Page 42 of Dragon Awakened

My eyes flare wide. "They've got him."

Not ten minutes later, I feel them drawing close. At my signal, Malik goes to the door and lifts the covering over the glass to peer out. He nods, then hauls the door open.

Jianyu and Rafe are all grim determination and strength as they bustle a limp but familiar figure in. My mates have knocked Fury out and put a canvas bag over his head--making sure I don't connect my gaze with his until I'm ready--but it's still unmistakably him. I suck in a harsh breath, fluttering inside with nerves.

Prince Fury is as jacked as he's ever been, his muscles bulging against the confines of his expensive jeans and perfectly tailored shirt. My stomach twists as I take him in. Moments from now, I may have an irresistible, bone-deep need for this man.

For right now, though, all I can think of is the cruel sneer on his face as he transformed into his dragon on the night of the Emergence. How he lifted me like a ragdoll and all but threw me on the ground outside my aunt's house. He told me it was only his father's mercy that spared my life; if he'd been in charge, he would have shredded me limb from limb.

Doubt tears at me. How can I possibly have a soul-bond with this monster?

How can I love him?

I don't even realize how tightly I'm clenching my fists until Jianyu puts his hands over mine. Wrapping me in a gentle embrace, he reminds me, "We can always take him back to Unity to do this, if you want."

And delay what's already shaking me to my core?

"No." I curl into him for a moment, soaking in his strength, before pulling back. "It has to be here. Just in case..."

I trail off, unable to say it.

"Are you ready?" Rafe is tying Fury to a chair in the center of the unoccupied half of the garage. Once he's tested the ropes, he steps back and grasps the edge of the bag over Fury's head.

I laugh darkly. "Not even close."

"You can do this," Malik says, standing beside me.

It's not as if I have any choice.

I nod at Rafe. In a single, swift move, he yanks the cloth off Fury's head, revealing his face. It's more handsome when he's not actively throwing insults at everyone around him, but I still can't help but recoil.

"Malik," Rafe prompts. "If you would do the honors."

"Gladly." Malik's tattoos glow, and he lifts his hands into the air.

And it's not as if I didn't notice the shop bucket he filled with water from the bathroom earlier. I just figured he'd dump the thing over Fury's head like a normal person.

But oh, no. With dramatic flair, he draws the gallon or so of water right out of the bucket with his magic and whips the sloshing mass of it across Fury's face half a dozen times before releasing it in a gush over his entire torso.

I bite back a laugh, but the mirth dies on my tongue as Fury sputters and coughs. His eyes open, and all the air leaves my lungs.

"What the fuck--" Fury whips his gaze around wildly, struggling against his bonds. His jaw sets as he takes in my mates, who look like ripped, magically adept bodyguards.

I hold my breath as his gaze continues scanning.

Until finally, inexorably, he registers my presence. His eyes fly wide in recognition. His mouth hardens.

"Reject," he sneers. "What are you--"

And then his cold, gray eyes meet mine.

Chapter

Twelve

EMBER

Every fiber of my being screams at me to close myself off. To hide. How many times did this asshole watch idly by as his girlfriend and her catty minions tormented me? How many times did he help?

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