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“Nothing to say, ember?”

A challenge will get me every damn time, and he knows it.

“Won’t it just piss off the big, scaly guy, to be wearing that?”

“If you’re the one riding him, I think he’ll cooperate.”

The idea of that—of the ancient, mythical beast in Blair bowing to my control—sends a fresh round of heat coursing through my veins, but I make myself focus.

“So… the dragon,” I say, genuinely curious. “Tell me about him. Are you… in there, when you shift? Or does he take over?”

Blair thinks for a moment. “I’m there, in some capacity. But the dragon also takes what freedom he can. He’s at the forefront.”

“And what does he think of me?”

The slow, devastating grin that breaks over Blair’s face makes my heart stutter, then race.

“He likes you. He’s almost as protective of you as I am.”

“Is that right? He’s got a strange way of showing it.”

Apparently satisfied he’s got everything where it needs to be, Blair stands. He’s still got that ridiculously handsome smile on his face, and a glint of teasing in his eye that makes me sway closer to him when he comes to stand in front of me.

“You just have to learn to speak his language.”

“What does that mean?”

Blair curls a hand around my cheek. “He wants to protect you, Kenna. He wants to make sure you’re always safe. If there’s ever any threat, anything at all that could hurt you, he’s going to want to step in and put himself between you and the danger.”

I’m honestly not sure if we’re still talking about the dragon as Blair’s voice dips low and he leans in close.

“You’re the most precious thing in the world to him, ember. The greatest treasure. Worth more than any hoard. Worth more than his own life.”

I take a deep, shaky breath. Mad at him. I’m supposed to be mad at him right now. I’m not supposed to give in this easily.

I take a step back, and the spell of Blair’s soft words breaks.

“So, what?” I ask, reaching for something, anything, to pull me back from that ledge. “He’ll just let me hop right on and go for a ride?”

I almost expect Blair to be disappointed in the answer, disappointed inmefor pulling away. If he is, though, he doesn’t show it.

“Yes, I think he will.”

It’s not fair, the way he’s looking at me. Washed in summer sun, with kindness and patience shining in his golden eyes.

He’s so fucking handsome like this. Happy, light, more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him. Even in his human form, he radiates a soul-deep magick that makes him feel infinite.

And it makes me feel infinite, too. Ready to face my dragon head-on. Ready to be brave.

“Alright,” I relent. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

An expression of pure joy, of relief, of dragon-sharp victory crosses his face, but he covers it quickly as he turns back to the saddle on the ground.

He gives me a quick explanation of what goes where and how the saddle works. When I’ve got the gist of it, he steps back and starts unbuttoning his shirt.

I turn my back to him, pointedly ignoring his deep, knowing chuckle. When I feel the touch of his hand on my shoulder, though, and glance back to see what he wants, his eyes are soft with concern.

“If this isn’t something you want to—”