Chapter 20
Anthony
The moment she walked into the bar, I felt her. I would’ve sensed her as soon as she was within a mile vicinity if I’d already bitten her. The fact that I knew she was in the building meant we were really close. How could the bond go so wrong in this situation? We were meant for each other.
Something tugged behind my heart. We had ended up in the same place even after saying we were going to spend the weekend apart.
I was about to go downstairs to find her when Tessa appeared at the top of the stairs.
Ugh. She came through the curtain divider with a triumphant look on her face.
Damn it. I so wasn’t in the mood to deal with her.
“Excuse me,” I said and tried to step aside so she could go on in and let me go out.
But she moved in the same direction I did.
“I ran into your human earlier. She’s got a smart freaking mouth.
She’s lucky I didn’t claw her damn eyes out.
” I bristled at her threats against Skye, my alpha side wanting to put her in her place, but she kept on, ignoring the anger rolling off of me.
“I just don’t get how you’re so hung up on her.
She’s weak. How are you going to be mated to someone who can’t fly with you? That’s going to be miserable.”
I’d held my temper as long as I could. I’d never have harmed a female, but I would always protect my mate.
I controlled myself as I advanced on Tessa.
If she’d been male, this would’ve gone very differently.
Pushing my alpha power in front of me like a ton of bricks, I advanced until she pressed herself against the wall and let out a whimper.
Even though I could feel how cowed she was, she still looked up at me with a glint of desire in her eyes.
Was she somehow enjoying this? Ugh. Gross.
I put one hand on either side of her head and leaned close so she could see the fury in my eyes and feel the weight of my word as her alpha.
“You won’t threaten Skye, ever again. And if you know what’s best for you, you’ll get over your jealousy and accept that Skye isn’t going anywhere. ”
Tessa’s smile spread across her face, even though she couldn’t move from the wall as I continued pressing my dominance onto her. She looked wicked, nearly evil. “Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure,” I thundered.
Tessa looked over my shoulder and nodded her head slightly, so I’d look behind me. Skye was there, staring at both of us, and she looked positively murderous.
I turned back and read the room. Shit. From her angle, it might’ve looked like I had Tessa pressed against the wall for an entirely different reason. Damn Tessa for testing my patience! “Skye,” I yelled. “It’s not what you think.”
She scoffed. “Yeah, I’ve never heard that one before.”
Anger bubbled over inside me. I was dealing with everything from the normal pressures of being a doctor to trying to figure out how to safely mate with the woman I loved without causing her irreparable harm.
Fuck! I’d been focused on research to try to help her, fighting my instincts to claim her before I was sure of her safety.
Dealing with backlash from my clan members like this fucking psycho here.
I didn’t need her comparing me to her trash ex.
“I’m not him,” I yelled, turning toward her, and ignoring Tessa.
“And you should give me the benefit of the doubt enough that you don’t accuse me of being like him.
I’ve been stressed and busy, but I would never do anything to hurt you. You must know that.”
“Is that why you had another woman pressed against the wall with your face close enough to kiss? The same woman who told me earlier that you and she have history?” She edged toward the stairs again, as if ready to run back down them at any point.
The VIP section wasn’t large, and curtains muted the sounds of the bar below.
I turned and glared at Tessa. She shrugged, looking as unruffled as a kitten. “She deserved to know, if she’s going to be part of the clan.”
My frustration was at its peak, and it exploded when Tessa spoke again. “It might not matter anyway if the mating bite kills her or drives her insane.”
I snarled at her. “How did you hear about that?”
She slid sideways, trying to get away from my anger, but Skye wouldn’t have been able to see it. Tessa looked triumphant as she smirked at both of us and walked out of the VIP section. “Good night, you two,” she said before disappearing.
Skye looked pale as she watched Tessa walk out. Through our tentative bond, I felt her fear and hurt spike. “What is she talking about?” Her small voice cut me to ribbons.
“She’ll pay for her actions.” I couldn’t stop the venom from filling my voice. Tessa was going to learn that she couldn’t do whatever she wanted to. She’d be lucky if I didn’t banish her.
“Anthony,” Skye yelled. “What was she talking about?”
“I can’t have this discussion here,” I said and rubbed my hands across my face. “Will you come home with me?”
She nodded. “Let’s go.”
I led her down the stairs and she headed straight for the bar, where Jace had gone to give his guy his meal break.
For the most part, Jace was supposed to be off duty and hanging out with me.
We’d been having a great time up in the VIP section before Tessa had ruined everything.
I’d even gotten my mind off of all this bullshit for a few minutes. Then Tessa happened.
I followed Skye and listened to what she told Jace. “Please keep an eye on my girls and let them know I left with Anthony?”
Jace nodded and looked at me over her shoulder. “Sure, of course.”
Skye reached leaned forward, toward my friend. “Kaylee lives right down the road.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a twenty. “Ask one of your guys to walk them down there, or if they refuse it, have them watch and make sure they get home, okay?”
Jace took the bill and looked at me again. I nodded, so he smiled at Skye. “You got it. Not a hair on their heads will be bothered.”
“My house,” she said when I tried to open my car door for her. She yanked it out of my hand and got in, pulling the door closed before I could. The car ride to her house was utterly silent. I almost opened my window to create a little noise. “Skye—”
“No,” she said sharply. “Just don’t.”
When we got to her house, she jumped out of the car and marched up the walk to her front door. I followed as quickly as I could, worried that she might slam the door in my face and lock me out. But she let me in behind her, then headed straight for the kitchen.
Skye returned with a large glass of wine and paced the living room. “Start talking,” she barked.
“My father told me that he’d found another instance of a male dragon biting a female human. The human went insane.” Her face fell as she watched me talk.
She stopped in the middle of the living room and gulped down half the glass of wine, then paced again. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me as soon as you knew?” she said in a thunderous voice.
“Even though I’m magical, we’re scientists, Skye. I couldn’t bear to tell you something like this until I knew more. I couldn’t lose everything, throw it all away on one story.”
“Well, what the hell were you planning to do? You said you had not found any other cases of a human with a dragon. Were you going to just have Sammy wipe my memories and move on?” She snarled at me, fierce as any dragon I’d ever seen. “Move on to Tessa?”
“Stop it,” I warned. Her head was going into a dark and spiteful place.
She carried on, of course. “That was your plan, wasn’t it? Wipe my memories, then mate with Tessa. She’s a dragon. She can take your bite.”
She’d worked herself up into being really damn pissed. “Tell me the truth, Anthony,” She practically yelled. “Were you going to wipe my memories?”
I didn’t want to lie to her. I really didn’t want to tell her, either.
“I’d do anything to keep you safe, Skye.
Not biting you is becoming harder and harder.
I don’t want to risk your life or your sanity.
I need time to figure out if we can safely do this.
If we can be together. Maybe it would be best if, until I know for sure, we stay away from each other. ”
I couldn’t risk losing control. Not just because it was dangerous. I didn’t want to bite her until she gave full consent with all knowledge of the dangers involved. “My tattoo started burning again this weekend,” I said. “My dragon wants to finish this, and I don’t know how long I can resist.”
“Were you going to tell me?” she whispered. “Ever?”
I didn’t answer.
She set her wine glass down and walked to her front door, opening it and standing beside it. “Do what you need to do,” she said. “I won’t fight you.”
I walked over and got as close as I dared. Any closer and I’d gather her into my arms. “This isn’t goodbye.”
“It is if you can’t find proof that I won’t die or go crazy. You’ll wipe my memories, even though I’d never do anything to hurt you or your family. But I guess that doesn’t matter. You’re alpha. You’ll do what you have to do.”
My heart cracked, and even though my mating bond with Skye was pulsing with my own pain, I felt Skye’s hurt as well.
“This isn’t what I wanted. I just needed time, but now the truth is out, and I can’t take it back.
I love you. That doesn’t change. I promise, Skye, I’ll figure this out.
” I stepped forward, but my dragon pulsed inside me. I couldn’t go any closer.
She just nodded but didn’t meet my gaze.
I walked out and she slammed the door behind me. But unfortunately for my heart, my advanced hearing picked up the sounds of her dissolving into tears before I got into my car.
Damn it. I needed answers, and I needed them fast.