At some point, Zaden wandered over and leaned his elbows next to mine. "You’re staring like a serial killer," he said. "Should I call the sheriff, or are you going to drink yourself to death?"
I'd barely taken two sips of my drink. The mating bond was a goddamn supernova in my chest, blasting everything else out. I’d heard all the stories, the legends about fated mates and instant connections, but I’d never believed in any of it. That was for the old world, for the dragons who cared about legacies and bloodlines. Me? I liked my life unencumbered.
But the dragon inside me didn’t give a shit about my plans. It only cared about Frances Marie Grimes.
Zaden slid my glass away and replaced it with a new one. "You want to tell me what’s wrong with you, or do we play twenty questions?"
I wiped my mouth. "Nothing’s wrong."
He snorted. "I’ve seen you eat a goat alive and not blink. But you look like you’re about to faint because a girl won’t talk to you."
"It’s not a girl," I said. "It’s Frankie."
He gave a low whistle. "Well, damn. That explains it. Thought you two weredone-done?"
"We are," I said. "She doesn’t know I’m awake yet."
"Are you sure about that?" He nodded toward her table. "She’s been keeping her back to you all night. That’s deliberate."
I looked. He was right. Frankie threw herself into the conversation, gesturing big with her hands, making the whole table laugh. But she never turned even a degree in my direction. It was like I didn’t exist.
The realization landed a blow to my sternum. I pressed my hand against the bar, trying to ground myself. The bond only got louder, more insistent.
A few seats down, Ashton was watching me with that quiet intensity that used to make me want to hit him. Drake was at his shoulder, pretending to watch the game on TV but glancing over every time he thought I wouldn’t notice.
I leaned in to Zaden, dropping my voice. "I think I’m in trouble."
"Is it the mate bond?"
"Yeah."
He grinned, teeth sharp. "Congratulations, asshole. You get to experience the worst best thing in the universe."
"I can’t even talk to her," I said. "I ruined it."
Zaden shrugged. "Fix it."
I shook my head. "You don’t get it. I did everything possible to make her hate me. For her, it’s been years."
"So?" He clapped my shoulder, too hard. "The bond doesn’t care about time. And if it’s real, neither will she."
I wanted to believe him.
The night swirled around me. Wolves, humans, even a couple of witches, nobody looked twice at the four dragons clustered at the end of the bar.
Ashton stepped in. "Let’s take a walk, Chance." He didn’t ask. He just steered me toward the back, past the stockroom and into the alley. The air was cold and clean, a shock to the system after the haze inside.
Drake and Zaden followed, boxing me in. I didn’t like the look in Ashton’s eye. It was the alpha look, the one that meant an interrogation was coming.
"Why do you look like someone just told you your dog died?" Ashton said.
"Leave it," I said.
"No," he replied. "You’re scaring people. What’s going on?" He crossed his arms, waiting.
Zaden gave me a subtle nod. "Go on, get it out."
I stared at the ground, then at my hands, which were shaking worse now. "I was with her. Before the last sleep. Frankie."
