He expected Carlyle to be angry.Simon was his minion, and the two of them had spent a lot of time together.Simon had supported Carlyle, even after his brother had left and joined the other mages and their dragons.The least Meyer expected was for him to cry out, maybe for him to reach for Simon and try to help him.
Carlyle didn’t do any of that.He didn’t even look at Simon.He’d gotten to his feet when Simon had put himself between him and Emory, and he was already working on a spell.It was as if, to him, Simon didn’t exist, even though his body was on the ground by his feet.
Carlyle threw something at Emory.Emory batted it away with his tail, and the tree it landed against exploded.Bits of wood and bark rained over everyone’s head, and Meyer pulled Tyne close to protect him.There wasn’t much he could do in his human form, so he shifted back.
“It’s just wood,” Tyne murmured.“You don’t have to protect me from it.”
Meyer didn’t care.Besides, it was better to be in his dragon form in case Emory needed help.No one had talked about this, but it looked like they all agreed to give Emory time to confront Carlyle and possibly kill him.Meyer wasn’t sure Emory would be capable of doing so, considering the feelings he’d had for Carlyle, but he was willing to give Emory a chance.After everything Carlyle had done to him, Emory deserved to confront him.
Meyer couldn’t even imagine what that was like.Tyne had hurt him, but only because he’d been hurt first.It was too easy to imagine him turning into someone like Carlyle, though.Meyer had no idea why Carlyle had become the man he was today, but Tyne might have done the same.What would have happened if, instead of moving in with the other mages, Tyne had isolated himself and obsessed over Peyton leaving him for decades?What if his resentment had grown until it turned into hatred?
Someone swore.Meyer turned, ready to act, only to stop when he saw that the exploded tree was on fire.He would have sworn, too, if he’d been in his human form, but he wasn’t.
The fire caught quickly, possibly because it was magical.Tyne started moving toward it, but he paused and looked back at Emory.Meyer knew his mage.Tyne was unwilling to leave Emory without backup in case Carlyle managed to get the upper hand.
The other mages didn’t hesitate, though.Dallin was the first to reach the fire, and he raised his hands, ready to fight it.A branch cracked and fell, showering the area with sparks.It reminded Meyer of when Carlyle had set the fire near the castle.He was sure he wasn’t the only one thinking about it.
Keylon and Ansley were still dealing with a few of the glowing objects Ansley’s spell had revealed, but Jarvis and Penley hurried to help Dallin.Meyer briefly wondered if he should go, too, but he couldn’t leave Tyne.
Not even when it looked like the sky was on fire.
The flames were eating at the tree and quickly moving on to the ones next to it, engulfing them in flames, but Meyer trusted the mages, and they were protected.Standing by Emory was important to Tyne, which meant it was important to Meyer.He disliked feeling as if he was being pulled in two directions at once, but his main concern would always be his mage.
Jarvis created something that resembled a portal around the fire.For a moment, Meyer wondered if he’d portal the fire somewhere else, but he quickly realized it was a barrier that would keep the rest of the forest safe.It meant the fire wouldn’t expand, which was good.
Meyer folded one of his wings around Tyne and dragged him closer.He ignored Tyne’s inpatient huff and the way he pushed back.He needed him close.
Tyne was a powerful mage.He was nothing like Carlyle, but he could’ve become like him, and it wasn’t something Meyer wanted to consider.He and Tyne were together now.Unlike Peyton, he had no plans to leave Tyne.Tyne was it for him, even though they still needed to talk and get to know each other.As far as Meyer was concerned, the bond they shared was eternal.
It made him wonder if the bond was still there between Emory and Carlyle.Would stealing Emory’s dragon and his magic have severed it?Meyer was pretty sure that Carlyle had used the bond against Emory, but it didn’t mean it wasn’t still there.
Dammit.That was something they should’ve thought of asking Emory.Was he going to get hurt if he killed Carlyle and possibly broke their bond?What were they supposed to do if that happened?Was there any way they could help Emory through all of this?
At least he wouldn’t have to fear the fire.It was gone.The wounds it had left would take time to heal, but it wouldn’t hurt anyone.Meyer couldn’t imagine what the spell would have done if it had hit Emory instead of a tree.
“Do you think he’ll kill him?”Keylon asked as he and Winter moved to stand next to Tyne and Meyer.There was soot on his cheek, but he looked like he was okay.
Meyer’s wings tangled with Winter’s.The two of them didn’t know each other well, but it still felt comfortable, as if they were family.Both of them watched Carlyle and Emory, who were still fighting, but neither made a move to help.They’d step in if Emory needed them to, but it was like everyone agreed to give him this opportunity first.
“Carlyle hurt him in a way I can’t even wrap my mind around,” Tyne answered.“It’s in his right to kill him.”
“I didn’t ask if he should do it.I asked if you think he’ll do it.”
Tyne was still staring at Emory.Emory was moving around Carlyle, neatly avoiding the spells Carlyle was throwing at him while distracting the mage by swiping at him and almost throwing him on his ass.Meyer had the impression that Emory was toying with Carlyle, which wasn’t like him but, at the same time, was understandable.
“I think that we don’t know how it felt for Emory to have his dragon taken from him,” Tyne said.“But I do know resentment.I know how it feels to be betrayed by the one person you thought would never hurt you.Emory has been obsessing over that pain and betrayal for decades.If there’s one thing I’m sure of is that he can do this.”Tyne paused.“It doesn’t mean he should do it, though.If he hurts Carlyle, he’ll never be able to take that back.”
“I don’t think he’d take it nicely if any of us tried stepping in,” Jarvis murmured.
Meyer glanced back.He couldn’t see any more purple objects.The air smelled of smoke and sulfur, and the other mages and the dragons were all coming toward them.It looked like they’d neutralized every one of Carlyle’s traps, and now, the only danger that remained was Carlyle.
Who was busy avoiding Emory’s claws and fangs.
* * * *
TYNE DIDN’T LOOK ATthe other mages who were gathering behind him and Meyer.He kept his full focus on Emory, just in case.
He kept expecting Emory to falter, but there were no signs of hesitation in the dragon as he attempted to catch Carlyle.Carlyle was scrambling to keep up with Emory’s claws and his tail, but he was weakening.
