Page 62 of To Ignite a Dragon's Desire

It happened at times like this, the overpowering feeling of being too weak to do anything to stop the rushing tide. In these moments, Ihatedwith a passion that I could hardly contain.

It made me young again. A hatchling of no more than twenty, watching my father lash out with fire and burn it into Malachy. The worst part was that he’d done it with love, knowing if Malachy wasn’t strong enough to withstand Earth’s rage, She’d eat him alive.

And they’d tried to shield me from it.

I knew I was lucky in that I’d always had the choice to make my own path. It was this choice I was now extending to Riley.

But my brother wouldn’t understand.

He couldn’t.

So, I raised my eyes and offered a playful grin. “You weren’t cock-blocking me on purpose, then?”

Malachy smiled slightly in return. “Maybe a little. I could feel it, you know? The bond aching to connect you two and pulsing stronger with each day. It’s enough to make anyone sick.”

I rubbed my chest. “She’s perfect.”

“But you still won’t claim her?” His tone was no longer teasing.

“I can’t.” I sighed, squatting down next to him by the fire. “She isn’t ready yet.”

“No one is ever ready to answer Earth’s call.” Malachy picked up a stick from the ground and broke it in half. “I’m sorry I can’t figure out a way to give you both more time.”

“You’re an idiot,” I growled. “And you’re not alone with this anymore.”

Malachy went to argue, but I held up my hand.

“Kieran has a theory and you should hear it out. If Riley presents with the rune mark after our mating, it’d make sense the third woman is tied to us in some way too. Even if Riley and I don’t end up mating, you can still meet Willow. What harm could it do to see?”

“Harm?” Malachy blew out a heated breath. “I don’t think you know how much harm can be done. And a human woman? No offense to Riley, but this isn’t a life most dragons could handle.”

“No one is expecting any human to take this position.”I won’t allow it.I clenched my jaw just thinking about Riley being forced into Earth’s service. “But how long has it been since any of our species found a fated mate? And now of all times. If the rune had never appeared on Ember’s neck, it’d still be too connected to be coincidence.”

Malachy tossed broken bits of stick into the fire. “I don’t want to watch anyone else burn. Let this burden die with me.”

We sat there in silence, staring at the flames.

I didn’t have an answer for him.

Telling him he had to suck it up and fight harder, knowing he’d been fighting longer than the rest of us, seemed hollow and wrong.

He’d never been able to make his own decisions before. How could I stay here and demand he follow this path when I was doing all I could to give Riley her freedom to choose?

At the end of the day, he was right.

And we’d both seen enough to know we were tired of suffering.

I rested my arms on my knees. “Someone hurt Riley. Her ex-boyfriend.”

Malachy looked at me from the corner of his eye. “Why the fuck are you still sitting here?”

“I’d learned his name moments before you flew off with your feathers in a fluff.” I shrugged with one shoulder. “You didn’t give me enough time to hunt him down.”

“I could use a hunting trip.” Malachy nodded.

I smirked as I stretched out my hands. “Bring his pelt back to your cave and pin it on the wall? This place could use a little color.”

“Maybe you should knit me something.” Malachy rolled his eyes.

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