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I give him a playful little twirl that flares my skirt around my thighs, then walk around the island until I’m close enough to touch. He turns to face me and swallows.

I wrap my arms around his neck and bring his mouth down to mine. He gives in immediately and grips my hips to pull me in close. It’s a deep kiss, my first full hit of him since I woke up reaching for his side of the bed. I press up into him, but I keep it short and break away as soon as he tries for more.

When desperation thickens his scent, my wolf pushes me closer. She quit fighting him a long time ago, and she’s done waiting on me to catch up.

I’ve got a whole week alone with him and no good arguments left to give her. So I don’t try.

Ezra clears his throat. “Sorry.”

I grab the pitcher of water and put it straight to my lips. “What are you sorry for?” I gulp until it dribbles down my chin. “Stop saying that.”

He takes it from me for a refill. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and get real interested in the countertop while the tap runs.

“I knew I should have made you hydrate last night,” he mutters from the sink.

I don’t say anything back. So he’s a grump in the morning. I’ll make a note of that.

I sit down in front of the plate he fixed me. It’s rare steak with cooked eggs, and my mouth waters. I glance up at him. Since when does he cook like this? He’s a full-blooded dragon. This isn’t what he likes to eat. At the Academy he could hardly stomach human food. He had to hunt all the time because our meals there never filled him up.

I nod at the empty chair beside me. “What about you?”

He grabs his own plate off the counter and sets it down next to mine.

I blink at him. “But⁠—”

He places the full pitcher of water by my plate. “I don’t mind eating with you, Aya. Plus, my dragon is pushing for me to do just about anything to stay close to you right now.”

“Thank you.” I cut into my steak. My wolf rumbles at the red juice running out of the bloody middle.

We eat in comfortable quiet, though he spends more time watching me chew than touching his food.

“Did you sleep at all last night?” I ask between bites.

“A little.” He frowns at my damp braid. “You took a shower. You should have soaked in the bath instead.”

“I’m fine, Ezra,” I say through a mouthful of steak.

He’s not buying it. I swallow and point my fork at him. “I got out of bed with no soreness at all. I feel good.”

“You still have to take it easy for the week,” he warns.

I stab at my eggs.

We’re finishing up when someone knocks at the door. Ezra tenses, then relaxes when he catches the scent. He goes to answer it. I smell hospital antiseptic from my seat and know who’s on the porch.

“Good morning, son.” Claude sweeps into the cabin with Tyrion behind her. She’s still in her scrubs from a shift at Wintermoon Medical and makes a beeline for me. “There she is.” She lays the back of her hand against my forehead. “Good. No fever.” She presses her warm fingers over my heart. “Your rhythm is strong, and the electrical damage is healing nicely.”

“I told you I’m fine,” I grumble.

“Mm-hmm.” She pulls back and clicks her tongue. “Two weeks off my schedule, Aya. And you will rest.”

I pout at her. Sitting around with nothing to do is going to drive me up the wall. She raises an eyebrow, and I shut my mouth.

Tyrion moves past us to stand with Ezra. “Son. We need to begin your training. Now.”

Ezra hesitates and turns to me first.

Claude flaps a hand at him. “I’ll stay with Aya. Go on. You need to get control of that dragon before you hurt someone else.”