Page 18 of Hex and Scales

“Oh, you have no idea.” Eiji bounded to his feet. “Our mighty founder is having an internal crisis because his dragon’s chosen a new mate and he’s too stubborn to?—”

“Eiji.” Steam curled from Ren’s words. “Enough.”

“I’ll go into town,” Eiji announced, unfazed. “Someone needs to escort the lady up this mountain since you’re too busy pretending you don’t want to do it yourself.” He clapped Kaito on the shoulder as he passed. “Maybe you can talk some sense into him before I get back.”

The door clicked shut behind him. Silence stretched between the cousins, broken only by the crack and pop of burning wood.

“A new mate?” Kaito finally asked.

Ren’s jaw clenched as he stared into the hearth. “It’s not that simple.”

“Isn’t it?”

“I made a vow to Shiara.”

“To love her forever,” Kaito nodded. “Not to love only her forever.”

“What’s the difference?” The words came out sharper than intended.

“The difference is that love multiplies, it doesn’t divide.” Kaito settled into one of the chairs, his calm presence a counterpoint to Ren’s contained power. “I’ve seen it happen before. Dragons who lost mates and found love again. It doesn’t diminish what was. It builds on it.”

Ren stilled his relentless movement, each breath measured and precise. “I try to maintain distance,” he admitted finally. “To keep control. But every time I push her away...” His hands fisted at his sides. “My dragon rebels. And worse—I fight myself. Because all I want...” He broke off, steam rising from his words.

“Is to pull her close instead?” Kaito finished quietly.

Ren’s silence was answer enough.

“So why deny it?”

“Because accepting it feels like betrayal.” The words scraped his throat raw. “These feelings—this pull toward her—they’re relentless. When she’s near, I want...” A frustrated sound escaped him. “Everything. To know her thoughts, her dreams. To make her smile. To keep her safe. To have her at my side where she belongs.”

“Where’s the betrayal in that?”

“Shiara—”

“Would want you to live,” Kaito cut in firmly. “Not exist. Not endure. Live.”

Heat radiated from Ren’s shoulders as his dragon essence pushed against his control. “It’s not that simple.”

“It could be.” Kaito stood, reaching for his coat. “If you’d stop punishing yourself for the past and consider that maybe this is exactly what you need. What you both need.”

Ren’s head snapped up. “Both?”

“If your dragon recognizes her as mate, her tigress recognizes you too. Every time you push her away...” Kaito let the words hang.

FIFTEEN

Ice replaced the heat in Ren’s veins. His dragon nature snarled at the thought of causing her pain, scales rippling beneath his skin in protest.

“Think about it,” Kaito said. “Oh, and there’s something else we need to discuss. I’ve been tracking a shadow witch. His magical signature keeps appearing near sites of sabotage—including here in Mystic Hollow. We should talk tomorrow.”

“Stay in town,” Ren commanded. “Help us investigate.”

Kaito nodded. “Tomorrow. Tonight...” His lips quirked. “Try not to set anything else ablaze when she arrives.”

The door closed behind him just as headlights swept across the windows. Ren’s pulse thundered against his ribs. His dragon essence rushed forward, scales shimmering beneath his skin in anticipation.

The door opened, and his world shifted on its axis.

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