Page 46 of Dragon's Honor

Henrik grabbed both sides of Ash’s face. “You have to stop. You’re going to rip a hole in the side of the hospital if you shift right now. Don’t do it.”

Ash grabbed onto his brother’s shoulders trying to hold on. Finley was hospitalized and her biggest injury was because his enemy dosed her with a drug made of his own people. Tristian had cannibalized his clan.

Ash let out a roar. The anguish filled his limbs and so did his dragon. The pull to disappear inside his beast was more powerful than it ever had been.

Henrik shook him. “Ash.”

Pru gasped and stumbled backward. “Do you want me to sedate him?”

“I’m not sure anything could stop him right now. He has to stop himself.” Gavin’s voice was distant.

“Gavin, he can’t shift in here,” Pru cried.

Henrik slapped him. “Ash, if you shift right now, you’re going to hurt Finley. She’s in the room. She’s right there.” He jerked Ash’s head around to stare at the woman in the bed.

Ash tore out of Henrik’s grasp and fell to Finley’s bedside. He gently lifted her hand and held it. He squeezed his eyes shut and willed himself to catch his breath. He tried to soothe the dragon inside of him.

Finley’s hand was hot to the touch. He held her hand to his forehead and prayed. He wasn’t even sure who he was praying to, but he fully intended to use all available options. She couldn’t die. She didn’t die when she was dosed. He wouldn’t allow it now. He needed more time. Whether they ended up mated or not, she needed to live. It was the only thing he wanted from her. To live and be happy. That was all she had to do.

His dragon wanted to be the one to make her happy.

Ash’s panting eased and air flowed in and out more steadily. The haze of the shift evaporated. He stood, still holding Finley’s hand.

“We’ll get her to my house and call Syrena in.” Ash’s voice was raw and husky.

Gavin and Henrik exchanged glances.

“Brother, you have to get a grip. If the craze takes you…”

Ash sneered. “I know. I know.”

* * *

An hour later,Finley was tucked away in his bed. Pru sent them with as much as she could to keep her stats monitored. Henrik left to retrieve Syrena.

Ash sat on his giant bed next to her, not wanting to leave her. Sitting in the chair next to the balcony felt too far away. He needed to keep her safe. His dragon was practically pacing inside of him while he remained still next to her on the bed holding her hand. He needed some kind of contact, so he didn’t feel like she was slipping through his fingertips before they even had a chance to figure out whatever was happening between them.

The kiss they shared in his kitchen had been a mistake, but it wasn’t something he was eager to forget. The contact of their mouths and bodies pressing together had been everything to him, even though he knew the complications it entailed.

He couldn’t stay away from her and the longer he did, the more he lost the sense of himself.

The weight of his cuff was nearly unbearable. It wasn’t his to bear alone. He wanted to share it with his mate. Maybe fate’s vengeance for failing his family was finding a mate that was truly all wrong for him. He deserved a fate worse than death. Maybe the craze would take him, and she could go back to her normal life.

Though, he wondered with everything she saw and experienced if she would go back to any kind of semblance of normal.

She was hungry for information and now she had more than ever. It wouldn’t stop her, only encourage her.

Ash tore his cuff off and slid it onto her wrist easily. He wove his fingers between hers and watched as the tourmaline and silver changed to fit around her wrist like it had been before he took it off.

Instantly, his dragon paused inside of him as he stared down at her wrist. His claim on her. She wasn’t fully his and maybe she never would be, but at least for now, she wore his heartstone.

Henrik texted that he was on his way back with Syrena. He hoped the witch could do something.

“Ash?”

He jerked his chin up when he heard Finley’s voice.

“Sawyer?”

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