Page 54 of Dragon's Revenge

Adar’s memory was hazy, but Oliver had talked to him for a bit and told him how Delton had all but ordered Erwan to heal Adar. Adar wished he could’ve seen it. That must’ve been a sight to behold, the usually introverted Delton standing up so forcefully.

“Thanks to you,” Adar corrected him softly. “Oliver said you were the one who told Erwan to get his shit together.”

“I never used those words.” Delton looked a little shocked.

“But that was the message.”

“I mean, if you want to see it that way, then yeah, maybe that’s the exaggerated version of what I told him.”

Adar smiled, even though it hurt. “You’re using a lot of words to say yes.”

Delton rolled his eyes. “Because I’m not fully agreeing with you. Yes, I may have provided Erwan with some necessary encouragement and maybe the confidence boost he needed, but he’s the one who healed you. I’m not comfortable claiming credit for that.” Then his eyes softened. “You should’ve seen it. I’ll never forget it as long as I live. His whole face was glowing, like he was emitting light.”

Adar hadn’t talked about his own experience yet, but he wanted to. Especially with Delton, who wouldn’t judge him and wouldn’t be as easily hurt as Oliver, who would probably always remain somewhat emotionally vulnerable. But was now the right time? Or should he wait until he felt better?

Then again, if nothing else, this whole experience had taught him that life was fragile and tomorrow was not a given. “You said he used spells. Did you ask which ones?”

“He said he told you to sleep and heal. And he called youlaoch, which means hero. I asked Fallon.”

It matched what he’d heard in his…dream then. His vision. His whatever it had been. “Hero is a little over the top.”

Delton firmly shook his head. “Youarea hero. What you did went beyond anything anyone had ever witnessed. Everyone we’ve talked to said you shouldn’t have been able to even get to your feet after what Dempsey had done to you, yet you did…and not only that, but you ended up beating the crap out of him.”

“I don’t remember much of that part, other than that I kept seeing Oliver’s face, how he looked when he first got here. He’d been beaten up and was terrified of his own shadow. Dempsey had done that, and I wanted to avenge Oliver.”

“You did.”

Adar hesitated, then opted for the truth. “I was dying, and I knew it.”

“You did?”

“I felt my body shutting down, but I couldn’t stop. I had to complete that last mission.”

Delton made a choked sound. “Just so you know, I would’ve been really upset with you if you’d died, seeing as how I’ve only now discovered we’re truly mates.”

“I didn’t want to die…but it would’ve been worth it.”

“Why? Why would avenging Oliver be more important than being alive?”

How did he explain this in a way that made sense? “I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself otherwise. My honor demanded it. Oliver’s my mate, and for me to let that injustice against him stand would’ve been…” He made a helpless gesture. “I had to do it. I had to kill him for what he did. If I hadn’t, I never would’ve been able to look myself in the eyes.”

“Even if it had cost you your life?”

Adar swallowed. Would Delton understand? “I was at peace when I passed out, fully expecting to die. That tells me I made the right call.”

“I would’ve been…” Delton’s voice broke. “We would’ve been lost without you.”

“I know, baby, and I’m so grateful I’m here with you. While I was under, I had…dreams. Visions, maybe? I don’t know what to call it.”

“Of what?”

“Of me running through endless fields in wolf form, the sun on my face and my belly full. You know those perfect spring days when the weather is warm without it being stifling hot? When you can feel the sun and hear all the bees and birds, and when nature almost hugs you? That’s what it felt like.”

“It sounds beautiful,” Delton said softly.

“It was. And I wasn’t alone. I saw…” He had to swallow before he could continue. “I saw Jawon, Lidon’s cousin.”

“The one who died when the Hayes pack was attacked?”

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