Scorch(41)

Crickets.

“Dane stuck a knife in his arm,” Wes finally volunteered after a minute, breaking the silence. “Seeing it insta-heal was the only way Ty would believe him.”

“No one is sticking a knife in anyone,” Sarah said forcefully. Then, to Dev, “Honey, what’s going on? Seriously.”

He looked over at me, lifting his eyebrows.

“You want me to cut myself, love?” I asked, willing to do whatever he needed.

“No!” Sarah said again. “What is wrong with you people? Maks, do not cut anything. We all know you’re not going to turn into a dragon—”

“I vote fire,” Luke interrupted her. “I mean, if you guys are gonna go with ‘dragon,’ I’d like to see the whole breathing fire thing.”

“That’s what I said,” Ty mumbled under his breath, his eyes dancing as he tried to hold in his laughter. He was enjoying this.

“It’s true, Sarah,” Wes said. “I know it sounds crazy, but all of it is true.”

She sat down, shaking her head. “Is this why you wanted to get everyone together for dinner? Because you’re all in on the joke? Sorry, honey, I don’t get it.”

“It’s not a joke. You saw my hand, Sare,” Dev said. “And you know I didn’t used to be able to see without my glasses.”

“Contacts,” she answered, frowning and ignoring the hand comment.

“Can you guys actually breathe fire? When you’re human, I mean?” Ty asked. “I never did get a good answer to that one.”

“Yes,” Wes and Dev said at the same time, both blushing.

“Oh, that’s right,” Ty said. “Maybe I did hear something about that. But I mean, can you do it when you’re not fuck— uh, can you do it when you’re not… when you’re… without being…”

The man was flustered, and Sarah was starting to look irritated. Those two things were actually kind of funny, but since I could also tell that my mate was getting frustrated I decided to jump in and help.

“Yes,” I said. “We can. Want to see?”

Ty grinned, mumbling “finally” under his breath, and even Luke perked up.

“Fine,” Sarah said, waving a hand in the air. “Wow me with your dragon fire.”

“Really?” Dane asked me, quirking up an eyebrow.

I nodded, shrugging.

“Then it’s probably best outside,” he said, pushing back from the table.

Wes, Ty, and Luke all hopped up eagerly to follow him. Sarah rolled her eyes again and mumbled something about men and the meal getting cold, but she headed toward the backyard, too.

“Is this okay?” Dev asked, lingering behind for a minute.

“Of course, love,” I said, pulling him into me. “Whatever you need.”

“Enough with the lovey-dovey shit, Maks, come on,” Ty said from the doorway. “I’ve been waiting to see this for-fucking-ever.”

The sky was still overcast, but the light drizzle that had been coming down earlier had finally let up. Everyone had gathered around a stone fire pit set into the back patio, and Luke had already filled it with firewood. Ty was practically bouncing, and even Wes had a smile playing around his lips.

“Seriously, guys. It’s cold out here,” Sarah said, even though I couldn’t feel it. “Can we get on with whatever?”

Luke pulled her back against his front, wrapping his arms around her and clearing his throat. “Give them a chance, pumpkin,” he said. “I’m… interested to see what happens.”

She looked back at him sharply. “Luke, please don’t tell me you’re in on this, too.”

“Nope. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but when Maks and Ben came and got me up in Alaska—” he paused, looking at me sharply. “Ben’s a ‘dragon,’ too?” he asked. I nodded, and he gave a little half smile as he continued talking to Sarah. “People had a way of listening to them. Not just ‘listening,’ but… doing what they wanted. It was kind of spooky. Convenient as hell, but… it’s hard to explain. It definitely wasn’t normal, and it would actually kind of make sense if they’re more than just regular guys.”

“But… this is the real world, Luke,” she said, shaking her head and smiling up at him indulgently.

“And here be dragons,” Ty intoned, wiggling his eyebrows at her. He pointed at the pile of wood. “Seriously, Maks, let’s see it already. Light that shit up.”

I could see that Sarah was getting cold, and there was really no need to make a big production out of it. I walked over to the fire pit and—with a quick look at my mate for inspiration—let the flames rise up from my otherself and pour out of me.