Chapter 32

THIRTY-TWO

T alon’s fingers traced gentle patterns on Asher’s wrist, careful of the IV line. “What’s causing it?”

“Near as I can tell?” Bennett adjusted one of the monitors. “You are. When you left earlier for the war room, her vitals dropped significantly. The moment you returned...” He showed them the data. “It’s as if your presence stabilizes the conflict between her human and dragon DNA.”

Asher managed a weak smile. “So my overprotective dragon actually has a medical reason to hover now. Great.”

“Don’t get smug,” Talon murmured, but his relief was evident in the way his thumb brushed over her pulse point. He sensed the change in her pain. It dulled from searing agony to a more manageable ache.

“I need to consult with Evadne about these readings.” Bennett gathered his tablets. “Don’t move from that spot,” he told Talon. “You’re literally the best medicine she has right now.”

Once they were alone, Asher turned her head to study Talon’s face. “You look terrible.”

“Says the woman who picked a fight with cold iron.” But his attempt at humor fell flat as his eyes traced the still-visible black veins spreading from her wound.

“Hey.” She squeezed his hand weakly. “I’m going to be okay. I can feel it - when you’re here, it’s like... like everything inside me knows how to work together properly.”

His dragon rumbled in satisfaction at her words. He leaned down to press his forehead to hers, their bond humming with shared warmth. “Sleep, love. I’ll keep watch.”

“You always do,” she mumbled, already drifting off.

Levi found them like that an hour later - Asher sleeping peacefully while Talon maintained his protective vigil. “The sanctuary’s wards are holding,” he reported quietly. “But we found disturbing evidence at Revon’s camp. Dimitri’s been studying hybrid genetics. He’s obsessed with finding ways to create controlled transformations.”

Talon’s eyes narrowed, his hand tightening slightly around Asher’s. “He’s trying to build an army.”

“More than that.” Levi lowered his voice. “The documents we found suggest he’s specifically interested in Asher’s transformation. Her ability to successfully merge human and dragon DNA...” He glanced at her sleeping form. “He sees her as proof his theories could work.”

A low growl rumbled in Talon’s chest. He sent calm through their connection, watching as she settled back into healing sleep.

“Fascinating.” Dr. Bennett had returned silently with Evadne. “Look at these readings.” He showed them the monitors. “The moment she sensed his anxiety, her vitals shifted. But his response actually strengthened the healing pattern.”

Evadne moved to her daughter’s other side, gently brushing hair from her face. “She’s always been extraordinary. Even as a child, her mind worked differently than anyone else’s.” Her eyes met Talon’s. “But I’ve never seen her respond to anyone the way she does to you.”

“The mate bond is literally rewriting her genetic code,” Bennett explained. “It’s using Talon’s ancient bloodline as a template to stabilize her hybrid transformation. That’s why the cold iron hit her so hard - it temporarily severed that connection.”

Asher’s fingers twitched in Talon’s grip. “Mmm, too much science talk,” she mumbled without opening her eyes. “Need sleep.”

“Sorry, love.” Talon pressed a kiss to her temple, earning a small smile.

“Stay,” she whispered, already drifting off again.

“Always.”

Hours passed. Talon maintained his watch while clan members came and went with reports. The black veins around Asher’s wound slowly began to fade, and color returned to her cheeks. Each time she woke, she was a little stronger.

“The sanctuary,” she said during one lucid period. “We need to-”

“It’s secure,” he assured her. “Garrison and Devon are guarding it personally.”

She struggled to sit up, wincing. “But Dimitri-”

“Will have to go through me to get anywhere near you again.” The fierce protectiveness in his voice made her pause.

“Talon.” She reached up to cup his cheek. “I knew the risks when I chose this life. When I chose you.”

His larger hand covered hers. “I watched you fall.” His voice was rough with emotion. “I felt everything through our bond. If you had-” He couldn’t finish the sentence.

“Hey.” She pulled him down until their foreheads touched. “I’m still here. And now we know I heal better with you around, so you have a real excuse to be overprotective.”

A hint of smile touched his lips. “I don’t need an excuse.”

“There’s my dragon.” She kissed him softly, then yawned. “Though right now, your mate needs more sleep.”

“Rest.” He settled beside her, careful of her injuries. “I’ll watch over you.”

She lay contented as she curled into his warmth. The steady beep of monitors confirmed what he could feel - her healing was accelerating with each hour they stayed connected.

Levi appeared in the doorway with another update but stopped at Talon’s warning look. “Yeah, yeah, I know - mate comes first,” he said with understanding, backing out quietly. “Try not to growl at the medical staff while I’m gone.”

The sanctuary, Dimitri, all of it could wait.

Right now, his mate needed him. Everything else was secondary.