Page 41 of A Dragon's Miracle (Fires of Fate)
That made two of us.
“There’s something else,” I started.
Finn raised his eyebrows, waiting for me to continue.
God, how was I going to say this? “The relationship stuff wasn’t the only thing Jin wanted from me. I mean, if that’s all he wanted, he’d never have sent me here.”
“He sent you here?” Definite surprise now.
“Yeah.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “He got me the job at the embassy through his contacts and a lot of money.” You’d think these institutions were above that, but sadly no.
“Why did he want you here?”
“Because he couldn’t enter the island himself and there were things here that he wanted to get his hands on. Things that he… wanted me to get him. To steal for him.”
“You stole for him?” I couldn’t read the look on Finn’s face as he asked that question. He seemed curious, surprised and… something else I couldn’t place.
“Yes. Heirlooms. Artifacts. Anything with the least bit of magical power.”
Understanding dawned on Finn's face. “Oh, you're the one who took that vase from Lowen's family last summer solstice.”
I cringed, but, yes, he was right. I had taken that vase, and it had bought me a vial of medicine. “I've taken a lot of things over the years. I kept telling myself that I had no choice, but I'm so sorry. If I could, I would give it all back.”
“And die?” Finn asked, still much calmer than I'd expected him to be.
“I stole from your family too,” I said, to make sure he understood. This wouldn't be much of a confession otherwise. “I took some of your mother's jewelry.” While she'd never been anything but kind to me.
“Oh!” Finn's eyes grew wide, but not for the reason I thought. “That's what she meant...!”
I shot him a questioning look.
“I think she knew!” He grinned at me. “She kept asking me if you needed financial help.”
Oh God. I buried my head in my hands, face burning. “Your mother and you... you're both too nice for this world. You're not supposed to worry about the thief who's stealing from you.”
“No, I guess not.” Finn laughed softly. “I guess we're not your typical dragons, but...” He ran a hand into my hair. “I'd hoped you liked that about me.”
I kept my head down, but he was right of course. “I do.”
“Good.” Finn leaned back. “I'm not mad that you stole from us or other dragons. I get that you did what you had to to survive. But there's one part of your story that I hate.”
I looked up at him.Here it comes now.The judgment I'd been waiting for.
“All this time,” Finn started, “even before you were my boyfriend, you were my friend. We weregoodfriends. And you were in all this trouble and you never felt like you could tell me. What did you think I was gonna do? Flip out on you? Turn you over to the authorities?”
I swallowed. “I thought you were going to hate me. I was abusing your trust and--“
“You were abusing my trust by not trusting me back! Do you have any idea how hard it was to sit here and worry about you while you were with your ex? And you told me things were fine! You ran into a door. Right.” Finn gestured wildly with his hands. “I don't ever wanna hear shit like that again. When you're in trouble,you tell me!”
I dropped my gaze to the floor. “I didn't want to worry you. There wasn't anything you could do.”
“No.” Finn stood from the table and stepped around it to pull me up and into his arms. “I could have been there for you. I would have gladly given you all my family's stuff if that was what it took to keep you safe. I would have made sure your ex never laid a hand on you again.”
“I'm sorry,” I said again, more softly now, because I had to fight to keep the tears from coming. “I don't deserve you.” I hadn't meant to voice that thought, but it was out of my mouth before I could take it back.
“No, you do.” Finn tightened his arm around me and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “And I forgive you.”
I took a shaky breath and kissed his lips to keep myself from saying anything stupid, because his words made me way too damn happy. Ireallydidn't deserve him. But for as long as I could, I'd hang on to him anyway.
