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Ronen’s face crumpled. He put a hand on my head and shook his own, his expression twisted with grief. “Brother… I’m so sorry.”

I wanted to resist. I wanted to push him off. The anger roared again, but I sucked in a breath as Ronen pulled me into an embrace, cupped his hand over my head and whispered.

“I don’t know the best words, Vos,” he murmured. “But Ekko knows the hurt. And he can help. Just… we love you, man. If you’ll take it… we can help.”

I couldn’t make a sound, so I just nodded. And he felt it.

And then my brother, my squad captain, and the man I’d deceived, the one who forgave me, despite everything I’d done… hugged me. And it was as if, when he squeezed, he squeezed the anger out of me.

I trembled from head to toe. Felt like I’d shatter if I moved.

“Ekko, we need your help,” Ronen whispered. Then he put his other hand to my head as well, and where he touched me, I felt… something. Washing from under his palms, down my scalp, streaming down my spine, and flowing to my limbs.

Warm love.

Peace.

Compassion.

And an unerring resolve. Strength that didn’t come from me.

Safety to be weak.

Safety to break.

Safety to face the monster, and heal. Because someone else was strong to watch over me. Over us.

And it was such a relief, suddenly. I didn’t have any strength left to fight. I broke apart in my squad brother’s arms.

Weak, not just to the emotion of everything that had happened, but in my body. Exhausted, as if I’d carried an impossible weight for so long, my knees gave. I sank to the floor and Ronen dropped with me.

He whispered, he prayed. Outside, Ekko groaned. They spoke to each other—I didn’t take in a word of it. But, Ronen never left. He sank to the carpet with me, and when the first sob choked out of my throat, he embraced me again.

And then, my brother, and superior officer, held me while I cried.

I cried for our baby, who was lost and, I prayed, safe in the Creator’s hands. I cried for my mate who’d given me everything, even when I threw it back in her face, and this was where I’d led her. And at some point… I cried for the boy I used to be. Who’d been so scared, and so desperate to prove himself, so ready to be dark, and strong, and the winner, that he’d never realized what he was losing.

Safe in those arms… protected so I didn’t have to be the one.

I broke down.

I forgave the younger me. And I apologized to him. And I swore I’d never go back.

And as anger bled out with my tears, that precious strength, comfort, and peace moved into its place.

I don’t know how long we sat there, but eventually, when my chest stopped heaving and I could breathe and think again, Ronen checked in. And when I nodded that I could hear him, he whispered the truth.

None of us can carry the world alone.

That’s why God gave us the dragons.

That’s why He gave us each other.

We love you. We’ll help you—both of you. It’s time for you to rest, brother. You don’t have to fix this.

We’ve got you.

You’re safe.