Tyne narrowed his eyes at Sol.Sol didn’t seem intimidated as he stared back.This would be an even worse fight than between Jarvis and Tyne, dammit.
“He kept you prisoner,” Tyne pointed out.
“He was forced to by his brother and Carlyle.Look, I don’t want to fight you, but I really don’t think you know what’s happening here.”
Tyne scoffed.“I’m not the one without memories.”
Dallin sucked in a breath and glared at his brother.Tyne avoided looking at him or anyone else.He was still focused on Sol.
“It’s true,” Sol said.“I don’t have many memories.I have no idea who you guys are, even though I have a feeling that I should know you.I do have memories of the time I spent in that cell, though.I know what Graham did and didn’t do from personal experience, and I still won’t allow you to hurt him.”
Dallin was still wary of Graham, but it sounded like he’d really helped Sol.Dallin was grateful.All of this time, he’d been imagining Sol on his own, and it was good to find out that he hadn’t been.Dallin wished he could have been by Sol’s side, but he hadn’t been.
Dallin was a bit jealous, but that jealousy was easy to ignore.He had Sol back, and that was all he cared about.
* * * *
SOL REALLY HOPED HEwouldn’t have to fight Tyne.Even if the guy wasn’t a mage, Sol was pretty sure he could kick his ass without even sweating.Tyne was big, and while Sol wasn’t small, he also hadn’t been fed well and had been beaten regularly.
“Enough,” Jarvis snapped.He looked like he was out of patience, and Sol didn’t think it was with him.“I already warned Graham that we’ll have to lock him up so you can stop whatever you’re doing.”
Tyne shook his head.“I’m thinking about our safety.Graham’s the enemy.He and his brother freed Carlyle from the gemstone.They’ve been working for him since then.How can you not see how dangerous he is?”
Graham didn’t give the impression of being dangerous.He was pale and shaky, and he was doing his best not to draw anyone’s attention.It wasn’t that hard because Tyne and Jarvis were focused on each other, not on Graham.
Sol wanted to know what all of this meant.What gemstone?How would Carlyle have been inside a stone?What had Graham and Simon done?
“I know it’s confusing,” Pippa said as she bumped their shoulders together.“But you’ll get there.It took me a while, but I know the entire story, so I can help.”
Sol leaned harder against her.“I think I’ll need it.”
“What you need is to sit down,” Dallin said as he gently pushed Sol toward the closest couch.
Sol wanted to ask Dallin to sit next to him, but he didn’t dare.Instead, he pulled Pippa along, then thought better of it and grabbed Graham’s hand, too.
Graham squeaked, but he didn’t resist when Sol forced him to sit on his other side.He was probably relieved he wouldn’t have to face these people alone.He’d said they were the good guys, and they seemed to be, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t hurt Graham.
“I’m sure Graham will answer all of our questions,” Jarvis said.
“My brother lied to me,” Graham declared.
There weren’t that many people left in the room, but everyone stared at him.Graham’s cheeks flushed, and he glanced down at his feet.Sol’s heart squeezed at the sight.He looked young and vulnerable.
“Both our parents are dead,” Graham continued.“Neither of them had siblings, and our grandparents passed away a long time ago.It’s just me and Simon.It feels like it’s always been me and Simon.”
“I’m really sorry about that,” Jarvis said in a soft voice.He still had his phone in his hand, but he was focused on Graham.
“When Simon came to me and told me that he’d found a gemstone with a guy stuck in it, I didn’t believe him.I didn’t know magic existed.Simon got obsessed with it, though.He said it was our birthright and our legacy to free Carlyle.He worked on it until he was able to do it, and by then, it was too late for me to leave.As long as it was only Simon, I could deal with him, but once Carlyle became part of the picture, I lost my brother, even though Simon is still here.”
“I’ll have questions for you later if that’s okay.”
Graham nodded.“I can’t really tell you much about Carlyle.Both he and my brother know I’m weak, and they haven’t been telling me anything important.It’s the only reason I managed to sneak Sol out.They never believed I could be a problem to them, so they didn’t monitor me.”
“You were brave.”
“I don’t know if that’s what I’d call myself, but thank you.”
Jarvis nodded and turned his attention to Sol.“I know you have questions, and me and the others will answer all of them once you’re ready to ask them.You should probably talk to the dragons, though.They’ve been in your place.All of you lost your memories, so they know what you’re going through.”
