“No,” Lash breathed, heart in his throat. “I don’t believe you.”
“She was punished for adultery by being cast from the tribe for three full moons. But later, when Syeira was born with the same green eyes, too, Mother was banished forever.”
“If that is true, why keep it a secret? Why raise us?” Lash challenged. Danior was lying, playing a twisted game. He must be.
“Have you not heard the tales of a woman crying as her infant was ripped from her arms?” Bitterness curled Danior’s mouth. “As punishment for his inability to control her, father was forced to keep you and Syeira even though you weren’t his offspring.”
It hurt to breathe. “Mother perished in childbirth.”
“A fabrication meant to keep you from seeking out your parents,” Danior spat. “A fit punishment for your existence, half-breed.”
His mother was alive.
So was his birth father.
Had been all these years.
The ground shifted beneath his feet. He was going to be sick.
A steady hand touched his back.
Honoria.
He breathed her name into his soul. He could find the strength to stand firm against his brother’s harsh words as long as she was at his side.
“It was hypocrisy that we were cast from the tribe simply for beatingyou, a half-breed. It was an injustice to father and me.So I intend to snuff you out, along with the living, breathing shame that brought ruin to our family, and demand to regain our rightful place in the tribe.”
“And what about Syeira?” Lash demanded. “Do you plan to take her life, as well?”
“Syeira will be married off,” Danior sneered. “At least she will serve a purpose that way.”
Fury ripped through his gut.
He and Danior were half-brothers. Uriah wasn’t his father.
They had separated him and Syeira from their rightful family. Had hidden the truth from them. They weren’t full-blooded Rom.Gadjoblood ran through their veins. His veins. There was tremendous relief in that knowledge, as well as bone-gutting torment.
“Over my corpse will you come within viewing distance of her,” Lash growled.
“We’ll see,” Danior drawled.
“Let’s kill the bastard,” Hugh growled, dismounting and stepping up beside Lash. “I vote for gutting him.”
Lash’s gaze narrowed on his half-brother. “I’m not planning on dying anytime soon.” He motioned to Hugh’s men. “You, on the other hand, have overstayed your welcome.”
“You can’t run me off forever.”
“We are not running you off,” Hugh announced. “We are handing you over to the authorities, who have been notified and are on their way.”
“You will rot in prison where you belong,” Lash growled.
Danior’s eyes whipped back to him, and for the first time in his brother’s life, Danior’s mask slipped. “Do you think they’ll care that I stabbed a half-breed like you?”
“Nay, you vile beastie,” Isla said, trotting forward, eliciting a curse from Ross, who spurred his horse after hers. “But they will care that you kidnapped the sister of the Duke of Roxburgh.”
“Aye,” Honoria said, stepping around Lash. “They will care a great deal that you kidnapped me.”
“This is the end,phral,” Lash drawled. “Pray I never lay eyes on you again.”
