“Because you want to atone.”
Graham looked away.“Wouldn’t you in my place?Wouldn’t you want to help as much as possible to balance the bad things you did?”
“Don’t you think you’ve already done that when you saved my life?”
“I just did the right thing.”
“I agree that you did.If you hadn’t, I’d be dead.Isn’t that enough, though?What more do you want to do?”
Graham set his jaw.“Everything I can.Besides, I’m sure that some of the stuff that Carlyle left around is dangerous.Someone should check it and ensure that no one will get hurt by it.He’s already done enough.He doesn’t need to do more from the grave.”
Emory couldn’t argue with that.Itwouldbe better if someone could check on Carlyle’s stuff, just in case.Emory had to see that.
“I’ll talk to Jarvis,” Emory eventually said.
Graham nodded, satisfied.“Thank you.I really hope I’ll be able to help.”
“Even though there’s no reason for you to?”
“We’re going to have to disagree on that.There are plenty of reasons for me to atone.Hopefully, this will be enough.”Because if it wasn’t, Graham wasn’t sure what else he could do.He didn’t want to overstay his welcome, so he was planning on leaving as soon as he could, but first, he wanted to do this.
He wanted to help the mages.He wanted to show them that he wasn’t a bad person and that he never had been.He didn’t know if this would be enough or if they’d want anything to do with it, but it was the only thing he could think of, and as far as he was concerned, it was a start.
Chapter Three
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GRAHAM WAS USUALLYquite good at sneaking away after dinner.He knew it would be odd if he didn’t have dinner with the mages and their dragons, especially after he’d been invited to do so several times.It wasn’t like he had anyone else to have dinner with, so everyone knew that if he wasn’t there, he was alone in his room, and if he said no, Penley especially, would just push harder to get him to change his mind.
But if he was careful, he could slink away from the dining table without anyone noticing.He didn’t want to make things awkward, so it was the easiest option.That way, the mages wouldn’t have to deal with his presence for any longer than absolutely necessary.
But today, he was sliding out of his chair while everyone around the table was still talking when he heard someone say his name.
“Are you going back to your room, Graham?”Penley asked.
Graham froze.His gaze flickered to Penley, then to Emory, who looked amused, which wasn’t surprising.Graham was behaving the same way he had the other day with Emory.He’d stopped moving as if it would be enough for Penley to forget he was there.He wished it was, but Penley was the one mage who’d been pushing to get Graham to settle down and for them to become friends.It was impossible to say no to him, especially when he was watching Graham with his big puppy eyes.
“I was,” Graham said, slowly sitting back down.“But I can wait a little longer if you need to talk to me.”
“We’re watching a movie after dinner.I think you should watch it with us.”
Graham looked around the table for someone to help him say no.Everyone was either too busy with their own conversations or unwilling to help because no one said anything, not even Tyne, who hated Graham and who no doubt would want him out as soon as possible.“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Graham tried.
“Of course it’s a good idea.I know you like being on your own, and that’s okay, especially considering the circumstances, but you don’t have to spend all your time in your room.We’re here to help you.”
Graham was pretty sure that if Tyne could get away with it, he’d help him jump off the highest castle tower, but the man didn’t say anything.He continued his conversation with his dragon as if nothing odd was happening.
That was how Graham ended up sitting on the couch in the living room after dinner, a movie playing on the massive screen in front of him.He glanced left and right, but no one was watching him.No one cared about him or about what he was doing.Everyone was cuddled up with their partner, even Tyne and Meyer.A few people were whispering to each other, but most were watching the movie, just like Graham was supposed to be.
Graham didn’t even know what the movie’s title was.
He shouldn’t be here.He shouldn’t even be in the castle, and he knew that was what almost everyone here thought.They might not say it to his face, but that was the truth.They were helping him because he’d saved Emory’s life, so they probably felt obligated in a way, but they didn’t owe him anything.It was the opposite.
“I’m really sorry for what my brother and I did,” Graham blurted out.
For a moment, nothing happened, but Penley quickly paused the movie.Graham didn’t look away from the TV screen and the man frozen in action there.He could feel everyone watching him, but he wasn’t strong enough to face them.
“We know that,” Penley said gently.“You’ve already apologized.”