Mac agreed to drive Tessa back to the wooden cabin. It was the least he could do. That, and he knew that the drone would be able to pinpoint the location they were using during the stakeout.

As he pulled the car up the driveway, another Princess member walked out the front door, his hackles raised for trouble.

Tessa rolled down the window, waving her hand in the woman’s direction. “It’s fine. Go back inside.” The Princess woman narrowed her eyes before nodding and disappearing, shutting the door behind her. “We can talk over there if you like.” Tessa pointed to a stable at the back of the property, only big enough to hold two horses at the maximum. "It's nice and private."

Mac drove the car over and pulled up with enough distance that they’d have to walk the rest of the way. He still didn’t trust her completely.

“You’re lucky you weren’t a dragon,” said Tessa. “I don’t think I’d have convinced them so easily that everything was okay otherwise.”

Mac got out of the car, surveying the surroundings, pinpointing any dark areas that might hide a shooter.

“Relax,” said Tessa. She swatted at him playfully. “I told you that you aren’t in any danger.”

“You’ll excuse my skepticism considering the last two times we’ve interacted you’ve had murder on your mind.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re not going to let me forget that are you.”

“Ash nearly died. He would have died if Caran hadn’t saved him.”

“I knew he wouldn’t. But you’ve got to know that I didn’t mean to fire the gun. I was pushed.”

Mac scoffed. “You pointed a loaded gun at him and repeated your stupid mantra that all dragons must die. In a court of law you’d be found guilty and thrown into prison so fast it’d make your head spin.”

“Is that it? You want me to go to jail?” They reached the stable and Tessa pushed open the doors.

Mac hung back, his hand hovering toward his back in case he needed to grab the gun quickly. It was dark inside. He couldn’t see if anyone was in there.

“Don’t be silly,” said Tessa. She switched on a light. The stable illuminated enough that it looked like no-one was inside.

“Push the stable doors open. All the way,” he ordered. She pulled a face and opened them for him. No one. Still, he didn’t like the look of the stable. “No. We’ll stay out here. in the open”

“But it’s cold and I'm only wearing this.” She pulled on the thin cotton nightgown.

“Deal with it.”

“Fine.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Okay. So out with it.” She waved her hand toward him. “Go on, say the reason you’re here.”

Mac took a deep breath. “You need to stop this war you’ve created between us. Stop trying to kill me and my brothers. Stop this declaration of killing dragons.”

“Hmm. Ah. No.”

He sighed. “What will it take?”

She came closer. “I’d consider a truce if it was worth my while.” She trailed her fingers across his arm, walking them up toward his shoulder.

Mac shrugged her off and stepped away. “You can’t be serious.”

“Why not? We’re both single, neither of us could really settle down with anyone else. I know you Mac, better than anyone else. We could try again.”

“And I know you, Tessa. Which is why my answer is emphatically no.”

“You always were a stubborn prick.”

“Yeah, and how many times did you lie to me? Jesus, Tessa, I’d had enough.”

She gritted her teeth. “I didn’t lie about the pregnancy.”

“Well, you weren’t exactly forthcoming either. And how do I know it’s even mine?”

She gasped. “Oh, you didn’t just say that.” She pushed him in the chest. Mac staggered back. “I was faithful to you, Mac Dragonspark. I loved you and you said that you loved me too. I suppose they were just words and didn’t mean anything.”

“I meant it when I said it.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her back toward the car. “Come on, I’m taking you back up to the house. This was a bad idea.”

Tessa pulled back. “Take your hands off me. You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore.”

Mac let her go but kept striding toward the car without her.

When he reached the car he waited for her to catch up to him. He opened the door, but before he got in he said, “Here’s my deal. You give up this war and leave me, my brothers, and my people alone, and I’ll give up all rights to Blaze. You can be the mother you’ve always wanted to be and I will never come looking for him.”

Tessa’s mouth fell open. “You’d give up your own son?”

“If it means that this is over and no one else gets hurt.”

“You’d really do that?”

“Goodbye, Tessa.”

Mac got into the car. He probably should drive her back up to the cabin, but it wasn’t far to walk and she was used to walking tonight.

Dirt spun up as the tires kicked it up. He reversed in a semicircle until he was facing the driveway again, then drove away.

He adjusted the rearview mirror. Tessa was storming back up to the house.

He’d know if she accepted his proposal. If she was smart she would. He would give up his son for the sake of everyone else.

It was a big price to pay, but he’d had enough of hurting people. It was time to do the right thing.

* * *

It was late when he got back to the camp. Mac rubbed his face, trying to keep awake as he neared the tents.

He slowed when he got closer to his own tent, careful to not disturb anyone. Before he opened the tent flap he removed the gun and shrugged off the vest. He considered taking them back to Lyson’s but knew he’d probably wake him or Elle if he didn’t that.

He took them both into his tent and placed them in the corner on top of his pile of clothes. It didn’t matter now if Juliana saw them, he’d explain what happened.

“Where have you been?” she asked.

Mac glanced up. “Did I wake you?”

She shook her head. “I didn’t know where you’d gone. I was worried.”

“Just business.”

She nodded slowly, looking over at the vest and gun. “I see.”

He went to his bed and began unlacing his boots. “I’m tired. Can we talk about this tomorrow?”

“And by tomorrow you mean, actually tomorrow, or later today when the sun comes up, because by my calculation that will be in three hours.”

He glanced up at her but continued to undress. “I went to see Tessa.”

She cocked her head to the side. “Well you’re still alive, so I’m assuming it went well.” Her lips were drawn into a tight line. “And how is your ex fiancé then?”

He winced. “I had to try and stop this. It was the only way.”

She nodded slowly. “The only way to stop her hurting us was to go and see her the minute we’d just had sex for the first time. Uhuh.”

“Juliana come on. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“You said you didn’t want someone to lie to you, and that’s exactly what you did to me. If you’d have told me your plan, then I would have understood.”

“No, you would have tried to talk me out of it, or you would have come yourself to make sure I was okay.” Mac got into his own bed. “I’m responsible for every single person here. Do you know what that feels like? To ensure that they don’t get hurt.”

“Yes.” She glared at him. “I know exactly what that feels like. I live with it every day.”

“It’s not the same. You’re not in charge here.”

Juliana shook her head. “Clearly.”

He ran his hand through his hair. “What the hell did you want me to do?”

“Oh, how about telling me that you planned on having a midnight rendezvous with her tonight before we jumped into bed.”

“You wanted that,” he said. Juliana blinked at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and fury. “Shit, sorry. That came out wrong. I just meant that it didn’t change anything. We both wanted it to happen.”

“I can’t believe I was such an idiot.”

“Juliana, no, you weren’t. No, I’m sorry.” Mac got out of bed and went over to her. He hugged her. She struggled at first but then relaxed in his arms.

“You can be a real jerk sometimes.”

Mac couldn’t argue with that. “I told Tessa that if she gives up this fight and leaves us in peace that I’ll leave her and Blaze alone and never pursue any rights to him.”

Juliana pulled away. “No, you can’t do that, he’s your son.”

“I don’t know him. It’s better this way.”

“We’ll convince her some other way. Don’t give him up before you’ve even met him.”

Mac stroked her hair. “I’d rather concentrate on those people I care about now. If I can keep them safe, then I’ve won.”

“Is that what you want?”

Mac kissed her forehead. “Sure. I already have everything I want here.”