Guardian Of The Betas Heir

12 - I want to hate him!

Edmund

I attacked Von as soon as I saw him. I was so angry that he would stand there, looking at me like he never did anything wrong!

It’s not about him not turning up in time to save Elenor and me from the institution. It is not about blaming my brother for what happened. It is not even about him not answering all those times I tried to call out to him.

Elenor and I could have made our way to our father on our own; we didn’t need a chaperone. We’re adults, not kids, but it was a tradition of sorts. Von met up with us, and we journeyed to the Vampire Kingdom together. That was how it had been since Elenor and I first went to stay with our father. Mum didn’t want Dad collecting us because it would cause trouble with her mate, the man she cheated on. Our stepfather couldn’t deal with the fact Mum had children with Andrei yet could not carry even one child for him. He never let Elenor or I forget the fact he despised us. Having Dad collect us would have caused problems for us all, so Von was the one who came to England and collected us from the age of eight.

It wouldn’t have mattered if my brother got to the house on time. Von would never have made it before the worst thing happened. Our stepfather had sold us days before Von was due to arrive. The bastard figured our Mum wasn’t coming home because she had met someone else. Mum had already rejected Donny, not caring what happened to him. Perhaps if he hadn’t been such an abusive bastard to her, she wouldn’t have rejected him after so many years together.

Donny was also angry because he’d worked out that Elenor and I planned to stay with our father in the Vampire Kingdom. We would not be returning to England. At the age of twenty-four, we knew it was time to leave. Elenor needed to be with Dad. She would often cry to me and beg me to leave with her. I didn’t fully understand why she was so desperate to escape Donny. However, I agreed to go because I wanted to be with my brother.

Why would we stay with Donny when he was hateful toward us?

Our mother was gone, and our father and brother lived in America. We wanted to be with them, but we would pay dearly for it. Donny couldn’t handle that, so he sold us like slaves in a cattle market.

So many awful things happened to us in that place. We were experimented on like we matter to no one. Elenor got it worse than I did. Those people did unimaginable things to my sister. They would take her away from me and bring her back hours later, bloodied and beaten.

It was in that tiny room in which we were locked away that Elenor mumbled about the things Donny had done to her. Elenor doesn’t remember letting that secret out; she was too out of it to know what she was saying. But hearing how that pig of a man had raped my innocent sister as punishment for our mother leaving him, I couldn’t bear it. I could not get my head around it. It must have happened when I was out because I had no clue about it, so I know I wasn’t there. But I should have been. I should have protected her!

I swore that if we ever got out of there, I would find Dad and Von, and the three of us would make Donny pay. We would make him pay in the worst way! I still have hope we will find Dad, and if the mate bond hasn’t taken Donny, we’ll kill him!

Why did Elenor or I not call for our father when we arrived here?

We did, but the connection was broken, and that broke Elenor. She believed our father was dead, and when Von didn’t answer our call either, she believed he was dead, too. Nothing I said convinced Elenor otherwise.

I wanted us to travel to the Vampire Kingdom and seek refuge with the Vampire King. But Elenor refused. She said it would be best to come to Blue Fire and be with the Dragons. Those from the institution would expect us to run to the Vampires because of our father. No one would even think we would come to Dragon Country. I was in no mind to argue, so I didn’t.

I continued to try to get in contact with Von. For a year, I tried everything, but there was nothing but static, which finally led me to believe both men were really gone. Dad and Von were dead, and I would never see my father and big brother again. It hurt, but I had to keep going for Elenor. My sister needed me, even if she believed she was the one caring for me.

But it was a lie. That bastard wasn’t dead; he was here the whole time!

Von could have shown himself at any time. He could have saved Elenor and me from all the lies we had to tell to protect ourselves. Von is a Lord! He could have taken us to the Vampire Kingdom, to our father, and finally given us a home.

But he didn’t. He chose to hide in plain sight, knowing how badly Elenor and I needed him. I cannot forgive him for that.

“Edmund, you need to stop this!” Elenor yells.

But I don’t stop. My brother and I float in the air, fighting like children. I push forth my hands, and he flies backward with a smirk on his face. That just makes me angrier!

I want to hate him. I want to despise him! But I don’t. I am so disappointed in Von because I thought we meant more to him than this.

Why can’t I hate him?

‘Because he’s your brother.’ Athrion, my Dragon, huffs.

My Dragon is a Demon. That’s right, you heard me. I don’t have a Demon persona like my brother because my Demon and Dragon merged in the womb, becoming one mighty beast.

The Dragon King knows, I know he does. There’s no way he couldn’t. He might not have said anything, but he knew the moment he looked at Athrion. I saw it in his eyes. However, he said nothing, though he had kept a close eye on me to ensure my Dragon behaved.

Athrion isn’t evil, even if he looks scary. He listens to me, and we work as a team. Though, I cannot let him fly free if others are around. It’s too risky that someone might notice what he truly is. The red eyes are a dead giveaway.

Prince Ricon pulled me to one side not long after I arrived here. He asked for the truth – was I part Demon. I hesitated. I wanted to lie and tell him he’d gotten things wrong, but I knew I could no longer hide that part of myself. I couldn’t lie to the prince because he saw right through me.

So, I was as honest as I could be about my Demon Dragon. Though I lied and said there was only a trace of Demon blood in my veins, and I told him that Elenor didn’t get that gene from our great-grandmother.

I begged Ricon not to throw Elenor and me out of Dragon Country. We had nowhere else to go. We’re safe here. Safer than we would be anywhere else. I would swear any oath he wished as long as we could stay.

Ricon said that as Elenor had willingly sworn a blood oath to the King, and as I was her twin, the blood oath extended to me. If we broke that oath, we would die. It was not a pleasant prospect, but it was done, and I could not change it. As long as I swore I could control my Dragon and would never turn against the Crown of Blue Fire, there was no need to tell anyone else what he knew. I have never felt more relief or more grateful to anyone in my life. And I have been loyal ever since.

‘Just because Von is my brother doesn’t mean I won’t kill him, Athrion!’

‘You could try. But don’t expect me to help you. Bailore is my brother, and I will not help you attack him. Remember that!’

My Dragon is an arsehole!

“I know you’re angry with me, Dragos.”

“Don’t call me that!” I yell because using my real name is stupidity! My sister and I changed our names to protect our true identity. If anyone finds out, we could be in danger.

Von sighs. “I’m sorry. I know I have hurt you, but please hear me out. Once you have, if you never want to see me again, I will leave and never darken your doorway again. I promise.”

I snarl, push forth my hands, and release my Demon power. Red lightning travels toward Von, who retaliates with his own lightning. It clashes with mine like thunder, tearing the sky apart. I push with all my might to keep him back.

This is reckless, I know that. Anyone could see what’s happening here, and the King would have my head for lying. There would be no way to lie my way out of this one. But we’re doomed anyway. Prince Michael can see everything. He knows Elenor and I are related to Von, so he knows we’ve been lying. I only pray he doesn’t run to his great-grandfather until we speak with him and explain ourselves.

‘Why are you being such a fool?’ My Dragon huffs. ‘There is no way you can win against Von. He’s thousands of years old. He’s had much longer to hone his powers. His Dragon is ancient, his Demon is more powerful than most, and they could kill you with a snap of their fingers.’

Athrion is correct. I know I shouldn’t be doing this. I won’t make it out alive. But there is so much pent-up anger inside of me that I can’t cope. I’m taking it out on Von when I know he will have his reasons for not showing himself soon.

Whoever attacked him knew what they were doing. They damaged him immensely, and it took Elenor and me months to fully heal what we thought was a dog. I also sat with that dog and told him how much I hated Von for not being there when we needed him. For all I know, Von took that to heart and didn’t feel he could show himself. But I have never hated him, I just missed him.

But how could Von have thought otherwise when I never took back those words?

‘Please, Edmund.’ Elenor’s voice fills my head, sad and desperate. ‘Don’t do this. I am just as angry with Von for this. But hear him out. There must be a reason why he did this. Von loves us. I will never doubt that. Please?’

I hate that my sister knows how to pull at my heartstrings. I want to rip Von a new arsehole, but Elenor is right, this won’t get me anywhere.

I drop my hands in defeat. “You have ten minutes to explain yourself, Von.”

He tips his head. “Thank you.”

We float to the ground.

“I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for Elenor.”

Elenor runs into my arms, and I hold her close without taking my eyes off Von.

“I think you all have some explaining to do.” I look at Michael, now standing in front of us. “It seems you two have been lying to the King about many, many things.”

Fuc.k!