Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
R en stalked the length of his mountain cabin’s great room, each turn bringing him past the massive stone fireplace where flames responded to his restlessness. Eight centuries of discipline meant nothing against the chaos in his mind. Every thought circled back to her—to Sabine. The way sunlight caught her honey-blonde waves, how her eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled, the soft gasp she’d made when he caught her in his arms...
The hearth blazed higher, matching his surge of desire. With a low growl, Ren commanded the flames to settle. He’d retreated to his mountain sanctuary specifically to escape these thoughts, yet even here, miles above Mystic Hollow, he couldn’t find peace.
“I’m getting dizzy watching you wear a trench in that floor,” Eiji called from his sprawl on the leather sofa. “Though I have to say, this is much more entertaining than your usual stoic routine.”
Ren’s only response was a warning rumble that made the windows vibrate. His dragon nature coiled restlessly beneath his skin, yearning to spread wings and fly—not away from town, but back to it. Back to her.
“Right.” Eiji’s voice dripped with amusement. “You just happen to be destroying your perfectly good floor while thinking about a certain beautiful tigress who’s coming to dinner.”
The hearth flared in response. “I’m not?—”
A knock at the door cut him off. Kaito entered, his expression knowing as he took in the scene—the dancing flames, Ren’s obvious tension, Eiji’s smirk.
“Well,” Kaito said dryly, “this is new.”
“Oh, you have no idea.” Eiji bounded to his feet. “Our mighty founder is having an internal crisis because his dragon’s chosen a new mate and he’s too stubborn to?—”
“Eiji.” Steam curled from Ren’s words. “Enough.”
“I’ll go into town,” Eiji announced, unfazed. “Someone needs to escort the lady up this mountain since you’re too busy pretending you don’t want to do it yourself.” He clapped Kaito on the shoulder as he passed. “Maybe you can talk some sense into him before I get back.”
The door clicked shut behind him. Silence stretched between the cousins, broken only by the crack and pop of burning wood.
“A new mate?” Kaito finally asked.
Ren’s jaw clenched as he stared into the hearth. “It’s not that simple.”
“Isn’t it?”
“I made a vow to Shiara.”
“To love her forever,” Kaito nodded. “Not to love only her forever.”
“What’s the difference?” The words came out sharper than intended.
“The difference is that love multiplies, it doesn’t divide.” Kaito settled into one of the chairs, his calm presence a counterpoint to Ren’s contained power. “I’ve seen it happen before. Dragons who lost mates and found love again. It doesn’t diminish what was. It builds on it.”
Ren stilled his relentless movement, each breath measured and precise. “I try to maintain distance,” he admitted finally. “To keep control. But every time I push her away...” His hands fisted at his sides. “My dragon rebels. And worse—I fight myself. Because all I want...” He broke off, steam rising from his words.
“Is to pull her close instead?” Kaito finished quietly.
Ren’s silence was answer enough.
“So why deny it?”
“Because accepting it feels like betrayal.” The words scraped his throat raw. “These feelings—this pull toward her—they’re relentless. When she’s near, I want...” A frustrated sound escaped him. “Everything. To know her thoughts, her dreams. To make her smile. To keep her safe. To have her at my side where she belongs.”
“Where’s the betrayal in that?”
“Shiara—”
“Would want you to live,” Kaito cut in firmly. “Not exist. Not endure. Live.”
Heat radiated from Ren’s shoulders as his dragon essence pushed against his control. “It’s not that simple.”
“It could be.” Kaito stood, reaching for his coat. “If you’d stop punishing yourself for the past and consider that maybe this is exactly what you need. What you both need.”
Ren’s head snapped up. “Both?”
“If your dragon recognizes her as mate, her tigress recognizes you too. Every time you push her away...” Kaito let the words hang.