Page 40 of A Dragon's Miracle (Fires of Fate)
And I knew exactly what he was talking about. I couldn't stall anymore. It was time to tell him everything--and let him make up his mind.
“This all started about three years ago,” I said. “Maybe a bit longer ago. I'm not sure anymore. I'd just moved out from home and I was helping design graphics for a marketing company. It wasn't my dream job, but I was good at it and I enjoyed it. I felt optimistic about my life. I was looking forward to finding a partner, marriage, children... You know, all that.” I waved my hand dismissively.
Finn's gaze was fixed on me. “And then you got sick?”
“Then I got sick,” I agreed. “Went to the ER one day because I was coughing blood.”
Finn cringed, and I decided to strike some of the other details of the story.
“They ran some tests on me,” I continued. “Told me I had lung cancer and that it had progressed pretty far already. Things weren't looking good.” I sighed. “I didn't even tell my family. I didn't know how to.”
“You thought falling off the radar was better?”
I shook my head. “I didn't really think. I was just... scared.”
Finn reached across the table to take my hand, in a silent show of support.
I chewed my lip. What was he going to think of me when I was done talking? “Anyway,” I said. “I had surgery, and I had chemo, but... I couldn't beat this thing. The doctors finally told me they couldn't cure me. So I... started looking around for other options. I wasn't ready to give up.”
“No, of course not.”
I had to smile at the vehemence in Finn's tone. He was so far from giving up. Just as he'd told me the day before. It was sweet, but of course it was. He was Finn after all, and there was a reason I'd felt drawn to him from day one.
But now I had a confession of a different kind to make.
“You mentioned other options,” Finn prompted me.
“Yes, that's... how I met Jin.”
“Your ex?” Finn's eyes narrowed marginally. It was kind of cute how he was trying--and failing--not to let his hostility show. But he was a dragon after all, and Jin had hurt something that he considered his. Kind-hearted or not, letting that stand went against his very nature.
“He's a dragon too,” I explained. So far, I'd kept this little fact to myself.
Finn's eyes went wide. “But he lives on the mainland?”
“He's originally from China. I don't know the whole story, because he's not the sharing type, but he's moved to the states a long time ago, and he's barred from visiting this island.” And I was very happy about that. From the look on Finn's face, I could tell that he was too.
“He must have donesomething,” Finn mused. “We're not too happy about taking in new dragons around here, but we don't ban them for no reason, either. Making someone live on the mainland, that's... harsh. You could never shift.” He shuddered visibly.
I stroked the back of his hand with my thumb. “I'm sure he deserved it,” I said to make him stop thinking about all the discriminatory laws dragons had to deal with once they stepped outside their territories.
He nodded. After a moment, his expression turned curious again. “Why did you go to him?”
“I'd heard that he practiced healing magic. Kind of like what Zed does, but more powerful, you know? He can even make potions and stuff. Medicine.”
Finn leaned in, brows drawn together. “Is that why you were with him?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “He made it a condition. He could help me, but not for free. And the things he wanted weren't money. But I didn't know what else to do so... I told myself it wasn't so bad.”
Finn looked like he was about to stand from the table and leave my apartment in search of Jin so he could rip the man's head off. The look didn't suit him, and it was making me nervous. If he was angry now, how was he going to feel a minute from now when I told him what Jin had made me do, aside from the relationship stuff?
“I wanted you from the start,” I told him to distract him from his anger. “From the moment I first saw you.” I gave him a smile. “I've been wanting to tell you that for a long time.”
“Really?” True to his nature, Finn smiled back at me. He could never hold on to murderous thoughts for long.
“Yes. I used to fantasize about you all the time.” Especially when I was with Jin.
Finn squeezed my hand. “I wish you could have told me sooner.”
