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“Does that mean you don’t care about your siblings and your parents?”

He’s vibrating with rage, barely holding himself back.“Of course I care.”

“Yet you don’t make a scene about them helping people in need.”

He clenches his jaw.“You’re mymate.”

“Yes.”I put a hand on his chest, right over the strong thuds of his heart.“So I think you can give me a little more credit.”

Just like that, his anger fizzles out.It doesn’t disappear.It just gets buried beneath the weight of my admission.It’s the first time I’ve acknowledged that I’m his mate.I’ve been kicking against it hard and long, but the bond between us doesn’t lie.Now that I’m coming into my power, I’m forced to admit that I’m one of them, and my body has recognized this man as mine right from the start.And I’m not sure what to do with that yet, if staying here is what’s best for me.Or for anyone.

“Elsie…”

The way he says my name is loaded.

I sweep my hand over the expanse of his chest, mapping the deep-cut muscles with my palm.“I’m just getting used to this new person I’m becoming myself.”I add gently, “It will help if you give me the space to get to know her.”

Emotions flash through his eyes.Taking my hand, he kisses my knuckles.“The thought of anything happening to you?—”

“If I’m to live here, I have to learn how to take care of myself.”

“You have me,” he says stubbornly.

“Aruan.”I sigh, pulling my hand away.“If you want me to be happy, you have to give me some room to breathe.”

“Do you mean that?”He searches my eyes as if he’s trying to spot the lie.“You’ll try to be happy?”

I nod.What choice do I have?As long as I’m trapped here, there’s no point in punishing both of us by remaining miserable.

As always, when the thought that I’m never going back to Earth manifests, I think about my parents.I remember the tough and the happy times, the camping trips and the puzzles we built when I was too sick to exert much energy.It’s not the vacations abroad and the fancy hotels that I miss the most but the everyday moments, like Mom flipping pancakes at dawn because it’s my favorite breakfast and Dad stopping at the bookstore on his way home from work to buy a book on archaeology that’s just been released.

A lump lodges in my throat as hot tears build behind my eyes.How long before time erodes those memories and my parents’ faces fade in my mind?

At the same time, the mere idea of leaving Aruan hurts.

“Elsie,” Aruan says, sounding as if he’s the one in pain.

He wraps me up in his strong arms, holding me to his chest.His embrace is comforting, but it doesn’t take away the sadness.

“That’s all I ask—that you try to be happy.”He kisses the top of my head.“I’ll do anything in my power to make this good for you, my sweet.If I’m angry, it’s because I’m worried about you.”He hesitates as if it’s hard for him to admit, “But despite the danger you put yourself in today, I’m also proud.”

I pull away to look at him, blinking away my tears.“Of me?”

“No.”He smiles.“Of those pixie dragons who love to follow you around.”

I swat his shoulder.“Don’t make fun of me.”

“I’d never,” he says with mock offense.

Suddenly shy, I clear my throat.“You were pretty awesome yourself.What you did was amazing.You saved all those people.”

A veil drops in front of his eyes, and all traces of emotions vanish from his face.“Keep your compliments.I don’t deserve them.”

“Are you kidding?”I gape at him.“You used your power for something good.Aren’t you proud of yourself too?”

The mask he’s donned cracks, and a sliver of self-loathing slips through.“Not if I’m the reason it happened.”

“What do you mean?You didn’t—” And then the meaning of his words sinks in.“The sun…” I swallow.“That’s what caused the rockslides?That was you?”