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I pulled out my phone and dialed a number that was unfortunately familiar. After four rings, it connected.

“Your little game got two dragons killed,” I said.

“You get what you pay for, I guess,” Sean said with a laugh. “So, you took care of them for me?”

My blood ran cold. The two dead dragons weren’t Sean’s clan members—they were solo dragons, wanderers who had been hired to do this task. But I’d thought he’d at least regret losing the manpower. Instead, their deaths seemed to amuse him. Like this was as good of an outcome as any.

This wasn’t my brother anymore. Sean had become something different. Something cruel and sadistic.

“You’re asking for a fight you have no chance of winning,” I snarled.

“Don’t get so cocky,” Sean snapped back. My dragon sensed his rage in his voice and rose up, as if Sean was right here where we could beat some sense into him. “This was just a little teaser. If you think this is all I have planned for you, you’re a damn fool.”

I thought about what Levi had said—about Sean losing time, losing memories. “I think you don’t have a fucking thingplanned. I think you’re desperately chasing after me, like a playground bully.”

There was a long pause on the other line. When Sean finally spoke, his voice was low. “I want you to remember this moment. When I take Lakeview and you’re flat on your back, bleeding out, looking up at therealalpha, I want you to remember this.”

I didn’t need my draconic senses to know he wasn’t lying. He really believed that was our future. “You’re delusional.”

“You’ll see, Ace.” The line went dead.

Rage burned through, and my throat ached with the first hint of smoke. I ripped my phone away from my ear and squeezed it so hard it threatened to crack.

This was Dylan’s day. I wasn’t going to let Sean’s insane threats ruin it.

I hopped on my bike and gunned it back home. I took a long, winding route there, following the narrow two-lane highways into the mountains. The sharp switchbacks and steep turns almost made me feel like I was flying.

By the time I got home, my mood had lifted a bit. It was lunchtime, and as soon as I opened the door to the house, my appetite hit me like a hammer.

“Everything okay?” Harley asked as I walked in.

I nodded. “It’s handled.”

A slight frown flickered on her face, but it was gone quickly. She was dressed in tight jeans and a white tank top that showed off her small waist and the curve of her breasts, and she was busy making sandwiches for lunch. But the sight of her in the kitchen ignited a different kind of hunger.

There was no time to sneak off, though. Dylan was running around outside, throwing a frisbee into the wind and then catching it as it blew back toward him.

Harley followed my gaze to the windows. “He’s antsy. He’s nervous about tonight.”

“I’d be concerned if he wasn’t,” I said with a smile. “It’s a lot of new faces.”

“You think he’s ready for this?”

“He’s ready. He’s tough.” I stepped towards her and wrapped my arms around her waist. “Gets it from his mom.”

My anger was still present, a low simmer, but it was easier to push it aside with Harley in my arms. I’d handle Sean. I wouldn’t let anything ruin this day for Dylan.

The deck doors slid open. I expected to hear Dylan start shouting about his parents being gross, but he was uncharacteristically silent. I straightened as Dylan padded into the kitchen, his eyes downcast.

“You all right, Dyl?” I asked.

“Uh-huh,” he said. “Heard your bike when you pulled up.”

“Got that good dragon hearing.”

Harley laughed. “You don’t need super-hearing to hear that thing pull up.”

I grinned and nudged her. “Fair. What’s on your mind, kid? Nervous?”