Silver(60)

“No,” he said, standing. “I don’t need one. Please forgive me.”

“It’s not about forgiveness,” she said, waving for two men to come forward. One held a wooden box, and the other came up behind Citrine, as if to hold him if needed.

Citrine waved him back. “Fine, I won’t fight you. But I don’t need it.”

“I need it,” the oracle said. “I like you Citrine, but we both know you are one of the most powerful dragons. If you lost your temper, if you did something impetuous again—”

“It was just a mistake,” he muttered.

“This is for your own good,” she said. “And this is the collar the gem dragons wore, not the one on the precious metals. You will be able to partially shift and use some of your powers if a human’s life or your life is in danger. But I can’t risk you blacking out the world if someone sets you off.”

“I’m not like that,” he said petulantly.

“I also never thought you’d leave dragons to get beat up, but you did, and you didn’t even really think about it.”

He supposed she was right. When it came to Robbie, he somehow lost all sense of reason. Perhaps that should have told him sooner that she was the right one for him after all.

But without his powers, wouldn’t he have a harder time bringing her back? Then again, his rivals were only wolves.

“Don’t underestimate wolves,” the oracle said. “And do try to get her to mate you as soon as possible so you can have the collar off. Of course, you can always call if you’re in trouble. I’m sure you have friends that are willing to help.” Her smile quirked up at the corner. “Then again, I know how capable you are, Citrine. I have every hope of your success.”

He grumbled to himself under his breath as the collar was placed around his neck. If this was what it took to get back Robbie, then so be it.

She was his, and no amount of restraint would stop him. No wolves for that matter, either.

He eyed the oracle warily when the collar was on. He’d been on her good side, one of her favorites, for so long that it was odd and uncomfortable suddenly being disciplined.

But he knew considering how Adrien and Sever had gotten hurt, he deserved it.

“Don’t be silly,” the oracle said. “You’re still one of my favorites. Now get out there and say good-bye to your friends. They’re worried about you.”

That’s right. They were friends. Somehow, through the club, he’d come to like the noble metal dragons, as much as he pretended to be bothered by them.

He owed them an explanation and a proper good-bye. At least until he brought Robbie back to see them.



Sever stared at Citrine in amusement as he told Adrien, Kelsey, Dante, Ella, and himself about the trip he’d be taking to see Robbie.

Of course they’d all known about the tension going on between Citrine and Robbie the whole time, so the only person who was actually surprised was Citrine himself.

“I’m sorry about the club, too,” Citrine said, bowing his head. “It’s going to take a while to rebuild.”

“It’s okay,” Adrien said. He’d been oddly relaxed the longer he’d been around Kelsey, and now that they were properly mated (having presumably sealed the deal the day before), he was downright gushy.

Sever rolled his eyes as Adrien and Kelsey cuddled close, but deep down, he couldn’t be happier for his friends.

“Sever can come to stay with us,” Kelsey said, and Adrien nodded. “We’ve already picked a mansion, and there’s plenty of room. Just until we can get the club running and Citrine back and find your mate.”

“I already have an idea,” Sever said, patting something in the breast pocket of his leather jacket.

“What’s that?” Dante asked, stepping closer. Dante was also behaving grossly now that he was with Ella, so happy it was almost sickening. Yet Sever wanted it for himself, even if he knew he was never going to find it.

He pulled the letter he’d been saving out of his pocket and held it out to the others.

Adrien took it. “What is this?”

“We had someone write in from the middle of nowhere. A tiny rural area. She needs help with her ranch and someone to pretend to be her fiancé because people are butting in. She needs a man around, and I’m prepared to provide it. It will at least give me something to do while I wait for the club to be rebuilt.”

Adrien frowned, reading the note. “But you don’t know anything about this girl. What if it’s a trap?”

“I think I can handle myself. It’s the middle of nowhere. All they have out there is cows,” Sever said, folding his massive arms. “I’m going to be fine, and that way I’m not having to hang around either pair of you lovebirds.”