For a time, they lay there, entwined together, and the world seemed perfect. Hannah luxuriated in the lingering glow of their lovemaking. In the safety she felt in Brandon’s arms. Yes, she now knew the world contained monsters like LeMar who would gladly kill or maim innocents. Yet it held heroes, too. Guardians and protectors, like the man she lay next to.

Her man. Her Mate.

Her Dragon.

Dream had become reality. She couldn’t imagine a more perfect happiness than the one that filled her in this moment. He loved her. He claimed her. Nothing would ever come between them, she was sure.

A cold breeze stirred the leaves around them, and Hannah shivered. Brandon kissed her once more then rose to his feet and began dressing. “We should go.”

She nodded. The warm, magical cocoon that had enveloped them seemed to have vanished. Quickly, she pulled her clothes on. When she was finished, she looked up and found him watching her with a fond smile.

“Oh, my love,” he murmured. “There are so many things I want to show you. The cathedrals of Paris. Moscow in the snow. The Mediterranean at sunrise.”

Names steeped in romance. Yet, as she listened to them, the first tendril of doubt unfurled in her mind. Yes, she would love to travel Europe. But who would care for Danny while she was gone? Who would lend a hand on the farm if she was off sunning herself on a yacht?

Brandon didn’t notice the way she cooled. “I want to show you off, too,” he promised. “At Cannes. At Montecarlo. At the Louvre.”

With him at her side, perhaps she could dare those places – even enjoy them. They were alien to her though, and daunting.

Still, he didn’t notice the way she bit her lip, eyes clouded. “Wait till you see the Met… Central Park in the snow… You’re going to love New York City so much, my dear.”

Shock, cold as a bucket of icy water, washed over her. He expected her to move?

Well, of course. What was the alternative? Was he going to put on a pair of jeans, roll up his sleeves, and lend a hand milking the cows? A Dragon. Milking cows. Seriously? What was she thinking?

But she knew the answer to that question. As her heart sank and tears welled up in her eyes, she knew it. She was thinking she loved him. That he truly was her soul mate. That she wanted to build her life around him.

“Hannah?” Now he noticed her discomfort. “What’s wrong?”

“Brandon, I…” They were the hardest words she’d ever spoken, but she choked them out. “I don’t think this is going to work.”

“Of course, it is. My Dragon claimed you.”

“I get a say in this too, you know!” she replied, with a flash of pique. That little bit of annoyance felt good. It saved her from dissolving in tears as her world fell apart.

“And you gave it – at the Rite of Claiming. You accepted. You claimed me in return.”

“In a dream,” she corrected.

He stared at her, baffled. “In the Rite.”

“I wasn’t thinking! I was just… just… dreaming!” she wailed.

Disappointment and confusion darkened his handsome face. “Do you not love me?”

Oh, how she wanted to deny that! To kiss his worries away. To swear that yes, she loved him, with all her heart and soul. That wouldn’t help, however. “It’s more complicated than that.”

“Why?” She turned from him, unable to look on the pain she’d caused him, but he caught her arm. “Hannah, please. Talk to me. Tell me what ‘complicates’ our love. We can fix this. Together.”

Anger had shielded her from her own grief. It faded away under the gentle balm of his kind words and now the tears came, pouring down her cheeks. “Brandon, it’s my family.”

“Do they not like me?”

“No! I mean, yes. Yes, they like you. But there’s a chance that Danny will never be able to walk again, because of what LeMar did to him. My parents can’t run the farm and give him the help he needs.”

“That’s a simple problem to solve!” he insisted, waving a dismissive hand. “I’ll hire a nurse for him.”

“We already have a nurse.” Mrs. Grishom, a foul-tempered, lazy woman (who truly did not deserve the great references she came with).

He shrugged. “If her services do not suffice, I’ll hire a second.”

Irritation dried up her tears. Why did he think that all her problems would vanish if he threw enough money at them? Couldn’t he understand that this was her baby brother? She didn’t want Danny to depend on strangers. He deserved the care of someone who loved him.

“Then there’s the farm. Danny planned on working it after he graduated. Now…”

Another casual wave. “Hired hands. As many as your father needs.”

Hannah stared at him, cold with disbelief. Money again? Didn’t he understand family? Obligations? Surely, a Dragon would at least understand honor? Flooding her family farm with strangers would change it, irrevocably.

“No.” She wanted to say more but couldn’t.

“Hannah…” He reached for her. She backed away.

“No. I don’t want to discuss this now.”

“But…”

“Let’s go. We need to figure out what we’re going to do next.”

Though it tore her heart apart, she turned her back on him and began the cold walk home.