Page 46 of Zachary

“Nobody’s taking it all away, Ronan. I understand that fear; I had it for so long. But dragons are forever true. Our whole species would need to be dust before we let you be torn from us.”

He doesn’t get it. “It’s not the others I’m worried about, Steffen. It’s you.”

The sharp inhale is one of the biggest signs of emotion I’ve ever known him to give. “Me?”

“You didn’t want a brother. I… I knew. Maybe I didn’t admit it to myself, but I did know. I’ve tried so hard to build a bond with you. I understand why it’s difficult for you, and I tried to never push. But I worry that one day, I’ll do something that will cause you to walk away. It won’t matter that there are stillthousands of other dragons. I won’t have my brother.” The last word shakes, and I swallow hard. Steffen lives by rules. He has to. Safety and security are his highest priorities. I understand that, and why. I even respect it. The way his brain works has saved a lot of people’s lives. But I don’t think I can live that way forever. The dragon in me needs more.

“What could you do that you worry would make me walk away?”

I take a moment, then decide to go for it. “Well, what would you say if I told you that on Friday night, I masterminded a plot to lure a man from his home so my friends could sneak in and steal from him?”

“You didwhat?” His shock is expected, but still concerns me. “You’ve actually managed to surprise me. What did you steal, and why?”

I launch into the explanation, realizing only after I’ve had to backtrack a few times exactly how complicated it is. When I finally peter out, I brace myself.

“Ronan…”

Here it comes.

“You aresucha dragon.”

What? “I… am?”

“This is exactly the kind of story I would expect to hear from Dustin or Fabian—though his version would include him having sex with the man.”

“So… you’re not angry? You don’t want me out of your life?”

There’s a long pause. “Iamangry,” he admits at last. “I’m angry because there are a thousand different things that could have gone wrong and put you in danger, and my brain calculated every single one of them while you told me that story. I’m angry because you’re planning to face down a woman who even I would hesitate to go head-to-head with.” I bite my lip, grateful I held back the part about blackmailing her. “But the rest? Youdoing something outlandish so somebody else can be happy? You taking steps to win the man you could love? I could never cut you out of my life for that. Although,” he adds, “I’m going to lecture you about it. And now that I think of it, I’m going to come out there soon and check the security on your house. I don’t like this idea that the demons can just teleport inside. I’m bringing you some weapons.”

“Steffen.” It’s the barest whisper, but he hears it.

“Ronan. We didn’t get the start we should have. And maybe neither of us will ever truly be the people we could have been if we’d grown up safe among dragons. But I will never, ever hate you for embracing your dragon nature. I want that for you. I want that for me, and maybe someday, I’ll heal enough for it to happen. But you don’t have to worry about losing me because of who you are.”

“Thank you.” I can tell he means it, and I’m grateful, but still a part of me doubts, and I blink back tears. I’d hoped this conversation would set my fears to rest, one way or another, but instead it seems they’ll always haunt me.

“I want to tell you something,” he says abruptly. “I… There are only ten people in the world who know this. It’s my deepest secret. I want you to know. You’re my brother, and I trust you with this. I trust that you would never betray me, because I know who you are, at your core.”

I still, afraid to breathe.

“I’ve been in a relationship with Wil for four thousand years. He’s the love of my life, and I’m afraid every day that someone will use that love against us both.”

Memory rises of that day in Steffen’s office—Wil’s office—at DEA headquarters. The day they first learned I existed. The day I broke in and tried to hack Steffen’s computer. And I imagine how he must have felt, knowing that someone who loathed him so much—because I did loathe him them—was mere feet awayfrom the one person who meant everything to him. If I had known then, I would have used that against him. I would have made it a weapon to end him.

That he trusts me with it now is… everything. “I’ll take this to my grave,” I swear, my voice hoarse. “Nobody will ever hear it from me. Thank you for… Thank you.” Tears stream from my eyes.

“Wil’s going to be pleased I told you,” he admits. “He wants us to be closer. I want that too. Even if you’re going to be a reckless, unhinged plotter of a dragon.”

The last of my fears fall away, and I’m free.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Zac

Despite the factthat I’ve been teleporting into Ronan’s house all week, today I decide to walk over and use the front door. Things feel different now. Maybe it’s old-fashioned of me, but I want to be formal about this.

I’m cursing myself as I walk up the front path. It’s not old-fashioned, it’s stupid, but I’m here now. Hopefully Ronan will understand why I didn’t teleport, because I’m not sure I can explain it. Ringing the bell, I take a step back and try not to dwell on how weird it is that just one week ago, I was standing here, preparing to apologize and ask for a truce. And now…

The door opens, and my mouth involuntarily curls into a smile as Ronan appears… and then that smile vanishes as rage surges through me. “Who made you cry?” I demand, stepping forward and tipping his chin to the light. His eyes are faintly red-rimmed and slightly puffy. “Are you hurt?”

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