The (Not) Satisfied Dragon - Colette Rhodes Page 0,5

not going anywhere. He’s just reminding me to concentrate.”

In one fluid movement, Ezra pushed off the ground with his legs, keeping me securely wrapped in his embrace. One of his arms banded around my waist, his hand catching under my thigh to keep me from slipping.

“We’ll stick close either side. Go slow, Alpha,” Levi said nervously as we each made our way over the side of the mountain. I wanted to insist he put me down, that I could do this by myself, but I had to accept that maybe in this moment, I needed their help. I’d probably fall off the side of the mountain if I tried to climb down on my own in my current state.

At least my dragon might emerge then to save me.

“Don’t let go,” Ezra breathed, his mouth right next to my ear, sending shivers down my spine. Who knew climbing down a mountain together, covered in blood, could be so intimate? It felt like whatever was happening was more than just a quick escape.

It couldn’t be, though. Once the reality of what I’d done had set in, they’d be horrified. Disgusted by me. Perhaps they already were — Hiram hadn’t even looked at me. Besides, there would be consequences for this. I didn’t need to drag my mates into it.

Uncaring of what it looked like, I buried my face in the crook of Ezra’s neck and let the silent tears fall against his warm skin. I regretted nothing I’d done, but I mourned the future I’d never have. The life that might have been possible, if the gods had dealt me a different hand.

The stubborn, unyielding Alpha who’d always acted like he knew my mind better than I did was miraculously quiet. Ezra didn’t draw attention to my tears, which I was grateful for. I knew he felt them though. His pulse thundered in his neck and it definitely wasn’t from exertion. The five of them climbed down the steep mountain face with ease, not even struggling to catch their breath. The further we went, the more impressed I was that I’d ever made it up there.

“Sorry about your dad,” I whispered against his skin. Ezra only grunted in response and pain bloomed in my chest.

I dug my nails into Ezra’s back as he suddenly leaned away from the mountain, but he had it under control. Before I could squeal, he let go of the ledge and dropped to his feet on the ground. My stomach felt like it was still hovering in the air somewhere above me.

“Oren’s going to carry you now, okay?” Ezra asked softly, pulling back to look at me.

“Why?” Ugh, stupid question Shira. Because you drugged his father and he hates you, maybe?

“You’re more comfortable with him,” Ezra replied ruefully, his jaw tight. Before I could point out I’d been comfortable enough to bawl into his shoulder like a child, Oren was there, plucking me out of Ezra’s arms and cradling me in his own.

I leaned my head against his chest and rested one hand on his sternum, my complaints forgotten. Oren felt steady and secure in a different way, but it wasn’t more in the way Ezra had assumed it was.

I faded in and out of sleep the entire way back to The Alchemist’s apartment, both while we traveled on foot and then by air. If they were communicating, it was in their heads. I was both grateful and frustrated by it in equal measure. I wanted to know what they were saying, what they thought of me at this moment. At the same time, there was an excellent chance I wouldn’t like what I heard.

I forced my eyes open as Oren started walking up the wooden staircase to the apartment, jostling me slightly in his arms.

“Shira!” Xander’s panicked shout gave me such a fright, I would have fallen out of Oren’s grip if he hadn’t pulled me closer to his chest, crushing me to him.

“Who the fuck are you,” Ezra snarled, stepping protectively in front of us. Xander was standing in the small apartment next to a very amused looking goblin, her eyes volleying back and forth between my mates and my brother like she’d never seen a more entertaining show.

“Is this the male whose clothes you’ve been wearing?” Seff growled, appearing next to my head, followed by a cloud of smoke.

Oh. They had this completely wrong.

“Shira, why are you covered in blood?” Xander asked in horror, stepping forward like he was going to reach for me.