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I let the silence stretch. Then I say the thing I've been building up to all night.

"One rule."

They both look at me.

"We don't force this. Not the bond. Not a marriage. Not anything. Whatever happens with her, she chooses it." I look from one of them to the other. "And if she decides to leave, we let her go."

Kaelen's eyes flare gold. A low growl rumbles out of his chest before he catches it.

Rhydian looks at the floor.

I don't like the words either. My dragon hates them. It's clawing at the inside of my ribs, roaring that she's ours, that she was ours the moment we caught her scent, and nothing on earth is going to take her away from us.

But she isn't ours. Not yet. Not unless she wants to be.

"Agreed," Rhydian says finally.

Kaelen is silent for so long that I start to wonder. Then he gives one sharp nod.

"Agreed."

The cabin grows warmer. The storm keeps raging outside, hurling snow against the windows, rattling the shutters. And the three of us keep watch.

It isn't restful.

Rhydian drags his chair right up beside the bed. "Someone should keep an eye on her," he says, settling in.

I don't believe for a second that's the reason. He just can't stand to be any farther away.

Kaelen stays by the fire. He's stopped pacing, but that's somehow worse. He stands perfectly still, arms crossed, and every few heartbeats his gaze drags back to the bed. He looks like a man holding himself in place with nothing but willpower. Like if he takes one step closer, he won't stop until she's in his arms.

I sit on the edge of the bed again. I can't help it.

Every so often, I lay the back of my hand against her forehead. Her skin is warming. Too warm, some of it, from the heat. But the blue is gone from her lips, and the color is coming back to her cheeks. Each time I check, the knot in my stomach loosens a little more.

She sighs in her sleep and turns her head on the pillow.

All three of us go still.

It's ridiculous. It's absolutely ridiculous. Between the three of us, we've faced wars, rebellions, centuries of scheming nobles and treacherous courts.

And one sleeping woman has us sitting here like nervous boys, flinching every time she moves.

She stirs again beneath the furs. A soft, sleepy sound slips out of her, and something in me softens.

I find myself picturing it. Her, laughing beside our fire. Walking through the garden between the winter roses. Sleeping in this enormous, ridiculous bed because she chose it. Because she chose us.

For so long, this cabin has been a place to hide. Three unmated dragons crawling away from the world to lick our wounds. Tonight, it feels like something is beginning.

Her lashes flutter. Rhydian sits up straight, Kaelen turns from the fire, and I lean forward without meaning to. Her lips part. Her fingers twitch against the fur.

And every careful plan we made tonight suddenly seems a lot less simple.

I make myself a promise. Nothing is more important than winning my mate’s heart.

4

Elara