Page 55 of Dragon Awakened

"It isn't easy," Malik offers, his tone vastly more conciliatory than Rafe's, but I'm still not sure it's helping. "Getting used to being one of many mates. Believe me, I know."

"Ember." Storm shakes his head, practically pleading for my attention, and he's right. We can't have the heart to heart we need to have if my other mates keep weighing in.

I huff out an exhalation and look to the rest of my mates. "Can you give us a minute? Please?"

"You sure about that?" Rafe asks. His brows furrow. He's being difficult, but everything in him is radiating protectiveness. He hurt you, his eyes tell me.

As if I could forget.

Nodding, I push as much calm as I can manage into our connection. "I'm sure."

With that, I beckon Storm toward the bedroom of the suite. My stomach clenches at the sight of the big, inviting bed, my insides going watery and warm.

I hesitate, trying to get my freshly-mated hormones in check. The bedroom might not be the best place to have an emotional conversation like this, but it's our only real option if we want any kind of privacy.

Before I can close the door on my other mates, Jianyu catches my eye. "If you need anything..."

I shine a grateful, reassuring smile. "You'll be right outside."

The instant the door latches, the connection between me and Storm pulls taut, and I have to put a hand to the center of my chest against the shortness in my breath. Between my legs, I pulse with wanting, and my skin feels too tight.

"Ember," he breathes from right behind me, and my knees wobble.

I force myself to stand up straight, though. Not turning to face him yet, I exhale roughly. "We should probably talk."

He doesn't move, staying right there, his heat unbearable against my spine. Mere inches separate us, and after we've been apart for so long, it's tearing at me to maintain the distance.

My heart still aches, though--and there's so much he doesn't know. As tempting as it is to fall into bed with him right here and now, we'd just end up at the same impasse again.

As if he can feel the impossibility of it all, too, he finally releases a breath.

"Okay." He steps back, and my lungs expand.

I stand there for a moment, gathering myself. When I trust myself to turn around, I find him sitting on the edge of the bed. I look him up and down, the tender space between my ribs unbearably sore.

On the surface, he looks the same as always. His golden skin and thick, dark hair. The sharp line of his jaw, shadowed by an oh-so-sexy growth of stubble. The noble tilt to his brows, the purse of his lips, and the piercing, silvery gray of his eyes.

But there's something new in him now. Something that's not quite brokenness.

But it's not far off.

My stomach twists. Our entire time we were together, he was royalty, and I was a defective outsider. He held every possible bit of power.

Now that's all reversed, and I should probably be reveling in having the upper hand for once. Instead, waves of empathy race through me, softening my heart.

Maintaining a careful distance between us, I move to sit beside him on the bed. Even without touching him, I can feel his heat pouring into me. I tried not to, but I missed the solidity of his presence so much.

Clenching inside, and twisting my hands together in my lap, I turn my head to look at him. "This all must be a lot to take in."

He lets out a mirthless laugh. "Understatement." He glances my way, and I'm still so mad at him, but I can't help the way I want to fall into his soulful eyes. His throat bobbing, he releases a heavy breath. "Will you tell me? Everything?"

And there's something so open to the way he says it. Memories flood my mind; back in Wynrath Crest, he was my solace. No one knew me better. The fact that he doesn't know about everything that's happened over the past couple of months feels so wrong.

I still don't completely trust him. But I open my mouth, and the entire story comes pouring out.

Chapter

Fifteen

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