I walked into the kitchen. My eyes found Audrina’s, she looked upset about something. “I know what you are, or have a general idea.”
I sucked in a breath, “What are you talking about?”
She looked down at her hands, “I saw your mark on him. I know you’re something supernatural. You have to leave him. Neither of you are safe as long as you’re together.”
“What do you mean? How do you know that?”
She moved her hair and shirt aside, showing a slightly sunken mark on her neck from a shifter. “Because Nicholas’s father, his real father, was a dragon and my family killed him.”
“Why did they kill him?”
“I come from a family of hunters. My maiden name is Northcott,” I sucked in a breath, “Please they can’t find out about Viola or Nicholas.”
“If you’ve been marked, you know I can’t leave him. I can promise he is safe with me. You guys are too.”
“So you’re a dragon? You can’t promise you can keep all of us safe.”
“All supers are protective of their mates, but yes I’m a dragon. Tell me, are you still hunting?”
Her eyes filled with tears, but she shook her head, “I quit as soon as I found Niklas. The kids were at a friend’s house when my brother stopped by unannounced and saw the mark. He didn’t wait for an explanation, he just attacked. Niklas had him bested until Phillip shot him full of oil and sliced his throat.” Her tears spilled over, “It nearly killed me, but having the kids to think about helped. I packed us up and moved here. I haven’t spoken to my family since.”
“Does Fox know?”
“No. Viola only knows Fletcher isn’t her dad.”
“And neither of them has ever exhibited signs of their dragon emerging?”
“No. I figured they didn’t have one, that maybe they were human like me.”
“Maybe, but our dragons only show themselves if they’re raised around other dragons. I wasn’t raised by my parents or around my own kind, so my dragon didn’t show herself until I was seventeen.”
“Why weren’t you raised by your parents?”
“My uncle attempted to destroy our clan. He killed my grandparents, my mom, and his mate, my aunt. Those that survived went into hiding or were captured by him. The loss drove my dad insane for a while. By the time he got back in control he thought it was safer to leave me where I was until he made sure it was safe for me to come home.”
She grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze, “I’m so sorry.”
I squeezed her hand back, “It’s okay. It happened a long time ago.”
“Promise me you can keep him safe,” she said, wiping her face.
“I can only promise to do everything in my power,” I said.
She nodded, “That will have to be enough. Please don’t tell him,” I opened my mouth to protest but she stopped me with her hand, “It should come from me. Please.”
I shut my mouth and nodded, “I can’t keep it from him forever, but I’ll give you some time to figure out how to tell him.” She gave me a confused look, “We mind link a lot. He’s privy to a lot of my thoughts regardless of if I want him to know or not. I thought it was normal, but the look on your face tells me it’s because of his dragon blood.”
She nodded her understanding, “I’ll let you get back out there. I’ll be out there in a little while. I’m just going to freshen up.”
I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a squeeze. She returned my hug before releasing me. I walked back outside, Fox was waiting for me near the door, “He’s been there the whole time, like a damn love sick puppy.”
I smiled, “Suds just wait until you find a girlfriend. The stories I have for her.” Fox said, looking me over for any signs on what Audrina wanted to talk about, but I gave him no hints, “You okay?” He whispered low so only I could hear him.
I nodded and kissed his cheek, “She just wanted to chat.”
He still looked concerned but let it go. Audrina came out a little while later right around the time Fletcher finished up the last of the food. We settled in to eat and conversation passed easily between us, with the siblings bickering more often than they just talked to one another.
We were in the middle of eating dessert in the living room when a knock sounded on the front door. Fletcher answered the door, I eavesdropped on the conversation. “You aren’t welcome here, Phillip.”
“Good to see you too Fletcher. I’m here to see my sister. We have things we need to discuss,” he said, “Audrina! We need to talk. Get out here!”
His voice easily reached us without supernatural hearing. Audrina’s eyes widened in fear and she looked at me. She barely shook her head as if to tell me she didn’t call him here. She masked the fear on her face quickly, racing to the front door. “What do you want, Phillip?” She asked quietly.
“It’s a private family matter,” I assumed he looked over at Fletcher trying to get him to go away; it worked because soon Fletcher was back in the room with us. “You need to come back. It’s been long enough. You’re needed. Our numbers are low and we need every possible person in the field.”
“No. After what you did I’ll never trust you again. They aren’t what we thought they were, what we were taught they were. Niklas was the kindest man I’ve ever known and he never would’ve hurt me, yet you saw my mark and killed him before you even got a chance to ask any questions. I almost died because of that. Did you know that?”
“I didn’t but you know I had to, right?”
“Like hell you did!” She shouted.
“Calm down Audrina. You’re happily married now with three kids and a grandson. You wouldn’t have any of them if I hadn’t killed your precious dragon.”
“You’ve been watching us,” she said in a breathless voice.
“You think you can just leave and that’s the end of it. No. We know everything about your life and theirs. You and your kids will join us or suffer the consequences. In fact let me introduce myself now so that we’re all acquainted.”
“‘No! You can’t-”
He must have pushed past her because in just a moment he was in the living room with us. “What’s up guys? I’m Phillip, your uncle. I would’ve met you sooner but I had other obligations.” He went around shaking everyone’s hand, getting their name as if he didn’t know it already. He got to me and Fox introduced me and I saw his eyes narrow just a fraction, “Amaya?”
“Yes?”
He chuckled insincerely, “I meant what’s your last name?”
“Drake.”
Author: Kailan Counahan 