Page 40 of Dragon Rivals of New York

I let a man completely rail me while tied to another man with god-knows how many people watching. What the fuck was I thinking?

I dip the crown of my head to Jethro’s chest, hiding myself under the blankets.

“This happens sometimes after an intense sexual encounter like that. It just seems you’re extra sensitive to hormone drops.” Jethro tries to lift my head, but I keep it buried under the covers.

“It’s called a sub drop,” Kyro says. “There’s a lot of endorphins involved in what we just did. When those hormones start to fade, it can be overwhelming.”

“Plus, I didn’t feed you beforehand, so you probably had low blood sugar, too.” Jethro kisses the top of my head. “Forgive me.”

“And me.” Kyro kisses my neck. “We shouldn’t have fought when you needed aftercare.”

I notice he doesn’t say they shouldn’t have fought at all. It’s clear things still aren’t resolved between them, and I don’t know what that means for us.

Kyro had a mate before me. Someone he loved. Someone Jethro might have killed.

I sob into Jethro’s chest. For Nadia, for him, for us. I can’t see how this is ever going to work. But after what we just did, I can’t see how I can ever walk away from them, either.

Chapter 19

Jethro

Ourgirlcriesherselfto sleep. I want to hold her, but it would be impossible to do without touching Kyro, and it’s clear he doesn’t want that. Despite what we shared during our scene, he doesn’t want me.

I remember Nadia now. Or at least I think I do.

Kyro wasn’t wrong in his accusation that I’ve killed a lot of dragons. I’ve lived more than a century, and during the first half of my life, things weren’t always peaceful between the hordes.

But seven years ago, before Adrianna took over as queen of the Silver Horde, there was an attack. It was an unstable time for the Gold Horde. Midas had just found Jeslyn, but Cyrus didn’t think the claim was legitimate. He challenged Midas to the throne, and the Silver Horde took advantage of that. They attacked our temple. We outnumber them two to one, butthey took us by surprise. There weren’t many at the temple when they attacked.

When I showed up, a female dragon had Midas cornered. She got in a good swipe at him, too. So I didn’t think. I just lunged. She wasn’t dead when they retreated, but the wound was severe. She shifted back to a human, pretty and young, bleeding badly. I didn’t recognize her. She was never at peace negotiations, so she must not have been part of the royal family’s inner circle. I didn’t know her name, but I remember Kyro swooped in and carried her off before the battle was over.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper into the silence.

Kyro doesn’t respond, but he’s not asleep. His gaze meets mine. The anger has bled out, but the grief is still there. It’s a grief I recognize. You don’t live for centuries without experiencing loss.

“I didn’t know you were mated.” Not that it would have made a difference.

“I wasn’t,” he whispers.

My eyebrows draw down. “But you said—”

“She wasn’t twenty-three yet. But I knew she wouldbe my mate.”

“I can’t believe they sent someone who wasn’t twenty-three into battle.” My voice raises with incredulousness. I knew Adrianna’s parents weren’t good rulers, but that’s a new level of coldness.

“Shh!” His gaze drops to Sora.

I pinch my lips, watching her steady breaths.

“We’re a small horde,” he says quietly. “Our Ra had few options.”

“They could have sought peace.”

He looks up at the ceiling. Sora stirs, but only to burrow her head into my chest. I wrap my arm around her, risking touching Kyro. He doesn’t protest, only moves back a few inches, making room for me.

“She shouldn’t have been there,” I whisper.

He sighs. “It was the will of our Ra.”

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