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“So, there’s little reason for me to be here anymore. Or for her to stay.”

Smoke stood.

So did I.

“Wait a minute…” he said, then stopped himself.

I felt sorry for him at that moment, but his problems weren’t my problems. I had other things to think about. Like my mate.

I took a deep breath and tried my best to think straight in spite of the dragon’s roar in my head. “I thought you understood,” was all I could say.

“I understand that she needed to be here while she healed. But she can’t spend the rest of her life flying around on a dragon’s back. No offense.”

“And I told you and your sister that there’s no way for her to leave. You can, now that she’s better, but not her.”

“She doesn’t know where we are. She’s no more likely to reveal your location or even your existence than I am.”

“Where is this coming from?” Smoke asked.

I saw him standing there, shaking with rage and frustration, and I wondered how loud his dragon roared.

Her expression softened. “I’m sorry, but this is the way it always was. Just because I’ve enjoyed spending time here with you doesn’t mean I can stay forever. This was never about forever. Both my sister and I have responsibilities. We have lives. We can’t walk away from them.”

“What responsibilities?” I was barely able to hold myself back from throwing her against the wall and yelling in her face until terror broke her down.

Who is she to tell us what to do? Who is she to act as though her responsibilities are more important than what we need?

For once, I didn’t disagree with the dragon’s way of thinking. This girl was nothing. Only one of the fae. She didn’t have our royal blood. She was nothing.

But wouldn’t that make Jasmine nothing, too?

Alina’s deep, sympathetic frown did little to ease my growing rage. “She hasn’t told you?”

“I don’t know anything about her.” And that admission turned my blood to ice. I knew nothing about her.

She hadn’t shared one piece of herself with me.

Our connection ran deep, at a primal level—but there was something to be said for her trusting me enough to tell me about her life. Otherwise, we would always live as master and slave, owner and captive. I didn’t want that sort of future, no matter if the dragon cared or not.

“Maybe you should ask her, then. She’s in her room.” Alina stepped aside to let me barrel past.

Miles and Cash were just coming in, smiling.

I pushed my way past them, too, and went straight to the closed door. I didn’t think twice before entering the code to open it.

“Hey!” she squealed, spinning with her arms crossed in front of her.

I realized all at once that only a pair of panties stood between her and nakedness.

The dragon urged me forward. Throw her onto the bed, pin her down, drive her into it, tell her she’s ours, tell her, tell her, tell her.

“What’s your sister talking about when she says you have responsibilities? What is it you want to go back to out there?”

“Can I put something on, please?”

“Sure.” I didn’t move.

“Can you turn around?”