Page 105 of Hoarded By the Dragon

He’d put her in danger without a thought.

Just like he did when he sent her here.

“If I asked you to promise never to take a job from him again, would you? Even if he told you he’d die?” I try to keep my words neutral, but they come out with a deadly calm.

Katarina’s mouth opens and closes as she struggles with her answer. I shouldn’t be so incredulous. I shouldn’t have asked such a question while in my current state.

But my logic is burning a fiery death, and in its place is only instinct. The need to protect her.

To protect myself.

“He doesn’t care about you!” I snarl.

Katarina flinches, but the flash of regret in my soul that I’ve hurt her doesn’t make a dent in the rage burrowing in my skin.

“I-I know,” she says.

“Do you? You risked your life for him countless times. He pulled you into acts you’ve castigated yourself for years and he hasn’t lost a second of sleep.”

Her lip trembles, and I try to temper my words better.

“You are mine. Do not be flippant about your safety,” I say, the tension in my chest not subsiding.

“I’m not being flippant—”

“Then why are you here?” I roar. “I told you not to come down here without me.”

I’m ashamed at the sound as soon as I release it, but Katarina doesn’t cower. Her eyes glint, her own fire being stoked in the midst of my barrage. I may be a proud beast, but she is a queen.

“I needed to come down here,” she snaps. “You don’t control me!”

Too close.

The cracks in my soul shatter.

The words are too close to what Ava said before she left. The echo heralds the surety in my heart. I’m going to lose her.

I’m going to lose Katarina.

It may not have been from this stunt, but every day is a new danger.

How can I keep sane when the mate of my heart refuses to stay safe? It’s not a matter ofifbutwhen.

This is the searing pain of Ava falling, this is holding Luke to my chest as my son grows cold all over again.

I cannot survive the loss again.Wecannot.

My dragon writhes in both agreement and argument, conflicting emotions fight for dominance. The urge to shift slowly takes over my limbs even as my heart bleeds.

I barely hear my own words as I utter them.

“I can’t do this.”

35

KATARINA

“I can’t do this.”

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