last time I will speak with you. Razir will come for the woman on Friday at noon.”
“She goes nowhere without me,” Tyrez snarled.
“So it seems. I no longer care.” Taran spun, and his guards fell in behind him as he strode up the path.
Razir shook his head. “I am sorry. He will not listen.”
“Tell Mother what I just told you,” Tyrez urged.
“I will, but it won’t work. Father has banned her from the war preparations. He is no longer listening, either.”
Tyrez’s heart froze. The Matriarch’s counsel had always been valued. This was all because he’d broken the rules and dared to save a woman from death? Maybe arrogance wasn’t the only Dragon issue.
They were also so regulated by rules that they were blind.
He exchanged a grim look with Razir. “I am afraid, brother,” he said.
“Yes,” Razir agreed. “So am I.”
* * *
