His heart was clenching in his chest. He hadn't thought that he'd hurt her so much. That hadn't been his intention.
He'd wanted to protect her—not make her think that he didn't want her.
“You're wrong,” he said. “I love you. I love you and I want you, more than anything. I've never felt like this for anyone else. I never will.”
“So? Why did you run?” she demanded, hands on her hips.
“I was scared. For you,” he admitted softly. “Of what I could do to you. Of what... Of what Steele might make me do.”
Alyx frowned. “Are you afraid I still think you're one of them? I know you're not evil, just because you're a fire dragon. You're good, Braeden. You're a good person—perhaps the best I've ever met. Even though you don't properly appreciate avocado ice cream.”
Braeden gave her a weak smile. “It's not that. Do you remember that Steele wounded me?”
“Are you still hurt?” Alyx asked immediately, her eyes wide with sudden concern. “Why didn't you say anything?”
“Do you remember those weird shadows on his body? That strange darkness?”
Alyx nodded.
Braeden took a deep breath, feeling the shadows swirling in his chest even now.
“It's inside me. When he wounded me, back in those tunnels... Some of that darkness entered me. I can hear his voice in my head. He's whispering terrible things, Alyx. And as long as that thing is inside me, I can't be with you, don't you see? I'm a danger to you now.”
“Nonsense!” she said, even though he could feel her worry through the mate bond. “How could he—didn't you tell me that you're stronger than him? You're the master of fire, not him.”
“I don't understand it myself,” Braeden said softly. “Perhaps the chimera will know what's going on. But I can't control it. The wounds healed—but the shadow is still inside me. And I can't make his voice shut up.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
The look she gave him was breaking his heart. There was fear in it—and pain. Because of him.
After what had happened to her in the fire dragon lair, he'd sworn that he'd show her the beautiful, peaceful side of the shifter world.
Instead, all he'd done was to cause her more pain.
“It can be stopped.” She swallowed, then deliberately reached out, resting her palm flat against his chest.
Right over his heart, which gave a thump at the touch.
They looked at each other. Braeden felt his breath speed up.
The darkness was still there within him, like a black cloud hovering around his heart. But with Alyx so close, it wasn't strong enough to block out the fragile thread of their mate bond. Even though they weren't mated yet, the golden glow of it pierced the shadow within him.
It didn't drive the darkness away—but in its golden light, it was easier to see the hope that still remained.
The chimera's powerful. He'll know a cure.
Braeden was pretty sure he knew what the cure would be. If he took out Steele, then the shadow would go with him.
“I'm not afraid of you,” Alyx said. Warmth pulsed from her hand through his skin.
Braeden watched as his hands rose. Careful, as if the slightest touch might harm her, he framed her face with his hands, smoothing back her gorgeous black hair. It fell like silk over his fingers.
He trailed the pad of his thumb along her cheekbone, watched as her eyes darkened with need, her pupils so wide they looked nearly black.
They were so close her breath was hot against his lips. He could smell a trace of the herbal shampoo in her hair, mingling with the ocean breeze and the scent of the thousands of wildflowers surrounding them.
And then her eyes fluttered closed, and their lips met.