Asa cranked the wrench, tightening the loose bolt. His bike had been a little shaky lately, and he was just putting it back together after replacing a couple parts. It was vital that the wingless kept their bikes in perfect order, just like one would keep their flying skills at top notch. Nerves fluttered around his stomach. He should be getting a call from Shante soon, to tell him whether Willow would be removed from him or not. If she was . . . 

Well, if she was, then it would be due to her being uncertain about their relationship. So if things did end like that, he would have to accept it. What he’d do after that, though, he didn’t know.

He looked up at the sound of footsteps, then jumped to his feet. Willow approached him. He was instantly filled with worry and dread. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Her arms were wrapped around herself and her gaze was on the ground.

“What’s wrong?” he reached for her and she backed away out of his grasp.

“Don’t touch me,” she whispered.

His fires blew low and he was silent. Words got caught in his throat as his eyes tracked the fall of her tears.

“I talked with Shante.” Willow’s arms tightened around her middle. “And some of the questions she asked made me think.”

“Willow . . . ”

“I won’t regret it.” She finally looked up. She moved a little closer but still didn’t reach for him. “What there was between us . . . it was like a dream. I have never been happier in these past few days, but it’s not real. You’re a dragon. I’m human. Our worlds are just too far apart. I loved every moment I spent with you. But I don’t belong here.”

Asa swallowed hard. He wanted to argue, to beg, to do whatever it took to make her see that she did belong. But it felt like his heart was being ripped out and he couldn’t breathe, let alone think.

Time stretched out between them, as though she was waiting for him to say something. His mind flitted from one thing to the next before he finally understood exactly what was happening. If he didn’t fight for her now, he was going to lose her. She’d go away and he’d never see her again.

“No,” he whispered. “Willow, I . . . I care about you. I know that it might seem strange to you, but I love you.”

She sobbed, both hands pressing to her mouth.

“I want to spend the rest of my life with you. It just takes time to adjust. Please.” He took her hand. “Please don’t leave. I love you.”

Her head fell to her chest as her tears increased. Her fingers curled around his before abruptly yanking back, as though someone had pulled her away. Both hands pressed into her face as she turned away. Her whole body shook with sobs. Asa slowly touched her shoulder, wanting to comfort her. Once again, she jerked away as though his touch was painful to her.

“I can’t,” she sobbed. “I can’t. This isn’t the life I want. I don’t want to fall in love with a dragon.”

Her words were like a punch to his stomach. He withdrew. “That’s what it is? Because I’m a dragon?”

A moment of silence. “Yes.”

“Willow . . . why? Is it because I’ll live longer than you? Is it—”

“It’s because you and your kind are monsters.”

Asa stepped back, eyes widening.

Willow turned. Her hands dropped and even though she still cried, her expression hardened. “You fly around stealing whatever you want. You ruin people’s lives. How many humans have you stolen, Asa? How many women have stood where I stand now, begging you to release them? How many have you taken them prisoner and then seduced them with your charm and false kindness?”

His fires almost went out. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. What she was describing was truly monster-like behavior. “Is that what you think of me? You think that I’d—”

“What reason do I have to think any differently? You stole me from my home. You turned me into a slave. How much did you tell my parents they could have me back for? We are not a wealthy family. Did you want to put us into your debt for generations to come?”

“Willow!”

She glared defiantly at him.

What had Shante said to her? What had made her think that he was capable of all this duplicity? He wanted to reach for her hand but couldn’t make himself move towards her. Not when there was such anger and, yes, even hatred, in her gaze. Asa didn’t understand. He shook his head, trying to come up with the words that would make everything better. But he didn’t even know where he had gone wrong.

“When we had sex, I thought that it meant everything had changed. I thought we were going to be in love and that there was nothing else to worry about. But it’s not true, is it? No matter how long I stay, you will always be my master and I will always be the slave.”

“No.” Asa tried to reach for her again and she danced out of his grasp. “No, Willow. That isn’t what is happening here. I love you. I love you. You aren’t my slave. I want to—”

Willow shook her head so violently that she could have given herself whiplash. “I can’t listen to this anymore, Asa. There is nothing left to say. I told you that I didn’t regret being with you. I was trying to be gentle. If I could go back and stop myself from doing that, I would. I can’t be here anymore. Let me go.”

His fire went out. All that was left were smoldering coals. Asa’s arms hung limply at his sides as he stared at the ground. His mind was blank, the agony of her words echoing back at him. Eventually, he stirred and looked up. Her tears had still not ceased, but he knew better than to think that he could do anything but cause her more pain.

She had been very clear about what she wanted. All the dreams that had been building up in his mind – all the hopes and wishes crashed down around him until he was standing in nothing but rubble. With a thick swallow, he nodded.

“Of course. You don’t belong to me, Willow. You can go wherever you want to. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I hurt you.”

She opened her mouth then closed it again. It looked like she wanted to say something so badly, but all she did was a nod and turn her face away from him. He stood there, watching her before he shook himself and turned back to his bike.

“Go pack up whatever you want to take with you. It’ll be an hour or so before I’m finished fixing this thing.”

“I don’t have anything,” she whispered back. “All I had when you took me were the clothes I’m wearing now.”

Asa nodded as she bent over his bike, focusing on each piece as he put it back together. Willow found a bench on the other side of the garage and sat there quietly. From time to time, she shifted or sighed, but for the most part, it was like she wasn’t even there.

Several times he almost broke down and begged her to stay. He could demand to know exactly what Shante had said to her to bring this out. But in the end, it didn’t matter. She was hurt, she wanted to leave. Maybe she even hated him. He had told her multiple times that he loved her and it hadn’t swayed her. So now he had to prove that he loved her and put her happiness on his own. Even though it hurt like a knife driving through his heart.

“Where would you like me to take you?” he asked her when the bike was back together and there was nothing else to delay them.

“You can take me to my village. I’ll find my own way from there. I don’t to be anywhere that you can find me and bring me back here.”

Asa closed his eyes. He didn’t respond to that. Instead, he got on his bike and gestured for her to join him. Her arms wrapped around his waist and her warmth against him felt so right that he nearly changed his mind.

Her happiness is more important than mine, he reminded himself.

It was dark by the time they got to the village. He pulled to a stop just outside the gates. Willow climbed off the bike and handed him his helmet back. Her eyes were red and puffy, but there were no more tears. She swallowed hard as she touched his hand.

“Don’t forget me,” she whispered and then ran. The darkness soon swallowed her up.

Asa turned back towards Cendas. “I’ll never forget,” he promised. “Never.”