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“I didn’t really think much of it when he said I was his fated mate,” I admitted to Cassidy. “He never explained it. But today he said he couldn’t claim anyone until he rejected me—whatever that means. If I had known that, I would’ve known she was lying.”

“No use beating yourself up over that,” Cassidy said. “You know dragons play their cards close to their chests. They hardly tell us humans anything. So, what now? Did he reject you?”

“No.”

“Didn’t think he would.”

“He met Dylan, and we had that big talk, then he left. Thankfully, he agreed to help Dylan with his shift. That’s what’s most important. Whatever happens between us… I don’t know, Cass. I don’t think I know what I want.”

She hummed. “That makes sense. Take it one day at a time, girl. I’m here for you whenever, okay? And I was serious about coming up there if you need me.”

“Thanks, Cass, really. It means a lot. I don’t think I’d be able to handle all this without you.”

“Yes, you would. You’re a tough bitch. But I’m glad I can help.”

I laughed and ended the phone call in better spirits than I’d started it. It was a lot, but Cassidy was right. I could do this. One day at a time.

6

ACE

“Morning,” Hawk said as I descended the stairs. “What time did you get in last night?”

After I’d left the house, I’d spent the night soaring through the sky. My dragon had needed to stretch his wings after all we’d experienced, and I’d needed to clear my head. I’d flown without direction or intention, relishing the cool night air and the clouds on my scales.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Probably around three?”

“You must’ve needed it.”

I hummed in acknowledgment. Hawk was already up and dressed, with Zoey sniffing around his feet for crumbs. The house was otherwise quiet. I expected Mia had loaded Bella in her stroller and gone out for a run. I poured myself a cup of coffee with a sigh.

“Eggs?” Hawk asked.

“You? Making me breakfast?”

“Don’t get used to it,” Hawk said with a smirk. “These are extenuating circumstances.” He fried two eggs quickly, then heated up leftover potato hash in the cast iron skillet. He slid the eggs onto the hash, then handed me the entire skillet and a fork.If there was one thing to be said about my brother, it was that he was an efficient man.

“Thanks,” I said. “And thanks for letting me crash.”

“Figured you might want to be around family, after everything. How are you feeling?”

I took a sip of my coffee. My dragon was a little calmer after our flight, but my head was still spinning. I kept expecting to wake up from a dream. “Shocked, I guess. Shocked and pissed.”

“Pissed you didn’t know about Dylan?”

“Yeah. I should’ve known. I should’ve been there for him.” My dragon whined. We both knew that even if I had known about Dylan, there was nothing I could’ve done. I still would’ve spent most of his childhood behind bars. “I don’t blame Harley, but I’m fucking pissed at Blakely. Did she tell you?—”

“Yeah, Harley told me and Mia both,” Hawk said. “Gotta admit, it’s horrible, but it doesn’t surprise me.”

I took a bite of my breakfast but hardly tasted it around the smoke in the back of my throat.

“You remember when we were kids and she had that big crush on Sean?” Hawk asked.

Sean’s name sent a small pang of hurt through me, like pressing down on an old bruise. I didn’t like to talk about my twin brother. Hawk knew that, and he respected it—he knew talking about it hurt me too much. But at the same time, Hawk was the only one who knew our brother nearly as well as I did.

“Even when we were that young, Blakely wanted her claws in Sean,” Hawk said. “Sean didn’t want anything to do with her, and that drove her mad. He ignored her, even outright turned her down, and still Blakely did her best to scare the other girls away. She’s always been like that. Psycho-levels of possessiveness, even with guys who don’t want anything to do with her. It doesn’t surprise me that she did the same thing with Harley.”

“I should’ve known,” I growled. “I should’ve known she’d get her claws in my business and ruin it.”