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When he returns, minutes later, his jaw is clenched tight and his eyes gleam with something fierce. Something I don’t have a name for.

But I know without asking that he’s already assessed every point of entry, already burned the memory of every possible threat into his mind.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, voice shaking as we head back to the ranch. “I didn’t mean to bring danger to your door. I should’ve?—”

“Stop.” His voice cuts through the apology before I can finish.

I turn to look at him, startled.

He sighs, then reaches across the seat to take my hand.

“You didn’t bring trouble, Casey. Trouble found you. Big difference.”

“I’m still sorry, Zeke. Maybe I should just go. Catch a bus or?—”

“No!” he barks, cutting me off so fast I blink.

His face softens instantly. “Shit. Sorry. I’m not trying to be a dick, Petals. But you’re my mate. Stay with me. Please.”

His voice cracks at the end, and damn if my heart doesn’t do a full somersault.

“Look, if you really wanna go somewhere, fine. But we go together. Just know—there’s nowhere on this planet safer than the ranch. Not even close. We’ve got a Jersey Devil, three pissed-off Grizzlies, and a goat whisperer named Jed on standby. You’re basically in the supernatural version of Fort Knox.”

I laugh, even as my throat tightens. “I don’t want to go anywhere else. I want to be with you. Oh, my God! Gramps. I should call to make sure he’s okay.”

I fumble with my phone and make the call, speaking with the on-call nurse about taking extra security measures, which she assures me they will.

Zeke is patient. He waits for me to finish.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah. He’s fine. Um, Zeke?”

“Casey, I don’t want to rush you, but I mean it. I don’t want you to go.”

“Actually—”

I shake my head, but the words won’t stay down. “I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you, Zeke. So trust me, there is nowhere else I’d rather be.”

“You’re in love with me?” He says it like he can’t believe it.

Like he doesn’t want to even dare.

Warmth blossoms inside of me. Joy and happiness like nothing I’ve ever experienced, too, and all because it’s true.

I love him.

And I have to make sure he knows. I’ve just never been good at keeping secrets. Not even my own.

“Yeah. I mean, I know it’s crazy, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you ever since Avery and Dante’s wedding. Even when I thought you hated me, I thought about you. And now, well, being away from you the last two days has been awful. So, if it isn’t love I don’t know what to call this.”

I gesture between us, wiping at the tears flowing down my cheeks. I don’t know if they’re happy tears or not. It’s just too much emotion to contain, I guess.

“Okay, that was a lot. Now, give me a second to catch up,” he says, and chooses his words before opening his mouth.

“First, I never hated you. I never will. It’s not even possible. I was just trying to save you from what I am.”

“You mean your Dragon. Why?” I ask, curious.