“We’re debating.”

“What’s to debate? That scum partnered with pirates to kidnap children so that he could steal Fairy Island from a peaceful commune of fairies and mages. And all because he wants to expand his drug-dealing empire.”

“That drug-dealing empire is the problem,” he told her.

“Because too many younger mages of the magic dynasties buy his drugs?”

“Yes. And some older ones too.”

“Politics.” Sera sighed. “Is the Council at least going to finally clean up Angel Island now?”

“Yes, I managed to convince them to do that. A place like that would make the perfect hiding spot for the Grim Reaper’s people. We can’t afford having those hiding spots so close to us, not now.”

She nodded and looked down the pizza box. She sighed when she found it empty.

“Wait here,” Kai told her, standing.

He disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a cheesecake. A seductive aroma uncurled from the cake, promising of delights sweet and delicious. Sera tried not to drool all over herself as he set it down before her on the coffee table.

“Wait,” she said, her voice barely a croak. She set her hands on his before he could cut into their dessert.

He gave her a curious look.

“I want to talk to you.” She tore her gaze from the cake. “Actually, I’ve been wanting to talk to you for awhile, ever since New York. But then that thing with Alden happened. I let him get to me, let his false visions affect me. I was scared.” She looked up at him. “Truth be told, I still am.”

He took her hand.

“But I can’t let that stand in the way anymore. If we’re going to work together to take Alden down… And now Darksire the Destroyer is back too.”

Kai pulled out his phone. “Darksire is alive?”

“Apparently so. He’s the one who wanted the hybrid children. Is that significant?”

His fingers zipped across the screen, probably texting his commandos. “I don’t know. Maybe. He and Alden have a history.”

“What kind of history?”

“A bloody one. Sometimes working together, sometimes against each other.” He set his phone on the table. “I sent the guys to my family’s private library. It has a more varied selection of supernatural history than the Council keeps. The Council’s books are so…”

“One-sided?”

“Yes. They never made an effort to collect works from the more eccentric authors.” He took her hands again. “But we’ll worry about Darksire and Alden tomorrow. You wanted to tell me something.”

“Yes.” She looked at her hands—at his hands around her hands. “If we’re going to be together… Kai, I… I need to trust you.”

“And do you trust me?” he asked.

“Yes. I do.” Her heart thumped. “And I need your help. I need you to help me unlock my magic. You told me of a ritual that could do that. Something we could do away from others. Away from the Council. Will you help me?”

She watched him closely, but he didn’t pull away. His face was unreadable.

“Yes,” he said finally. “But you’re too strong. The Magic Games didn’t crack you. The ritual will only work if you don’t fight me. Your stubbornness is legendary.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, smiling. She poked one of the forks on the table.

“That’s not all?” he asked, watching her.

“No.” She slid the toe of her boot across the rug, displacing the decorative tassels. “There’s more.” She looked around the room—from the cheesecake, to the windows, to the kitchen. Basically, at everything but him.

Stalling won’t make it any easier.

I know, she sighed.

Sera drew in a deep breath, collecting her courage. Finally, she looked at Kai. “You know I’m different. My magic is different. Because I was born different.”

He nodded, his face still painted that unreadable shade.

Sera looked down at her hands. “Because I am Dragon Born,” she whispered.

As the final word escaped her mouth, she looked up, meeting his eyes. His face was granite, his blue eyes as solid as the Arctic. He watched her for a few moments before he spoke. His voice was hardly louder than hers, hardly audible over her pounding pulse.

“I know.”

“How?” she gasped. “When?”

“I’ve suspected it for awhile. Your abilities, the combination of them, the power of them—it’s unique. But it wasn’t until you told me about your confrontation with Alden that I was sure. You broke his mind control. No mage has ever done that. No mage except the Dragon Born. You are the key to defeating him, Sera.”

She blinked at him. “So you’re not going to turn me in?”

He snorted, a hint of steam puffing out. “Of course not. That would be idiotic.”

“But the Council—”

“I don’t give a shit about some stupid rule the Magic Council of long ago made,” he snapped. “I care about you.” He took her hands, his hold possessive. Protective. “And if anyone on the Magic Council of today comes for you, they will have to deal with me too.”

“Kai, I…” Yeah, what? She kissed him once, gently on his lips. “Thank you.”

“You aren’t a monster,” he told her. “Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you are. The only part of you that’s a threat to the Council is your smart mouth.” His finger traced her lips. “You are powerful, but your heart is kind. Pure.” His gaze grazed her body, his magic sizzled her senses. He cupped his hands around her cheeks, pulling her face close. His lips brushed against hers. “I love you, Serafina Dering, and I will fight with you to the end.”