Page 55 of Destiny of the Dragons

Jace went to his captive and punched him hard, knocking the man out cold. “Someday, I will be calling the shots.”

“When we were clanless, we were calling our own shots.”

“But not safe,” Jace shook his head. “This is the only way to play the game.”

Smoke stared at Jace, wondering what had become of his lover. Jace would have never just left Mia to her fate. He’d grown colder, harder.

All the things he’d hoped to spare Jace of from being in a clan.

“So you’re okay with Mia marrying that monster. The one with a trail of bodies of former lovers in his wake.”

“It’s her life,” Jace said, sounding bitter. “I’m not allowed to be a part of it, remember?”

Smoke grunted. He’d thought Jace would care. Maybe not leave his clan, but care enough to do something about it.

“Why don’t you just go put a bullet in his head?” Jace smirked. “That’s what you’re good at, right?”

Smoke gave him a look. “All of this is exactly why I didn’t want you in a clan.”

“What, the security? Not looking over my back every five minutes?” Jace exhaled, a burst of flames leaking out of his mouth. “Tell me, what’s so horrible?”

“The person you’ve become.” Smoke gave him one last look and left the room.

He would have to handle this himself. Jace wasn’t come back, not ever.

Jace finished up with his business and stomped into the office. It was already a shit afternoon. Having the former love of his life drop by to remind him about his other love didn’t make it better.

Zian looked up at him. “I’m really sorry about that, sir.”

Jace had never hit or otherwise abused his assistant, not like most higher-ranking dragons, but it didn’t stop Zian from treating him like a rabid dog ready to snap.

Jace sighed. “Smoke is much older than you. You didn’t stand a chance.”

Zian nodded. It was harder for younger dragons to really sense how many moltings another dragon had. Past a certain point, and your lizard brain just cowered in fear.

But then, Zian already had part of his Treasure so he was more powerful than most dragons his age.

“I’m taking off for the afternoon. Tell Clarinda it’s done.”

He had a few meetings to attend but he didn’t feel like it anymore.

Jace got into his racy little sports car and drove around. It was only spring, but it was still hot enough to roast a chicken on his dashboard.

His mind replayed the disgusted look on Smoke’s face.

Jace had hoped to have more control over what he was doing in the clan, but he was still a new member.

Smoke and Mia both pretended him being in a clan was the worst thing in the world, but it was the only way he could have ensured their long term safety.

He didn’t expect to break up over it. He’d expected Mia to reach out to him a week later. Smoke too. But as the time passed, he realized they had moved on without him.

He’d always assumed they were together. The bond pulsed inside him, strong as the first day they’d formed it.

Tangled up in each other arms, Jace didn’t know where he ended and Mia and Smoke began. His molting has been hard, and he wasn’t sure he was going to make it.

Jace drove out into the desert. The rolling hills and red mountains soothed him.

He wouldn’t have made it without Mia or Smoke. Mia let him touch her, knowing he might have to stop at any time. The molting, the combustion of magic inside him that allowed dragons to get bigger and stronger or die trying, made him sensitive and irritable.

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