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“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

She hugs me tighter. “I’m sorry too.”

I can still smell the damage. Part of her is broken, all the way down to her wolf. I’ll spend the rest of my life getting my Aya back, stubborn spirit and all.

“The Flame is tomorrow night,” I murmur. “Will you still stand beside me?”

She stiffens in my arms. When she finally answers, her voice comes out small. “Ask me tomorrow.”

It isn’t a no. My dragon whines like it is.

She pulls back and wipes her face. “We have to go to Charity’s home and give a formal apology.”

You have got to be fucking kidding me. I’m not sorry about burning that evil witch’s shed. Smoke leaks out of my ears. When Aya glares at me and cocks her hip, I know I’ve lost.

Her scent loses its edge, and the wild berries come back sweet. “I should have never said that to you about the gossip and my namesake,” she says. “I said it to hurt you. I’m sorry.”

I shake my head. “No.”

“Yes,” Aya insists.

I smile and snap my mouth shut. She can have whatever she wants if it brings my Aya back, not this broken wolf I made with my own words.

I think back to what Uncle Jo said, that words cut deeper than any blade ever sharpened. He was right.

“I’m gonna go get a shower,” Aya says, “and then we’re going to Charity’s place to fix this.”

I’m not fucking sorry. But I’ll pretend if I have to.

Aya bursts out laughing. My scent must have given me away. She shakes her head. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Forgive me,” I blurt out. “Love me.”

“I said yes.” She pokes me in the chest. “Your dragon too.”

I groan. When she walks off, I glance over at Valek, who laughs his ass off. My uncle is having way too much fun with this. I groan even louder and drag a hand down my face. I’m mad as hell that I have to apologize to Charity, because I meant that shit.

I lower us onto Charity’s land with Aya in my arms. Wet ash and burnt wood hit my nose on the way down. She breaks away from me, but she makes sure to take my hand in hers.

Kade and Damon are already here. Charity is out in the yard with her parents, who are yelling at the sheriff and Damon. Past the cabin, the shed is nothing but a heap of black boards. It looks better that way.

I keep my eyes on Aya as she pulls me toward Charity’s parents. Her father jabs a finger at me and shouts, “Come to finish the job?”

“Desmond,” Kade warns. “Calm down. I can tell by his scent that Ezra means no harm.”

Desmond isn’t finished, but I dip my chin. Damon holds up a hand. “Let him speak.”

Charity’s father falls quiet. I turn to Aya. This is going to take a lot out of me. I don’t fucking mean it. All she has to do is smile at me, and I cave.

I face Desmond and dip my chin again. “I apologize for burning down your shed. I’ll replace it myself.”

“That’s not enough,” he snaps.

“Dad, stop,” Charity pleads.

Her father shuts his mouth. Charity steps forward with her eyes on Aya. “I’m sorry.”

“You’ve said that before,” Aya tells her. “Let’s just forget it. I won’t…”