Page 29 of Knot What I Expected

“Says the male throwing a tantrum over a hose,” Justin replies.

“I’m checking it.”

“You’ve checked the same ten feet three times.”

My gaze drops.

Huh.

So I have.

“Fuck you.”

“Excellent comeback.”

I glare at him. Justin only grins. Though admittedly, the Dragon is starting to look broody again.

That’s never good news. His kind are secretive as fuck, but I know a few things about Justin.

I know he’s old.

Not elderly-old.

Dragon old.

Which could mean practically anything. I also know he lost a mate a long time ago.

He doesn’t talk about her. And we don’t ask.

Same rule.

But sometimes the grief rolls off him so strong that even Monster agrees to leave him the fuck alone.

I can’t imagine what it took for him to come back from something like that.

To find the one person the Fates made for you and then lose them?

Fuck no.

Lucky for me, I never found mine.

We have.

My hand freezes around the hose.

No.

Monster stretches inside me.

She’s mine.

“Fuck you.”

“What did I do?” Justin asks.

“Not you.”

A beat of silence. Then Wreck groans.