Page 49 of Monster

“And you continued?” Bull demanded.

“Isn’t it better for him to be alive and sane than to remember who he was?” Drake asked in response. He glared at Bull, awaiting an answer.

“Maybe there was another way,” Bull said. “You had no right to make that decision.”

“He’s my mate,” Drake spat back.

Bull froze at those words. This was his father… the love of his mother’s life. The man who’d haunted her for decades… “No.”

“I wasn’t sure… and even when the truth was right before me… I still couldn’t accept it,” Drake said.“But I can’t deny it any longer.”

“This is why you were so adamant you’d save him,” Jaeger said behind them.

Drake nodded.“I couldn’t let him die.”

Bull stood there, reeling. He wasn’t ready to accept that Luca had a bond to another… “The doctors need to check him over. You’ve both had a trying day… perhaps you should go rest,” Bull said to the dragon.

“I don’t want to go,” Drake said, turning to Bull.“He needs our help.”

“Help I will ensure he gets,” Bull said.“Go. Rest up.”

Drake opened his mouth to argue, but seemed to think better of it.He rose to his feet and glared at Bull.“You think to push me out now? I’ll go… and give you a moment to wrap your head around what I’ve told you, but you won’t keep me from my mate forever.”

Bull clenched his teeth, but said nothing.

Drake turned and headed for the doors.

Jaeger leaned closer to Bull.“He nearly gave his life for you, father.That has to count for something.”

Bull watched the two depart before Deacon caught his eye. “And you’re going to state your disapproval, too?”

“I didn’t say a word,” Deacon said, but his face told another story. The dragon turned and headed out, leaving Bull alone with his father.

“I’m tired,” Luca said, his expression a mask of unease. He got up and moved to the small cot in one corner.

Bull watched as the man wrapped himself in the woolen blanket there and cursed himself. Luca needed to reconnect with the world… not be isolated… yet that’s exactly what he’d just done.

Let the doctors check him over first and we can go from there.

* * * *

Jaeger followed Drake out of the facility before he spoke. He felt a mixture of elation and sorrow, and worried that when he spoke, he’d confuse the two emotions within him. He stared at Drake’s now clear back, amazed there were no marks left… and hope sprang into his heart. If Drake could be healed, maybe there was a chance for him, too.

Finally, the silence grew to be too much.

“You shifted… the metal… it’s gone,” Jaeger said, forcing a smile to his face. “Your dragon has healed you.”

“And yet I find no joy in it.” Drake growled lowly. “My mate sits in a cage, pulled from me… I saved him only to be tossed out of his life?”

“For now,” Jaeger said.“Nothing keeps a dragon from his mate. Now that your dragon has been released, Bull won’t be able to get in your way.”

“He’s Luca’s son. I won’t harm him.”

“I didn’t mean that,” Jaeger said.“Only that there is no obstacle you can’t overcome now.” Jaeger struggled to keep the smile on his face. “Now that you’re whole.”

Drake turned to him. “I’m sorry—I was so preoccupied with what just happened I hadn’t stopped to think how this has made you feel.”

Jaeger shook his head. “I’m happy for you.”

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