He wasn’t surprised when Meyer shifted back.He could have taken advantage of the moment and rushed forward, but his dragon would come after him, and the last thing he wanted was for something to happen to Meyer.He’d been hurt the first time they’d faced Carlyle.If there was anything Tyne could do to avoid Meyer getting into that kind of situation again, he’d do it.
That was when he realized that to him, Meyer was more important than killing Carlyle.It was a startling revelation because, for decades, Tyne had planned how he’d kill the man who’d taken the dragons from him and the other mages.He was still angry and resentful, but if he had to choose, he’d let Carlyle go.He’d do many things he might not be proud of if it meant keeping Meyer safe.
He swallowed.He knew what that meant.He’d never truly stopped loving Peyton—maybe because he hadn’t had the opportunity to see things through with him—and he was falling for Meyer.It was hard to reconcile his feelings for the two men when they were one and the same, and Tyne was glad he didn’t have much time to think about it right now.His focus needed to be on the fight, so he turned toward Emory and did his best to ignore Meyer.
“What the fuck were you thinking?”Meyer asked as he reached for Tyne.
Before, Tyne would’ve stepped away.He wouldn’t have allowed Meyer to touch him.Now, he leaned it and allowed Meyer to pull him closer.
“I wasn’t thinking,” he admitted.
“Damn right you weren’t.You don’t go anywhere on your own, but especially not anywhere near Carlyle.”
“I promise I won’t, but now isn’t the time.”
Meyer’s jaw tensed, but he nodded.He turned toward Emory and Carlyle, and Tyne took the opportunity to look him over.He truly seemed to be okay.He wasn’t bleeding, and the only wounds Tyne could see were scratches on his face and hands.There were probably more under his clothes, but it was nothing that should worry Tyne too badly.
“It’s over,” Emory said.
Tyne turned toward Emory.He’d shifted and was standing in front of Carlyle, who was on his knees, both of his hands raised toward the dragon.It looked like he was begging, but that wasn’t like him.Tyne had thought Carlyle would fight until his last breath, but maybe he’d been wrong.
Or maybe Carlyle had more tricks up his sleeve.
“I still love you,” Carlyle said.
Tyne looked around.The other mages and their dragons were still working on the spells Carlyle had hidden in the area.All of them glowed purple, so it was easy to find them, but disarming them was different.Tyne should be doing the same, but he wouldn’t abandon Emory.Emory might need help, and Tyne wanted to provide him with that help if he could.
“I don’t,” Emory said.“I haven’t loved you in a long time.”
“That’s not true.”
“How can I love you after what you did to me?You know what you took from me.If it wasn’t for these mages, I wouldn’t have my dragon back.”
There was something in Carlyle’s smile that raised Tyne’s hackles.He stepped forward as Carlyle reached for Emory.He was sure that Carlyle was plotting something, but he didn’t get there in time.He’d barely started moving when Emory shifted back, raised his head, and roared.
Emory threw himself at Carlyle.He had one paw raised, claws glinting in the spell light.He was fast as he swiped it down toward Carlyle.He didn’t hesitate, even though he and Carlyle had been in love.Tyne had been worried about Emory still having feelings for the mage, but it didn’t look like he did.
Someone cried out.Tyne wasn’t sure who it was, and he was unwilling to look away.He needed to know that Carlyle was gone for good and that he would never hurt him or any of the people he loved again.
He needed to know that Carlyle was finally paying for all the pain he’d caused.
Chapter Twelve
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MEYER WANTED TO HELPEmory, but he suspected that this was something Emory needed to do by himself.Meyer would hopefully never understand what it was like to have his dragon taken from him.He never wanted to find out what it was like to have someone he loved betray him and hurt him.Emory had thought he’d lost everything for decades, and he had.The only reason he had his dragon back was that Penley had managed to give it back to him.Emory deserved to be the one to make Carlyle pay for what had happened, even though if Meyer had a say, he would pull Emory away.
Killing Carlyle would no doubt feel good because Emory would finally get revenge, but at the same time, Emory had loved Carlyle.Meyer couldn’t imagine wanting to kill Tyne.The thought made him want to throw up and scream at the same time, but of course, Tyne hadn’t hurt him the way Carlyle had hurt Emory.
He’d taken everything from him—the man he’d loved, his dragon, the people in his life.Emory had fled after Carlyle had been trapped.He’d thought no one would want anything to do with him.He’d isolated himself for decades, thinking that people hated him and mourning his dragon.
Meyer’s heart ached for Emory, and he wished there was more he could do to help him, but right now, it looked like the only thing that needed to be done was to stay away.
Watching Emory throw himself at Carlyle wasn’t a surprise.What was a surprise was to see Simon dive between the two.Emory was already striking, and he didn’t have time to move back.His claws hit Simon in the chest, making him scream as blood spurted from the wounds.
The screaming didn’t last long.Emory pulled back almost instantly, but it still wasn’t fast enough.His claws sank into Simon’s body as if it was butter.Simon’s body hit the ground, his insides spilling around him.Meyer’s stomach heaved, and he turned his attention back to Carlyle and Emory.
He might be Tyne’s protector, but he didn’t have the stomach for this.He was pretty sure he would never be able to forget what had just happened.
