It had beenthree days since I'd told Erin the truth, since I'd ripped open her world and exposed the hidden layers beneath. I’d watched over her from the shadows, ensuring no harm came her way, a silent guardian she didn’t know she had. My dragon senses had been stretched thin, constantly vigilant, picking up every shift in the air currents, every unfamiliar scent near her inn. It was a self-imposed torture, keeping her safe while forcing myself to stay away, to give her space she wanted.
I slumped against the bar in the corner of the great room, glass after glass of whiskey barely registering on my dulled senses. Each sip was supposed to wash away the restlessness churning inside me, but the alcohol only seemed to stir it up more. The surrounding voices, filled with forced cheerfulness, bounced off the walls and echoed inside my head like an irritating buzz.
"Come on, Ashton, you've got to snap out of it," Skye said, her tone teetering between concern and frustration. "She will come around."
Drake chimed in, trying to sound optimistic, "Yeah, bro, moping isn't your style."
They didn't get it. How could they? They'd never been sort of rejected by their fated mate.
If she'd been a dragon, we'd be fucking right now. Why had the universe given me a human?
My heart was stuck in a vice, and no amount of pretending would loosen its grip. I barely acknowledged their attempts, my gaze fixed on the amber liquid swirling in my glass, hoping it would somehow provide an answer or an escape.
"Look what we've got here!" Drake exclaimed, a deck of cards suddenly appearing in his hands as if by magic. They were worn at the edges thanks to countless games we'd played before we slept.
"Let's play some poker," Skye said. She looked like she wanted to cry, but then she knew me well enough to understand that this was more than just a passing gloom.
"Sure," I said, though the prospect of playing couldn't have been less appealing. The cards were dealt, and I picked up my hand without really seeing it. Queen of hearts, jack of spades... it didn't matter.
"Bet or fold, Ashton?" Drake asked with a hint of challenge.
"Fold," I said mechanically, tossing my cards down.
The game continued, each round a monotonous cycle of dealing, betting, and me folding without a second thought. With every hand, I could feel my family's pity and concern. They wanted to help, to bring back the old Ashton, the one who loved the thrill of a good bluff, the rush of taking a risk. That Ashton felt like he belonged to another lifetime—one where the ache of longing for someone who might never be mine didn't consume every waking moment.
"Are you even trying?" Skye asked, her patience wearing thin.
I shook my head and pushed away from the table, the clinking of chips and the shuffle of cards growing distant as I retreated further into my own turbulent thoughts.
Just as I was about to take another swig of my drink, a familiar thrum vibrated through the air. Instinctively, I set the glass down, knowing that particular pulse anywhere.
"Zaden," I said in a whisper, but it was enough for Skye and Drake to pick up on it.
Drake's face split into a grin as he stood up from thetable, his eyes bright with anticipation. "Finally, some genuine excitement!"
Skye glanced at me, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. She could feel it too, the unmistakable presence of our kin.
I pushed away from the bar, my feet carrying me toward the back door before I fully registered moving.
"Come on," I said over my shoulder, not waiting to see if they were following. The warm night air hit my face as I stepped outside and saw Zaden's dragon landing in the backyard. His scales gleamed a deep, fiery red under the moonlight, each one catching the light.
"Show-off," Drake said teasingly, but there was a note of admiration there.
Zaden shifted to his human form. His red scales retracted as human skin took their place. His clothes appeared, fitting snugly to his frame.
"Zaden," Skye greeted him with a big hug, her tone warm.
"Always got to make an entrance, huh?" Drake clapped him on the shoulder.
"Wouldn't be me if I didn't," Zaden said, the corners of his mouth lifting in a half-smile.
I nodded in greeting, feeling a hint of a smile crack through my brooding exterior. Zaden always had thateffect on people. He was like a walking embodiment of mayhem and joy, something I needed more than ever right now.
Aurelia stepped forward, her arms open wide as Zaden approached. "It's been too long," she said, and the truth of it resonated.
"Far too long." Zaden wrapped her in a big bear hug. When he set her down, Skye and Drake joined in, and the four of them stood there, tangled in an embrace that spoke volumes of the time they'd spent apart and the bond they shared.
"Got some news while you were gone," Skye said as they finally broke apart, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Zaden raised an eyebrow, prompting her to continue.
