Page 43 of Shifting the Flame
His dragon roared inside his mind, shrieking at the very concept of her walking away from him. It had been only days,and already the thought of her absence felt like a physical wound.
"You can tell me anything," he continued, his voice softening to a whisper. "I would never judge you for your feelings, Danica. Not ever."
She swallowed, her eyelids flickering as if gathering courage. "There are things I haven't told you."
Asher's heart hammered against his ribs. Whatever it was, he would fix it. He was Alpha. He was an Ectorius. A defender. There was nothing he couldn't overcome for her.
"Someone left me a note," she finally said, her voice so small he had to lean closer. "It said, 'A true mate wouldn't destroy what he was born to protect. The Alpha is blind. The town will never follow an outsider or a human.'"
A growl escaped his throat before he could stop it. His vision tinged with red at the edges, his dragon surging to the surface at the hostility against his mate.
"And then this morning," she continued, her gaze dropping to the floor, "I heard you with the council. They called me a liability. You said you would minimize the risk." The words tumbled out now, faster and desperate. "I understand. I'm not one of you. I'm just a human who plans parties, and your people need?—"
"Stop." Asher caught her chin, tilting her face up forcefully, his eyes burning into hers. "We weren't talking about removing you from the town. We were talking about protecting you."
Confusion flickered across her features.
"The council was worried because I told them about the wolf attack," he explained, his thumb brushing away another tear. "And yes, we're aware that tensions in town are rising. Not everyone's happy with me having a human mate, and if someone wanted to make a statement, they might use you to do it."
Understanding dawned in her eyes, and Asher felt the knot in his chest loosen slightly.
"When I said we needed to minimize the risk, I meant I needed to increase your protection and minimize the risk to you." He stepped closer still. "Not push you out of my life. I would never want you away from me."
His voice dropped to a growl as he took the suitcase from her hand and tossed it aside. It hit the hardwood floor with a satisfying thump.
"I want you by my side forever."
The tension in her shoulders eased, her body softening toward him. Asher slid his arm around her small waist, pulling her flush against his body, relishing the feel of her curves against his body. He lowered his mouth to her ear, inhaling her sweet scent.
"Whoever wrote that note will answer to me personally," he promised, the heat of his anger mixing with desire. "And they'll learn what happens when someone threatens what belongs to an Ectorius Alpha."
SEVENTEEN
DANICA
Danica felt a strange weightlessness as Asher's words washed over her. Forever. The concept had always seemed like a distant, theoretical notion—something she helped other people plan for, but she didn't have time to consider for herself. Yet standing here in his mansion's entryway, with his eyes burning into hers, forever suddenly felt... possible.
"You really want me here?" Her voice emerged smaller than intended, the red silk of her dress suddenly feeling too exposed and too vulnerable against her skin. "Even with everything that's happening?"
Asher's jaw tightened, the muscles in his neck straining against his crisp collar. "Especially with everything that's happening." His fingers traced along her waist, possessive and tender all at once. "A threat against you is a threat against me."
The heat from his palm seeped through the fabric of her dress, and Danica found herself leaning into his touch. The stubborn voice inside her head that had always warned her against dependence was suspiciously quiet.
"I shouldn't have tried to leave without talking to you." She glanced at the discarded suitcase. "I just heard those councilmembers, and it felt like confirmation of every whisper I've been hearing. That I don't belong here."
His eyes flashed with an inhuman glow. "You belong exactly where you are. With me."
The raw certainty in his voice ignited something in her chest—a bright, burning thing she couldn't name.
"Thank you," she whispered, reaching up to touch the perfectly knotted red tie at his throat. "For listening. For understanding. For not being angry that I almost bolted back to New Orleans without explanation."
Asher caught her hand against his chest, where his heartbeat thundered beneath her palm. "I could never stay angry at you." His voice rumbled lower, vibrating through her fingers. "And I'll always listen to you, Danica. That's what mates do."
The word 'mates' should have triggered her flight response—it implied permanence and commitment, all the things she'd carefully avoided. Instead, a delicious shiver traveled down her spine.
"So the council is actually on our side?" she asked, needing to be sure.
"Most of them." His thumb brushed circles against her wrist. "The rest will learn to accept you because you're my fated mate. They will soon realize that what is best for me is best for everyone."
