Page 26 of Devoted to the Dragon

Was I only ever protecting myself?I had convinced myself ignoring the bond was for the best, that it would give Fennik a chance. I told myself that giving in was a sure way for him to die without the rest of my mates. That’s still true. But I think all I didwas hurt us both by pushing him away. My remorse wars with my fear until I’m trembling.

I wait.

Dawn creeps closer, but the light only makes my sorrow seem like a stark contrast.

I keep waiting, knowing I don’t deserve for Fennik to forgive me but hoping he does all the same.

When morning comes and I’m feeling hopeless, a set of silver eyes emerges from the edge of the forest. In a less than graceful leap, I’m out of the truck and throwing myself into Fennik’s arms.

“I’m sorry, Alpha. So sorry. It’s never been a lack of want.” The tears prickle and sting my eyes, and I try to blink them back, but they fall anyway. He looks away, and I tug on his jaw. “Pushing you away didn’t stop an ounce of hurt. I see that now. I’ve been afraid but?—”

Fennik folds me into a hug, his arms tightening and his scent burning with so many emotions it stings my nose. “I understand fear, Randi. I was afraid of losing you altogether, but it can’t be like this. No more secrets.”

The warmth of his hug is so reassuring that it makes the tears come harder. Even in his anger, he rubs my back, his arms gentle.

“What now?” Gunnar asks, hopping down from the bed to lean against the tailgate.

I pull out of the hug, speaking to both of them. “If the two of you want, I can set a Moon Circle to invoke a true Thunder. It should be ready when we return from the Council meeting. It isn’t a guarantee. I’m hoping we can convince my dragon to mark you as my mates, even if you’re only a pair.”

Fennik stiffens. “How do we do that?”

I reach out for both of them, taking their hands and pulling the three of us together. “I don’t know. Not for sure. It’s different for every dragon, as is the challenge she presents her horde.”

Fennik’s wolf is in his eyes, the silver sharp. The corded muscles in his neck clench.

I backpedal. “I don’t have to use the Moon Circle. We can stay like we are. I don’t even know if it will work. I may never awaken or bond.”

Gunnar squeezes my hand. “What do you want?”

I give a jerky shake of my head, letting go of their hands and stepping back from the temptation of their scent. They deserve the truth and a moment to think it through. “This isn’t my decision. The Moon Circle could call your rut, and if my dragon rejects you, I couldn’t answer. It could turn you feral or kill you. Or if we don’t try but live as mates anyway, you could still go feral without the bond. And like all your kin, you’ll age slowly after fifty, but your lifespan will remain much shorter than mine. Dragons aren’t immortal, but I might as well be.”

Gunnar shrugs. “Sounds like either way, we turn feral or eventually die unless we impress your dragon.”

“There was only ever one way, little dove.” Fennik picks me up, his arms tightening around my back as he buries his face in my hair. “You’re my mate. I’ll do what you need, always.”

I don’t think it’s forgiveness, but at least it’s a start. The fear of losing them is still overwhelming, but I guess that’s something I’ll have to work through. I don’t deserve Fennik’s loyalty, maybe not Gunnar’s either, but I won’t deny either of them. Not ever again. All I can do is try to be worthy of their faith in us.

Chapter 13

Knox

The beat of the song drowns out Stefano’s excited voice. I pull the phone away to check the time. My brother has been going on about his newest discovery in the lab for thirty-seven minutes. No doubt he could go another thirty-seven.

I press my hand over my ear to try to dampen the club noise around me, shouting as I cut into his rambling, “The high-dose darts, Stef, focus.”

There’s silence on the line, almost as though he forgot he was talking to someone, then a resigned sigh. “Right… hold on. I wrote a note about it somewhere because I knew you would ask.” There’s the rustling of paper, a yelp, and a curse, more rustling. I think he drops the damn phone, then he’s back. “Note says: High-dose darts, idiot-proofed for Knox.”

“Fuck you very much, Stef,” I say with a huffed laugh before I end the call. Typical. I’m not even stupid; I’m just not an alchemist like he is.

The dancer on stage blows glitter from her hand, and her pink smoke floats through the dark room, feeding back the lust she’s eating from the crowd. It’s a cotton-candy feeling, like floating in a sea of whipped clouds and sugary sex. It makes thehuman men in the room go wild just in time for the side doors to open. The scantily clad dancers weave through as men in suits beckon them closer, drinks sloshing about as they toast one another and the club bunnies climb onto their laps.

Donovan, the lead member of my small crew, steps from the shadows, signaling to me from the door that leads to our tunnels under the casino.

I pocket my phone and join him, waiting until the music dies before speaking. “The shipment arrived?”

He grunts in acknowledgment.

“Stef says we should know it when we see it.”

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