He didn’t get far before he heard the unmistakable sound of Shelly’s light steps on the stone. He stopped, jaw tight, and waited for her.

  Shelly didn’t bother with subtlety. She strode up, arms folded, chin tilted in that way that dared the world to fight her. The light from a cluster of glowing crystals in the walls caught the gold in her hair, casting tiny sparks across her cheeks. “You planning on brooding all night, or did you just need to practice your dramatic cave-walking?”

  He let out a low, humorless laugh. “Would you believe both?”

  She stepped closer, her presence a comfort and a challenge. “Ra, talk to me. I can feel it. Something’s wrong.” Her voice softened, the snark melting for just a second. “You’re not alone, remember? We’re in this together. And while I know discussing your emotions isn’t exactly something you enjoy, I need you to try. For me.”

  He led her to their alcove, a hollowed-out chamber tucked behind a curtain that gave some semblance of privacy. Inside, thick, woven blankets laid out on a stone ledge served as their bed. It was surrounded by a battered trunk full of their clothes, a small bag of snacks that Shelly had begged the Crimson school headmistress to bring when they’d first arrived in the dragon realm, and two mismatched lanterns with their magical flames casting golden pools of light. Familiar, grounding. But tonight, the space felt smaller, the walls closing in with the weight of what he had to say.

  He stood with his back to her, running a hand over the rough stone. “Remember the offer Viscious made me, that I didn’t take?”

  She nodded, her teeth worrying her bottom lip.

  “When I talked to him, he told me that he could see the darkness in me. He said there was no way I could have found him unless I had darkness in me. Apparently, that part of me has allowed him to be able to contact me.” He tapped his temple. “In here. He told me before if I didn’t take the bargain he’d kill me. A few minutes ago he spoke into my mind, telling me to meet him. He has a new bargain to strike, or he will hunt me until he finds me.” He didn’t have to say ‘and kill me’. That was pretty freaking obvious. “I don’t have a choice. I have to meet him and face this head on. I won’t live our lives looking over my shoulder.” He stared at her, daring her to challenge him. With Shelly, it was a toss up. He was never really sure how she’d react to him giving an ultimatum. But it was something that he actually like about her. She kept him on his toes.

  Shelly didn’t gasp in fear, or break down into tears. Not his strong mate. He could feel her determination through their bond with each of her footsteps toward him, quick and certain. She pressed her palm to his back, steady and warm. “Like you said, he told you he’d kill you, so we knew it was coming. We just didn’t know when. At least now we’re not waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

  Ra closed his eyes. He could still feel the psychic echo of Viscious’s glee; the sick thrill of a predator who’d finally gotten a taste of blood. “He wants to see me tonight. Whatever bargain he has, we both know what happens if I break my promise.”

  Shelly’s fingers dug in, not enough to hurt, but enough that he knew she was there, anchoring him. “You’re not going to hell, Ra. You’re the best man I’ve ever known. If there is a lesser-deserving person of eternal damnation, show me.”

  He turned, meeting her eyes. There was a storm in his chest;: rage, guilt, fear, all swirling together; but for her, he’d try to put it into words. “I am guilty because of the sins of my ancestors. It is my actions that set me apart. Which is why you know I can’t break it, Mery. Not without damning myself, which would separate me from you, and that is unacceptable. I am what I am, a man of my word, even when that word is forged in blood and desperation.” He tried for a smile, but it felt wrong on his lips. “I would do anything for you, be anything for you, but I can’t break the magic. Not even for you.”

  Shelly rolled her eyes, but her grip softened. “You don’t have to break it. You just have to outsmart it. And if there’s anyone who can find a loophole, it’s you.” She bumped her shoulder against his, a touch so small, but something he allowed few to have the right to do. Shelly touched him freely now because of the trust they’d built in their short relationship, and he relished every one, no matter how small. “Besides, you think I’m going to let you go off and face that overgrown fire hazard alone? Please. And, do you think I’d let you go to hell alone?”

  There was no way he would be letting Shelly anywhere near Viscious, but he wasn’t about to argue with her right now. He was too busy taking a moment to enjoy his playful female. Ra’s lips twitched. “You’d follow me into hell.”

  She smirked. “I’ve been there before, twice. Babe, I’d lead the way, wearing the t-shirt. And this time, I’d bring marshmallows for the campfire.”

  As he looked into her beautiful face and the hope in her eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to describe what he’d felt from the dark fire king. How sickeningly happy Viscious had been. Instead, he wanted to take a moment with his soul bonded. He’d kept his hands to himself while they’d been trying to focus on training, but at the moment, Ra didn’t know what tomorrow would hold. He had no idea what Viscious would ask of him, and he wanted to be with his mate one more time without any hurt between them.

  Ra reached for her, his hand trembling slightly as he cupped Shelly’s cheek. The lantern light gilded her in soft gold, flickering over the lines of her jaw, the bow of her lips, the fire in her eyes—his strength, his anchor, his Shelly. He brushed his thumb across her cheekbone, memorizing the way her skin felt beneath his calloused palm.

  “Mery,” he breathed, voice low and rough, like gravel softened by rain. “I need you. Tonight, I need to remember all the reasons I have to come back.” He hadn’t meant to say it. He didn’t want her to worry or be afraid. But he should have known better. His female didn’t shy away from tough emotions. He felt her determination to keep him and her resolve that she would do anything she could to protect him.

  She didn’t answer with words. She melted into his touch, her arms winding around his neck, fingers threading through the hair at the back of his head. Her lips met his with a tenderness that threatened to undo him completely. There was no rush in her kiss, no frantic need, just a slow, blooming warmth that seeped into his bones and chased the chill of fate from his heart.

  He pulled her closer, his arms circling her waist, grounding himself in the familiar curve of her body. She smelled of lavender and sunlight, of hope and home. He pressed kisses to her forehead, her temples, her eyelids, each one a silent vow: I will come back. I will fight for you. Even if the world burns, I will find my way home.

  Shelly’s hands traced his shoulders, his back, as if she was memorizing every muscle and scar. She tugged at his shirt, her touch gentle but insistent, and he let her pull it over his head. The cool cave air brushed his skin, but it was nothing compared to the warmth of her touch as she slid her hands over his chest, her palms resting above his heart.

  Ra cupped her face again, searching her gaze. “You are everything good in me, Mery. Everything I never thought I’d get to have. If I could, I’d choose you in every life, every world. I will always be yours—no curse, no king, no darkness can change that.”

  Her breath caught, eyes shining with unshed tears, but she smiled, fierce and bright. “Then show me.”

  He did.

  He kissed her again, deeper this time, pouring all the things he couldn’t say into the gentle press of his lips, the way his hands roamed her back and sides, reverent and aching. He tasted salt–her tears, his tears, he didn’t know. He didn’t care. All that mattered was the way she fit against him, the way her body curved into his, the way she trusted him to hold her heart even when his own was breaking.

  They moved together, shedding clothes and worries, until nothing stood between them but skin and longing. He carried her to their bed and laid her down. The blankets were soft beneath them, the stone cold but forgotten in the heat they made together. Ra trailed kisses down her neck, across her collarbone, pausing over the steady drum of her pulse. He lingered there, feeling her heartbeat against his lips, letting it remind him that he was alive, that he was hers.

  He whispered against her skin, each word a prayer, a promise, a plea. “You are my heart, Mery. My reason. My home. I love you more than I have ever loved anything, more than I ever thought I could.”

  Her hands framed his face, drawing him up so she could look into his eyes. “Then let me be your home tonight, Ra. If you need to fall apart, let me hold you together.”

  He captured her lips in a slow, thorough kiss, as if he could memorize every taste, every sigh, every shiver. His hands found hers, their fingers interlacing, grounding him. He entered her with a reverence that bordered on worship, moving with a tenderness that belied the power coiled in his body. Their breaths mingled, their hearts pounding in shared rhythm, each movement a conversation, a confession.

  He felt his elemental magic press against his flesh, fighting to get closer to Shelly. Ra’s body heated up, and he felt Shelly’s do the same. Small flames erupted around their bodies, outlining them, making them burn together, though it didn’t hurt them, or cause any damage to anything near them. This was how it was meant to be between soul-bonded elementals. Their hearts beat for each other, and their souls longed to be one.

  He brushed her hair from her face, his thumb tracing her cheek as he whispered, “You are my only light in the dark, my strong, stubborn, Shelly. I will always find you, no matter how far I wander. I promise.”

  She arched into him, her body answering his words with the kind of passion that set his soul alight. They moved together, slow and deep, savoring every touch, every gasp, every whispered endearment. He pressed his forehead to hers, eyes closed, letting their magic swirl around them, familiar, golden, unbreakable.

  Outside, the cave was silent but for the distant drip of water and the hush of dragon wings far above. Inside their alcove, the world narrowed to the slide of skin, the press of lips, the tangle of limbs and hearts. Ra lost himself in Shelly, in the way she held him, in the way she called his name, in the fierce, unyielding love that poured from her into him.

  When the world finally shattered around them, when pleasure crested and broke and left them trembling in each other’s arms, Ra buried his face in her neck, breathing her in, letting her scent fill his lungs and settle his soul.

  They lay together in the aftermath, her head on his chest, their fingers entwined. He stroked her hair, pressing a kiss to her crown, whispering words meant only for her.

  “I will come back to you, Mery. I sw⁠—”

  She quickly covered his mouth with her hand. “You don’t need to make me any such promises, Ra. I take you at your word. And I’ll be here, waiting. No matter how long it takes.” She pressed a kiss over his heart.

  He held her tighter, memorizing the feel of her, the sound of her breathing, the steady comfort of her presence. For a while, the darkness receded, beaten back by the warmth and love they shared.

  But even as she drifted toward sleep, Ra knew the shadows would come for him again. He would face Viscious soon, and whatever waited on the other side of that meeting. But for now, in this golden space, wrapped in the arms of his soul bonded, Ra let himself hope.

  Let himself believe.

  Let himself love, as if it might be enough to protect them all from what was coming.

  Ra moved slowly, careful not to disturb Shelly’s sleep. She was curled around him, one hand splayed over his heart, her breathing soft and even. He pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, memorizing her warmth, and slipped from the bed, easing her hand to the pillow in his place.

  The chill in the cave was sharper now, the crystals in the walls casting pale blue shadows as he dressed. He moved quietly, the hush amplifying every soft step, every sigh of stone beneath his feet. He drew in a breath of air tinged with snow and dragon fire, letting it clear his head. He wouldn’t open a portal here; Shelly would sense it, would wake, and he couldn’t bear the weight in her eyes as he left. He dressed quietly and gave her one last look. Then headed from their quiet retreat.

  He crossed the winding corridors, past the stillness of his found family—Liam’s soft, muddled snore, Gabby’s half-spoken dreams, Tara’s blankets ruffling as she shifted in her sleep. At the mouth of the cave, winter’s breath swept over him, crisp and wild, the stars bright and cold above the sleeping realm.

  Ra stood for a moment, letting the cold bite him, the ache in his chest swelling. He summoned his magic, flame and blood and memory, and a portal cracked open before him, its sickly light flickering on the snow.

  He was about to step through when a familiar voice, dry as good gin, reached his ear.

  “Oi, Ra. Sneaking out for a midnight stroll, or just fancy a bit of interdimensional peril?” Elias strolled out of the shadows, hands shoved into his coat pockets, mouth in a straight line agross his chisled face. His accent, always a touch sardonic, softened the question but didn’t conceal the worry in his eyes.

  Ra exhaled, breath turning to mist. “Didn’t want to wake Shelly.”

  Elias raised an eyebrow. “You’re quieter than a church mouse with a hangover, mate. But you forget, I know you. I saw your face earlier this evening before you slipped away. I knew something was wrong.”

  Ra managed a wry smile. “You always did have the timing of a bad penny.”

  Elias shrugged. “It’s a gift. And someone’s got to keep you out of trouble. You’re not exactly subtle, standing out here brooding like a gothic novel.”

  Ra huffed a quiet laugh, but the tension didn’t leave his shoulders. “Viscious has a bargain for me. As you remember, he threatened to kill me if I didn’t accept the last one. I’m meeting him. I don’t have a choice.”

  Elias’s face sobered, but his wit didn’t waver. “You want backup? Or just someone to hold your coat while you wrestle with the devil?”

  Ra shook his head. “He asked for me alone. I won’t put the rest of you in danger.”

  Elias stepped closer, clapping Ra on the shoulder—a solid, grounding touch. “Doesn’t matter what you promise, mate. You’re not alone. Not now, not ever. Don’t get all noble and self-sacrificing. You come back. We’re a team. Even if you do have a flair for the dramatic.”

  Ra looked away, then back, his voice softer. “I know. Doesn’t make it easier.”

  Elias’s grip tightened. “If anyone can outfox a fire king, it’s you. But if you need me, just whistle. I’ll bring the cavalry. Well, maybe not Liam. He’s a wanker and would just piss someone off, then you and I would have to clean up his mess.”

  Ra’s smile was small, but genuine. “You do know how to make a bloke feel loved.”

  Elias grinned, something he usually only did with Tara. “Don’t get soppy on me, mate. I’ve a reputation to uphold.”

  They stood together, two friends forged by fire and choice, brothers in every way that mattered. The silence between them was comfortable, full of history and trust.

  Ra let out a breath, the weight in his chest a little lighter for hearing it. “Tell the others—no, never mind. I’ll tell them myself. When I come back.”

  Elias nodded, his smile crooked but fierce. “That’s the spirit. Go on, then. Go do your hero thing. I’ll keep an eye on Shelly. And Ra? Don’t let him get in your head.”

  Too late, Ra thought as he turned to the portal, feeling Elias’s faith in him like an invisible shield. He stepped forward, letting the magic draw him in.

  The last thing he heard before the world twisted was Elias’s voice, crisp and certain,“No matter what he asks of you, it doesn’t change who we know you are. So, come home, Ra. Even if you don’t feel like you can. We need you, mate.”

  With that, Ra stepped into the unknown—carrying the memory of love and the promise of a brother who’d walk through hell for him.

  CHAPTER 15

  “Life is what we choose to make it. We can have a crappy day and make it even crappier by getting stuck in that mindset. Or we can have a crappy day and sulk, pout, and throw down everything we pick up. Or we can put on our favorite song, blast it really loud, and dance around like a fool in the living room. Who are you? The pouter or the dancer? I’m gonna dance. The crappier the day gets, the louder the music is going to get, and the harder I’m going to dance.” ~ Aurora

  Sometimes Aurora wondered if the weather had secrets it refused to share. Lately, Danvers never seemed to have a proper morning. The sun barely tried, just a pale suggestion behind clouds that hadn’t shifted in weeks. Even now, as she pressed her forehead to her bedroom window, the world outside was a watercolor of gray, rain sketching restless rivers down the glass. It was fall in Massachusetts, but the trees looked wrong, their leaves soggy and shivering, clinging to branches as if afraid of letting go.

  The news murmured through the house every morning and evening, Fern’s anxious glance flicking to the radio as the anchor rattled off one peculiar story after another: freak lightning storms over the Atlantic, sinkholes swallowing whole intersections, a sudden uptick in break-ins and street fights, even in their usually sleepy town. Some nights, Aurora thought she could feel the world holding its breath, waiting for something to break.

  Fern was more on edge than usual, bustling around the kitchen with a nervous energy that made the air taste like cinnamon and worry. “If you ask me, it’s all this weather,” Fern muttered as she poured batter into the skillet, the hiss and sizzle sharp against the hush of the house. “Makes people jumpy. Makes the world feel . . . off.”

  Aurora watched a single raindrop race another down the windowpane and sighed, her blue eyes tracking the wobbly path. She’d always liked rain. To her, it felt like a cleansing of the earth, but lately it felt more like a warning than a comfort. And the dreams she’d been having–dizzy, colorful, full of spinning lights and half-remembered voices–seemed to tangle with the storms. Sometimes she’d wake in the middle of the night to the house creaking and groaning, the wind howling like it was searching for something.