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I can’t think, can’t concentrate, can’t speak. My throat is clogged with self-loathing, and the weight of the mistakes I’ve made tonight press down on my chest like a load of cinder blocks.

I need to get out of here. But I need to figure out what to do with her first.

“Stop,” I hiss, and she does, turning back around and opening her mouth to chastise me some more.

Shifting back into my full dragon form, I take a few stalking steps forward. Kenna’s eyes go wide.

“Oh no,” she says, backing away. “Oh no, you are absolutely not going to—”

She doesn’t get to finish her sentence before I snatch her up and carry her away into the night.

10

Kenna

Blair really needs to learn how to use his words.

He plunks me down on a very familiar doorstep then takes off again, not even giving me the courtesy of a roared goodbye.

“Yeah? Well fuck you, too!” I holler as he flies away into the night.

I turn to knock on the door, but it’s already opening. I’m met by Elias, Nora’s mate, looking at me utterly confused.

“Kenna? Is everything alright?”

For the first time tonight, it hits me—really hits me—just how messed up all of this is. Slowly, I shake my head.

“What happened?” he asks, brow furrowing in concern.

I gesture vaguely at the sky. “Blair. Blair happened.”

“Ewan Blair?”

Ewan. Seems strange to associate that name with him. I think I’ve only ever heard Nora use it a time or two, and just assumed he always went by Blair.

“Yes,” I say. “He, uh, kidnapped me.”

Elias’s mouth falls open in shock.

Before he can answer, though, Nora joins him in the doorway, eyes darting over my face and expression drawn with concern. “Kenna? What’s wrong?”

I must look a little worse for wear after my two flights, or maybe it’s the exhaustion of the last few hours catching up to me. Whatever it is, I shake my head, unable to find the words.

Nora’s outside a moment later, wrapping her arms around me. “Hey. It’s alright.”

I take a deep, shaky breath. “I’m fine. Really. Just dealing with a nuisance dragon who has an impulse control problem.”

“Blair?” Nora asks, just as shocked as her mate.

It almost makes me want to laugh. Apparently I’m the only one the dragon loses his mind over.

“The one and only. Can someone give me a ride back to the city?”

Nora glances around, sees that there’s no additional car in the driveway, and then turns her eyes skyward. Elias does the same, a deep frown on his face.

“He didn’t… bring you all the way out here, did he? And just leave you?” Nora asks.

“Bingo,” I tell her. “And unfortunately, the Uber back to Seattle would be a little outside my budget.”