Lord of Rain (The Dragon Demigods #5) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,103

He should have told me ten times over by now. We’ve talked about everything, and I knew…deep down inside, I knew he was holding back. I knew he wasn’t being completely open with me. I chose to ignore it. I had that little voice inside warning me, even before we slept together. A warning bell. It was soft, barely audible, but it was there. Yet, I flat out ignored it. I’ve had several texts come through over the last few hours. I read them, but I haven’t responded.

Bolt: I’m sorry!

Bolt: I hope you will be able to forgive me.

Bolt: I was going to tell you. I swear!

Bolt: We need to talk. Please, can we talk? Can I come over?

Bolt: Ash? Please!

The last one came through an hour ago. I’m so raw. I’m broken. He’s not the man I thought he was. He’s not even a man. He’s not human.

When I saw him lying there, his chest still, I thought he was dead. I lost it for a while. It was only when he started breathing again that I could too. It was only when his friend, Night, said that he was going to make it that I could feel the blood flowing through my own veins again. It was only then that I could feel my heart beating too. Despite everything, I still love him. I love him deeply and to my core. It doesn’t matter what he is, I still love him. I’m just not sure I can forgive him. I don’t know that I can be with him.

More thunder crashes above, more rain lashes at the windows. The wind is howling. There is a knock at my door. I know it’s him. I know it like I know my name. I don’t want to answer. It’s for the same reason I don’t reply to his messages. It isn’t over yet. I don’t want it to be over.

Bolt: I know you’re in there. Please open. We need to talk.

He’s right. I can’t delay the inevitable. I trudge to the entrance and open up. Bolt is wearing a leather jacket, and he’s soaking wet. “Can I come in?”

I realize I’m just looking at him out there, and so I nod. I step to the side and close the door behind him. He takes off the jacket and gives himself a shake, running a hand through his wet hair. I hate to say it, but he’s gorgeous dripping wet. It makes my heart ache to see him.

“Are you okay?” He cups my jaw, his eyes moving over my face, lingering on a bruise on my cheekbone.

He lifts his other hand to touch me there, but I flinch and pull away. “I’m fine. I have a scrape on my knee and this,” I touch the small bruise, “but otherwise…I’m…” I don’t want to say fine again…because I don’t feel fine. “Okay,” I finally push out.

“I’m sorry that happened.”

“It’s not your fault. Just some crazies who…” I’m trying to explain this away. “Cyclopes…just a couple of cyclopes trying to get their power back.” I need to say it like it is.

He gets a sheepish look and pulls in a breath. “It was just the one who was trying to get his power back. The other one was fine.”

I wondered about that. They were both huge and muscular, like bodybuilders on a double dose of steroids. They were also ugly as sin. Then there was the whole one-eyed thing the older guy had going on. Although, when I first saw him, he had two eyes. I’m sure of it. The one who kept begging to get his power back never did the one-eyed thing. He probably couldn’t. It might have had something to do with his missing power. “Good thing you could shift into your dragon form and save us.” I narrow my eyes at him and fold my arms across my chest. I’m wearing old sweats but I’m still feeling cold.

His jaw tightens. “I was going to tell you. I swear…” His eyes have this desperate look. “I was starting to tell you when they jumped us. I can’t believe it was such bad timing.”

“You were about to tell me about being a dragon shifter?” I sound skeptical because I am. “Right at that moment?”

“Yes, I—”

I snort out a laugh. “That’s convenient.”

“I’ve been wanting to tell you. Everything…all of it…every single part of it, but I’ve been…” His chest is heaving. Bolt stops talking for a second. His eyes are blazing. His jaw