Page 16 of Fire Dragon Lover

When he burst into his dragon form, he didn't care about the expensive suit he tore to shreds. He didn't care about the rules saying he shouldn't transform in the city unless there was a dire need. He simply flew, catching the wind and rising high above the buildings. From up here, he could see everything.

Dragons belonged in the air. On a normal day, it took so much of his energy not to give in, transform, and fly. And while he was once again free of the earth, there wasn't the same joy of it. His heart was torn because she had left him. That piece of her was gone. But he could feel it, feel her, even so faintly.

Oh, shit.

The bond had already started to form, but she was gone. He unleashed a roar and cursed fate for its cruelty.

Twenty-Five

Logan

Logan checked his watch for what must have been the millionth time. It had been four days, three hours, thirty-seven minutes, and sixteen seconds since he received Gretchen's resignation letter. And each second felt like an eternity. The world had gone grey, and the only thing he had now was work.

He figured he might as well throw himself into it. It was a sunk cost now. It was why he'd sacrificed his relationship with the woman who should have been his mate. He couldn't fail now.

But his work did suffer. The passion was drained of it. He still cared for metahuman rights and not just out of self-interest. But it seemed like a fool's errand, and he was that fool.

It took Logan several minutes to realize that Sloan had walked into his office and been talking to him.

"I'm sorry. What were you saying?" Logan said as he looked up from his desk.

"That's exactly what I was just saying." Sloan let out a sigh. "You're a goddamn zombie right now. This isn't good. Your last speech was rambling garbage. I'm about ready to throw in the towel myself after that performance."

"He's right," Hailey said.

Logan wasn't sure how long she'd been standing there. If his attackers had shown up, he'd be dead right now. Part of him didn't mind that thought.

"Logan!" Hailey snapped. "I'm trying to apologize here, so stop zoning out. I fucked up. I thought I was helping, but I obviously misjudged the situation. We need to figure out how to unfuck this up. We can—"

"No." Logan's voice was flat but firm. "It's done. She's gone. Now please leave. I have work to do."

The next day,Logan was meeting with some investors when Sloan and Hailey burst into the room.

"Everyone out!" Sloan ordered. No one moved as they looked between Sloan and Logan.

Hailey casually rested her hand on the butt of her gun. Not a threat, but an implication. "He said get out."

No one argued. Everyone, including Amy, Logan's new assistant, got up and left. When the door closed, Logan asked, "What the hell?"

Sloan grabbed the remote of Logan's desk and flipped through before stopping on a cable news channel.

"—an Slade, advocate for metahuman rights. Ms. Jennings declined to comment on the circumstances around her pregnancy, but sources say Mr. Slade is the father. We—"

"What the hell?!?" Logan looked up at the pair.

"I tried to keep it out of the news, but there was no stopping it."

"How did this happen?" Logan asked.

"Do you mean the news getting out or how babies are made?" Even though it sounded like a joke, Hailey's face was severe.

"Why didn't she come to me?" But Logan knew the answer. He'd done his best to drive her away, and now he was reaping the reward. Then his face paled. "We have to get to her now. I pushed her away so no one that tried to come after me would get to her. If everyone knows this—fuck!" He got up and yelled, "Amy! Where the fuck are my keys?"

Traffic was heavy,and Logan regretted not just transforming and flying there, but he'd already been reprimanded for his earlier display. When they arrived, it was a zoo outside Gretchen's apartment.

Twenty-Six

Gretchen

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