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Cullen blinked. “Can we do that?”

“They made us the guardians. We didn’t ask for this job. Guardian doesn’t just mean making sure that the bad people don’t get in and ruin other lands. It means that human things can’t get in to hurt it, and it means that dragon things don’t change how it is here. What would happen here if all of a sudden everything started just appearing willy-nilly?”

The vision hit him like a freight train down at the base of his spine, and suddenly, he was transported.

He was thrust into this world where humans could just make things. Magic was rampant and sliding along the ground like thousands and millions of snakes that they couldn’t control. These things that didn’t belong in that universe. Dragon magic was wild and free and didn’t understand constraints. Not like the humans did.

Humans were built to be these creative, exciting, imaginative beings, and to add magic in the mix?

Those in power would just grow and grow and grow with it, and those without would just shrink until they were nothing but minions.

It was an awful thought, and it broke his heart.

He didn’t want to see this anymore.

He didn’t want to do this anymore.

Hawk’s hand touched his shoulder. “Cosmo. Sweet Rose, come back to us. I am here, your brothers are here, and you have supper waiting. All is well.”

He could feel his brothers’ panic, but Hawk’s voice was calm. It was slow and easy and at peace.

The calm made it easier to open his eyes and come back to the dining room where there was Yorkshire pudding and gravy.

And Hawk.

Hawk was right there, those crazy golden eyes just staring into him, keeping him grounded in the now. “There’s no way that we’re going to let that happen,” Hawk said. “We’re going to keep magic like that right where it belongs.”

“Are you sure? That was awful.” Bile was still strong in his throat.

His brothers stared at him too. “What was it?”

“I can’t even describe it, it just… It was—Well, it was like an Indiana Jones movie, you know, when the bad guys get a hold of the ark?”

“It’s not going to happen, my love. That’s why there are Guardians. That’s why I’m here with you. I know. It’s to be your mate, but it’s also to help you guard this gateway. I understand now.”

Hawk looked like he understood the universe or something. As if nothing bothered him. And it had to bother him, right? That was why Hawk went to sleep, and he didn’t get up, and he didn’t know anything beyond what cars were. Because it was overwhelming and because it made him worry. It had to.

But right now, in this place with Cosmo, he seemed so calm, and that made Cosmo feel the same way, as if they could deal with this. As if this was their job, and they were going to be really good at it.

And sometimes, Cosmo hadn’t really felt like he was good at anything, so maybe this was his calling. Goddess, he didn’t know.

He was just really confused.

“So are we saying that we’re not gonna let video games in with the kids?” Cullen asked.

“I’m saying we need to be really careful about what we do let them have, and maybe we need to talk to Sebby and his folks about it. Like when he was living here in this world, it was one thing, but maybe he needs to learn to amuse himself with games and stuff that are from the dragon world, and that way there’s no danger.”

“I bet once he goes down to school, and he finds more friends, it’ll be easier,” Cullen suggested.

Corbin shook his head. “I don’t know. It could be that it’s so much easier to be different, to be the fascinating new kid.” They knew from fascinating new kids.

They had been the only half-dragons in their sanctuary. They’d had each other, of course. And, honestly, barring a few assholes, it hadn’t been terrible.

Cosmo had to admit that Cullen had especially caught the brunt of the teasing.

Then when they’d left, it had been weirdly like they were never even there.

They were welcome to come home, of course, but only their parents really wanted them. The others seemed confused and suspicious of the fact that they could walk into the human world.