Chapter 4
FOUR
Samantha
The clock in my room is ticking loudly. Granger’s sweaty hand is clenching mine tightly as we both stare at the door. His nervousness is feeding my own, but I try not to show it. He's going to completely crumble if I even waver in my confidence.
Except, I’ve just realized something important. Something that’s going to change the way this goes down. I have to make sure Granger’s aware of it…
“Just so you know,” I tell him gently, “this whole room smells like us, so we need to just tell them straight away.”
His panicked gaze meets mine. “We should do this in another room. If we just–”
“Granger, we just need to do it, like ripping off a bandaid. Everything will be okay.”
It will be. Won’t it? Yes, it will. My men have learned to share already with each other. They knew we were searching for the storm dragon, and that they’d have to be open to the idea of me being with another guy. Out of all the options, there’s no one they’d rather share with than Granger. I’m sure of it.
And if there are any problems, I’ll do my best to protect Granger from them.
His dark eyes flash with pain, and I know what he’s thinking before he even says it. “He's like my brother. I could never hurt him.”
“I know, honey, I know–”
The buzzer sounds on the door, and we both flinch. I can tell the second he realizes I'm scared too, but I command the door to open. It parts onto the three men. They look tired, but safe.
“I thought just Aydan was going to come,” I say, my plan suddenly going out the window.
Evander gives me a look. “Whatever you have to tell him, you can tell all of us at the same time.”
I should’ve expected this.
Granger goes a shade paler, and I know that at any second they’re going to smell us, and we won’t be able to get out in front of this thing. Like ripping a bandaid off. Just do it.
“We found the storm dragon,” I tell them again, a little too loudly.
They eye me as they enter, looking confused. I see them start to sniff as their expressions change. The puzzle pieces are shifting into place.
“Granger is the storm dragon,” I say, my words falling between us like stones as I squeeze Granger’s hand.
Three matching looks of disbelief flash across their faces. After a moment, Evander shakes his head, wrinkling his nose, Zane smiles, and Aydan stands frozen.
I clench Granger's clammy hand tighter. “The green dragon tried to kill him, and he shifted.”
“But the dragon took him before, and he didn't shift,” Evander argues, and I realize he’s in complete disbelief.
I look at Granger. I hadn't thought of that.
Even though he's paler than a sheet, he says, “I wasn't close to death then.” He's right about that.
Unexpectedly, Zane rushes forward and pulls Granger into a big hug, lifting him up with some effort. “You smell like a dragon now.” He pulls away, grinning. “I should have known. I should have suspected. You are everything the great storm dragon has always been. You are the missing piece of our harem.”
“Th-thanks,” Granger manages, eyeing the silent Aydan as Zane releases him, grinning.
“So this is seriously happening?” Evander asks, sniffing toward us again.
“Yup,” I say. “I saw him shift with my own eyes.”
After a moment, Evander groans. “You were already such a pain in the butt. I can't imagine… but fuck, at least I won't be the only one aware of your possessiveness of Sam. And God knows we could do worse.”
Everything quiets. Zane falls back to stand beside Aydan, but doesn't touch him or speak. Evander's gets an, oh shit , look on his face.
Aydan looks at me, but not Granger. “Did you two fuck?”
I tense, squeezing Granger's hand tighter. “You know what it's like when you first shift…”
“Have you fucked before?” he asks, an accusation in his voice.
“What? No!” I manage, glaring.
Then his gaze lands on Granger. “How long have you felt this way about her?”
It's foolish, but in that moment, I want him to lie. Aydan is jealous and possessive, he can't help himself, and this is already a lot for him.
Granger holds his gaze as he says, “I've always been in love with Sam, but you were too important to me, so I knew nothing would ever happen with her. Even though I couldn't bring myself to consider a future with anyone else, a future with her meant losing you, so I never even considered it.”
Aydan seems to take a minute to consider his words. “You've always loved her?”
“Yes.”
“And that's why you were never with other women?”
“Yes.”
“And you were just… going to let me have her?”
Granger doesn't even hesitate. “Yes.”
Aydan steps forward, and we both flinch, but he wraps his arms around Granger. “You're a really good friend… and I'm glad you're the storm dragon.” Then, he reaches for me and pulls me into the hug too.
I feel Granger relax. He sounds like he's on the edge of tears. “I thought you'd hate me.”
Aydan laughs. “You? Never. I'm just thankful we live in a world where we can both have the girl of our dreams.”
“You mean all of us!” Zane says, and then he comes flying into us, wrapping us in a hug too.
“Fuck,” Evander mutters, and then he's hugging us too. “Just this one time.”
After a long minute, we all pull apart. Aydan looks at Granger. “I think we should talk though.”
Granger nods.
Aydan gives me a kiss, and then they both head out of the room. I can't help but watch them go and hope that Aydan is really as okay as he seems.