Nero summoned a gate underneath them and moved them from the concrete floor in the transition suites to the rug in the middle of his bedroom. His mind whirled with a confusing mix of thoughts, his, Becca’s, Grey’s, and Anaea’s, while his heart pounded, half with Becca’s fear and half with his own. She could have been killed, and he had no idea if he’d have been able to take on her injuries again. He had no idea how he’d done it the first time, and Grey had warned him he might not be able to do it again.

As it was, he still hadn’t fully healed from the gunshot wound, and Grey had been right. He needed to get into fighting form as fast as possible. Except with the strain of having held open a gate while battling Raven’s wind and funneling it out over the Arctic, he didn’t think he’d have the power to stand. Certainly not for the time it would take to heal while being in the shower. No, he needed submersion in water, and the best place for that was the whirlpool tub in his en suite, so he’d gated them to his bedroom. He wasn’t going to think about how Becca felt in his arms, a perfect fit, held tight against his body, making him hard in anticipation. Or how the sight of his king bed made him imagine how she’d look, naked and spread on his sheets.

No, he needed to figure out what to do with her—

And it shouldn’t be making love and sealing his soul bond to her.

No matter what he craved.

Besides, she wasn’t inamorated back, not to mention she was human.

His pulse stuttered. Connecting with the surge’s magic could have fully awakened her soul magic. The first time she’d touched the new intake explained how her broken ribs and collarbone had healed so quickly. A second blast and… she could be immortal like—

He clamped down on that thought.

“I’ve already heard it,” she said, her voice trembling, her palm pressed against his bare chest.

Please, Mother, not the thoughts about the bed.

“Your soul magic—” he said, unable to keep his desire from making his voice gruff. “It’s just a hope.” An unfair one, as well. Not inamorated back, remember? When she figured out how to control her telepathy, she’d want her life back and would want to go home. “The new guy is just coming into his magic. It probably isn’t at full strength, which means any effects he might have caused will fade.”

“That would be good for Raven.” Becca shuddered and drew Nero’s arms tighter around her, hugging her body against his and making him harder.

He bit back a groan and fought to focus on the situation, not the woman, not how she felt, or the electric sear of attraction burning through his every cell. Becca had touched the new guy as well, and Nero had felt the agony of her magic scorching inside her. Having the strength of her telepathy fade would be good for her, too.

He pressed his cheek to the top of her head, unable to stop himself from savoring the feel of her against him, and breathing in her scent of vanilla from the shampoo in the transition suites’ showers. He wouldn’t get much more of this. Even if, hope beyond hope, she was inamorated back, he’d at best get sixty or seventy more years.

Unless her soul magic had been fully awakened.

God, he couldn’t seem to stop himself from going back to that impossible thought.

“I promise it’ll fade soon,” he forced out. All of it.

Except you’re not sure that’s true, she thought, her words clear in his mind. “I’m getting mixed messages again.”

“Because I don’t know what the truth is, and I’m too tired to ignore being—” Being inamorated. “—in this situation.” No matter how impossible it was to be inamorated a second time.

Now his chest really ached. Mother of All, he needed to pull himself together. Grey was right. He was doyen and dugga and the members of his coterie, puzur, and the Asar Nergal needed him to protect them. He had to regroup and to do that, he had to finish healing the wound he’d taken from Becca — because, Mother of All, he really was inamorated — and figure out what to do with her.

Inamorated. Again. As impossible as it was.

The thought settled around his heart, solid and strong and right. He belonged to her. His dugga’s magic had nothing to do with this, and, good or bad, his soul knew she’d make him a better, stronger drake.

Which still didn’t help him figure out what to do with her. And taking her to bed wasn’t one of those options.

“You know I can still hear your thoughts.” She shifted to look him in the eyes, her body still trembling, the strain of her magic tightening her jaw, but her expression hard with determination. A hint of blush crept up her neck. “All of your thoughts.”

“Right.” Jeez. “Sorry.”

I’m not. Except he could feel that a part of her wasn’t certain if her attraction to him originated from her, or if the emotion came from him because he was inamorated. But her desire shoved that away. It didn’t care. She yearned for him with a core-deep need that was both thrilling, confusing, and terrifying.

“This is my fault. I should get into the tub to finish healing and, if we’re being honest, to think straight. Then—” The bed. No. Figure this mess out. Focus. “You can stay here, watch TV or sleep. I don’t know how long I’ll be.” He didn’t want to leave her but knew he should, and made himself shift away.

The moment they separated, searing agony and the roar of voices slammed into him. Becca gasped and grabbed her head. A tremor swept through her body then another, stronger than the first, each shake slicing white lightning into Nero.

He seized her hand and the voices and pain vanished, leaving only Becca with her lurching thoughts, gasping against the pain.

Holy Mother! This wasn’t good. They wouldn’t be able to do anything if her telepathy didn’t ease up.

“Please tell me the new guy’s magic will wear off soon.” Her eyes were too big and her fear cut into her determination, making his chest ache even more.

“I don’t know.” And Mother, he never wanted to feel that again.

“Agreed.” She drew in a ragged breath then another, and her thoughts squeezed around his essence until it was hard to breathe.

One thing at a time. Baby steps. Don’t lean into him. Don’t kiss him. Make a list, prioritize, break the problem into manageable pieces. Her will tightened even more as she focused on the problem, pushing everything else aside. This was the woman who’d led men into battle, who’d kept calm under sniper fire while injured.

“Our first priority is your healing,” she said, her brusque tone belying her whirling thoughts and emotions. “We should get you in the tub and then start to figure everything else out. If we have to be in contact to keep the voices under control, then I’m going in the tub with you.” And I won’t get distracted, no matter how hot he is with his shirt off… or how much she wanted to see the rest of him… touch the rest of him—

He’d be flattered if the situation wasn’t so awkward. “You can sit on the edge. Fully clothed.” Surely he could control himself if they just held hands.

Disappointment flooded her, and his grip on her hand instinctually tightened. Her gaze jumped to his, realization flashed in her eyes, and a blush swept over her cheeks. “Wow, you heard that. I have no idea what’s wrong with me.” But I do. I want you.

“It’s me. It’s my fault.” He rose, his legs trembling for a second before he steadied himself then helped her stand. “It has to be my soul bond influencing you.” But a part of him hoped it was more than that.

She met his gaze.

Shit. She’d heard that.

“I’m not thinking straight,” he said.

Maybe you are, and right now it doesn’t matter. Maybe I shouldn’t take advantage of your condition.

“Maybe we’re both confused.” But he knew he wasn’t confused. His soul knew exactly what it wanted, and it wanted her. However he could get her… preferably in his bed.

Becca raised an eyebrow.

And she heard that, too. Wonderful. “Let’s get me in the tub and figure out what we need to do next.” We can be adults about this.

“Adults. Yes.” Sex is off the table. Her gaze jumped to his antique writing desk by the window. Not sturdy enough. Her attention shot back to him, and her face turned red. “Oh, my God! Sorry.” Stop teasing him… and yourself.

“Okay.” He grabbed her by both shoulders and met her gaze as a shiver of need churned in his gut. Not going to think about the counter in the bathroom or the desk in my office— “Moratorium on apologies. I’m influencing how you feel. I won’t take any of your thoughts personally, and I’ll try to keep a leash on mine.”

Not sure your thoughts are the problem. Her gaze slipped behind him to the bed. “You think you can do that?”

“Probably not, but if I don’t try, we’re going to end up stuck in the middle of my bedroom apologizing to each other for who knows how long until the surge’s power wears off.”

Or we could satisfy the problem. “Sorry.”

“Not taking it personally, remember?” No matter how much his inner drake wanted to purr.

Mother, now he really knew he was inamorated. Purring was the one sure sign a dragon soul had picked its mate. If he hadn’t known before, he certainly knew now.

And not something he was supposed to be thinking about.

He switched his grip to her hand and led her into his en suite bathroom. It was a modest-sized space, clean and masculine, with black tiles around the walk-in shower and two-person tub, white everything else, and chrome fixtures. He turned on the hot and cold taps on the tub all the way, to fill as fast as possible, but then paused, his mind stuck on the next step: his pants.

Becca’s gaze slid to his fly, and his heart skipped a beat.

“I should keep these on.” Even if the bath would be more effective without them. He wasn’t shy. He just didn’t want to make an awkward situation worse.

“How about I not look.” Yes, please. Take them off. Her grip around his hand tightened, and he couldn’t tell if it was her pulse racing or his.

Her other hand brushed across his abs to his heart, drawing a shiver of need, and a purr bubbled in his throat.

“I think it’s best if they stay on,” he forced out. I’m not going to take advantage of her.

“Will it achieve the goal of healing you as fast as possible?” she asked, her voice husky. She knew from his thoughts it wouldn’t.

“I think we need to find a balance between healing and—” Succumbing to the soul bond. He wasn’t going to survive this. The inamoration was too new, the need to seal the bond too strong. If he could just get some distance, perhaps she’d know for certain if her desire was his or hers.

“No.”

His thoughts stuttered. He had no idea what she was saying no to.

“You wouldn’t be taking advantage of me.”

But my thoughts? Our connection? She couldn’t be thinking straight.

“My thoughts are straight enough. I don’t know if I’m inamorated back.” She released his hand and pressed her other palm beside the first, the heat from her body flooding him and making his pulse roar. “I don’t know if a human can be inamorated. But I do know, at this moment, there’s something between us and as much as it’s a bad idea, I want it.” She pursed her lips. I need it.

“You don’t know what you’re saying. Our bond— my bond has to be influencing you.”

“Yes… maybe? I don’t know. God, this is such a bad idea.” Her gaze locked with his and her body leaned closer, belying her refusal. “If I’m not inamorated back, you’re going to get hurt.”

“You’re confused,” he growled, forcing his hands to stay at his sides and not wrap her in an embrace.

Not about wanting the peace I get from being with you. I’m steady with you.

You weren’t earlier this evening when I asked you about your injuries.

My magic is steady. The voices are quiet. Sadness crept into her expression. “It’s selfish, I know.” I want you to help me forget everything that’s happened, to not hear all those voices, and, if only for a moment, just be. “You’re the only one who’s been able to quiet the voices. But this will hurt you. I know from the memories I got from the monsters— I know this will hurt you.” I can be strong and prevent his grief.

His heart aching with hers, he gave in and wrapped an arm around her back, drew her tight against his body, and pressed his forehead against hers. “Giving you what you want will never hurt me.”

Liar. You’re terrified I’ll leave.

I am. “I’m also terrified you’re in pain, that I won’t be able to help you, that you won’t have the life you deserve.” With or without me at your side. “If you’re not inamorated back, I will fight to win you. If you reject me, I will respect that decision.” A purr rumbled in his chest. Every cell in his being burned with the need to fulfill her request. Now. Anything else past this moment didn’t matter. He’d deal with it when the time came. At the moment, he could ease her pain and remind her that she was loved and worthy and whole.