Page 67 of Rurik
“Yeah, the problem of your unhappiness. It’s my fault. I kept you caged your entire life. I didn’t trust you to be strong like I know you are. I tried to convince myself you were helpless and that you needed me. I guess losing Serena made me half-crazy when it comes to protecting those Ilove.”
“Just half?” Charlotte tried to tease, but her throat wastight.
“Okay, completely crazy.” His rueful smile tore at her heart. “My point is, I was wrong, Jason was wrong. We shouldn’t have shut you out of our lives, even the dangerous parts. You are strong enough—hell,morethan strong enough—to handle it all on your own. And it’s our fault we didn’t want to acknowledge that.” His gaze met hers before his focus flicked over toRurik.
“I love him, really love him, Damien.” She touched her brother’s arm. “But just because I’m a dragon shifter now, it doesn’t mean I’m not your baby sisteranymore.”
Damien chuckled and let out a long sigh, looking sideways at Rurik out in the living room with theothers.
“As much as I want to punch him, I have to give him credit.” Damien’s smile was rueful. “I watched him leap out of that window, not knowing if he would be able to save you. It’s not what I expected from a dragon, but he did it because he lovesyou.”
Charlotte blushed at Damien’s words. It was always awkward to talk to her brothers about love, but especially Damien because he was more like a father to her than abrother.
“And I have to apologize to him too.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “What we did to Rurik and to you… I’m just so sorry. Jason and I were completely overreacting assholes.” The pain in his hazel eyes filled her with an echoing sympathy. “I’ve tried so hard to make the Brotherhood different from the old days, and yesterday…yesterday I almost took us down that samepath.”
“I was so mad at you,” she whispered. “But when you love someone, you do crazy things to keep themsafe.”
Damien looked down at the floor, defeated in a way she’d never seen before. She flung her arms around him, squeezing himtight.
“All is forgiven,” she promised. “But you have to let me go. I’ll always be your sister, but I’m my own woman. I always havebeen.”
“I know. And you’re part of Rurik now. You need him as much as he needs you. And he’s good toyou.”
“He’s goodforme,” she corrected gently, letting go of her brother. “With him around I don’t just live, I feel alive. Does that makesense?”
Damien nodded, looking back to Rurik, who was laughing at whatever Meg and Tamara were tellinghim.
“So you stay with him,” Damien said. “A dangerous battle dragon. He better not put you in any moredanger.”
She couldn’t help but grin. “You don’t get it, do you? I’m a battle dragon nowtoo.”
“I know,but—”
“And it’s more than that. We’re the same dragon, just different parts. We’re like two arms of the same body. Can you imagine how much more dangerous that makes us?” She smiled at him, feeling a power and confidence she’d never had before. “You won’t have to worry about me, Damien. Trustme.”
“The Barinovs have enemies,” hecountered.
“And so does the Brotherhood.” She touched arm. “But as of now, the Barinovs and the Brotherhood are on the same side. And with luck, maybe we’ll get some other factions out there to see the light too. This shadow war that’s existed for so long between humans, shifters, and the corruptions like werewolves and vampires? It all stems from a lack of communication. You knowthat.”
“Who knew my sister would end up being wiser than her big brother?” Damien chuckled, looking back at the ongoing party. “Or that my in-laws would be fire-breathingdragons?”
“This is going to change everything. Between our families, we can stop the Silvas and the Drakors out there. The ones who don’t believe in coexistence, onlycontrol.”
Her brother nodded. “The world needs a safer path, and we will make it.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Just promise me you’ll be happy withhim.”
“I promise.” Life with Rurik was everything she’d dreamed ofhaving.
“Good. Now let’s get back to the party before Jason finds a way to embarrasshimself.”
Charlotte smiled. “Sure. But, Damien…” Her older brother—a man who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders—deserved that happiness too. She only hoped he would be brave enough to let a woman back into hisheart.
“Yeah?”
She wiped her eyes. “Don’t be afraid to love again. Serena can’t be the only woman out there for you. You can find someone else who will love you as much as shedid.”
He chucked her under the chin like she was a little girl, and with a sad smile he said, “It’s too late for me,sweetheart.”
She watched him join the others and closed her eyes, thinking of the land of snow where her lover’s heart had been guarded. But the storm was gone. The snow fell softly around her. In her mind, she touched the fiery heart.Theirheart.
