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She plucked at the jeans she’d been given, as if still unsure about her decision.
He waited, noticing the circles under her eyes as well as how they were slightly puffy, probably from crying.
The thought of her crying twisted his heart.
She finally replied, “I want to go. I might not be able to stay long, but I want to at least try.”
He nodded, itching to go over to her, erase her doubtful looks, and make her smile.
But he didn’t move. After yesterday, he didn’t want to spook her.
While he knew she was usually strong—bloody hell, look at what she’d survived—he also knew that sometimes remembering a traumatic event could make someone jumpy or nervous. It’d been that way with his late mate, and no doubt, Percy was the same.
Violet spoke up, thankfully. “Brilliant, then we can go together. I need to turn in my schoolwork and chat to the teachers a little.”
His daughter hopped off the stool and walked over to Percy. After Violet threaded her arm through Percy’s, she tugged lightly. “Come on. Dad likes to be on time, and he’ll start scowling if we don’t get a move on.”
Bronx scowled. “I’m not that bad.”
Violet grinned. “You can be. But even grumpy, I still love you.” She turned back toward Percy. “It’s cute watching the children trying to understand their dragons. It will be a display in whatnotto do, for the most part. Threatening your inner dragon doesn’t work so well. Yes, we can contain them, if needed, with mental mazes or inside mental boxes. But only when you start talkingwiththem and notatthem do they let down their guard. Once they’re fully open to you and vice versa, meaning you completely trust each other, then you should be able to start shifting.”
As they left the cabin and headed down the path toward Stonefire—Bram had cleared Percy to visit, saying nothing had come up to say she was an enemy, at least not yet—Violet chatted about school, lessons, and even the show from the night before.
He watched Percy smile with his daughter, and Bronx smiled himself. Seeing Percy outside, in the faint sunlight, enjoying herself, made him happy.
Not to mention the sun highlighted the lighter streaks of her hair, made the blue of her eyes glow brighter, and more fully revealed the pinkish birthmark on her neck.
In the past, she’d always tried to turn away from him or Violet to hide it. He wasn’t sure why. Yes, it was visible and covered one side of her neck, disappearing underneath the collar of her shirt. But it was a part of her, and if he tilted his head just right, it looked like a dragon’s head roaring.
And for a second, he wanted to kiss where her pale skin met the pink, to see what she tasted like and what she smelled like and to maybe brush aside her hair to feel how soft it was before teasing her earlobe.
He stopped walking for a beat. What the fuck was he thinking? The last thing she needed was a male’s attention.
Not to mention he was the last male who should ever notice her. Not only because of her past, but also because she was so bloody young. Definitely too young for him.
His dragon spoke up.She’s not like most twenty-year-olds, though. And a young male, out to prove himself or strut around, as if he had the biggest dick in the world, is the opposite of what she needs.
As if you know what she needs.
A more mature, patient male who is confident enough to support her instead of always trying to impress her.
Why the bloody hell are you even talking about this? If she’s our true mate, you’d better tell me, dragon.
I still don’t know. Without her dragon, she’s only half a person.
I’m working on it.Then realizing how his beast might interpret that, he added,To help her become independent. Not for any other reason.
His beast snorted.Sure. I’ll remind you of that the next time you think of kissing her neck.
At his dragon’s words, he glanced up at Percy again. She faced away from him, and he could only see her from the back. His gaze traveled down her slight form, stopping at her arse.
Fuck.He glanced away, picked up his speed, and kept even with both Violet and Percy, ensuring Violet was also between him and Percy.
The sooner they could get to the school, the better. Surrounded by kids, including his nephews, he wouldn’t be tempted to think of Percy inappropriately. She’d be another student, and he’d fall back into his role as a teacher. That was what they were and all they would ever be.
* * *
Percy wasboth excited and anxious as they approached the walls surrounding the main grounds of Stonefire. A metal gate was up ahead, and the wordsClan Stonefirewere entwined within the bars.
