Page 44 of Dark Dragon’s Mate

“Can I take tissue samples?” she asked. “For the research?”

He shrugged. “If you want.” He clearly believed she was wasting her time.

She got some swabs and biopsy needles, and took samples of the secretions and tissue from several places in the wound.

Emon sat silently, looking off into space, his only reaction an occasional hiss of air through his teeth. When she was finished, Trish said, “Do you want me to put a bandage over it?”

He shook his head. “I don’t bother anymore. It’ll just come off when I Change.”

“I’ll do it anyway.” She made a bandage with strips of gauze and taped it over the wound, smoothing the edges of the tape maybe more than necessary, feeling the warm skin and ridged muscle over his ribs.

When she was finished, he caught her hand for a moment, turning it over in his and running his fingers gently over her skin. At his touch, she felt that flame come to life in the center of her chest, burning brightly.

Almost like having dragonfire.

“Did you get what you wanted?” he asked. Trish nodded.

Yes. He’d taken a step towards her. Told her, by showing his wound, that he was going to try to open up. Try to bond. For her.

And no. She wanted to make that horrible wound go away. She wanted him to feel whole again.

“I’ll make you a deal,” she said. “I’ll let you try to fix She-Wolf if you’ll let me treat your wound.”

Emon gazed up at her, those green eyes growing smoky and intense. His scent filled the air, and Trish felt her chest get tight. She put her arms around his neck, moving up between his legs so she could hold him to her.

She wanted desperately to try to fix him. To take away some of his pain.

“You can’t fix it,” he said gently, as if he’d heard her thoughts. “It’s been over a year. My natural Draken healing didn’t fix it. Healing potions didn’t fix it, or Mayah’s healing ability, or any of the spells we tried. All the Al-Maddeiri magic Kira poured into us during the battle didn’t even fix it. Not completely.”

Trish pulled back and cupped his face in her hands, the scruff on his face rough against her palms. “Too bad. That’s my deal, Mommy Sheep. Take it or leave it.”

He gave a soft huff of bemused laughter, and then pulled her head down so he could kiss her softly. “Okay. On one condition.”

She waited.

“You can’t tell the others. I don’t want the whole damn research team descending on me like a pack of wolves.”

“We are a pack of wolves.”

That got a smile. He was so breathtaking when he smiled. “I keep your secret, Nightmare Wolf, and you keep mine. That’s my deal. Take it or leave it.”

She was definitely taking it.

Chapter 22

After dinner that night, Trish was still working by herself in the med lab. Trying to concentrate, but mostly thinking about one enormous, maybe not-so-scary black dragon with emerald-green eyes.

Who exuded an aura of loneliness so profound it hurt her heart.

Who terrified the research team, and yet could be so gentle with a tiny lamb.

Who’d survived so much, and was so strong, despite his wounds.

And who maybe, just possibly, might be hers.

Cautious happiness fizzed through her at the thought. Her grumpy murdery Darkwing Dragon was trying his best to connect. To let himself care.

And he’d promised to try to help her and She-Wolf become friends. Or at least, not enemies. Frenemies.