Page 36 of Mantle

“Yes, that was me giving you advice,” he spoke, putting it right out there. He shifted his weight and folded his arms across his chest. “And… thank you. For what you did to help Ari. Employing that ability and risking exposure like that.”

“She was in pain and unwell. I had the means to heal her. Anyone would have done the same.”

“Not anyone. My thank-you still stands. As it does from our entire family.”

“It was a team effort.”

“Not even willing to takeanycredit? I never would have thought I’d live to see the day where a dragon was proven capable of that.”

“Well, as you saw from that ability of mine, I’m not an ordinary dragon.” It hit me then. “Just like you’re no ordinary Alpha wolf.”

“Right you are.”

“I see. You asked me out here because of that.” I frowned. “You want to be my friend now? I’m not going to disrespect you. You’re Ariana’s father and you’re a renowned badass, but—”

“While I didn’t relish finding out about the three of you being with my daughter through… scenting… it’s Ari’s choice.”

“It’s… what?”Really?He was on board?

He went on, “It’s not my business beyond ensuring she’s not in danger. And she’s not. Not from the three of you. She doesn’t give her trust lightly, so the fact that she’s done that with you speaks volumes. And while, as I’m sure you can understand, myanimalside rebels at the idea of anyone laying hands on my baby girl, the other more rational side accepts it.” He scrubbed his hand over his scruffy jaw. “She’s never seemed as free or as happy as she does now. Current threat and Celestial burden notwithstanding.”

“You’re giving us your approval?”

“No. That’s not necessary. It’s her decision. She makes her own choices as a grown woman. I’m telling you that, because I recognize the depth of your bond to her, I’d like to get to know you. That needs to start with you. Because you need my help, dragon.”

“I need—”

“It’s a strenuous task to control the animal while immersed in deep emotional turmoil.” He stared at me intently, then his eyes glowed with the wolf. “And trauma.”

He’d just used his wolf senses to read me.

In a very different way to how Nyx did with people.

“I can teach you.”

“I’m dragon. You’re wolf.”

“Animal is animal in this supernatural sense. I’ve also experienced the struggle of reconciling the Immortal Descendant side of myself, power that was forced upon me later in life. Great power.”

“Kai is already teaching me how to employ those—my Celestial-borne abilities.”

“Which you should continue with. But he can’t understand how to balance the animal with that extreme power. I can feel the struggle in you. The animal wants to take that power and unleash with it. But that would be utterly devastating, so you’re holding it back. But it’s new and every time you use those extreme abilities it increases the strain to an almost unbearable degree. When trauma and emotional pain is thrown into the mix, it becomes beyond unbearable.”

“Yes,” I admitted. “That’s right.”

The comprehension that he had of this very niche-like issue was such a rare find. The knowledge he had, the understanding he possessed… it was…fuck,it was exactly what I needed. Especially right now.

I was on the verge of that dangerous state, that threat of destabilization with the beast within. I didn’t want it to get to this point over and over.

Where I felt like I couldn’t contain myself and all the shit coursing like toxicity through my fucking veins.

“Think on it,” Jaxon spoke, his voice drawing me back to the moment and having me realizing that I’d been immersed so deeply in my thoughts that I hadn’t spoken a word in response to his actual offer.

“I don’t need to,” I told him, just as he went to turn toward the patio doors to head inside for breakfast. “I’d like to take you up on your offer… to help me.”

The corner of his mouth turned up. “Then that’s what we’ll do.”

He slapped my shoulder. “No worries.” He cut through the heaviness then, and gestured at the patio doors, telling me, “Let’s head inside. Time for one hell of an epic breakfast.”

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