Page 14 of To Spark a Dragon's Love
The loving look he gave her deepened the ache building in my chest. I glanced away, embarrassed for being jealous of something I’d probably never have. My fingers brushed the mark on my neck.
“Since that’s settled, why don’t we—”
“Am I going to have a new daddy?” Harper’s question made everyone in the room freeze.
“What? No.” I struggled to find the right words to say, simultaneously hating and loving how big and smart she was getting. Gone were the days when I could spell out a word and have it go right over her head.
“But you’re getting married,” Harper said.
Damn it.“No, I’m not. Not really. It’s a… A dragon thing.”
Lucan’s expression darkened, but Riley was quick to give him a silencing look.
“Listen, honey.” I tried to think about what was worrying her. “No one will ever replace your real daddy.”
Harper shrugged as she twisted the cap onto the paint bottle. “I didn’t know my real dad.”
Tears burned behind my eyes as I looked at Sam’s urn.I tried. Really, I did.“Your daddy loved you and he did his best to take care of you while he was alive.”
“I know that because you already told me.” Harper sighed as she dug through the bucket of polish. “But if you want to get married, that’s okay. And it’s okay to have a new dad.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.” I laughed it off, aware of everyone’s eyes on me.
I knew they’d be able to see through the façade I was putting on. Ember and Riley were the closest things I had to sisters. They knew me better than I knew myself at times.
I had to get out of here before they pressed harder and found out something they didn’t want to know—something that would ruin their fairy tale happily-ever-afters.
“Do you guys mind watching her for a bit longer?” I blinked back tears. My smile was strained as I took a step toward the bathroom. “I just need to take a quick shower.”
6
Malachy
Regrets
You never should’ve come here. This is all your fault. Foolish. Weak. Unworthy.
I stood at the window for a long time after Willow carried herself across the yard with a quiet sort of dignity, still listening to the rampant internal monologue of my beast. He was louder and more incessant since we’d left the bedroom. The pain in my chest intensified with each step she’d taken away.
I was no stranger to pain, but this was different.
It wasn’t mine.
I felt the truth of it in my bones. The taut string stretched the further she went until I could no longer see her behind the closed door of the smaller cabin. A reminder that I carried more than my own worries inside my chest. Willow ached. I caused that. I could feel her pain within me.
That meant she could feel mine.
And we couldn’t allow that.
I toyed with this new sensation of the bond, seeing what I could do to mentally tune it out and testing to see if I could shut her away from my pain.
I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy, let alone a woman as delicate as… my mate.
You don’t deserve her.
I know.
“What are you doing here?” Kieran’s surprised question had me stepping away from the shadowed corner by the window.
