Emory understood where Tyne was coming from, but that didn’t mean he shared his worries.He didn’t blame him for thinking that Graham was up to something, but Tyne refused to talk to the man.It was a small miracle every time he was in the same room as Graham and didn’t leave.He definitely scowled at Graham every single time, no matter what Graham was doing.He could just be breathing, and Tyne would have a problem with that.
Tyne hadn’t given Graham a chance.Emory didn’t know if Graham had changed or if he’d always been the man he was now, but he really didn’t think that Graham wanted to hurt anyone.The one person he would probably hurt was himself, and Emory hoped he wouldn’t.Graham didn’t seem to be able to accept the help that was freely offered to him, though, so Emory wouldn’t be surprised if he did something stupid.He didn’t think that Graham would kill himself, but it felt like he also wouldn’t step out of the way if he was in danger.
Good thing that he wasn’t.
Emory chose his words carefully because he didn’t want Tyne to be offended or angry.He appreciated Tyne’s worry, especially considering he was the person Emory had least expected it from, but talking to Tyne wouldn’t be enough to change Emory’s mind about Graham.“I appreciate the concern,” he started.
“But you’re not going to stop talking to Graham,” Tyne finished.
“I just don’t think there’s a reason for me to.I really don’t believe that he’s dangerous or that his heart was in whatever Carlyle made him do.You heard him the other night.He went along with it because he desperately wanted a family and a place to belong, and he thought that Carlyle would give him that.Obviously, he didn’t.I think that Graham paid enough.He doesn’t need me or anyone else to hate him.I’m pretty sure he hates himself enough for all of us.”
“You say that as if we’re not right to feel that way about him.”
“I understand why you’re hurt and angry at him.It’s your prerogative not to give him a second chance, but I will.”
Tyne stared at Emory for a moment before nodding.“I see.”
“Do you?Because from what I know, you’re not a man who gives second chances easily.”
“I gave Meyer a second chance,” Tyne pointed out.
“Only after he threatened to leave, right?I don’t think you would’ve given him a second chance if he’d been anyone but your dragon, and that’s okay, too.Graham did the right thing when it mattered, though.He protected me and saved my life.I don’t disagree that I need to be careful, just in case, and I have no intention of becoming his best friend or anything like that, but I also won’t push him away if he needs to talk to me.”
Graham didn’t see a reason for Graham to want to talk to him, but maybe he would.They didn’t seem to have a lot in common, but they did share experiences with Carlyle.Emory had no intention of becoming Graham’s best friend, but maybe it would do both of them some good to talk about Carlyle.
Or maybe not.Emory was fine never talking about Carlyle again.In fact, he would be fine neverthinkingabout him again.Unfortunately for him, he was pretty sure that Carlyle was in his life to stay, even though he was dead.He’d been a massive part of Emory’s life, and there would be no changing that, ever.The same could be said for Graham.It didn’t mean they needed to talk about it, but there was a chance that Graham would want to, and in that case, Emory would listen to him.
He didn’t need Tyne to warn him off the guy.He could defend himself just fine.He’d done so for decades, and Graham wasn’t going to hurt him.He couldn’t even if he tried.
* * * *
GRAHAM SHOULDN’T HAVEbeen listening in to the conversation Emory was having with Tyne.It wasn’t his place, and he hadn’t meant to eavesdrop.He was just walking past the gym on his way back to his room after visiting the kitchen, and he’d heard Emory’s voice.
He was curious about Emory.He wanted to know more about his experience with Carlyle, and about him in general, really.He was intrigued, and he wanted to know what kind of man Carlyle had fallen in love with.In his mind, Carlyle wasn’t capable of loving anyone, so it was confusing.He didn’t understand why Carlyle had wanted to be with Emory unless it was because of his dragon.That was definitely a possibility, but there was also a possibility that Carlyle had been different back then.It was hard to think about Carlyle as a person in love, but Emory hadn’t stayed with him for a long time.
Graham didn’t know Carlyle as well as Emory did.He didn’twantto know him as well, either.He’d never like Carlyle, not even when he and Simon had first ended up with him, but he supposed that Carlyle hadn’t always been the man who’d hurt him and his brother.Once, he’d been young, and maybe he’d been capable of loving people other than himself.
That still didn’t fit the man Graham had known.
But Emory wasn’t talking about Carlyle anymore.He’d barely talked about him at all.No, right now, he and Tyne were talking aboutGraham, and even though Graham wasn’t surprised by anything they were saying, it still hurt.
Of course Tyne didn’t trust him.Of course Emory didn’t want anything to do with him.Why should he?What Graham had done wasn’t something anyone should forgive him for.Emory had almost died.He hadn’t, but he’d been hurt, and Graham would always blame himself for that.There was nothing he could do to atone, was there?Whoever was going to forgive him already had, and the people who hadn’t never would.It didn’t matter what he did.
It was time for him to leave.
Staying at the castle wasn’t good for him.It was making him feel like he had more than he did.He didn’t have a family.He didn’t have people who cared about him.Some of the mages had been touched by his story, but that didn’t mean he belonged here.If he was making anyone uncomfortable, he wanted to leave.
He straightened his back and squared his shoulders.He didn’t need to hear anything more.He didn’twantto hear anything more.Tyne, Emory, and everyone else had made what they thought of Graham clear, and it was time to take that at face value and do something about it.This wasn’t Graham’s home, and while he’d always be grateful to the mages and the dragons for giving him a place where he could breathe after leaving Carlyle and losing his brother, he was overstaying his welcome.No one would say that to his face because a few of the mages were more softhearted than others, and Tyne refused to even look his way, let alone talk to him, but Graham could tell.
He swallowed as he walked away from the gym.He’d been hesitant to make this decision for a while, but now, he’d made it.He was leaving.He didn’t know how or when because he didn’t have anything to his name, but he’d find a way.He had to.
He needed to make a list.He’d always liked making lists, and it made it easier to deal with things.What did he need first?
He got to work as soon as he got back to his room, only stopping long enough to drop the bag of food he’d retrieved from the kitchen.He found a piece of paper and a pen, drew a few bullet points, and hesitated.
The first thing was money, wasn’t it?It was the only way for him to find transport unless he stole a car from one of the mages or their dragons.He could maybe borrow one, but would they let him?
He stared at his list.Would Jarvis give him money if he asked?Would Graham have to give Jarvis an explanation?Would Jarvis demand to know what Graham was planning on doing with that money?