Page 46 of Destiny of the Dragons

If Mia’s heart was breaking, she didn’t know how Smoke was holding it together. He had been with Jace longer.

She got off the couch and closed the distance between them. She pulled him into a hug, trying to melt some of the ice.

Smoke stiffened up. She put her head on his shoulder, waiting for him to relax enough to put his arms around her.

He remained stiff.

She pulled away, searching his face. He wouldn’t meet her eyes, staring out the window. It was dark outside, and his face was a mask of shadows.

“Smoke?” She stepped back, giving him some space.

He finally looked at her, his face a careful mask. “Mia, I can’t.”

“Sorry.” She blushed. “I won’t touch you.”

“I can’t be what you need me to be.”

“I don’t need—“

“You do,” Smoke said firmly. “I thought with time, and with Jace there…”

Mia’s heart broke again. “You’re leaving.”

“I took a job.”

She tried to steel herself, to make herself unbreakable, but it was far, far too late for that.

“I leave tomorrow. I’ll be gone for a couple of months.”

“A couple of months.”

When you dated two guys at the same time, you got to break up twice, too.

“Staying here with me isn’t an option.”

Smoke shook his head. “Jace is better—“

“Apparently not,” Mia snapped. “Jace just tried to railroad both of us into doing what he wanted and making it out to be our problem when we didn’t jump for joy.”

Smoke sighed. “He’s young. Naïve. He’ll see his mistake. We have to be patient.”

“Sure. You go be patient, on your job.” Mia moved away. “Go ahead and leave. And thanks so much for convincing me that dating two dragons at the same time was anything but a terrible idea.”

Smoke gave her one last look, and left without a backward glance.

Mia didn’t slam the door.

Mia curled up on the couch and stared down at the locket in her hand.

Jace picked the perfect picture. She was smiling, Jace was giving his signature grin, and Smoke looked happy for once.

Just the three of them, blissfully happy.

Mia sighed and put the locket away in her jewelry box. It was a beautiful moment in time, but it wasn’t going to come back.

Mia knew better now.

Smoke leaned against the cold concrete, watching the nightless sky. There was no moon or sun.

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