Page 6 of Midnight of Ashes
Easton’s chest rose and fell in ragged pants as his back teeth ground together. His lips parted as if he was going to speak, but instead, he turned on his heel and stalked out of the room.
4
HAYDEN
Pain flared in my chest as I watched Easton disappear through the door and down the hallway. Part of me wondered if it was an echo of the injury I’d sustained or if this was just fresh agony from the latest rejection blow.
“I’m so sorry,” Knox whispered. His voice was hoarse, layered with his own anguish.
I turned to him, lifting a hand to place over his heart. “It’s not your fault.”
Knox shook his head. “He’s let his fear ruin him, and it almost cost us you. The person we love most. I’ll never forgive him for that.”
Everything in me twisted. That was the last thing I wanted. The guys needed each other, especially now.
“Don’t.” I pressed my palm harder against Knox’s chest. “He needs you, and you need him just as much.”
“I can’t, Hayden. He went too far this time.”
I kept my hand over Knox’s heart but didn’t push with words. There’d be time for that. For now, I’d simply assure them all that I was fine.
Something pulsed beneath my palm. Something more than Knox’s heartbeat. My brow furrowed as I stared at my hand. It was like I could feel Knox. His energy, maybe?
“What?” Knox asked, concern filling his voice.
“Nothing. I just—” I moved my fingers over his pec. “I feel you.”
Knox shared a look with the other guys in the room.
Anxiety slid through me. “What? Is something wrong?”
Cillian slid a hand under my tangle of blonde hair. “Easy, Little Flame. You’re fine. You’re just feeling a deepening of the bond.”
I looked up at him in confusion.
“When you were hurt, Easton touched you. He was trying to stop the bleeding.”
“Okay…”
“He was the last of your bond mates to have contact. It means that you’ll start feeling the pull to us more,” Cillian explained.
“It also means that your dragon may surface soon,” Maddox added.
“What?” I squeaked.
Knox sent me a gentle smile. “My beast can’t wait to meet her.”
“Well, tell your beast to chill. I’m not sure I’m ready to transform into a giant lizard.”
Knox choked on a laugh.
Cáel frowned down at me. “We’re not lizards. We’re dragons.”
I let out a sound of exasperation. “They look pretty similar to me.”
“Not even close,” Cillian growled.
“Well, whatever it looks like, I’m not ready.”
