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He shrugged. “Maybe. But I won’t be the one who takes away your freedom, your future, or your choices from you, Percy. You’d hate me, and I could live with a lot of things, but never that.”
Her eyes turned bright, as if she were about to cry. Before he could say something else, she spoke. “You would do all of that for me?”
“Yes, love.” He studied her face, hoping this wouldn’t be the last time he saw her.
Just the thought of never hearing her laugh, feeling her in his arms, or even hearing her criticizing the ridiculousness of Violet’s soap operas made his heart ache. He admired her strength, her will to live, and even how she’d endured the challenge of learning to be a dragon-shifter at a late age.
She was brilliant and lovely, and he was certain she’d bloom even more as time went on.
Even if it hadn’t been long, Percy had come to mean so much to him.
Then it hit him—he loved her.
But it was exactly because he loved her that he wouldn’t push for the frenzy. Not because he didn’t want it or a family with her—he did. No, it was because he wanted to give her every dream she wanted and the future she deserved, even if it meant hurting himself in the process.
* * *
Percy’s heartraced as she stared at Bronx. If she’d ever needed more proof about how he was different from any male in her past, he’d just shown it. He was willing to suffer pain for months on end just to give her the freedom she’d always wanted.
And while she never wanted to be locked up again, her old version of freedom seemed less rosy than in the past. Being alone, even with her dragon, wouldn’t be as brilliant as she’d once thought.
Because to have that, she’d have to give up Bronx. And just the thought of him finding another female, let alone touching her, made both human and dragon growl.
Bronx’s brows came together. “Are you growling at me?”
Her dragon spoke up.Just talk with him. Truthfully. No more hiding. You said you trust him, but now’s the time to fully prove it.
In other words, she’d have to admit her dream had changed and that she wanted more than her dragon.
She also wanted a future with Bronx.
It was time to tear down the last of her barriers and go after her new dream. “Yes. I was picturing you with another female, and I didn’t like it.” She took a few more steps toward him. “Can I hold your hand?”
He blinked. “That should be fine, as long as you don’t kiss any part of me, love.”
Every time he said “love” it made her heart warm a little more.
Nodding, she reached out, and Bronx took her hand. Although it was such a simple gesture, for her, it signaled so much. Taking a deep breath, she stated, “I don’t want to leave Stonefire, Bronx.” He frowned, but she carried on before he could say anything. “And I won’t ask you to leave.”
Something flickered in his eyes, some sort of emotion, but she didn’t catch it. “If you aren’t leaving, and neither am I, does that mean…?”
She smiled as she squeezed his hand. “Yes, I want to stay here with you. As your mate.”
“I want to whoop and hold you in my arms, but I need to know—why? If it’s some sort of compromise, so you can stay here or to repay me for my help, then I won’t accept it, Percy.”
She narrowed her eyes. “It’s not any of those bloody things, you stubborn dragonman. I-I, well, can’t imagine a life without you. And your daughter, of course. But I choose this path because of you, Bronx. You’re my new future.”
He growled, stood up, and placed her hand on his chest. As he lightly squeezed her fingers, he ran his knuckles across her cheek. She nearly purred at his touch.
Yes, she wanted this male. Far too much.
Her dragon spoke up.No, you can’t want him too much. He’s to be our mate. We should want him this much.
Ignoring her dragon, she focused on Bronx as he said, “I’ll do whatever I can to protect you and treasure you and love you, Percy. But I can’t guarantee anything when it comes to childbirth. So if we have a frenzy, there is a risk. Dr. Sid offered an experimental drug to calm my beast, to dull the frenzy, and we could try that. This choice I will give to you—either go through the frenzy and have a child, or I try the drug and we wait and see how it goes.”
Yet again, Bronx was going out of his way to give her options.
Tears pricked her eyes at his kindness, his goodness, and his all-around honorable nature. Did she even deserve him? Especially given what she’d been forced to do during her time inside the facility?
