The Dragon's Fate - Roxie Ray Page 0,10

her hands at me. “Your pain is only going to get worse until the tie to Briana is completely broken.”

I nodded. It was about what I’d expected.

“No, don’t act as if you understand.” Sammy crouched down and got in my face. “You’re going to feel like you’re dying. And then, once the bond is broken, you can’t get it back. And you’ll never be able to form it with another person. Your tattoo will disappear and even if you do choose a mate later in life, the bond won’t be there like it is for other dragons.”

I nodded. “I understand.” Maybe if Briana didn’t have a daughter, but the universe had made it perfectly clear I had no business being a father. I didn’t know why it was fucking with me now, tying me to a woman with a child, but I was in no shape to try to parent someone.

Sammy then handed me a bag. “Put the herbs in some tea, and it should help alleviate some of the pain.”

“Thank you,” I muttered and took the small burlap bag.

“Thank your alpha. He’s the only reason I’m helping you.”

And then she disappeared.

Groaning, I staggered to my feet. I hated feeling this awful, but I stood by my decision.

I wasn’t what Bri needed.

Staggering to my car, I headed home. Walking up the back stairs over the bar was torture. Every passing day made me ache more. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do besides cover more shifts at the bar to give me time to get through this.

I’d just gotten my tea made and was waiting for it to cool when my back door opened. I’d only made it as far as the kitchen table, though I desperately wanted to be in my bed.

As soon as I saw who it was, I sat up straight and tried to seem like nothing was wrong. My mom stopped short in the doorway. “What’s wrong?”

She rushed in and pressed a hand to my forehead. “You don’t have a fever.”

I pulled back and gave her a sarcastic look. “Mom, I’m a dragon. What are you doing? You’ve never put your hand on my forehead in my life.”

She shrugged and put down the groceries she’d brought in. She still tried to make sure I had enough food, treating me like a teenager rather than a man in his early thirties. “Seemed like the right thing to do. You’re flushed.”

I sighed and leaned over. “I’m fine. I pushed myself too hard at the gym. I think I pulled something in my back and my body is taking longer than normal to heal. Probably a side effect of being in my thirties now.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “You need to go see Doc. You shouldn’t take long to heal. That doesn’t start happening until you’re at least in your seventies.”

The satchel of herbs was still on the counter. I’d only used a little for my tea. I pointed to it. “I’ve got tea to help. It’s nothing.”

She nodded. “Sit. I’ll make you some dinner.”

I picked up my mug and staggered to my feet. “Normally, I’d shoo you out, but I’m feeling rough. Thanks, Mom.”

She beamed, probably happy that I wanted her help. “I’ll shoo you out, then. Go sit on the couch and drink that tea. I’ll have dinner in a jiffy.”

Lying to my mother made me feel even more like an asshole, but it had to be done. She knew what I’d been through, but she would’ve pushed me hard toward a fated mate and grandchildren for her. I was her only child and her only chance at any.

Too bad. I just couldn’t do it.

She didn’t leave until I cleaned my plate and promised to rest. Then I heard her doing the dishes before she yelled bye and the back door closed. I moaned and got up. I had to take a shower before my shift tonight. I was covering for a call-out.

Hiring a part-timer moved to top priority on my list but finding someone with bartending experience in a town as small as Bluewater was nearly impossible.

Before I went in at the bar, I walked across the street to the drugstore. Oh, how ironic. I could’ve counted on one hand the number of times I’d had to go in this store, and it was always for some foodstuff or another that they carried when I didn’t want to go down the street to the grocery store.

I found the aisle labeled pain relievers. I