“I was little more than a kid. Arrogant. Thought being a dragon made me untouchable.”
“And?”
“And I picked a fight with a vampire who’d survived a thousand years by being smarter than everyone around him.”
“A vampire?” She stares at me. “There are vampires?”
“There are dragons and witches, Ember. Of course there are vampires.”
“Right.” She nods. “Of course there are.” She nods again. “And he could have killed you.”
“He did. Technically.” I lean back against the wall. “Tore out my throat. Punctured my lung. Broke three ribs. Left me bleeding out in an alley.”
“But you’re here.”
“He carried me to a safe house. Paid for a healer. Left a note saying next time I should pick fights I could win.”
Ember’s silent for a long moment. “He saved you.”
“He taught me a lesson. That strength without strategy is suicide. That the strongest fighter doesn’t always win.”
I don’t add the rest. Don’t tell her that I’ve carried that lesson for centuries. That it shaped every decision since. That it’s why I analyze instead of feel. Why caring about anyone became a weakness I couldn’t afford.
Why the way I’m starting to feel about her terrifies me more than any collapsed tunnel.
The mountain groans again—longer, deeper. Rock grinding against rock. The torch flickers.
Ember’s hand shoots out, gripping my arm. Hard.
I don’t pull away.
The vibration builds. For thirty seconds that feel eternal, I’m certain the ceiling is coming down. That this chamber will be our grave.
Then it stops.
Dust hangs in the air. Ember’s fingers dig into my arm; strong grip, no trembling.
“That was worse,” she says.
“Yes.”
“Is the ceiling going to hold?”
“I don’t know.”
Her grip tightens. “You always know.”
“Not this time.”
She doesn’t let go. Just keeps holding my arm like it’s the only solid thing in a world that won’t stop shaking.
I should tell her to release me. Should maintain professional distance.
But I don’t.
Because the warmth of her hand through my sleeve, the way her fingers press into muscle… it grounds me in a way that tactical assessment never could.
And that’s the problem.
