Page 34 of Dragon's Revenge

“They can’t kill me. No matter how much power they take from me, they’ll never take more than I can give. He’s the White Dragon, my love. We’re connected, Erwan and me, and our destinies are intertwined. It was foretold.”

Palani’s shoulders sagged. “I know, but I can’t stand the thought of something happening to you. It’s killing me that we don’t know if Rhene is okay, if my brother is okay. How am I supposed to let you go too?”

Fallon’s throat tightened. Palani was always so strong, so tough. It was hard to see the beta struggling. He opened his mouth to offer some well-meaning encouragement, but instead, something else entirely came out.

“The White Dragon’s mate, the consort of the Doyle clan, has his own journey to walk now, and by doing so, he will bless his clan and his pack. Trust him as he has always trusted you, and be willing to sacrifice what must be given up to gain what’s worth more than anything else.”

He blinked as the words stopped. What the ever-loving fuck had that been? Where had that come from? Four pairs of eyes stared at him in wide-open astonishment.

“I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I don’t know what came over me.”

Palani put a warm hand on his shoulder. “The gods chose you to give us a message. That’s what happened. To reassure me that my brother is and will be okay, and that I need to let go of him for now. So thank you.”

Before Fallon realized it, Palani was hugging him tightly, and he awkwardly patted the beta on the back. “I didn’t really do anything, but you’re welcome?”

And when Palani let go, Erwan hugged him, and Fallon gave up on protesting. He would be grateful instead that his words had encouraged everyone else and leave it at that.

When he came home, Yitro and Duer were waiting for him. News of the upcoming mission had spread rapidly, as usual, and both sported tight faces. Fallon took a sleeping Ainle from Yitro’s arms and snuggled with him on the couch. Why was it that babies always smelled so good?

“You’re going, I assume?” Yitro asked softly.

Fallon nodded. “I’m leading the magical part of the attack.”

“Oh, honey…” Yitro reached for Duer’s hand.

“I have to do it,” Fallon said. “The lives of the omegas depend on it.”

“We know, and you have our full support.” Duer’s voice was gentle. “We have so much faith in you, little dragon. But forgive us for being worried about you. You’re… You’re our everything, you know? We’re not complete without you.”

Fallon all but melted as his two mates sat on either side of him and hugged him. He’d been so blessed to find this happiness, something he hadn’t dared to dream of back when he’d been with the Murphys.

They sat for a little while, and Fallon’s heart quieted like it always did when he was with his mates. “I had a prophecy today,” he said and shared what had happened with his mates.

“That’s truly special that you were chosen to deliver that message,” Yitro said. “You’re special, honey. Even the gods agree.”

Fallon always felt a little awkward when Yitro said something like that. “I don’t know about that, but I’m grateful I could bring Palani and Erwan hope. They need it. They miss him something awful.”

Duer shuddered. “Can we change the topic? I’ve been where Rhene is, and those are not memories I want to revisit.”

“Sorry…” Feeling guilty for inadvertently triggering his mate, Fallon quickly changed the topic. “I hope I run into Dempsey again.”

Yitro chuckled. “If he wasn’t such an utterly evil man, I’d almost feel sorry for him. He doesn’t stand a chance against you.”

“No, he doesn’t.” Funny how those earlier doubts had vanished, as if the faith everyone had in him had boosted his self-confidence. “Though I think he should worry more about Adar than about me. I may have magic, but Adar has pure rage over what Dempsey did to Oliver. If Dempsey so much as looks at Adar the wrong way, he’ll kill him.”

“I never thought I’d say this, but death would be too easy a punishment for him,” Yitro said. “He should suffer more for what he did to others.”

“I often think of that spell you used the night they tried to abduct Erwan,” Duer said to Fallon. “May what you have given others be paid back a thousandfold to you. That was it, right?”

“Yeah. And I meant every word of it.”

Duer hummed, looking pensive. “I was raised Christian, and my grandfather was a preacher. There’s this verse he often quoted that says,A man shall reap what he sows. There’s a deep justice in that and even a sense of comfort. Those who sow kindness, love, and compassion will reap it, now or in the afterlife. And those who sow hate and violence, like Dempsey and the other Murphys, will call that upon themselves. What you did is nothing more than wishing that verse becomes truth for them, for them to reap what they have sown. There’s justice in that.”

Fallon put his head on Duer’s shoulder. “I love how you worded that.”

Yitro sighed. “Me too, but I have to say I wouldn’t mind at all if it turns out Adar is the gods’ instrument of justice, if he’s the one who will bring that harvest home, you know?”

“Same,” Fallon said. “I had my revenge on him that night, and humiliating him and the others was one of the proudest moments of my life. Adar deserves to have his. If it comes down to it, I will happily step aside and let him have a go at Dempsey.” Then his face hardened. “But I will damn well stay close and make sure it’s a fair fight.”

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