“Conference room,” I said, already turning. “Few things to discuss about the next round.”
He followed me down the corridor, past the equipment room and the Chicago training facilities, until we reached one of the small conference rooms the arena kept for visiting teams. I opened the door, ushered him inside, and locked it behind us.
The second the lock clicked, I had him against the wall.
“Theron—” he started, but I swallowed the rest of his words with my mouth.
I kissed him like I’d been thinking about doing since he skated out to warm up, since he was too fast for the bullies out there, since he’d used the hip move I’d taught him to leave Antoine sprawling on the ice, and since he’d suited up with a black eye and bruises and played the best hockey of his life. I kissed him because I thought I’d been dying in that chamber and he’d been the only thing keeping me alive.
He made a sound against my mouth—surprised, pleased, desperate—and his hands came up to fist in my jacket. His lips were still a little chapped from the mouthguard, and when I pulled back to look at him, his good eye was dark and glazed and his breathing was unsteady.
“That’s what you wanted to discuss?” he asked, his voice rough.
“Among other things.” I traced my thumb along his jaw, careful of the bruising. “You were incredible out there.”
“I learned from a good coach.”
“You embarrassed Antoine.”
“He embarrassed himself.” Dante’s smile was sharp. “I just helped.”
I kissed him again, softer this time, trying to pour everything I couldn’t say into the press of my lips against his. Thank youfor being brave. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for being alive.
“Ignatius is throwing a party,” I said when I finally pulled back. “Your family’s invited.”
He grinned. “I could practically hear my mom screaming from the VIP box.” Dante’s hands were still fisted in my jacket. “They’re going to have so many questions. My ma’s going to take one look at me and lose her mind.”
I pressed my forehead to his. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you from that. From any of it.”
“You saved my life.”
“You saved mine first. Told me it was a trap.”
He rolled his eyes. “Like you didn’t know.” Then he paused. “I can’t wait to get home. I have so many questions.”
“I’m going to explain everything. Show you everything. But right now, we have a party to get to, and your family to spend time with, and probably about a hundred questions from everyone.”
Dante leaned in and kissed me again. “I want to see everyone, but I want to go home.”
“I’m sure Ignatius will have a couple of spare seats on his plane tonight. After all, you were hurt, and as your coach, it’s my responsibility to make sure you’re okay.”
And I intended on doing a very thorough physical examination later.
Chapter twenty-four
Final buzzer – The signal that the game has officially ended.
Dante
I woke up warm.
That was the first thing I registered—warmth everywhere, surrounding me like a cocoon. Theron was curled around me from behind, one arm heavy across my waist, his chest pressed flush against my back, his breath slow and steady against the nape of my neck. His leg was hooked over mine, pinning me inplace like even in sleep he couldn’t bear the thought of me being anywhere else.
I didn’t move. Didn’t want to. Just lay there in the early-afternoon light of his bedroom—ourbedroom, I corrected myself—and let the reality of it settle over me like a second blanket.
We’d made it home around six this morning. Ignatius had used his plane, and Theron had held my hand the entire way back to Denver while I dozed against his shoulder. My family had been incredible at the party—they’d all had a good time. Nicky wouldn’t know his boss had died in a tragic fire until he went back to work on Monday, but the Council—apparently there was a Dragon Council—would step in and clean everything and make sure all the humans got other jobs. Ignatius had told me personally not to worry.
But it was Cinder who’d pulled me aside. Cinder—Taz’s partner, quiet and steady and human, like me. He’d found me on the balcony of the hotel suite while the party roared inside, and he’d sat down next to me with two beers and said, “You have questions I can actually answer.”
