“No.” I shook my head. Then shook it again, if only to make my point clear.

Blue eyes stared back at me out of a hard face, crooked nose wrinkling like I’d said something funny.

Shame I actually liked that face, otherwise I’d be punctuating my answer with my fist, if only to wipe the smirk off it.

Nita, who I was kinda calling a friend now, despite the fact that she used to be a huge pain in the ass, passed me a coffee and sat down next to Michael, owner of the face I’d like to smack. We had the canteen to ourselves, everyone else was in some kind of meeting that we had apparently not been invited to. Probably where Owen had slunk off to earlier, tail between his legs.

“Bree—”

I cut Michael off again, this time with a swipe of my hand. “I’m not registering.” I didn’t know why he even bothered bringing up this argument with me, he knew how I felt about it all. It was one of the reasons I’d joined his pack of rogues, so I could escape the whole putting my name in the system kind of thing.

Axel chose that moment to speak, and it was a real doozy, “Then you can’t stay here.”

“I can stay wherever the hell I want,” I shot back, taking a slurp of my coffee. One nice thing I could say about Nita, apart from her ability to fight dirty, she could coax a mean coffee out of the canteen sludge.

“Carter briefed me before he went into the meeting; they’re tightening things up. You knew this was coming.” The look Michael was giving me was one of pity, which immediately had my metaphorical scales itching.

“So you explained. In mind-numbing detail.” Changing the treaty; who would have thunk it? “I’ll go rogue again.” Soon, I added silently.

“Either you register or you’re a purist, that’s how it’ll be.” Nita wasn’t helping, but from the look on her face, she wasn’t trying to either.

I mentally flipped her off. “So you’re going to register?”

“We all are.” Again, what was with the talking, Axel?

“Right,” I muttered, deflating on the inside. On the outside, I was still prickly and as happy as a dragon rolling in a pile of diamonds. They weren’t my family, so why should I care?

A large hand covered mine, and I knew it was Michael’s without even looking up. “We want you to stay with us, Bree.”

“I can’t.” I covered the crack in my voice with another swig of coffee. “How long have I got?” Please give me a little more time… I’d always known that I’d have to go back out there, but it had been nice while it lasted. Having a home, somewhere safe to lay my head, not looking behind me every goddamned second. I was so fucking tired of running.

“Dammit, Bree!”

I blinked up at Nita, who had jumped from her chair and looked like she was about to launch herself over the table at me. “How long?” I repeated through gritted teeth.

Michael was the one to reply. “We’ve been given forty-eight hours to make our decision.”

I sighed, already feeling the dream begin to slip away from me. “Because of these humans that are coming?”

“Because it’s our law,” he corrected.

I wrinkled my upper lip. “Their law, you mean.”

“If you want to stay here, it’s our law.” With us, the silent words floated on the air.

“I’ll think about it.” No point in burning bridges, not without giving this screwed up situation the benefit of my whole brain, which was—right now—running around screaming fire, fire! Get out of the building! Which was fucked up in itself, what with me being immune to fire and all.

This time, Nita did launch herself over the table, scooping me up in her arms and pulling me into some kind of weird jig. Letting out a whoop that nearly deafened me, she gave me one last squeeze, then set me back down, backing away carefully and affecting an air of nonchalance. “I might miss you if you leave, that’s all.”

Moving past her, I bumped her hip with mine. “Right back atcha, bitch,” I said with a smile that almost reached my eyes. Almost. First, I had to think of a way to keep my name off that register without having to go on the run.

* * *

A gust of air slid beneath my wings, coaxing me higher until I drifted into the clouds, the moisture buffeting my scales and sliding down my tail in a wet caress. Flicking my tongue out, I gave myself up to the moment, reveling in the freedom that came from flying, the utter weightlessness that lifted my thoughts and sang through my heart every single time I soared through the skies.

I couldn’t imagine being forever landlocked, resigned to race along the ground, cut off from the freedom of being able to swoop and dive, able to travel huge distances in the blink of an eye. My dragon shuddered at the thought, my scales rippling and dancing through the stream of air.

Never again, she whined inside my head.

Never, I vowed. Freedom was everything, especially to those of us who’d fought for it.

Not that I was actually free to do all of those things right now, but at least here in Heartsridge, I could fly over the town and enjoy the illusion of a cage without bars. My sigh came out with a side order of flames, scorching the air and buffeting my hide with glorious heat.

Angling my wings through the air currents, I glided lower, circling over the forest, a glimpse of fur weaving its way through the majestic trees catching my eye. Stalking my prey silently, I watched as the huge black wolf raced across the forest floor, powerful hind legs driving him faster and faster, until he broke free of the trees and into the waiting meadow.

Does he know that you watch him? a masculine voice rumbled through my mind.

Silently cursing my inattention, I glanced up at the silver scaled behemoth gliding along above me, his huge wings reaching almost twice as far as my own, scooping up the air in an almost effortless gesture that I envied. Not that I’d ever let the notion leave my lips; Dante already had the overinflated ego of a dragon down to a tee. I ignored the jibe, knowing it would piss him off faster than any witty comeback I could think of. What do you want, Old Man?

He huffed, the crackling sound one of mild amusement. We need to talk, little dragonette.

I shook my head, gliding away to the side so I could watch him without straining my neck. Nope.

Hot breath once again heated my face, violet eyes glowing with some kind of emotion that I couldn’t put a name to. Insolent and rude, he muttered, the words obviously meant for my ears since they rang in my head.

I knew what he was trying to do, crowding me with his body and forcing the air to churn beneath my wings, but I’d sparred with better dragons than him. Older. Bigger. More devious. Back the fuck off, Old Man. Arching my tail, I lashed out, connecting with his wing joint.

He roared, talons curling and back arching.

Rolling to the side, I dodged his wing, the clawed edge whistling through the space I’d just evacuated. What’s your problem? I hissed, slamming on the brakes and beating my wings, hovering in place. Sure, Dante was a pain in my ass, always hanging around and being a general busybody, but he’d never once tried to push me around. A jolt of shock ran through me as I realized that somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten that I wasn’t dealing with just any old dragon, but an alpha. Oh, fuck a bucket. When had I let down my guard?

Gliding around me, he huffed, but didn’t come any closer. I said we need to talk.

I could feel the tendrils of his power trying to wind their way around me, sliding off my scales and dissipating into the air as they failed to find a hold. I am not of your clan, dragon. Luckily, I managed to keep the trace of fear from my voice, locking it up and pushing it deep down inside. Rule number one: never show a predator fear. Multiply that by ten when facing a dragon, then by a million when facing an alpha.

No, you’re not. His words were clipped. Pissed.

But why? Is that what’s got your balls in a twist? Because I won’t cower before you?

His jaws snapped out, teeth grazing the side of my neck. Not trying to hurt me; this was the equivalent of when a momma dragon reminded her young who was in charge. I don’t want you to cower.

Oh. My mind whirled, then… Ewwwww! No way was I making dragon babies with him!

His bark of laughter sounded like thunder in my ears, rumbling and never-ending.

Oops. I winced. I hadn’t meant to send that thought over to him. Heat flushed my skin, darkening my turquoise scales to a mottled emerald green.

A howl broke through my mortification.

Your wolf has finally noticed us. Dante sounded mildly amused.

He’s not my wolf, I shot back, risking a glance down. Yep, Owen had definitely noticed us, and if the look on his wolfy face was anything to go by, he wasn’t a happy camper.

He wants to be…

I snorted, sending a cloud of smoke spiraling through the air. Way to state the obvious. Yeah, the alpha wolf wanted a little taste of me, but that didn’t make him mine. Or make me his. You need to get laid.

And you need to open your eyes.

The smirk on his dragon face had me rolling my eyes, until they snagged on the place where the wolf had once been. In his place stood the man; tall and broad, his face tilted to the sky and hands on his hips. All at once, I both cursed and gave thanks for my dragon’s excellent eyesight, unable to stop myself from tracing every inch of muscled perfection, completely naked and laid out like a bounty waiting to be plucked. Yeah, everything was laid out for me to peruse.

You’re drooling…

Dante’s snark broke through the thrall, but not before I’d memorized every inch of Owen’s body, and I meant every inch.

And? I tilted my wings up and down, the equivalent of a dragon shrug. He’s pretty to look at.

A rude noise echoed inside my head. If you like that sort of thing.

What? Attractive?

His lip curled, and I couldn’t help myself.

Devastatingly handsome?

His lip curled higher, flashing a fang.

I couldn’t resist; snark was written in my DNA. The kind of guy I’d like to take out for a ride and put away wet and wild?

He made a strangled noise. I don’t think that’s quite how the saying goes.

Whatever.

Youngling, I think you’re the one who needs to get laid. His mental voice was filled with amusement, his southern drawl thickening and softening the abrupt formality he tended to stick with.

For a brief moment I considered fibbing, but there was no point in denying it. I risked another glance at the hunk of naked male that was—yep—still making like a statue in the middle of the meadow. I could almost hear the growl from here, could certainly see it on his face, his expression like thunder. Wolf boy definitely wasn’t happy, but his displeasure wasn’t with me. His thunderous expression was firmly fixed on the Neanderthal of a dragon next to me. You might want to keep out of Owen’s way for a while, I suggested, barely keeping the smugness out of my voice. Okay, I failed, but, then again, I wasn’t really trying. This time the flush of heat that flooded me wasn’t from mortification, it was the kind that sank into my bones and warmed me from the inside out. The kind of feeling that enveloped you like a blanket, hugging you tight. Owen, for whatever reason, was in my corner. Even though I was a pain in his ass.

And, weirdly, I kinda liked it.

I find it amusing. Condescension dripped from Dante’s words.

I’d find it amusing to watch him whoop your scaly ass. I scooted away from him, catching the air and letting it tug me far from the meadow. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Owen turned to watch my retreat, his eyes locking with mine for the briefest moment. Gold glinted at the edges, his wolf rising to the surface once more, then he turned away.

Shame Dante didn’t get the same memo. Yep, still there. Like toilet paper stuck to your shoe.

Tomorrow, you will come to me.

Ah, crap. He was still harping on about that?

If you want to continue hiding, you will be there. Sunset. Don’t keep me waiting.

Before I could reply, he shot off, his huge wings beating the air into submission and tail flicking me the metaphorical finger.

Asshole. He either didn’t hear me, or didn’t deign to answer. Heart thundering in my chest, I coasted down to land, shifting from dragon back to human in a shimmer of air that felt like working out a kink with a really good stretch. I’d seen other shifters change forms and, truthfully, it looked painful. Yet another reason to give thanks I was a dragon. Rumor had it we were more magical than some, because we were creatures of legend and myth. Other shifters talked about their beasts riding them, about control and becoming one with their inner animal. Personally, I thought that sounded like a load of mumbo jumbo mystical new age shit, but what did I know? I’d never had that problem. My dragon and I coexisted peacefully, we were the same person. Split personality sometimes? Sure. But it had never really felt like there were two people inside my body, and when we took to the sky, I was still … me. Just a better version.

And, inside my own head, I had secretly named my dragon side Gertie. Which she hated, but also loved, because I thought it was funny. Which meant she did too.

See? Same person, split personality, same great scoop of awesomeness.

Shoving all thoughts of Dante to the back of my head to deal with tomorrow, I gathered up my clothes from where I’d stashed them behind a rock, and, after giving it half a second’s consideration, started the trek to Nita’s house. She was closer; it only made sense. And, being a night owl—sorry, lion—she’d still be awake. I knew it would only take a gentle nudge to convince her to crack open a bottle and have a drink with me. I could get up early tomorrow and make it back in time to cook breakfast for the pack, no problem.

Decision made, I picked up my pace, already able to taste the sharp bite of vodka on my tongue.

Best decision all round, since I was pretty sure that back at the packhouse waited a very pissed off, sexy as all get out, alpha wolf, and the mood I was in—partially due to the peep show he’d given me earlier—I had half a mind to say screw it all and wrestle him to the ground. Naked. Finally have my wicked way with him.

So, yeah, this was the best decision all around.