Page 7 of Gambling with Time

My hands roamed over her back and down to her waist, almost wrapping her completely in my arms. We were barely dancing because I was holding her so tightly. But she was letting me, almost clinging to me in the same way. I brushed her hair off the side of her face.

"Sammy, how could I forget you?" I whispered against the shell of her ear, and she trembled in my arms. "I'll remember. I promise."

The song ended, and people moved around us before the next one started. Still, I couldn't let go. They would have to pry my hands off her. My gaze landed on Ty and Alastor. They stood together at the table, both of them watching us. I needed all of my memories back. I would restore them for both of us.

CHAPTER 5

Alastor

Raiden held onto Samantha as if his life depended on it. He might not remember what she was to him, but it was clear something inside of him did.

"Looks like a success," Tyler said.

"At least on the physical level. It was the same with Bellamy, although he sensed something was wrong and came to find me." I propped my elbow on the tall table next to me and swirled the straw in the drink the waitress provided. "Now we just have to convince him that he should take us to his palace so we can talk to the dragons."

"I'm going this time."

If I knew Samantha well, and I did, he would have a fight on that front. She wouldn't let him go last time. I doubted she would change her mind even without the memory of it.

"As long as your sister agrees," I replied.

He pinned me with a look. "I am not a weak sidekick anymore. I have powers. I'm useful."

Surprise coursed through me. I hadn't known it was a sore spot for him. I tried to hide my reaction and just shrugged. "We will only take you if she agrees."

"But what if she doesn't remember I have badass God powers?"

I chuckled, and he scowled. "Have you tried to use them since we rescued the muse?"

"They still work, if anything, I have more power, and you saw me use them." He crossed his arms and muttered something under his breath. He was right. He had used his magic to help me get Samantha to Tartus to begin with.

"Forgive me, I wasn't thinking." At least not about anything not revolving around Samantha and getting her memories back. "I'll make sure she knows you aren't weak."

The song ended, and even from this distance, I could see Raiden tightening his arms around her. I would bet money that his dragon remembered. Could I speak to the beast inside him?

My thoughts absorbed me as I watched them. Another song started, and dancers flowed back to the floor around them. It reminded me of the night it was all of us, right before all of this happened. If I could go back to that evening, the things I would do differently. But it wasn't possible.

So I needed to salvage the future. And the only way to do that is to stop being a coward with my feelings. Once they remembered who they were and what they lost, I would make sure they knew how I felt. All of them. They were all my family, even the dragon that didn't trust me.

After a few more songs, Samantha pulled away and came back to us, her cheeks flushed with desire and her eyes bright. I'd witnessed the look enough times to know she wanted to take someone into the VIP room and have her way with them. But we had a plan we needed to enact, and if he felt even close to the same way, it would be hours before we'd get her away from him.

"Any memories come back?" Tyler asked.

"You don't want to hear them," Samantha replied, her eyes going wide as she looked at Raiden, pleading with him not to say it out loud.

A slow smile worked over my lips. I knew what they remembered. "Do you just remember the sex or the feelings that go along with it?"

Tyler slapped his hands over his ears like he was four and didn't want to hear whatever was being said. But I looked at them both expectantly.

"The feelings come first for me," Samantha replied.

"Both," Raiden clipped.

Fuck. His dragon was close to demanding he claim her again.

"Raiden, we need you to take us to your palace. We need to speak to the other dragons about the ruby." I decided now was the best chance to get him to listen.

His fingers curled around Samantha's, and he seemed to look at her for her thoughts. That was good, at least.

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