The (Not) Satisfied Dragon - Colette Rhodes Page 0,7

hard edge to his usually smooth, mellow voice.

“No, fuck this. You’re all just pandering to her because you’re scared she’ll disappear again. Someone has to tell her that running off on her own right now is fucking idiotic.”

I blinked back the unexpected rush of tears. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and Hiram’s outburst had taken me completely off guard.

“You five have overstayed your welcome,” The Alchemist cut in, speaking to my mates but staring at me. “We’ll let you know when Shira is ready to see you again.”

“What?” Hiram exploded, this time with support from his flight.

“Either leave on your own volition, or I’ll force you out,” The Alchemist said cheerfully, twirling a stoppered vial of purple liquid between her fingers. “Shira will be fine. If you want to make yourselves useful, go home and figure out how best to handle your Council.”

“Tell us to leave, Shira,” Ezra said, ignoring The Alchemist. “We need to hear it from you.”

The hole in my chest felt like it had a life of its own, swirling and sucking me in.

“Please leave,” I whispered, looking up into Ezra’s navy eyes. How had I never noticed how fathomless they were before? I’d always taken Ezra at his word, assuming everything at face value, but there was so much more to him.

“As you wish,” he sighed, like he’d expected that answer. It hurt this time. The first time I’d walked away, I’d been strangely numb. This time, pain ripped through me like a knife to the gut. I wrapped my arms around my waist, hunching over like I could brace myself against the self-inflicted agony.

“Some fucking mate,” Hiram muttered. “She'll die here on her own. Maybe your dad was right, Ezra. Maybe she is damaged.”

My skin prickled, feeling stretched tight over my skin. I cracked my neck as something rose in me. Something furious.

“You know what, Hiram? I think I’ll be just fine. I escaped the prison you all made for me with the clothes on my back and a handful of food, and I survived just fine these past few weeks. In fact, I’m in better shape now than when I left you — mentally and physically. So fuck you.”

His eyes widened like I'd slapped him. I suppose the swearing threw him off. It distracted him enough for Levi to land a solid punch on Hiram's jaw, sending him sprawling. He slid back a few feet, slamming into a cabinet and sending bottles crashing to the ground.

“You'll be paying for those,” The Alchemist said lightly, looking down her long nose at Hiram.

“Can we go, Xander?” I asked, feeling suddenly tired.

“Of course, Shira.” My brother moved to stand next to me as The Alchemist passed me an enormous robe-like jacket — big enough to hide the bloodstains — and the satchel she’d demanded from Seff.

“We'll give you space, Shira, but you can't just disappear,” Ezra said in a low voice from behind me, making me pause. “We can't protect you if we don't know where you are, and you are going to need protection.”

I hesitated, my hand coming up to rest on the key under my shirt.

“I still think they're assholes, but if you're in trouble these guys are good allies to have,” Xander mumbled sulkily, massaging his throat.

“Fine. A cottage in Eastland, on the river. There’s an orchard out front.” Ezra nodded, his face pained. I couldn’t help but feel like he’d agreed too easily, but maybe they would be satisfied just knowing where I was this time.

Then again, none of what they’d seen tonight had seemed to surprise them. Maybe they’d been following me all along.

“When you're ready to talk, Shira, we'll be waiting,” Ezra said soberly. I gave him a quick nod, not entirely sure how to handle this patient, understanding version of the bossy Alpha I thought I knew.

Xander offered his arm and I gladly took it. The physical touch definitely wasn’t as comforting coming from him as it had been from my mates, but it was necessary. I was barely staying upright as it was.

“At least she's wearing her brother's clothes,” Hiram breathed, now standing up and leaning against the cabinet he'd crashed into, rubbing his jaw.

“Actually, they're Bryn's clothes,” I replied acidly, urging Xander forward and flouncing out the door as best I could considering I was half dead. It was a petty way to leave things, but Hiram's attitude was pissing me off.

We were halfway down the stairs when I heard footsteps on the landing and turned to look over