There's Snow Escape(30)
“Tell her what you did!” Brecc growled, his chest heaving from exertion. She noticed the wind-tousled hair and the anger sparking in his eyes. Damn, he was even hotter when pissed.
TWENTY-FIVE
“Brecc,” she said, trying to calm the fury she saw in his eyes.
Eros ran in behind Brecc, the worry in his gaze disappearing the moment he laid eyes on her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Tell her what you did,” Brecc said again. “Tell her how you dragged us into their war.”
“I did not!” Vikter roared. “It was an accident.”
Brecc turned to meet her gaze. “He killed my father.”
She glanced at Vikter. “You did?”
“It was an accident,” he said, sliding his fingers through his hair. “They were fighting. I was a kid. I was upset seeing his father hurting mine. I shifted and the dragon took over.”
“He burned him to death,” Brecc spat. He rushed up to her side, taking her hand and pulling. “Let’s go.”
“Brecc,” Eros started.
She yanked her hand out of his hold. “Hang on a second.” She frowned at Brecc. “You were friends. I know that you’re both living with regrets over what happened. I don’t need to be a shifter to see it.”
“Let’s go, Charlotte,” Brecc growled.
“No. Not until I’ve said what I need to.” She moved away from him, stopping in the center of the room. “This planet was supposed to be different from earth. Better. But like earth, emotions rule a lot of what people do, no matter where they are.” She glanced at Vikter. “I can see it hurts you to live with the knowledge that your actions killed this friendship. All these years of regret,” she shook her head. “How have you not forgiven yourself?”
He glanced away from her. “Things aren’t the same anymore.”
“This isn’t your business,” Brecc argued. “Leave it alone!”
Charlotte’s chest felt like it was caving in on itself. She’d been secretly hoping that Brecc and Eros were interested in sharing more than a vacation fling with her. His words just now proved her opinion wasn’t needed or wanted. He was right. It wasn’t her business, but she’d lived enough years in unhappiness to know it was a horrible companion.
“No!” She glared at Brecc, her own anger simmering from his words. “You are so selfish,” she yelled at him, and turned to Vikter. “Both of you. Don’t you think that as neighbors the wolves and dragons would find themselves being friends?”
Brecc’s eyes glowed gold. “Char―”
“Shut up!” she snapped at Brecc, ignoring the shock in his eyes. “You clearly don’t get told to listen often enough. You’re going to listen now!” She took a breath. It was because of Razzy she was willing to say anything. Seeing the girl so upset and depressed did something to her. It reminded her of her own lonely youth.
“Your people and his,” she said pointing at Vikter, “don’t want to be enemies. They like being neighbors.” She glanced at Vikter. “Your sister has friends she adores on his side.” She turned back and forth between both men. “Your issues are spilling to make others miserable. You’re doing what your parents did.” She shook her head. “You have the power to end this.”
Neither man said anything. She glanced at Eros who nodded at her, encouraging her to continue.
“I grew up lonely. With parents who didn’t care. Do you know how hard it is on a kid? You had each other.” She frowned at Brecc. “You had Eros and Vikter and friends. I had nothing. It sucked major balls.” She turned to Vikter. “Don’t do that to your own families. Don’t make them lose their friends and grow up lonely.” She took a step towards Brecc but stopped. “Let go of the past. Holding on to it won’t change things. What you do now, that’s what’s important.”
“I’m not holding on to the past,” Brecc argued.
She rolled her eyes and clenched her jaw. “You know what? You want to be a dick and ignore my words, fine. But I can’t stay here, knowing you two are going to destroy not just one girl’s life, but many others in the process over your own selfish issues.”
“Charlotte,” Eros said quietly, “I can take you home.”
She nodded and marched past Brecc without a single backward glance. The rest of the way back, she realized it had been too good to be true. Two men who wanted her was a nice fantasy, but that’s all it was.
TWENTY-SIX