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She shakes her head, stubborn even with death closing in. “We go together, Talon. Both of us.”

“Look at me,” I demand, letting her see the truth in my eyes. “This is the only way. I can shift fully—hold them off long enough for you to reach her.”

Understanding dawns in her expression, quickly followed by refusal. “I won’t leave you to die.”

“I’m not asking permission.” I look past her to Hargen, who nods once, already grasping what needs to happen. “Get her to Elena. No matter what.”

More gunfire peppers our position. I feel the dragon pushing to emerge fully, wings straining against human flesh, fire building in my chest.

“Talon—” Lila begins, her free hand rising to my face.

“I should have told you,” I interrupt, words rushing out before courage fails me. “What you are to me. What this is between us.”

Something shifts in her eyes—recognition, fear, longing. “Tell me when I see you again,” she whispers fiercely.

I want to believe it. Want to promise her I’ll survive this. But I won’t lie to her, not now.

The decision to claim her as mate drifts away like smoke. Not my choice to make anymore. Maybe it never was.

“Go,” I say instead, pressing my lips briefly to hers. One kiss. Not enough. Never enough.

Before she can object further, I push her toward Hargen, who catches her arm and pulls her toward the roof’s edge.

“Hargen, don’t you dare—” she starts, but he’s already moving them both, the Shard’s light trailing behind them like a comet.

“On three,” I hear him say. “One… two…”

They leap across the gap to the adjacent warehouse, landing hard but safely on the other side. Lila turns back toward me, her expression ravaged by conflict.

I force myself to look away from her. To focus on what comes next.

Circle operatives swarm onto the roof, weapons raised, partially shifted forms gleaming in the helicopter’s dying firelight. I straighten to my full height, feeling the last restraints on my dragon form fall away.

“Come on, then,” I growl, scales erupting fully across my skin, wings pushing through flesh and clothing in a cascade of golden light.

The transformation completes with a roar that shakes the very air around us. Fire builds in my chest, ancient and terrible. My thoughts simplify, clarify.

Protect mate. Hold the line. Buy time.

Through dragon eyes, I watch Lila and Hargen disappear across the adjacent rooftop, moving toward the warehouse where Elena waits. Safe, for now. That’s all that matters.

I turn back to face the Circle operatives, who hesitate at the sight of a fully transformed dragon rising before them. Wingspan stretching wide, fangs bared, claws digging into concrete.

In my mind, Becca’s face fades, replaced by Lila’s. This time, I didn’t fail. This time, I saved what matters most.

It’s enough.

“For Lila,” I rumble, the words distorted through dragon vocal cords. “For her.”

And I charge into impossible odds, wings unfurled, fire blooming in my throat, knowing I’ll never see her again but fighting, anyway.

For Lila. For freedom. For redemption.

Fire erupts from my jaws, and the world disappears in golden flame.

Chapter 31

Lila

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