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“Because you knew before I did?” I murmur, daring to reach over and brush a strand of coppery hair behind her ear.

A small shudder runs through her, but she doesn’t shy away from the touch. Kenna leans minutely into my hand, and I’m not sure I’m breathing when she speaks again.

“How’s that even possible?”

How, indeed. I’ve never known the gods or the fates to bestow much kindness, and I’d be hard pressed to guess at their machinations now.

“It happens that way for humans sometimes. It doesn’t take a claiming bite for them to know and feel the bond.”

Kenna’s head snaps over to look at me. “A claimingbite?”

Grimacing a little at the detail I didn’t mean to let slip, I nod. “Yes, a claiming bite. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed… fangs, when I’ve been half-shifted.”

“Oh, I’ve noticed them.”

Is that some humor in her tone? Likely not, but I press ahead anyway.

“Well… that’s how a dragon claims a mate. With a bite.”

She absently raises a hand and rubs it over the soft, tender flesh at the side of her throat.

The things seeing that simple touch does to me…

I can almost hear the beat of her pulse beneath her skin, imagine what it would be like to tip her head back and lower my lips to her, sink deep and…

“And you really do think I’m… I’m your… mate? After everything?”

“Of course I do, Kenna. If I’d been less selfishly wrapped up in my own stubbornness and misguided belief that it wasn’t possible, I would have never made all the mistakes I did.”

She falls silent for a moment, considering, and when she speaks again her guard is back up. It’s there, in the tension she’s holding around her beautiful green eyes and the little furrows of worry on her forehead.

She’s retreating, and I don’t know how to pull her back from whatever edge she’s teetering on.

“I should get going,” she says softly, shifting a little in her seat. “I told my parents I was just going for coffee.”

I nod and stand, offering her a hand to help her up. “Do you need a ride?”

To my surprise, she takes it. “I was going to call my mom to come back into town and pick me up when I was done at the cafe. But I suppose I could save her a trip if you wanted to drive me back out to their place.”

Agreeing to drive her home, I lead us off toward where I’m parked.

But the closer we get to the vehicle, the more intolerable it becomes to think about leaving her. There’s an instinct coursing through me, one that’s whispering in my ear and telling me retreat isn’t the path to take. Not now.

It’ll be her choice if she still wants to go home. But the knife’s edge we’re balancing on can’t hold for long, and something tells me my ember might just need me to make the next move. To show her what I mean, when words haven’t yet been enough.

Inspiration striking, I step in front of her when she goes to reach for the passenger door, crossing my arms over my chest and looking down at her with a deliberate thread of challenge in my gaze. I don’t have to say anything at all for Kenna to pick up that thread and pull it, mimicking my posture and giving me a provoking little smile.

Gods, it stirs my blood. That small flame, the light shining from her emerald green eyes.

“Was there something you needed?” she asks.

You. Just you, ember,I want to tell her.

“Can I take you somewhere?” I ask instead. “There’s something I wanted to show you. A surprise.”

Kenna tilts her head, considering the offer.

I’m certain she’s going to say no, that we’re going to move back a couple of steps for the few we’ve just taken forward, but my ember surprises me.