Rex moved to get to his feet, but Harmon’s hand shot out, grabbing his arm.“What are you doing?”Harmon asked.
“I’m going to see if I can find you a healer or more blood.”
“Don’t go.”
Rex hesitated.“I’m just going to get help.”
“There are people who need that help more than me.I’m fine.I can wait for a little while longer, especially if you stay with me.”
That went without saying.Rex wasn’t going anywhere, and not only because of Merrick.He didn’t want to leave Harmon on his own.
He dropped back down.Harmon instantly latched onto his arm as if afraid that Rex would leave if he didn’t.It was cute, even with all the blood.They fell silent again, but Rex kept an eye on Harmon, just in case.The man was stubborn, and Rex wouldn’t put it past him to try to hide that he was in pain or not feeling well.
“So, you’re a coven leader,” he said after a while.He didn’t mind silence, but if he and Harmon were stuck together until Harmon felt it was time for him to be taken care of, they might as well get to know each other.In a way, they were family.Merrick considered Harmon his brother, and Rex’s brother was dating Merrick.
Harmon sighed.“I am,” he confirmed.
“You don’t sound happy about that.”
“That’s because I’m not.”
Rex frowned.He was pretty sure that Harmon wouldn’t be admitting that to anyone in normal circumstances.Rex didn’t want to take advantage of how weak Harmon was or of his blood loss.Maybe it would be better if he stopped asking questions.
But Harmon didn’t seem to have gotten the memo.Even without Rex asking, he seemed to want to talk about the coven.
“In fact, I hate it,” he added.“I hate that I have to do it on my own.”
* * * *
HARMON PROBABLY SHOULDN’Tbe saying that to a man who was little more than a stranger, but even though he and Rex didn’t know each other, they were family—kind of.Merrick would probably act offended if Harmon said it to him, but it was true.At the same time, Harmon wasn’t sure how he felt about being family to Rex.The thoughts he had about him weren’t exactly familial.
“It’s just a lot,” he continued.“The responsibilities, the taking care of so many people, all of that.I thought I was ready for it, and maybe I was, but it’s been years since I took the job, and I can’t anymore.Every time I think about going home and walking into my office, I want to scream.”
“That’s a lot,” Rex murmured.
Harmon snorted.“You could say that.Everyone comes to me when they have a problem.It’s alwaysHarmon, please help me.I don’t think any of my coven members ever think thatImight need help, too.”
“Don’t you have a second-in-command?”
“He’s the only reason I’m here.If he hadn’t been willing to step into my shoes for a little while, I wouldn’t be.He’ll be happy to go back to having fewer responsibilities once I get home, though.”And Harmon would go back to shouldering almost everything.
It wasn’t like he hated the job.Hewantedto keep his people safe, which was one of the reasons he was here.He’d known that the dragon clan would become a problem if no one stepped in.He’d been relieved that he wouldn’t have to be in charge of the operation, but he’d known it was important.People like Martin needed to be stopped before they could do too much damage.
Martin had been.
Harmon glanced around.Seeing so many people hurt made him feel guilty.What did he have to complain about?He had a home and people who cared about him.He had a purpose in his life, even though these days, that purpose felt like a rock dragging him down.He had friends and family.He’d made it out of this fight almost unscathed.
He needed to stop complaining and start working.It was what his maker would tell him, and he’d be right.He’d chosen Harmon to succeed him for a reason.Harmon couldn’t afford to disappoint anyone, but especially not himself.He might be having a hard time, but the thought of stepping down from being coven leader made him want to scream, too.No, there had to be a way to deal with his problems.He just had to find it.
“Well, I’m not sure if I’m going to stick around now that this is over,” Rex said.
It took Harmon a moment to understand what Rex was saying.“You mean you don’t want to stay with the pack?”Harmon was under the impression that Rex’s entire family had become pack members, but maybe he’d been wrong.
“It’s not that I don’t want to stay with them.It’s that I don’t know if I have a place here.”
“You’re a pack member.”
Rex smiled, but it was a little sad.“Am I actually?Kieran welcomed all of us, but I’m the only one who hasn’t found an anchor here.My family is putting down roots, moving in with people they love, and building a future.I was here for the fight, and that’s over.”
