Chapter 12: Charity

Chapter Twelve

Charity

I t feels like there’s a big chance I’ve treated Bane unfairly. I wasn’t ready to fully let anyone in after Cyril royally destroyed my trust.

My eyes clench closed as I blurt all of that out as quickly as possible, because if I don’t, I’m afraid I never will.

“I get it.” Bane nuzzles his cheek to mine, and his stubble scratches against my skin. “I let you show your ass for a while, so you could get it out of your system, but I wasn’t going to let you push me away completely.”

I snort.

He’s such a cocky jerk. At least, to the rest of the world. He’s actually a really great man under all that bullshit swagger. He takes care of Veryn, checks in on us, and always makes sure I know I can call him if I need him.

“I didn’t mean to be unfair to you,” I whisper, staring up into his dark eyes. “I’m sorry for that.”

“Nah, don’t apologize for having trauma. I can handle it.” His thick lips brush over mine, and my fingers dig into the back of his neck, pulling him closer.

My entire body shivers under him as his tongue teases mine.

There’s something wildly animalistic about Bane. Not only now—all the time. It has to be his alpha shifter energy, but it does crazy stuff to my insides.

Pulling my legs from under him, I circle his ass until my toes dig into his jeans. Unlike Athos or Eldritch, who both have slender builds, Bane is covered in thick muscles.

He’s strikingly handsome, in that half-feral kind of way that screams he could be dangerous under the right circumstances. Somehow, I have no fear when it comes to him.

His teeth scrape over my lower lip, tugging it down.

I gasp, and he uses the opportunity to devour me whole. His forearm wraps around the top of my head, caging me in as his other hand cups my cheek. Dammit, he’s really good at this. His weight pushes me deliciously into the mattress as he growls against my lips.

The kiss goes on for so long, my nipples pulse with the same ache that hits my clit.

Okay, maybe I’ve fantasized about Bane a time or two, but it’s been a long time since I was this close to anyone.

At least, outside of my dreams.

Bane growls, rolling his hips against mine. The front of his jeans drag against my core, and it makes me wonder what it would feel like to be stretched around him while he teased my clit.

“You have no idea how much I want to shove every inch of my cock inside you,” he says with a growl, running his hand over the top of my head. His eyes clench closed as I study his handsome face, trying to catch my breath. “I don’t think I can until I tell you some shit.”

He rolls off of me and onto the bed at my side as my heart seems to stall.

That doesn’t sound good.

Not at freaking all.

He sits with his back against the headboard, and I follow him up.

“You should know better than to tell someone that. All it does is freak the person out.”

“Yeah, well, I feel like you’re going to freak the fuck out on me , when it’s not anything I’ve done.” He sighs. “Look, I know who Eldritch is. I didn’t know him in dragon court, but I put the pieces together not too long after he appeared.”

“Okay,” I say, willing him to go on, so I don’t have to continue to wonder.

“I also know who Veryn’s father is.” Bane grabs my hand, linking our fingers together. “I had suspicions the first time I scented Veryn…”

Aline told me once that there are only something like three thousand dragons, which seems like a lot and also not that many, all at once.

I’ve never been to Faere, outside of my dream last night, so it’s impossible to visualize what dragon society may look like, but I’ve worried a lot about if the two of them could possibly know each other.

Bane knowing my ex sucks on an entirely different level.

The embarrassment I felt when I realized Cyril ghosted me comes back in full force.

I don’t even know why the idea bothers me so much.

I didn’t do anything wrong.

All I did was meet a man I genuinely liked, who I thought cared about me in return.

“You know Cyril?”

“Everyone in dragon society does,” Bane says with a solemn tone to his voice.

It makes my head shake.

I almost thought I was ridiculous for assuming that all dragons knew each other, but three thousand doesn’t feel like a lot of people.

Haven has just over ten thousand, and it seems like everyone knows each other.

“Cyril is next in line for the throne. His father is king,” Bane says, holding my hand even tighter. “Veryn is a full-blooded dragon. The last I’ve heard, Cyril’s mate hasn’t been able to produce any heirs…”

My jaw falls as my head tilts. “He has a mate?”

Bane nods. “They’ve been bonded for several hundred years, and that’s not your fault.”

“I know it’s not,” I hiss as my free hand flies to my forehead.

It still makes me sick to my stomach. It’s illogical, but I feel like I should have known.

“He used your innocence and lack of understanding of dragon culture against you.” Bane releases my hand, grabbing my hips and lifting me into his lap until I kneel over him. “I heard Eldritch explain it to you that night in the cave.” He frowns. “Part of it, at least, but we have to be vigilant. Under dragon law, Cyril could claim Veryn. He’s full-blooded, which only occurs when a dragon breeds with another dragon?—”

“I’m not a dragon,” I say, exceptionally confused. “Wait, did you say you were in the cave?”

“I was the nightmare fuel,” Bane says bitterly. “Listen, we can talk about that part later. I don’t want to get off track.” He tenderly squeezes my hip, moving a hand up to cradle the back of my head. “The other way dragons are born is when a dragon breeds with a dragon’s heart—a fated mate of another species. They’re incredibly rare these days, due to a dark history I’d rather not get into.”

“I think if I am one, I should probably know…” My hands rest on his strong chest. He makes me feel so tiny, even when I’m on top of him.

“It’s not pretty,” Bane says. “About four hundred years ago, the population of dragons dwindled down to dangerously low levels. Someone realized that any dragon could mate with a dragon’s heart and produce viable offspring.”

“It didn’t have to be their intended mate,” I whisper as my mind races, trying to read between the lines. “Did Cyril seek me out, knowing that?”

“Look, I don’t have a fucking clue what that jackass was thinking, but if I had to guess, I would say he came to the human realm purposely to seek out a dragon’s heart.” Bane wraps his arms around my back, pulling me close to his chest.

I bury my face in his T-shirt, kinda wishing I could climb out of my own skin. “I was the first fool he came across who fell for his bullshit.”

He smacks my ass. “You’re far from a fool.”

“Really? I fell for his crap, hook, line, and sinker.”

“You also got an incredible kid out of the deal, so fuck him and his intentions.”

“Yeah,” I agree.

Veryn is the most perfect gift.

“I believe Cyril, or possibly the king, commanded Eldritch to the human realm.” Bane tenderly tilts my face up to look at his. “I don’t know if Eldritch’s mission was to find and guard Veryn or if his orders were something more sinister.”

Alarm rips through my chest as I stutter, “W-What does that mean?”

“I almost don’t want to tell you, because I know it’s only going to cause you more pain and anxiety.” Bane teases his fingers into my hair, trying to pull me closer as I struggle to push up enough to glare at him. “I will say it. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us, but I wish you would trust me to handle it.”

“I do trust you,” I assure him. “At the same time, if it involves my kid, I need to know.”

“I knew you were going to say that.” He sighs. “Children aren’t crowned into the royal family until the age of seven. They wouldn’t announce any hatchlings until they reached seven years old, but if Cyril ever intends to name Veryn his heir, he would be bound by custom to do so on his seventh birthday.”

“Why would he want to claim him?” I ask as my heart thumps against my rib cage. He’s going to be seven in just a few months.

“The current king is exceptionally old, even by dragon standards. However, he’s always maintained that he wouldn’t allow Cyril to ascend until he produced an heir.”

“You think he might come for my child, and you never told me?” I hiss, shoving his shoulder until he releases his hold on my back enough that I can sit up straight.

“Until Eldritch came into the picture, I had nothing more than a hunch. But let me make one thing perfectly clear—I will die before I let anyone touch a hair on Veryn’s head, and I assure you, I’m very fucking hard to kill.”

It’s easy enough to feel his sincerity.

I nod as my stomach wobbles.

His eyes glow yellowy-green. “I’m serious. They trained me for a very specific purpose, but they’ll find out exactly how sharp the blade they honed became if they try us.”

My eyes ache, and I glance away from his piercing stare. It’s very sweet to hear him use the word us .

I’m a little afraid I’m about to burst into tears. “What does that mean for Eldritch? I don’t think he would hurt me or Veryn.”

Bane sighs heavily. “About that…”