Page 22

Lucan

I’m Going to Kill Him

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Green-hued scales glittered in the rising morning sun as my beast of a brother flew away.

When I caught up to him, I was going to wring his neck.

“We discussed this,” I growled through our link. “Earth hasn’t called for you and it’s safer if you stay with me.”

That last part had been implied.

And honestly, it felt like Earth was on my side.

Almost a month since a major activity shift gave Malachy plenty of time to heal after the last encounter. He was looking stronger. Healthier.

Besides him being a cock-block, it eased my worries to have him around. Not that I didn’t want him to return home eventually. But I wasn’t that much of a dick.

“I’ll be fine.” Malachy growled from up ahead as I gained on him. “Go back to your… mate.”

His wings cut through the sky with powerful strokes, flying harder and faster than most other dragons could. Most—but not me.

I flew directly into his flight path, avoiding his wings and claws as I dropped down to look my brother directly in the eye. “What are you? Jealous?”

I dodged left, barely missing the stream of fire that blazed from his open maw. It grazed the tips, singeing the feathers of my wings.

“You’ll pay for that,” I swore, correcting course and flying out of his path higher into the sky.

As soon as I got into position, I tucked my wings in tight. Three, two…

Malachy weaved away from my torpedo dive at the last second.

I kicked out with my rear talons, sending him somersaulting backward as I extended my wingspan to catch air.

My talons flexed as I roared my fiery fury.

The sky would be littered with our cloud trails today. Leave it to the human government to explain to their citizens why it looked like a chemical war zone up here.

My sole focus was latching onto my wayward brother’s neck like he was a hatchling and dragging his brooding ass back to my nest.

Malachy turned before my jaws made contact.

He roared at me.

I roared at him.

Air slipped through my talons as a gust of wind blew between us; his green underbelly moving out of reach. His back leg kicked me in the head.

Pain burst through my skull as I spun away.

“Are you done playing games?” Malachy panted through our link.

My ears were still ringing.

I glared at his stuck-up, retreating tail.

Of all the times I’d—

Enough.

I shook my head as the ringing stopped, calming myself with a few deep breaths. I wasn’t foolish enough to keep raging for no reason. Blind anger only clouded your vision and hastened mistakes.

“We’ve talked about this.” I steadied my course so I flew alongside my brother. “It isn’t safe for you to be alone anymore.”

“I’ll figure it out,” Malachy grumbled.

Arrogant. Ignorant. Asshole.

We flew in silence for a few moments as I bit my tongue, long enough to slow my heart and not regret the words I’d next speak.

“You force me to leave my mate,” I said when I was sure my dragon wasn’t going to tear my brother apart for being a dramatic idiot.

“Go back to her.” Malachy sighed. “Claim her. Be happy. If anyone deserves it, it’s you.”

So he had heard our conversation.

I’d assumed as much but didn’t know what part he had the issue with.

I had a feeling though. “Is this about the prophecy?”

His snort and black smoke that rolled from his nostrils was the only reply I needed.

Duty and honor. It was what once bound us together. But his responsibility was to Earth.

I looked over my shoulder at my house and wards no more than a speck in the distance, torn on where my duty lay now.

“If you’d have listened to me earlier… Kieran thinks this could be the answer.” I flew faster as my brother increased his speed. “There’s a third woman. Don’t you at least… Malachy, wait!”

I chased after him as he tucked in his wings, doing the same technique I’d taught him as he tried to get away.

But the asshole wouldn’t escape that easily.

“Seriously, what is wrong with you?” I yelled as I matched his lower flight path and finally caught up.

Just when I was about to smash into him again, Malachy turned a tear-filled dragon eye my way.

The sight of it wrenched my stomach.

“You’re wrong, you know. I’m not jealous. I don’t want a mate.” His haunted voice made me sick, reminding me of our father during his final hours after our mother passed and his heart went with her. “All I want is for this curse to die with me.”