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“It’s your dragon,” she said, smiling. “I know. And I just… I don’t want you to have to fight it.”

“I’m sorry. I know… I know it probably wasn’t fun to see me like that.”

“Hey.” She sat up and sat on the edge of the bed next to me, suddenly wide awake. She took my hand, then squeezed. I met her eyes and saw nothing but warmth there. “You didn’t scare me, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

It was as if she could read my mind.

“I want you, Steph. All of you. And that includes your dragon. But I know if you did claim me before you meant to, you wouldn’t forgive yourself. I think dealing with Sean is going to be hard enough as it is. You don’t need to worry about me and the bond on top of that.”

“I’m already worrying about you,” I said.

“You know what I mean.”

“I do.” I tucked her hair behind her ear. “Thank you. Really.”

“You’re welcome.” She kissed my shoulder. “You should shower before this meeting.”

“Hawk said the same thing.”

I showered quickly, dressed, then kissed Harley goodbye as I tucked her back into bed. Downstairs, Rome was inside to keep watch on the house, and Hawk was waiting by the door.

“You ready for this?” Hawk asked.

I clapped Rome on the shoulder in thanks, then nodded. “Ready as ever. Let’s get going.”

It was nearly dawn by the time we reached Lola’s. Levi, the lone wolf shifter who used to work for Sean, was already seated at a booth. He was drumming his fingertips anxiously on the tabletop as we approached.

Hawk and I slid into the booth across from Levi. The waitress brought us each a cup of coffee, as per usual, and gave us a severe look that made it very clear she wouldn’t be tolerating any funny business. Made sense—soon the gas-station-slash-diner would be busy with the morning rush of exhausted truckers passing through.

“Levi,” I said.

“Ace.”

“What’s this about?” I took a sip of my coffee. I needed it, especially since I barely got any sleep. “You made it clear you were leaving town for good.”

Levi sighed. He looked haggard, exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes and grease at the roots of his dark, messy hair. “I intended to, trust me. But I still kept in contact with some of my… Well, I can’t say, friends. Colleagues, I guess. People who also worked with him. I had some business to wrap up, too.”

“As long as you stay out of mine,” I said in a low growl.

“I don’t want anything to do with your business,” Levi said. He wasn’t intimidated by my growl at all, which made me believe he reallywastrying to keep his nose out of all of this. “I’m only here because I’ve heard stuff that I think you should know.”

“What is it?” Hawk asked. “What are you hearing?”

“It sounds like Sean is showing signs of going feral.”

Hawk stiffened.

I’d always known it was a threat, but if it was reaching Levi, Sean was closer than ever. A feral dragon shifter was a real danger—and a rare one, too. A feral shifter was one who had completely lost control of his instincts. He wouldn’t be able to turn human again. He’d be trapped in his dragon form. A feral shifter was impulsive, violent, and unpredictable. If Sean reached that stage, there wouldn’t be a challenge. He would come into Lakeview filled with a murderous rage, and who knew how much damage he could do before we took him down.

“My guy said he’s always got his fangs out,” Levi continued. “That he’s not always coherent. He seems like he’s checking in and out of conversations. Sometimes present, sometimes not.”

“Jesus,” Hawk muttered.

“And there’s confusion there, too,” Levi said. “Hostility. All the tell-tale signs of the dragon starting to take control.”

“When did you hear this?” I asked.

“Recently,” Levi said. “I thought you should know this sooner rather than later. I’m not a part of this mess anymore, but I don’t want to see Lakeview destroyed, you know.”