Page 7 of The Dragons’ Eternal Mate

“I’m not sure it’ll be that simple.” I lowered my stare, at a loss for what to do or say.

I didn’t think going back was a good idea. I knew it wasn’t. Tanner had been clear. Cyrus wanted the other Alphas out of the picture, too. If I went back, he could use threats against me to get to them. Bastian remained glued to my side as I glanced between him and Grey.

“Wait”—I leaned back, not seeing Orsen or Nix—“where are the others? I can’t imagine Orsen willingly stayed behind. Nix should be smothering me right now.”

Of all the dragons I thought would turn up, I expected Bastian to be last and Nix to be first in line.

The pair gave each other an uneasy look before turning to me, and a darkness smoothed over their expressions, the energy sinking into the ground.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my throat tight, nausea swirling.

“When Cyrus realized Tanner had spoken to you, he… went after Celia.”

My blood ran cold, eyes popping wide as I reeled backward. My hands shot to my mouth, and I couldn’t breathe.

“Oh God⁠—”

“She’s fine,” Grey rushed to say, stepping in closer.

For a moment, the tightness in my chest loosened, but neither Grey nor Bastian could look at me.

“What happened?!” I stomped my foot, eyes burning. “So help me, if neither of you says something soon, I’m going to⁠—”

“Ma stepped in the way.” Bastian met my eyes, full of such raw pain that I choked on my own breath. “It’s… bad. Cyrus used his dragon fire.”

My stomach dropped so viciously, I wobbled on my feet, and Grey put a hand under my elbow to steady me.

“H-how bad?” I could feel the tears leaking down my face.

The room went silent, and it was all the confirmation I needed. I remembered the pain of dragon fire all too well; it was excruciating. Ma didn’t deserve to suffer like that. Cyrus had tried to kill her. Well, he’d tried to kill Celia, a pregnant woman.

All because of me.

“That’s why Orsen and Nix aren’t here.” Grey squeezed my hand, being compassionate but not hiding the truth. “She needs help. We… we need you, Rowan. All of us.”

I turned to Cormack, fear driving me to immediate action. “Can I raid your supplies?”

He nodded. “Of course, I’ll help you pack,” he offered, darting out of the room.

I turned to Bastian. “I-I’m sorry. This is all—dammit. How will we get back? I can’t fly.”

Bastian cupped my cheek. “I have an idea.”

Rowan

Bastian’s solution, as it turned out, was a private jet.

“How?” I trailed off, staring at the plane in shock when we pulled onto the tarmac in my SUV.

“It was the quickest way to get home,” Grey said, as if securing a private freaking jet was something everyone could do.

We hadn’t spoken much on the drive to the airfield. The crushing guilt in my chest weighed on me like an anchor dragged up from the depths of the sea. I kept mentally going through the supplies I’d brought with me, praying it would be enough to stabilize Ma.

It had been a while since I’d treated dragon fire burns, but I knew what to do. And I had to do it fast. Anyone suffering from those kinds of burns was in trouble, but a middle-aged woman? That complicated everything.

“I should have been there,” I murmured as we settled into our seats.

“You were terrified,” Grey said with a shrug, holding my hand tightly, like he was scared I would vanish. “I don’t blame you for running back to where it started, but part of me does wish you’d run to us instead. Why… why didn’t you?”