How could I even begin to explain? I’d rather dump half my DVD collection into the garbage than try to describe this disaster.
“The omega I like attacked Aurum,” I said miserably. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Mylo’s ear twitched.
Viol’s gaze snapped to mine. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
I sighed, gathering the willpower to clarify. “Rorik, the polar bear. He’s from a weird clan that brainwashed him into thinking dragons are evil. He was sent here to kill us, and they’d shun him if he failed.” As the truth poured out of me, so did my feelings. “It’s my fault. Rorik was confused. He never saw my dragon form, so he couldn’t accept that fact that we’re the ‘evil creatures’ he was supposed to kill. I should’ve shifted and proved that wearedragons. If I did that, he would’ve recognized Aurum. Ugh, I’m so stupid...”
Viol didn’t blink as he stared at me. He stood as still as a statue.
“A polar bear did this?” Viol finally asked, his voice low and grave.
I nodded sadly.
A bead of sweat rolled down Viol’s temple. He looked like he wanted to speak, but held back.
A knock came at the door. A voice called, “It’s Jade—with Rorik.”
My stomach lurched. I wasn’t afraid to see Rorik, but I was scared of what Viol would do to him. I leapt from my seat and ran to the door. Shifting energy sparked beneath my skin, ready to unleash itself if Viol even bared a tooth in Rorik’s direction.
Heart pounding, I threw the door open. Jade’s expression was civil as he escorted Rorik forward. He was a hot mess. His usually neat-cropped hair flew in every direction, and dark rings circled his eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days despite the incident happening only hours ago.
I expected a twinge of anger in my stomach, but it never came. The only thing I felt was bittersweet relief and guilt.
Rorik searched my face desperately. He seemed relieved to see me, too, but in a wholly different way. He looked like he expected a death sentence, and wantedmeto follow through with it.
Stupid-ass bear.
When nobody spoke, Jade cleared his throat. “Rorik wanted to visit Aurum. Is that all right with you, Saffron?” he asked.
I caught the icy glint in Jade’s eyes. It was a not-so-subtle question about my feelings on this visit—if I said no, Rorik might be in danger.
Protective instincts flared up within me. I grabbed Rorik’s wrist and pulled him inside.
“Yes, it’s fine,” I told Jade. “He won’t hurt anyone.”
Incredulity flashed on Rorik’s face. He looked emotionally shattered, and that only heightened my urge to defend him. He knew he’d done something horribly wrong.
Jade nodded, but his gaze slid to the two other people in the room with me—Viol and Mylo.
“Is it all right withthem?” he asked.
I readied a glare at Viol, braced to defend Rorik against him, but to my surprise, Viol’s face was utterly empty. He stared through Rorik, dazed.
While I was distracted by Viol’s strange reaction, Mylo sat up. He shifted to human form and stormed over to Rorik, jabbing a shaky finger at him. His eyes were red from tears.
“Y-you have some nerve, coming in here after what you did to my mate,” Mylo barked. “I should—I should bite your ears off!”
Rorik was gigantic compared to Mylo, but the bear omega looked ready to crumple under the ferret’s scorn.
“I don’t deserve to be in this room,” Rorik said hoarsely. “I only want to know if Aurum is okay.”
The thick guilt in his voice cut me like a knife. There was no faking that. He felt awful.
I squeezed my fingers tighter around Rorik’s wrist. I wanted him to know that even if nobody else believed in him, I did.
“Mylo,” I began, “I promise I won’t let anyone hurt Aurum again. But I won’t let anyone hurt Rorik, either.”
Mylo’s eyes widened at the implication. His shoulders trembled as he took a few breaths. Finally, he sighed and sat down. “Okay.”
