Page 76 of Betrayed By Dragons

I hear the thunder in my voice. I feel the tremor of the earth, the heat of its mantle. I swear I even feel the static in the air.

My dragon growls, and the bracer on my arm is alive with power.

But I don't direct it at Atina or Li.

I direct it at my mates. I pour my energy into the connection between us.

Come, I beg them. I need you.

And all I can do is pray they can hear.

* * *

JIANYU

Well, that went well.

I sit back in my chair and scrub a hand over my head. We've just ended the video call with Freya; after Rafe and I started going for each other's throats again and Ember ran, there wasn't that much left to say.

The instant we disconnected, Amy hopped out of her seat to go find Sister Grace. Jett retired to his room, his phone already out. He's probably ready for a more private conversation with his mate.

The gods know I am.

My stomach clenches hard, a painful knot forming in my gut. I can feel Ember--she isn't far away. But even a small amount of distance is too much. She belongs by my side.

"Well, we sure fucked that up," Rafe grumbles, dropping to sit in the chair next to mine.

"Royally," I agree.

He grunts a quiet laugh at my unintentional pun. I glance over at him.

He looks good. He should, considering he spent the evening with Ember. The heat that flowed through their bond earlier seared me through. I have crescent-shaped marks in my palms from how tightly I had to dig my nails into my own flesh to keep from releasing my dragon and flying after them. But I knew my place. Ember and I have had our alone-time together, and she and Rafe need that, too. The fact that they both came back, all smiles, their bodies and their connection relaxed in a way they hadn't been in days was proof enough. I was happy for them. Really.

Right up until Ember revealed that a fucking Shadow Dragon has the Fire King's ear.

I lost it. The Fire Kingdom has betrayed my kingdom too many times.

An ugly pain claws at my chest, and I shift my gaze toward the window. Toward the mountains in the distance.

The Stone Kingdom isn't my kingdom anymore. It belongs to my father. I'm an exile from the land I was meant to rule, and I should be furious. I am.

But the fury is quiet. It's patient--like the stone from which my dragon draws his power. Together with Ember, someday, we'll reclaim our kingdom.

We're going to have a hell of a time doing so if there are Shadow Dragons egging on the Fire Kingdom, though.

I look to Rafe again and flex my jaw. "I'm sorry."

Just because there are Shadow Dragons lurking in this castle doesn't mean that Rafe himself has personally betrayed me. I let my temper get away from me, and the ensuing fight pushed away our mate.

That's unacceptable. It can't happen again.

Rafe nods in acknowledgment. "I'm going to say this for the last time." Sitting up straighter, he vows, "I did not try to murder you when we were kids."

Letting out a rough breath, I crack my knuckles before dropping my hands. "I know."

"And I had no idea there was a Shadow Dragon here." Turning to face me more fully, Rafe softens his tone, that rakish nonchalance finally falling away from his voice. "Even if you're right--even if the Fire Kingdom had something to do with the bombing. I didn't know."

I grind my teeth together harder. "I want to believe you."

---