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more than heaven and earth and all things in between, but there was no mate bond connecting
them. Finch hadn’t seen the mark or felt Hugh in his soul. The relief that had flooded him when
Hugh had stepped into the room was due to his lovesick heart and nothing more. It didn’t mean
they were mated.
Although he had to admit, his headache had receded since Hugh had fallen unconscious.
Finch took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to collect himself and his thoughts. “I
wasn’t able to conceive his clutch—the clutch he’s wanted nearly his entire life. That’s why I
can’t possibly be his mate. Mates birth clutches. That’s why Disgraces are named as we are.”
“Dragonet,” said Harrison, who was trying—and failing—to push Everard back into the hall.
“Using the proper nomenclature is important. Not only is it respectful to do, but it helps prevent
the spread of disinformation. It’s our duty as members of draconian society to be accurate
about such things.”
“God, I love you, pumpkin seed,” Everard murmured, and kissed Harrison sweetly on the top
of his head.
“Dragonet, then.” Finch’s shoulders tightened, and despite his best attempts to stay calm,
frustration throbbed in his temples. “Disgraces or dragonets, it doesn’t matter. We’re all still
failures! We’re disappointments. We’re a source of shame, and not meant to be mates. It’s
been that way since forever, and that is the way it will always be.”
Harrison stopped his fruitless attempt at pushing Everard out the door and dropped down to
sit at Finch’s side. He kept his hands to himself, but sat close enough to make it personal. “You
know, it can be hard to accept when the things we thought were true aren’t so true anymore.”
Harrison offered him a smile. “It can be really easy, too. Like the time I found out dragons were
real, or when I discovered Ev didn’t want to eat me. But I guess this isn’t one of those easy
times, is it?”
Finch said nothing, but his silence spoke for him, because Harrison continued.
“It’s okay to be upset, you know. We’re creatures of habit, and disruptions to our routine can
mean threats to our safety. At least, from an evolutionary standpoint. But we shouldn’t let fear
of change hold us back. I know it’s not an easy thing to do, but in science, realizing you’ve
made a mistake means you’re one step closer to knowing the truth, and that’s something to be
celebrated. So do you think we could celebrate this mistake together?”
