Page 20 of Winterfall Destiny

I'm unsure who's stupider—Anastasia Blackwood for helping and trusting Gabriella to share that power, or Gabriella expecting gratitude from the creature she intended to exploit.

The sun's mockingly bright today, and I take my breakfast coffee outside with a second mugful for Ash, who I spotted sitting on the stone steps at the front of the house wearing his running gear.

"Good workout this morning?" I tease. "Are your times improving?"

He pokes his tongue out and takes the mug. "I left the estate. I'm sick of running in circles around the grounds."

"Oh. Is that a good idea?" I perch beside him on the cool stone and cradle the mug between my palms.

"Declan's off my back for now." Ash gulps the coffee. “I've left the estate a few times recently with no issues. I have to get away from the place sometimes, y’know?”

“I understand.” I place my mug on the stone and take Ash's to place beside mine. "Areyouokay, Ash?"

"Yeah."

I chuckle at his lie. "You haven't spoken much about what happened with Declan. Are you hiding behind the Andrei situation to stay quiet?"

"His situation is a bigger deal." Ash stares up at the window and then looks at me in surprise as I place myself on his lap.

"You're as big a deal as Andrei," I whisper and place my forehead against his.

Ash's arms wrap around me, pulling me closer to his body. Despite his exercise, there's no perspiration; he isn't the sweaty, mud-covered guy I watched play rugby at the academy. "Yeah, but I get why you're focused on what's happening with Andrei, Maeve."

Toofocused? Or are we all swept under by the fear for and need to watch Andrei? A family unable to function when one's gravely ill and the doctors can't give answers. Shut down. Lost in their own responses. Missing each other as much as the patient.

I place a hand on Ash's chest, over the branded mark that I seethe about each time I see or remember why. "The dragons won't win, Ash."

He places a hand over mine. "I'm a dragon. Whether they win or not, brand or no brand, I'm tied into the society."

"But not to the bullying arseholes. You're stronger, Ash."

"Isn't that the whole problem?" I look up at him, frowning. "They can't force me to bow at their feet because I equal the current alpha's power. I'm on their level."

"But you're not them." I press a kiss to his lips, and he brushes hair from my face, spreading fingers across my cheeks. "You could never be cruel and selfish. You've no interest in power. The first time I met the academy's most popular shifter, he wasn't head boy, and that confused me. But then I realised you'd never suit the role because the respect people had for you came naturally."

"Apart from rugby captain," he says with a wry smile. "Nobody could take that role from me."

I smile. "Yes, but you weren't interested in beingaboveothers. Everybody was equal in your eyes and that's how you treated them."

"What if I change?" Ash’s voice is barely a whisper, his heart pulsing harder against my palm.

"Is that why you're resisting the dragon inside?" I ask.

He shrugs. "I haven't met a single dragon who isn't selfish and power hungry. Even Ethan wants power by taking away from the dragons."

"Dragon shifters hold on to their human sides more than other shifters," I remind him. "Yes, you've killed, and that's not an Ash-like behaviour, but you rationalised what you did at the time, right?"

"To an extent." He sighs and shakes his head. "I can't hide from my dragon any more than you can from your Blackwood."

"I never considered that, but yes." I hold the back of his head and kiss him. "And we'll help each other. As always. I'd do anything you needed, any time, Ash, because I love you. Always remember that."

"I never doubt you do." He smiles and pulls my bottom lip down with his thumb. "The focus on Andrei right now makes sense, but you give more of yourself to us all than you realise."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't sit by his bed in vigil 24/7. You've spent time with us all." He nudges my nose with his. "I enjoy that I can give you comfort."

"Oh. You mean like in bed the other night?" I arch a brow.

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