Page 36 of Red Fire

“I meant by accident.”

“No.” I shake my head, scrubbing a hand over my face. “Aspen and I were arguing. I was so hurt. I felt like she ripped my heart out.” I touch my chest. “The male told me to calm down; he put a hand on my chest. I told him to get the hell away from me and to leave, but he didn’t. He didn’t listen. Instead, he shoved me. It was nothing. More to get my attention, but all he did was incite me. I shouldn’t have…I regret attacking him. I lost it. I tore into him. We shifted, smashed the house to pieces. I hurt him badly.” I look Octavia in the eyes. I know she can’t see me in the dark. “I almost killed him. I maimed him. He has scars from the attack. We don’t scar easily.”

“What happened next? Did you go to jail?”

“It doesn’t work like that on the island. We never had much crime before.” I sigh. “But sometimes a male will get out of control. Again, it’s no excuse, but our situation isn’t normal. Even within mating circles, tempers will flare. We can be a brutal species, especially in our dragon forms. A lot of violence is accepted and tolerated, but not when it comes to violence surrounding our shortage of females. New rules have slowly come into play. I had to face judgment, and I was banished from the city for two years.”

She moves her eyes up in thought, wrinkling her nose. “You said you’d been out here for three years.”

I nod. “Yep. I haven’t been able to bring myself to go back. Besides, what is there to go back to?”

“Your life. Your family. You must have family?”

“I do. My parents and a brother. They would be happy to see me. I wasn’t ready a year ago. I’m stillnotready. Maybe one day.”

“I know you were hurt, but you’re being silly. I mean, forgive me, I don’t know you very well, Creed, but I think you’re crazy to throw your whole life away over this Aspen woman.”

“She broke my heart. I hate what I became in that moment. I lost control.”

“Boo-hoo! Get over it. Move on. Show her what she is missing out on by living a good life.”

“By being alone, you mean?” I know I sound pathetic, but that’s how I feel. “She’ll have three or four mates by now. Maybe a kid or three. I’ll be alone and sad and pining for a future I can never have. How is that showing her?” I sound angry. I can’t believe that after three years, I still feel so strongly.

“You don’t know any of that. You can’t say for sure that you’ll never meet anyone.”

“Odds are against me, Octavia.”

“So what? You’re just going to be a grumpy frump, living alone in the jungle for the rest of your life? Don’t be so damned negative. You could meet someone amazing. It could happen. You’re not going to meet someone out here…in the middle of the freaking jungle.” She looks around us to prove a point. She wouldn’t be able to see a thing in the thick darkness.

“Because women don’t just fall from the sky?” I snigger.

Octavia giggles. “Not usually, no.”

“Shhhh,” I tell her, trying to keep quiet myself.

She smiles. “Maybe it’s a good thing I came along. Maybe I’m just what you need, Creed.”

My heart starts to race. What is she saying? What does she mean by that?

“Because of me, you are being forced to go back to the city. You’ll be able to start again. You’re a great guy, Creed. You deserve love and happiness.”

Of course, she didn’t mean it like that. It wouldn’t be with her. Octavia is headed back to the Mainland. She wants to go home.

“I’m taking you to the city, and then I’m leaving right away. You will be safe once we get there. I’m not staying, Octavia. I don’t feel like I belong there anymore.” My voice is a little gruff.

“Give it some thought. You might change your mind.”

I grunt. I don’t have to think about it. When this is over, I’m going home to my cabin in the heart of the jungle, and that’s that. I doubt I’ll stay there forever, but for now, it’s my home.

14

Octavia

I wake up in much the same position as last time. I’m straddling Creed.

When did that happen?

That’s not how I went to sleep. I fell asleep sitting up against the rocks. I think Creed did, too. I would expect to possibly wake up with my head on his shoulder. That would be reasonable…but on his lap?