Chapter 12

TWELVE

T alon’s hand found hers, their fingers intertwining naturally. He sensed her genuine empathy for his family’s pain.

“He was so angry when we found him,” Harlynn said, her usual humor dimmed. “But we thought love would be enough. Family would be enough.”

“Sometimes the hardest wounds to heal are the ones we can’t see,” Asher said. Static crackled in her hair as she spoke. “Though attempting to kill your adoptive family seems like a bit of an extreme therapy alternative.”

“Asher,” Talon warned, but he couldn’t hide his small grin.

“What? I’m just saying, there are better ways to work through childhood trauma than trying to murder your siblings. Though I might be biased since one of said siblings is unreasonably attractive and apparently my mate.”

Talon struggled to focus on the security feeds as Asher stood beside him, her scent mixing with the sharp tang of ozone from her electrical abilities. His dragon strained toward her, demanding to wrap her in his wings, to shield her from Dimitri’s threats.

“The northern perimeter—” he started, then lost his train of thought as she absently bit her lip, electricity dancing across her skin.

“You were saying?” Harlynn’s eyes sparkled with humor. “Something about perimeters? Or were you too distracted by how Dr. Andrews makes lightning look fashionable?”

“The perimeter,” he repeated firmly, though his voice roughened as Asher leaned closer, her warmth seeping through his suit. His dragon purred at the contact while his human side tried desperately to remember why they were discussing security instead of claiming their mate properly.

“Your control’s slipping, brother,” Mallory noted softly. “I’ve never seen your eyes flash gold so often.”

He couldn’t deny it. Every movement Asher made, every spark of power she displayed, called to something primal in him. The need to protect warred with pride in her strength, creating a potent mixture that tested his restraint.

“Dimitri’s forces are withdrawing,” Levi reported, his eyes tracking data across multiple screens. “Though I can’t take credit for that. Your mate and her terrifying friend just did... something... to our security systems.”

“We improved them,” Lori corrected, fingers flying across her tablet. “While Asher used her new sparkly powers to send your adopted brother a very clear message about messing with her lab equipment.”

Talon’s dragon practically preened at his mate’s display of strength, even as his human side calculated risks and vulnerabilities. The sun had set hours ago, and exhaustion lined Asher’s face despite her attempts to hide it.

“You need rest,” he said quietly, moving closer to her.

“I need space.” The words came out soft but firm. When he stiffened, she added, “Just... to process. My whole life changed in one night. I went from pining after my unreasonably attractive boss to being magically bound to him. I need time to...” She gestured vaguely. “Brain. Think. Words.”

Every instinct screamed to keep her close, to protect. He sensed her genuine need to understand what was happening to her.

“At least let me take you home.”

“I have a better idea.” Lori appeared beside them, Kaylee close behind. “Girls’ night. With pizza, wine, and extensive questioning about dragon mating habits.”

Talon’s jaw tightened. “Dimitri?—”

“Will face something much worse than dragon rage if he interrupts my pizza time.” Lori’s smile showed teeth. “Besides, your security chief already promised to personally oversee Asher’s protection detail. Didn’t you, Chief?”

Across the room, Levi choked on air.

“Fine.” Talon fought his dragon’s protests. “But I’m tripling the guard rotation.”

“Such a worrier,” Asher teased, though her voice softened. “I’ll be fine. I just need one night to...” She stepped closer, electricity crackling between them. “To remember how to think straight around you.”

His dragon surged forward, drawing a small gasp from her as gold bled into his eyes. “You can’t think straight around me?”

“Not helping,” she muttered. She backed away before he could respond. “One night. Then we can... discuss things. Professionally. In a way that doesn’t involve me wanting to climb you like a tree.”

“And on that note,” Kaylee announced cheerfully, “we’re leaving before you two forget we’re all still here.”