Page 71 of Balance

“Was that really necessary?” Damen drawled.

“Of course.” I glanced at my small bag, and the three items that now rested near it. “I didn’t bring that many clothes.”

What did they expect me to do, shift in my clothes? That would rip them to shreds. Besides, I hadn’t had time to go shopping lately, and Bianca really seemed to enjoy the plaid shirts. I wasn’t about to go through them until I had some backups in place.

Damen sighed, about to respond, but I didn’t give him the chance.

Unlike some shifters, it only took my dragon a few seconds to take control. It was as natural as breathing—a feeling much like coming home. Awareness merged into a single point—a brief instant when the world was dark, and it was only us… that moment where all restrictions were lifted, and we were truly free.

But this time, I saw green.

She was watching me, her presence a beacon through the darkness, where, in the past, my dragon and I had always been alone.

Something had changed, but at least it hadn’t completely blindsided me.

“That fast?” she asked, peering at me between the gaps of her fingers. Through my newly enhanced senses, I could easily count the flecks of gold in her eyes—something indiscernible to human sight—and her floral scent was almost overwhelming.

But entirely welcome.

I wasn’t even aware I’d moved, but an instant later, I’d passed the others, barely even giving them an instant of my attention, and pressed my face into her neck. My racing heart calmed as her presence blanketed me. All thoughts of righteous vengeance faded.

There would be another time. For now, we were in agreement.

She ran her fingers over the scales near my neck, her touch smooth as silk. And a prickling began at the base of my skull, causing my snout to twist.

‘How are we supposed to communicate?’

“Can we talk?” she asked, lightly running her finger over my nose.

I… had not thought of that. I looked to Damen, expecting just a little bit of help, and he sighed, rolling his eyes. “You should have thought about that before you just up and changed.”

‘What does that mean?’

Her mouth hadn’t moved this time, but she was prone to muttering sarcastic comments under her breath. It was something that could be easily missed.

Damen waved his hand in the air dismissively. “He’s not entirely a beast,”—my ire rose at that—“he can understand you. You just won’t be able to hear him until the mate bond is complete.”

Bianca’s movements slowed, and she glanced at Damen in alarm. “What?”

“Mates can communicate telepathically,” Julian explained. “But the bond has to be finalized first. Different species also come with different gifts, but since Titus hasn’t had a mate before, we don’t know what else you two might be able to do.”

Her expression changed then, a now-familiar sadness crept over her features at the mention of our connection. A coldness seeped through my scales the instant she moved back, cradling her hand against her chest as if I’d burned her.

My heart lurched almost painfully, and it was everything to keep from following her.

She hadn’t rejected me, but she hadn’t accepted it either.

‘…not mate material.’

The hell?

“What else is there?” she asked instead, touching her fingers to her mouth.

Damen and Julian shrugged, neither able to answer that question. Nor was I, because it was quite obvious that first, she couldn’t hear me in return, and second, this was entirely new territory.

But shouldn’t I at least tell her that I was grasping pieces of her thoughts?

“We’ll have to wait and see.” Damen stepped between us, lightly pushing Bianca in my direction. “Even if you don’t find him, you should go on a walk. Titus needs some exercise.”