Moonspear BWP5—siren

He didn't need the confirmation. It served only to sour the meagre contents of his stomach as well as his mood to know without a doubt she dared approach his home after willingly abandoning him. He could think only that she meant to dispose of him. His muzzle buckled and his lips contorted into a deep grimace. The way he saw it, she'd simply done exactly what he thought Vercingetorix had done in going to the sea: dumped her unwanted family on someone else's doorstep and flitted away to enjoy her newfound freedom. What she did with that freedom, what Vale she spoke of, he neither knew nor cared.

What Hydra had to say about Blackhead, on the other hand, was a lot more interesting. This part of her news made sense. Vercingetorix had urged them to leave Kaistleoki in search of their mother because Blackhead was lingering nearby, so it only made sense the enemy of old Drageda would follow them this far. He'd built her up in his head to be some massive, slavering beast with glowering eyes, a woman who could singlehandedly take down a pack and frighten his father—she must be something to behold. He hoped he never had to, though if he did, then he hoped he could be the one to avenge the life that might've been his. The life his father had given up in favour of keeping his family safe.

Good, spat Dragomir, who could not bring himself to think of Sanguinus directly, not even to relish the news that he was injured. He couldn't hide the shiver that crawled down his back at the mere mention of his captor, but allowing himself to dwell on the man's appearance, voice, stench or even the cave at Silvertip would only summon terrible flashbacks and memories. He forced them down as best he could. Blackhead stole the life I would have had, my dad always said. I want to learn to fight. I want to be the one who kills them, Dragomir revealed, although the likelihood of him ever having the chance to kill one, let alone both, and succeeding was quite low indeed. Vermin like that survived, somehow, despite all odds being against them.

In a much quieter voice, with a storm brewing in his brown eyes, Dragomir added, if my mother comes back here, please ... do not let her leave. It would be infinitely better to know she was dead like Vercingetorix than to know she was out there, somewhere, living life without the children she'd left behind.

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