Page 43 of Cole's Command

Chapter Fifteen

Cole

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COLE HADN’T THOUGHT through any of this. Everything that had happened since his impromptu extended therapy session had been spontaneous. He hadn’t planned to reveal the biggest secret of his life, and certainly hadn’t rehearsed how he could demonstrate his dragon without giving her a heart attack. In the end, her response had been expected, the color draining from her face before she was promptly sick. He didn’t blame her for that. None of this was on Eden. Her only mistake had been becoming the woman who’d enthralled him, and now that he’d disclosed so much, there was no letting her go.

“How are you feeling?” Glancing across at her in the passenger seat, he watched her reactions carefully.

Ever since he’d helped her into the car, she’d sat silently, sipping at the bottle of water he’d offered. He’d retrieved his clothes and redressed while she was comatose, her thoughts offering insight into how she was feeling, but clearly, Eden hadn’t been ready to talk to Cole about what she’d witnessed. So, he’d given her time.

He’d been happy to take control when she’d doubled over in the dirt, to ensure her wellbeing, and get her safely back to the vehicle. That was, as he saw it, his responsibility. He’d decided to reveal his shifter status, so it was on him to deal with the aftermath. Her silent astonishment, however, required a softer approach than the bombardment of orders and rules he might have delivered. He waited until her thoughts had settled, and she had unfurled herself from the ball she’d curled into.

“Stunned.” Glancing at him, her eyes said it all. Huge and full of questions, her brown orbs conveyed her shell-shock. “I can’t believe any of this.”

“I did try to warn you that it would be a shock...”

“A shock?” Is that what he calls it? She heaved in a breath. “I thought you were delusional, Cole, thought that you had invented the dragon as an alternative narrative for your mental issues. I didn’t, for one moment, think there was actually a dragon.”

“But now you know.”

His tone was pensive as he too thought through the repercussions of his choice. He’d only skimmed them before he’d brought her there, but sitting in the Tesla it was all too clear to him—his choices had consequences—for them both.

“Yeah,” she agreed. “Now I know.” Sitting back in her seat, her palm cradled her stomach. “I don’t know what to say, Cole. Years of study and research haven’t equipped me to deal with dragons.” A lifetime of study can’t prepare someone for that.

He laughed at the way she made that sound, although her expression remained serious. “Are you in pain?” Cole’s brow furrowed. “I can give you something for that.”

“It’ll pass,” she assured him. “But, thank you.”

“It’s time to talk about what happens next.” His jaw clenched as he imagined the possible outcomes.

“Next?” She turned to face him. “That’s easy. You take me back and I start to try and figure this out. I’m not a geneticist, Cole, but your genes must be entirely unique. Imagine the clinical trials you could contribute to—the difference you could make to medical science.”

“No.” His softly, softly approach was about to cease if she thought she could push him into scientific investigation. The Vaughn’s secret had long been confidential, and it wasn’t about to be blown open by Dr. Lewis.

That’s why you shouldn’t have told her. Cole wasn’t sure if it was Michael or Balthazar’s voice he heard in his head, but his hand tightened at the steering wheel just the same. That’s why we keep it to ourselves.

“No?” Her brow rose. “What do you mean no?”

“The demonstration just now was for your eyes only, Eden. No one else can know.”

“What?” Suddenly, she sounded much more like the woman he’d met at the swanky offices she shared with Webber and Wilson. “You can’t be serious? People have to know. You’re a revelation!”

“Our ability to shift is a family secret,” he explained, trying to give her the benefit of the doubt before he bundled her into the back of the car and took outrageous liberties. Eden was still processing an almighty shock. She probably wasn’t thinking straight. “And it has to stay that way.”

“That’s right. You mentioned that your family can shift, too.” She glanced back to the place he’d shifted before her widening gaze fixed on him. “Wow.”

“Did you hear me?” He reached for her hand, coaxing her gently. “Because this is important, Eden and I need you to understand.”

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