Page 44 of Destiny of the Dragons

Smoke gave him a skeptical look.

“Really. That’s how your clan works.” Mia’s tone couldn’t have been more doubtful.

“Damn it, would you just trust me?” Jace huffed. “This is a good thing. We will be safe. Powerful.”

Mia looked at him, forlorn. “Someday your mother is going to want you to do something you don’t want to. You act like you’re all powerful, but you’re back in a Family. You will have to obey your Mother.”

Jace stood up and paced across the room. “So what, you’re not coming with me?”

None of this was going the way he’d pictured. They should have been writhing in each other’s arms by now, blissfully happy.

“I didn’t know you were trying to go back.”

“Would it have made a difference?” he snapped.

“It would have been nice to know,” Smoke said, giving him a reproachful look.

“Yours threw you away like trash. Mine is different.”

“How?” Mia frowned. “They only wanted you back when you were rich and powerful.”

“To show how strong I am.”

“They should want you just as you are. Like we do.” Mia crossed her arms over her chest.

“Oh, and your family is better?” Jace snapped. “Your mother is a tyrant and you just lick her boots.”

Mia flinched.

“I know change is scary,” Jace said. “But here’s your chance at breaking free of your family, you and Charlotte both.”

Mia looked at him for a long moment. Her blue eyes felt heavy on him, more so than any look his mother had given him.

She looked away, and it felt like he’d failed some sort of test. “It’s complicated. I can’t just leave.”

Pain lanced through him. She’d rather stay with her horrible family than be with him. He looked at Smoke. “You’re that against being near a clan?”

“Being in your Treasure means I’m in a clan, Jace.” Smoke looked at him. Like Jace was the one in the wrong.

“You two!” Jace threw his hands in the air. “I’m giving you both everything you wanted, and you’re saying no.”

“I didn’t want to belong to a dragon clan, Jace,” Mia snapped.

Jace stalked across the room. “For the last time, you won’t be.”

“If you’re in the clan, so are we.” Mia snapped.

“And? This is how you become powerful, Mia, truly powerful. Get out of your own way, and take the happiness I’m giving you.”

Mia looked stricken. Smoke went still, very still.

Jace knew he’d lost them.

Mia stood up. She looked so sad.

Jace frowned. How did this go so wrong? “Come on, you two. I will protect you.”

Mia shook her head. “You can’t.”

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