Page 3 of Dragon’s Revenge (Irresistible Dragons #7)

Chapter Two

I f only he could turn back time.

Oliver couldn’t count how often that thought had popped into his head in the two days since everything had gone so horribly wrong. If only he’d kept his mouth shut and hadn’t suggested Adar and Delton have sex. If only he’d been honest with Adar and told him his suspicions. If only he hadn’t tried to manipulate both his mates, causing pain for all of them…

If only he could turn back time.

If only.

But he couldn’t. No matter how much he wished, it was impossible. He had to live with the consequences of his actions, no matter how much it hurt.

And not just him. If he’d been the only one suffering, he could’ve borne it. He’d caused it, after all, so that would’ve been justice on some level. But Adar and especially Delton had been hit hard, and so had their trust in Oliver.

And maybe that part had wounded him more than anything else. They no longer looked at him the same way. The adoration that had shone from Adar’s eyes for so long had been replaced by cautious friendliness. Not hate—thank the gods for that because Oliver wasn’t sure if he could’ve endured that—but a far more distant kindness. He’d forgiven Oliver, but he sure as hell hadn’t forgotten. Nor could Oliver expect him to. It would take time to rebuild that trust.

Delton’s pain hurt Oliver even worse than Adar’s. Due to Oliver’s actions, the beta had been rejected all over again, and Oliver’s heart ached every time he thought about how that must’ve felt. Delton had already endured months of watching Adar and Oliver together without him. He’d been forced to observe Adar helping Oliver through his heat, for fuck’s sake. And now Oliver was the reason he’d been slapped in the face all over again. It had gotten to the point where Delton wanted to leave the pack. All because of Oliver.

How could they ever move past that? What could Oliver do to make up for what he had done? He wracked his brain, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t come up with anything.

“I don’t know how to make this right,” he lamented to Fallon as they hung out after spending time with some of the other dragon omegas in Fallon’s living room, which had become their unofficial hub. Yitro was still there as well, holding a sleeping Ainle.

Fallon let out a deep sigh. “I got nothing. This is not the kind of thing you can fix with flowers or baking a pie or something.”

Oliver bit his lip. Fallon sounded irritated with him. Was he? “Are you angry with me?”

A brief hesitation, then another sigh. “Yeah, but that’s on me. I feel stupid for defending you and coming at Delton when I didn’t have all the facts.”

Oliver cringed. Fallon had instinctively chosen Oliver’s side, not knowing Oliver had been in the wrong. “I’m sorry.”

But Fallon shook his head. “That’s the one thing you don’t need to apologize for. I fucked up, not you. Well, not with me, anyway. That was all my doing, and it’s a reminder to get my facts straight before taking a stand. Duer was rather upset with me.”

Of course. Duer and Delton were close, so Fallon’s mate must not have been amused by Fallon’s attack on Delton. That, too, was Oliver’s fault to a degree. How much had he ruined by his stupid actions? “Please tell him how sorry I am.”

“He knows, but it’s hard for him to see Delton struggle.”

Oliver wanted to sink into a big hole in the ground. Just disappear from sight so no one would remember him and the pain he caused. But how selfish was it of him to feel that way, to focus on how awful he felt instead of on Adar and Delton? If only he could do something to make it better.

If only he could turn back time.

“Would it help if I offered to cook for them, you think?” he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Invited them for a meal?”

“It can’t hurt,” Yitro said kindly. “Talking is always good, or so Delton keeps telling us.”

Yeah, but that didn’t mean Delton wanted to talk about what had happened. He’d kept his distance from Oliver ever since they’d agreed to a trial. What if Delton didn’t want to come for dinner? What if he regretted saying yes to the trial?

Oliver’s chest grew tight and his throat closed again. If he’d stayed silent, none of this would’ve happened. Adar wouldn’t be upset with him, Delton wouldn’t be hurting, and Oliver himself wouldn’t feel like utter crap. It hurt ten times worse than any of the beatings from Dempsey or the others ever had.

“Oliver?” Fallon asked softly. “You okay?”

Oliver kept his head down as he shook it.

“You messed up, but they forgave you,” Yitro said. “It’s just gonna take time and patience.”

He couldn’t do this. They meant well, but they didn’t understand how badly he had fucked up, how disappointed his mates were in him. Because, if nothing else, the whole thing had only confirmed for Oliver that Adar and Delton were his mates. He might be the only one who felt it, but that didn’t make it any less true. And instead of starting his happily ever after with them, he’d destroyed their chance at happiness.

He pushed his chair back and got up, but when he opened his mouth to tell the others he was leaving, nothing came out. Maybe it was for the better. So he waved at them and hurried out, ignoring Fallon calling after him. Blinded by tears, he ran toward his cabin, only to smack straight into someone. Strong hands grabbed him and kept him upright. “What’s wrong, angel?”

Adar. Oliver shook his head, tears streaming down his face.

“You’re scaring me a little,” Adar said softly, still holding him, and Oliver stepped into his embrace and wrapped his arms around Adar’s waist.

Oliver knew damn well he didn’t have the right, but he needed Adar’s touch. He needed to be held for a moment and feel like they still had a chance.

Adar gathered him close and pressed a kiss into his hair. “It’ll be okay, angel. Whatever it is, we can fix it.”

Fix it? No, this couldn’t be fixed. Once broken, a vase would never be the same again. You could glue it back together, but it would always show the previous damage. Of course, that only made him cry even harder, and he blubbered all over poor Adar’s chest. The alpha was gently rubbing Oliver’s back, holding him almost tenderly. He wasn’t saying anything anymore, just hugging him, but it was enough.

Oliver had no idea how much time had passed before he finally let go and stepped back. He probably looked like a hot mess after that crying fit, with red-rimmed eyes and a snotty nose, but it couldn’t be helped. Adar pulled an old-fashioned handkerchief from one of the many pockets on his cargo pants and carefully cleaned Oliver’s face, then offered it to him to blow his nose. He used it, then stuffed it into his own pocket ‘cause he was not giving it back dirty and full of snot. But when he wanted to tell Adar he’d wash it for him, nothing came out.

The words were gone again—his punishment for using them so foolishly. The gods could give, but they could take away just as easily.

“Oliver?” Adar sounded alarmed now. “Can you please talk to me, angel?”

He shook his head, the tears burning behind his eyes all over again.

“You can’t?”

Another shake.

“Oh, angel…” Adar’s voice broke. “Let’s go see Delton together. Maybe he can help.”

Delton? No way. Oliver was not asking the very man he’d hurt so badly for help. When Adar gently tugged his arm, he dug his heels in and shook his head.

“You don’t want to talk to Delton?”

No. He mouthed the word.

“But why?”

Oliver made an angry face, falling back on his nonverbal communication as if he’d never spoken the last few days.

“You think he’s angry with you?”

A nod.

“I don’t think he is. Hurting, maybe, but not angry anymore. But even if he was, he’d still help you.”

Yeah, he would. Oliver didn’t doubt that because Delton would never turn away someone in need. He’d even said yes to being present for Oliver’s heat when that had to have been so hard for him to watch. That didn’t make it okay now. It felt all kinds of wrong and hypocritical to turn to Delton for help when Oliver had been the one to hurt him. Wouldn’t it seem to Delton as if Oliver was doing it to get attention? Or maybe even to emotionally manipulate him—again, he might add—to focus on Oliver’s pain instead of Delton’s own?

“Good morning.”

Oliver froze.

“Hey, Delton,” Adar said. “How’s your morning been so far?”

He was making an effort. Adar wasn’t one for small talk, but he was trying with Delton, and somehow, that made everything even worse.

“Quiet, but I didn’t mind. I finished a book I was reading, then prepared for the sessions I have later today, so it’s been good. You?”

Adar shot Oliver a pointed look, and he cringed. “I’ve been on the clock, watching Oliver and the others, so nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Oliver?” Delton asked softly. “Are you okay?”

Oliver slowly turned around, peeking at Delton from between his lashes.

“He’s having some trouble using his voice,” Adar said.

Delton frowned. “Is that true?”

Oliver slowly nodded.

“I’m sorry you’re struggling. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I suggested we go see you, but he didn’t want to.”

Of course now Adar chose to be talkative. Not that Oliver could protest, even if he was able to use his voice. Communication was important in a relationship, and if Oliver had done a better job of it, they wouldn’t be here in the first place.

Delton stepped closer, placing a gentle finger under Oliver’s chin and tilting it up. “What are you saying to yourself right now, hmm? That we’re angry with you? That I’m angry with you? That this is all your fault?”

How did he know? How had he so perfectly captured Oliver’s thoughts? He was so good at his job. Oliver should’ve taken him up on the offer to help him work through his trauma from day one. Maybe if he had, none of this would’ve happened.

“He thought you’d be angry with him,” Adar said.

“Is that true, Oliver?”

Oliver had never noticed before, but Delton had the habit of using someone’s name when he talked to them. Like he was making sure you knew he was talking to you. He probably had a good reason for it, and Oliver liked it. “Yes,” he whispered.

Delton cupped his cheek. “I’m not angry with you.” He swallowed. “If anything, I’m angry with myself. I knew this would only lead to heartbreak, and I should’ve stopped it before it got this far.”

Oliver shook his head. “My fault.”

“You played a part in it, but all three of us did. None of us is without blame here.”

“I certainly wish I’d seen the truth earlier,” Adar said.

Delton let go of Oliver’s cheek. “I know. I think we all look back on it with regret that we didn’t make different choices.”

Something about his tone alerted Oliver. It had an edge, a deeper emotion that echoed pain. What was he really saying?

“So we learn from it and do better,” Adar said, clearly not picking up on anything.

Delton looked from Oliver to Adar, then took a step back. “What I have learned is that I have to follow my intuition. I didn’t before, and I allowed myself to believe things I should’ve never opened myself up for.”

Adar’s eyes widened. He was clueing in now too. “What do you mean?”

Delton took a deep breath. “I’m out. I can’t do this. Breaking promises is not my habit, and I know I said I’d give it a try, but I can’t. I’d only be setting myself up for more heartbreak, and no matter how much you try to convince me I’m already hurting, Adar, I can’t add on to it.” He took another step back. “You two belong together, and I wish you all the joy and happiness for the future. But it’s gonna be without me. I don’t belong with you, and I never will.”

Before Oliver could even respond, Delton turned on his heels and walked away, his shoulders hunched as if he were carrying the weight of the world. Oliver’s heart hurt so much that it felt like someone was squeezing it. A sound of distress flew from his lips, and Adar immediately gathered him close. “I know, angel. It hurts. But this is not the end. We’ll have to convince him to give us a chance. I don’t know how or what it will take, but we’re not giving up.”

Oliver clung to him, silent tears streaming down his face.

Adar kissed the top of his head. “As much as it hurts to see him walk away, I can tell you one good thing about it. The idea of him leaving is ripping me apart so much that I’m confident he is indeed our third. So we’ll have to prove to him that he belongs with us. Don’t despair, angel. We’ll figure it out.”

A tiny spark of hope flickered inside Oliver. At least Adar now believed it too. But how would they ever get through to Delton?

If only he could turn back time…