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Bree

M y command whipped out with the force of a hurricane. As soon as the word left my lips, both men and their dragons froze. Dominic’s claws remained embedded within Ichiro’s throat, and a trail of blood slipped down the old man’s neck.

Merciful tsunami, that was close.

I’d arrived just as Ichiro had pinned Dominic and dropped the bomb. Well, technically, his second bomb of the day, but this one was metaphorical.

He’d killed Dominic’s father. What a terrible thing to do to his own son-in-law and his grandson, leaving him without either parent. He was a disgusting human being.

But as much as I despised Ichiro for everything he’d done to Dominic, Frankie, and everyone else he’d hurt—which I was sure was a long list—death wasn’t the right way to go. Not by Dominic’s hand at least.

I ran beneath the two dragons, locked in a similar frozen brawl as the men, and pulled Dominic’s hand away from Ichiro. My touch released the hold my magic had on him, and he stepped back. His eyes widened as he took me in, as if in disbelief that I actually stood before him.

I wasn’t sure how to read the underlying emotion beneath that. Whether he was happy to see me or wanted to punch me in the face. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he did punch me, but I hoped he’d give me the chance to explain first.

Just not yet.

"I know how it feels to lose someone you love," I said and stepped closer. "And I know you want revenge. But killing him is exactly what he wants you to do to prove that you’re just like him."

I rested my hand against his chest, over his heart. "But Nic, you’re not like him, and he doesn’t deserve your guilt.”

The corners of his lips quirked up. “You think I’ll feel guilty?”

Goddess, he was impossible.

“You’re a good man, Nic, but you’ve been forced to make hard decisions to survive. You may not feel it for some time, but yes, you will feel guilty for killing your own blood. You’re too damn loyal not to.”

His hand closed over mine, but the lines of his jaw moved as he clenched his teeth. "I am the monster he made me to be."

I knew exactly what he meant. I’d believed I’d become a monster to save Dominic—betraying him and Frankie in the process. But the truth was simpler: I did what had to be done to protect the people I loved. His life had come before mine. I understood what he felt, down to my core. But he was wrong.

Dominic was nothing like his grandfather.

"You are your father’s son, not his."

He closed his eyes and breathed deeply through his nose. I knew he was struggling. "Besides, he only wants you to kill him because it’s the coward’s way out," I added.

His deep chuckle sent shivers through me, and warmth pooled deep in my core. He was so stupidly sexy. Everything about this man crumbled my defenses and urged me to obey his every command. Which was saying a lot considering I’d swum away from home to avoid following commands.

"Maybe so, but it’s been a long time coming. I can’t let him hurt anyone else."

"That’s exactly why you’re not the monster here." I smiled and squeezed his hand. "What if there’s a better way?"

His whiskey-hued eyes met mine again and the world fell away.

What I wouldn’t give to have that gaze on me forever, to claim this man as mine.

I wasn’t sure he’d ever forgive me enough to give me a chance, and to be honest, I didn’t know if I deserved one.

Not after the way I left him and ran. Talk about a coward.

His gaze dipped to my mouth, and I resisted the urge to lick my lips. "What other way?"

As difficult as it was to do, I let go of Dominic’s hand and stepped back. I looked at Ichiro, still frozen beneath the force of my magic. He stared back at me with something like pure hatred—it went both ways, pal—then I looked at the beast behind him.

I wasn’t entirely sure what I had planned when I mentioned another way. I just knew death was too good for Ichiro. The moment our eyes locked, grief struck like a tidal wave—sharp, sudden, and suffocating. A grief that was most definitely not mine.

A small gasp escaped my lips. The dragon was sharing his feelings with me.

It was a grief and loss so profound, so deep and eternal, that tears sprang to my eyes.

This dragon had lived centuries as a puppet for his human masters.

Watched dozens of his brethren tortured and murdered by Ichiro in the name of greed.

Suddenly, I knew what to do.

I looked at Ichiro and spoke, but my words, infused with my siren magic, were for his dragon. " You’re no longer bound to Ichiro Sato. No one, human or otherwise, can ever bind you against your will again. You’re free. "

Freed from Ichiro and my magical hold, the dragon opened its mouth and released a deafening roar, shaking the estate’s foundation. I stumbled backward a step, both from the trembling ground and the sheer power emanating from the ferocious beast. My hold on Ichiro and Jou wobbled and released.

Immediately, Dominic’s dragon darted between us and the other dragon. He stood in a defensive stance, his back arched like a cat’s. The heat radiating from his body made my eyes water.

Ichiro sank to his knees, eyes wide. “No…this cannot be. What have you done?”

As we all watched in some mixture of awe and shock—and probably no small amount of fear on Ichiro’s part—the dragon’s wispy form solidified.

Four clawed paws landed on the ground with a boom, and where I could once see through the dragon to the far wall behind him, now I only saw glistening crimson and copper scales.

He shook his head like a dog shakes his coat, as if relishing a feeling once lost. He bared his razor-sharp teeth in a fierce growl, and molten lava dripped from his lips, sizzling as drops hit the floor. The scent of a struck match filled the air.

I gulped. Dragons were terrifying in their spirit form, but seeing one in the literal flesh? I didn’t know how to describe the feeling. And when he turned his gaze on me, my insides went squishy.

Because instead of eyes, flames filled the beast’s eye sockets. Even without them, I knew he’d fixed his gaze on me.

There would be no shame in finding out I might have peed my pants a little bit. It would be understandable, although super embarrassing. Unless I was incinerated right now. Then it wouldn’t matter if I had peed.

I really, really hoped I hadn’t just made a huge mistake.

Then those twin flames locked on Ichiro and narrowed.

The old man knew he was doomed. Without regard to the dragon protecting Dominic and me, he lurched to his feet and lunged for me, his claws out and ready to shred through my skin like paper.

Before I could even raise an arm to protect myself, the other dragon leaped forward and swallowed Ichiro whole. One crunch—one unusually satisfying crunch—and the man was gone for good.

Frankie was going to be so freaking happy. I grimaced as I remembered how I left her back at the bar. She was also going to be furious at having missed Ichiro’s demise. And for using magic against her.

The dragon’s forked tongue flicked out to lick his lips, and those flaming eyes focused on me again.

Uh oh.

Maybe I should have let Frankie come after all, as backup. I hoped Dominic, Jou, and I were strong enough together to stop a rampaging dragon on the loose. We had to be.

Right?

Just when I thought I would follow in Ichiro’s crunchy footsteps, I watched this massive beast bow his head before me. My eyebrows shot toward my hairline.

Thank you , a deep and very loud voice rumbled through my skull.

Surprised, I clutched at my head as though that would somehow help.

"What’s wrong? What’s he doing to you?" Dominic stepped toward me, equal parts worry and anger on his face.

I waved him away. "Nothing bad. He’s just loud."

Dominic’s eyebrows shot up. "He’s talking to you?"

My apologies, she who smells of the ocean , the dragon said, much quieter this time. His forked tongue flicked out as if tasting the air. Centuries have passed since I last uttered a word to another. I am called Pom?.

"No apologies needed, Pom?," I said out loud for Dominic’s benefit. "I’m sorry you’ve been silenced for so long. I’m Bree."

The depths of my gratitude for what you have done today cannot be expressed in any tongue, Bree, the dragon said. I had resigned myself to a lifetime of never truly feeling alive again.

My heart ached for this magnificent creature. I’d experienced exactly what he described but for a fraction of the time as a captive. I wouldn’t wish that life on anyone. It was so lonely. I wondered how many of the dragons felt the same way.

As if reading my mind, the dragon said, Very few as old as I remain, those of us who remember the days before humans. Not even this fierce warrior. His fiery gaze fixed on Jou, who responded by crouching low in deference.

As much as I yearned for a chance to stretch my solid bones in the sky one last time, there is a great comfort in being attached to a human. Just not Ichiro Sato. Pom?’s lips pulled back into a vicious snarl, sparks flashing between his teeth. Already, he gives me heartburn.

I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of me. Although Dominic’s tensed muscles finally relaxed a smidge, he looked between me and the dragon with a raised eyebrow.

"Ichiro’s not the best meal," I explained. "Too acidic."

He grinned, and my stomach did a little flip-flop. "That’s not surprising."

I recognize you from your duel against the mighty Red Dragon , Pom? said. You fought well. He will be a good match for you in life.

Heat flushed across my cheeks, but it wasn’t from embarrassment. I hoped I would get the chance to find out if his words were true, and my body really liked the idea of finding out. With any luck, soon.

I must go, little fish , the dragon said, saving me from having to reply. I have a great urge to feel the wind and sky against my scales.

"He has to go," I told Dominic.

Dominic bowed to the dragon. "Thank you for not letting my grandfather harm this woman." His eyes widened, and I assumed the dragon must have spoken to him as well.

A series of expressions flashed across his face, too quickly for me to identify or process. When his gaze met mine with smoldering intensity, I had a feeling Pom? had suggested something similar about me to Dominic.

The dragon shifted his weight onto his hind legs.

"Wait, where will you go?" I asked.

Home.

With that, Pom? launched into the air. His sinuous body spiraled upward, and right before he would have crashed into the ceiling, he dissipated into a cloud of embers and sparks.