Page 56 of To Ignite a Dragon's Desire

I drew in a ragged breath. “I needed what he couldn’t give.”

Stability, safety, kindness, romance…

All the things Lucan gave so freely.

I didn’t want to wait anymore.

Straightening my shoulders, I swept my hair to the side. It’d grown, like I had, and was long enough to get in my way now.

“I want you to claim me,” I said.

Lucan stopped petting Dobby and dragged a hand over his face, taking his time before he responded.

“No,” he said, breaking my heart. “Not yet. Not when you’re this vulnerable.”

“I’m not some little girl,” I snapped. “I said I wanted this, so stop holding back. It’s not just about us anyway. Ember and Kieran need to see if the rune will appear. We have people counting on us. And I need to go see Willow.”

Lucan captured my hands and held them within his. “You don’t owe anyone, anything. We have time to make this decision. The prophecy isn’t important. You are—”

The slamming of the door to the roof echoed through the house, sending Dobby bolting from the bedroom as Lucan’s grip tightened on my hands.

“Malachy,” I said, looking toward the hall.

Lucan shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does. He’s your brother.” I shoved the big oaf off the bed. “Go after him. Make sure he’s okay.”

Lucan stood, releasing my hand, and pressed a kiss against my cheek. “You’re too good, Riley. Stay here in the safety of my wards. I’ll be right back and we’ll continue this conversation then.”

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.

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