Page 73 of Red Dragon’s Heart

Zak picked at the edge of the overturned conference table. “She’s kind of terrifying herself, in her own way.”

“She loves you,” Emon said.

If only. “She likes having sex with me.”

Emon said seriously, “She loves you. It’s obvious. And you love her.”

Fuck. He did love her. And people knew—there was no point in lying about it anymore. Zak said, “My hoard sang for her. It sang with her.” That memory brought back the warmth he felt when Maddie was around.

“Yeah?” Emon clapped him on the shoulder. “You know what that means. Your hoard and your dragon think she’s worthy.”

Zak said, “Do you think she’d want to stay here? Want anything to do with shifters, after this mess?” With him in his collar, not even a real dragon? Would she like him more if he were more human, or more dragon?

“If she’s really your mate, you know the answer to that. And we can work out something for the brother. But it’ll never happen if you won’t open yourself to the bond.”

Zak knew that. He did. But doing it was something else. “What if I’m bad for her?”

“If she’s your true mate, then you’re good for her.” Emon paused. “Unbelievable as that may seem.”

Zak said, “Shut up, or I’ll set your desk on fire on my way out.”

Emon just grinned, then unexpectedly grabbed Zak’s wrist and pulled him into a bro hug. “Shit,” Emon said as he let him go. “Now look what you made me do. We are not speaking of this ever again.” He gave Zak a little push. “Go find your mate, and try to keep her calm until tomorrow.”

Chapter 31

Zakerek knew there was only one way to keep them both calm—or to let them get any sleep. He and Maddie made love with desperation, clinging to life and hope in the face of danger and death.

Exhausted, they lay together, not speaking, until they both fell into a fitful sleep.

He woke in the middle of the night to an empty bed. Rolling over, he saw Maddie silhouetted against the open window, elbows on the wide stone windowsill, looking out into the darkness.

He went over and slid his arms around her from behind, the weight of the jeweled collar heavy around his neck, reminding him of all the ways he couldn’t help her.

But at least he’d be there beside her the whole way.

She leaned against him, and he brushed her hair back and bent to kiss the side of her neck. Her scent filled him, and even through the fear and uncertainty, touching her made him feel strong. Like he could do anything.

“Can’t sleep?” he asked.

“I’m scared for Troy. I’m scared for us.”

“I know. But you’re a total badass. Look at everything you’ve been through, and you made it. Chisholm isn’t going to beat you this time.”

“And you’ll be with me,” she said.

“Every step. No one hurts you, if I’m alive to stop it. Ever.”

She rested her head in the hollow of his shoulder. “I don’t want you to get hurt either. I couldn’t stand to lose you.”

“You won’t. Dragons are damn hard to damage.”

“But things happen.” She stroked his forearm. “And… you’re all up inside my heart and wound around it, and if you got torn out I don’t know if there would be enough left to save.”

Zak swallowed hard. She’d never been so upfront about her feelings for him, and he didn’t know what to say. Her emotion was so raw and beautiful, it pierced his heart like an arrow and took his voice away.

Finally, he cupped his hand around the necklace she wore—the heart of his hoard. “You have a part of me with you,” he said, his voice husky. “Here—” He pressed his hand over the pendant, warming it against her skin. “Here.” He kissed the top of her head. “And here.” He touched her heart.

“You’ll never lose me,” he told her. “Even if something happens to me, you can always find me in the spirit world.”