Page 24 of Shifting Desire
And I don’t even know if she’ll come.I shouldn’t hope.But I do.
Because dragons are cursed that way, always chasing what they were never meant to have.
The moment I feel her in the building, everything in me snaps to attention.My dragon lunges forward, pressing against my skin, roaring for her.The bond flares like a match held to gasoline.
She's close.Closer than she’s ever been to choosing me freely.
The elevator dings.Soft footsteps echo down the hallway.And then the door opens, and she’s there.Hair wild from the wind.Cheeks flushed.Hoodie zipped to her chin like armor.She doesn’t speak.
Neither do I.
Not at first.
Because I don’t trust my voice not to crack under the weight of what this is.
Ari steps inside slowly, eyes scanning the room.She’s vibrating with magic and emotion and purpose, and I know, instinctively, this is a defining moment.For both of us.
“I didn’t come here for apologies,” she says, voice steady.
“I won’t insult you with more.”
Her mouth curves, just a little.Not a smile.Something sharper.
“I came to ask you why.”
I nod.“You deserve that.”
“I know I do,” she snaps.
I step forward, but only one pace.“I was scared.”
She snorts.“Of what?Me?”
“No.”I meet her gaze head-on.“Of losing you.”
She swallows.I continue, each word dragged from the deepest, rawest part of me.
“You don’t know what it did to me, feeling that bond snap into place the moment I laid eyes on you.I wanted to claim you so badly I couldn’t breathe.But my father ...he would’ve killed you just to keep me from falling for someone who wasn’t dragonborn.And I couldn’t...”My voice breaks.“I couldn’t risk that.”
“So, you took the risk from me.”
“Yes.”It’s true even though the word tastes like bile on my tongue.I know what I did was wrong but still, I can’t bring myself to regret keeping my mate safe.
“That’s not love, Malichai.That’s control.”
I nod again, throat thick.“I know.The truth is, I would do anything to keep you safe even if it means I could lose you.”
She crosses her arms.Her magic pulses, bright and wild.“But you still flirted.You still touched me.You still looked at me like I was yours when you knew damn well I had no idea what was happening.”
“I couldn’t stay away.”I drag my hand through my hair in frustration.“I tried.Every day.I watched you live, laugh, fight, drink, flirt with strangers, and I tried to stay away.But it was torture.Because every breath you took felt like it belonged to me.”
She inhales sharply.“Don’t,” she whispers.“Don’t say things like that unless you mean them.”
“I’ve only ever meant them.”
She takes a step forward.“You said you chose me,” she says, voice trembling.“Not because of the bond.But because of me.
“I did.”
