Page 53 of Dragon's Revenge

Oh gods, he was dead serious. “Even if he is, he still has a choice,” Palani said gently. “You can’t decide for him, Hakon. Ainle has to do that for himself.”

“Pfft.” Hakon made a dismissive gesture that was so one hundred percent Lidon that Erwan and Palani both laughed.

Hakon ignored them, took a last look at Ainle, and then ran off.

“Damn, the genes are strong in that one.” Palani scratched his chin. “He was serious, wasn’t he?”

“As a heart attack.”

“Well, both could do worse, just saying.”

Before Erwan could answer, a commotion at the door had him standing. He felt it at the same time, that sweet relief that his mate was here. “I’ll take Ainle,” Palani said, and Erwan handed him the baby, then took off in a dead run.

There he was, his mate, the love of his life, his everything. Rhene looked awful, as gaunt and exhausted as Erwan felt, but he was alive. And he was here. Erwan fell into his arms, sobbing as he held him, as they held each other, and somewhere deep inside him, something healed.

“I love you,” he whispered over and over again. “I love you. I missed you so much.”

Both their faces were wet with tears, but they didn’t care. They clung to each other, everything else fading, and time stopped. Erwan had no idea how much time had passed before he finally let go of Rhene. Only then did he notice the red-haired man standing a little behind Rhene, and the blood drained from his face.

“What the fuck ishedoing here?”

ChapterTwenty-One

Adar slowly awoke, his eyes blinking against the soft light filtering through the drawn curtains. The first few times he’d woken, he’d been disoriented, but now, he knew where he was. In the clinic, in a room, with his mates by his side.

He had no idea how much time had passed because he kept dozing off, sleeping for an hour or two, then waking again for a few minutes. He wasn’t able to stay awake for long and his brain was foggy as shit, but that was okay. He could sense his body needed the rest.

Everything hurt, but Adar wasn’t complaining, not even letting out a grunt or moan every time he moved and pain shot through him.

He was alive.

And while some of his memories of the day of the fight were fuzzy, he did remember passing out, believing he wouldn’t wake up again. He’d been incredibly sad to leave his mates, but at the same time, he’d been proud to have avenged Oliver before he died.

Because hehadbeen dying. As vague as his memories were, that much he knew with one hundred percent certainty. He’d been too far gone, his body too broken to heal.

Yet he was alive, and he’d never stop being grateful for the second chance he’d been given.

He slowly turned his head sideways. Delton sat in the chair next to the bed, putting down his Kindle when he noticed Adar was awake. “Hey, big guy.”

“Hi,” Adar croaked.

Delton got up and grabbed the cup with water from the bedside table, carefully placing the straw against Adar’s lips. He sucked greedily, relishing the cool liquid against his parched throat.

His brain felt clearer than it had before, like he could think again, form actual words. “Where’s Oliver?”

“He went home to take a nap, then shower and change. He was exhausted. We switched off because, before that, I needed a long nap.”

“Thank you for being here.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. How are you feeling?”

“A little better every hour,” Adar answered truthfully.

“I can tell. You’re able to have a conversation now… But you’re still in pain, right?”

“I’m alive. That’s all that matters.”

Delton carefully took his hand, gently holding it in his. Adar would’ve loved to lace their fingers together, but that was impossible with the amount of swelling he still had. “Thanks to Erwan.”

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