He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Afraid no’.”
“Are you Fae?”
“No. I have several good friends who are, but I’m no’ a Fae.”
She caught and held his gaze. “What are you, then?”
“I’m no’ sure you want to know.”
“I do.”
He wrinkled his nose. “I doubt that.”
“I told you what you wanted to know. It’s only fair that you do the same.”
Cullen licked his lips. “I’m a Dragon King.”
Chapter Four
Cullen wasn’t sure what to make of Tamlyn’s silence as she stared blankly at him. The seconds stretched until he shifted uncomfortably. Maybe he’d been wrong in thinking he could tell her the truth.
“Tamlyn?” he asked hesitantly.
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. “D–did you say Dragon King?”
Cullen inwardly winced. That was panic in her voice. “Aye.” When she didn’t say more, he tried another approach. “You doona have to be afraid.”
“I disagree,” she said after a bark of laughter. “The one thing everyone knows is to fear dragons, but most especially those like you.”
That got his attention. As far as he knew, Eurwen and Brandr had gone to great lengths to have minimal contact with humans, if any at all. “How do you know about Dragon Kings?”
She shrugged. “Everyone knows such things. I guess I was taught them, just as I learned about the sun and the sky.”
“And what were you taught about us?” Cullen couldn’t explain the resentment or the indignation he felt. But it was there, simmering within him.
“That you’re the enemy. That if we encounter a Dragon King, it will end in our death.”
Cullen tamped down his anger. Barely. How could the humans think such things about them when they’d had no interaction? It was ridiculous. “You were taught wrong.”
“I don’t think so. The dragons keep us out for a reason.”
“Aye. And they have a good one.”
She snorted, her apprehension giving way to irritation. “I doubt that.”
“I suppose you doona want my help now that you know who I really am.”
“That’s exactly it.”
He shot her an incredulous look. “You’d rather take your chances with the soldiers than me?”
She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin. “Yes.”
“I didna take you for a fool.”
“You don’t know me,” she retorted.
That he didn’t, but he was trying to help. Cullen opened his mouth to speak when a brunette woman rushed from one of the darkened doorways. She came to a halt as she looked between them. Cullen noted her petite stature and slim build. Unlike Tamlyn and Jenefer, this woman wore a long, tan frock, the lower skirt wrapping around her. The neck was simple, showing little in the way of skin. He couldn’t tell if the sleeves were long or if they were hidden by the thick leather gloves pulled up to her elbows. Over her upper body was a short apron made of the same leather as her gloves, stopping just below her hips. Various belts, buckles, and bags were attached to the apron.
Her wavy, brunette hair was haphazardly pulled away from her face with a lock dangling over her eyes. The rest hung down her back. Pale green eyes watched him with fascination.
“Tamlyn,” the woman said as she started to her friend. “Jenefer said we had company.”
Tamlyn nodded. “He’s leaving.”
Cullen ignored Tamlyn and smiled at the new arrival. “My name is Cullen. I helped Tamlyn and the lad. I’m offering more assistance, but she’s refused.”
“I’m Sian,” the woman said with a bright smile. “Thank you for aiding Tamlyn. We didn’t know she’d left.”
“I didn’t have time to wake either of you.”
Sian shot her a dark look. “One of these days, you’re going to get yourself into a fix. How are we to help if we don’t know? Now,” Sian said as she returned her attention to Cullen, not giving Tamlyn time to reply, “I need all the details about how you met Tamlyn and what happened.”
“No,” Tamlyn said as she stepped between them, her face directed at Sian.
Cullen blew out a breath. “I’d be happy to tell you, but I’m afraid Tamlyn is nervous about me being here.”
Sian stepped to Tamlyn’s side to see Cullen, her brow furrowing. She looked between him and Tamlyn before sliding her gaze back to him. “Why is she scared?”
“Because I told her I was a Dragon King.”
Sian’s face visibly paled.
Cullen shook his head and threw up his hands. “Tell me, have either of you seen a Dragon King harming anyone?”
“That doesn’t matter,” Tamlyn said.
At the same time, Sian replied, “No.”
Cullen caught Tamlyn’s gaze. “If you think I’m going to sit by and allow children to be murdered, you’re wrong. None of my brethren will. We will do something.”
“Dragons don’t cross the barrier,” Sian said.
Bloody hell. Cullen had forgotten about that. “Then I willna shift. I’ll stay in this form. No humans need ever know.”
“Neither the dragons nor those who rule them care what’s happening to us.” Tamlyn shrugged as if stating such a fact was all that was needed.
Cullen released a sigh. He didn’t know Eurwen or Brandr well—hell, he didn’t know them at all—but he couldn’t imagine the twins allowing such a travesty if they could do something about it. “I might have recently arrived on this realm, but I willna sit idly by and do nothing.”
“Even if it means starting a war?”
His head jerked to the right at the sound of Jenefer’s voice. She stood on one of the stairs above him, one foot on the step below, cocking her body sideways. “War?” he asked.
“Humans and dragons are to remain separate. That’s why there’s a barricade. Erected by dragons,” Jenefer explained, speaking as if he were an imbecile.
Cullen clenched his teeth. He wanted to help, but it was apparent they didn’t want it. And it wasn’t as if he could force them to accept his aid. He turned to Tamlyn. “If you change your mind, let me know.”
Tamlyn didn’t reply. Jenefer glared. Sian had her hands clasped behind her back, but she moved her right hand and gave him a little wave and a tentative smile. At least she didn’t hate him. Cullen turned and started the long trek of steps to the outside. Everything within him told him to stay, but he couldn’t. There was too much contention. Even if Tamlyn had agreed, Jenefer wouldn’t have made things easy.
Cullen felt their eyes on him as he squeezed through the door. He paused, wondering if he should stay regardless. The ruins belowground looked immense, and there would probably be another exit. His gaze looked to the side through the invisible wall to the quadrant he was supposed to guard. He might want to stay and help, but he couldn’t. Not yet, at least.
He was irritated and angry. Physical activity was just what he needed to burn off some of it. Cullen chose the steepest part of the cliff and began to climb. He could’ve jumped to the top without much thought, but the exertion would be better.