Georgie grabbed my hand and led me in Connie’s direction, “Why does Jax call you Little Duck?”
I swung our hands as we walked, “When he and I met, I was using the last name Drake, which I found funny because it means dragon, but he took it as what you call a male duck and started calling me Little Duck as a result.”
Georgie giggled, “Jax is silly. I like him.”
I chuckled, “He is silly. I like him too.”
“But what about Fox?” He asked seriously.
I laughed, “I can be friends with Jax and still be mates with Fox.”
“Good. I don’t think Jax’s mate would like it if you tried to steal her mate, and I like Fox too.”
We made it to where Connie was, when she saw me she hustled over, and wrapped me in a hug, “Thank you for bringing them home.”
I returned her hug, “Any time. I’m just happy I was able to save them.” I pulled back, “I was wondering if you might know about their things. There’s Finley, Johnny and Clarie Easton, and Logan.”
“Finley? She was there?” I nodded and tears spilled from her eyes, “Sh-she was the leader of the rebellion. I-we thought Joseph had her killed and dumped in the jungle.”
“He did something much worse than that. He took her voice.”
Connie’s heart broke before my eyes, “Do you think she’ll heal?”
“I don’t know. We’ll know more once she’s seen by Kachina or Lavi. One good thing happened, she found her mate.”
Her face lit up just slightly, “Who?”
I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, “Jace. It makes sense she’s a leader, I would bet anything her dragon is probably as big as ours are as well.”
“Your dragon is big?” Georgie asked.
“All storm dragons are typically larger than others, some are even the same size as the royal dragons, but none of the royal dragons match the size of storm dragon royals or their mates,” I explained to him.
“So I’ll be a big dragon one day?” He asked.
“Yes, Little Dragon, you’ll be a big dragon one day.” I ruffled his hair, “Connie, what about their stuff?”
“Oh! Yes. Joseph wanted their things thrown away. We hoped somehow they were still alive and would find their way back, so we saved some of their things,” she led Georgie and I to a small building. Once inside she walked over to a corner and began prying up the wooden floor. I walked over to help her, we started pulling their things from the hole in the floor. “This is the last of it,” she said, pulling out the last few items.
Georgie grabbed as much as he could carry, making us both laugh, “Are you sure you can carry all of that, Little Dragon?” He nodded enthusiastically, “Okay. Let’s head back to them so they can sort through their things.”
We walked up to where they’re all standing, Jace and Finley included. “Whatcha got there, cus?”
“It’s the stuff Connie and the others saved from Joseph,” I told them.
Connie put down the things at their feet, “I wish we could’ve saved more. I wi-wish-” Connie broke down completely, Finley and I both rushed to her side.
I put an arm around her and Finley cupped her face, wiping the tears away and bringing it up so that Connie had to look at her. She shook her head and gestured to the things and patted her heart. I smiled at my mother’s matchmaking skills.
Connie calmed down at her hand signals, and I looked at Finley, “Leader of the rebellion huh?” She looked startled and worried, “Thank you for doing something for our people. Jace is lucky to have you as a mate, and he better remember it. I’m not above kicking my little cousin’s ass.”
She silently laughed and nodded her understanding while Jace groaned loudly behind her. “Amaya I swear to the gods I will replace every piece of clothing you own with bright pink shirts and pants. Even your mission clothes.”
I growled, “You wouldn’t.”
He smirked, “I already have an Amazon folder set up with everything I’m going to buy you.”
“That’s disturbing,” I said, turning and walking over to Jax who was still with our mystery wolf. “Any change?”
He shook his head, “I thought he would wake up by now. Even Alanza’s sister has woken up, so why not him? His wolf is still strong, he should’ve woken up by now.”
“His body is probably still trying to heal from the poisons. He’ll wake up soon.” I reassured him, “I’m going to go find Fox. Let me know when he wakes up.”
“I think he’s with the other SEALs.”
I nodded and walked in the general direction of where I last saw the SEALs. I sniffed around and finally found the SEALs without Fox. I walked up to them, “Have you guys seen Fox?”
“Yeah, he said he needed to think about some things. I think he’s walking around the edge of the village.” Matthew said, “Trouble in paradise?”
“Fuck off, Alverez,” I said before walking away. I walked to the edge of the village, and followed his scent until I found him. “Hey! Fox, wait up.”
He let out a sigh but stopped walking so I could catch up to him. “I can’t do this. I thought that I could, but how can I help you lead these people when they’ve gone through that?”
“The same way I can even though Joseph is my uncle, or Jace can even though Joseph is his father. These people have suffered under my uncle’s hand, and yet they’re still willing to give my father and I a shot. Georgie’s parents were killed by hunters, just a few months ago. Did you know that?” He shook his head, “He still got worried for you when I mentioned that I liked Jax. He was defensive for you because he likes you. These people have been through so much, yes, but we’re nothing if not hardy creatures. All you have to do is prove to them you aren’t like the hunters. You’re already on your way with what you did with Johnny. Instead of getting defensive you immediately apologized, that said so much about your character to them. Please don’t do this.”
“Are you absolutely sure I’m your mate? How can you accept me after what you went through? I saw all of your scars and then on top of it all you were raped.”
“I am sure. I can accept you because I know who you are. You aren’t those men who did this to me or to them. The goddess doesn’t make mistakes. She knew what was going to happen and paired us together for a reason. Don’t give up on that.”
“Amaya. He’s awake,” Jax’s voice rang in my head.
I groaned aloud. Fox raised an eyebrow, “Jax just mind linked me. The wolf we rescued is finally awake. We’re not done,” he nodded so I turned and ran for Jax and the unknown wolf.
“What’s your name?” I heard Jax asking.
“What’s yours?” An unknown voice shot back.
“What about a pack then? Somewhere we can drop you off? Emphasis on the drop.”
“Jax, cut it out,” I said walking up to them.
“Yeah Jax cut it out,” the wolf said.
“Fucking hell. I can’t deal with this right now. What’s your name and what pack do you belong to?” I asked, my frustration evident in my tone.
“Okay okay. My name is Esteban Sáez. I’m the son of the alpha of the Two Rivers Pack,” Esteban finally told us.
“You’re the son of an alpha and this is how you act?” Jax asked incredulously.
I looked at him in complete disbelief, “Jax you’re the son of a king and look at how you act. Thank the gods you two are on separate continents. The heavens knew what they were doing when they did that.”
They both looked at me completely offended, “What does that mean?” They asked at the same time.
“Seriously? You’re the exact same person. You two could switch places and no one would notice.”
“We are not!” They said at the same time again.
“Whatever you guys say. Where exactly is your pack so we can get you home and to your healer?”
“If you go northwest 40 miles you should hit our pack boundary.”
“How were you captured?”
He let out a long sigh, “Not my proudest moment. I was trying to do recon on them and I was caught in one of their traps. They put me under with wolfsbane and I honestly haven’t been that coherent since I was captured. Until now that is.”
“Okay I say we load him up in the basket and you carry us there,” Jax said cheerfully.
“This is going to become a thing isn’t it?” I said to him.
“Well I don’t want to run there! I’ll be too tired to contribute anything to the conversation!”
“What happened to that crazy display you put on when we got back here?”
“Psshhh I don’t know what you’re talking about. Display? Come on, let’s go.”
I rolled my eyes so hard I was surprised they didn’t get stuck in the back of my head. We loaded Esteban back into the basket and I moved it out of my way so I could shift. After I stripped down, I handed my clothes to Jax, and I allowed my shift to happen.
I flew up, grabbing the basket as I went. Once we got up in the air, Niamh let out a loud cry. “Amaya? Are you okay?” Jax asked through mind link.
“Yeah. Niamh is just upset,” I linked back.
“I’m here if you want to talk, Little Duck,” I stayed silent as Niamh and I flew us to Esteban’s pack.
It was a quick trip when we got close, I lowered us. I heard something speeding through the air and just barely dodged a large iron spear. “Hold on guys,” I linked to Jax as I banked hard again to avoid another one.
“What the fuck is going on, Amaya?”
“Esteban’s pack isn’t dragon friendly apparently.”
“He says he doesn’t understand why they’re doing this. They haven’t done this in the past.”
I tried to bank around another one, but it still sliced through my wing. Niamh cried out as we started to fall. I bent the basket closed and twisted my body so that I fell on my back with the basket wrapped in my legs and wings. We hit the ground hard but managed to avoid any of the buildings.
They were on us immediately, throwing an iron net over us. Niamh growled loudly as she burned through the net. We set the basket down, opening it back up, and standing up, shaking off the dirt. A man came out with an iron spear, he launched the spear at us, I bent it easily into the ground. Niamh growled before letting out a roar.
Finally Esteban shouted from the basket, “What the fuck is going on? Why are you attacking her?”
“Esteban?” A woman’s voice rang out, as more spears were brought out, “Stand down. Stand down!” She shouted the orders, walking up to us. Niamh growled low, never one to forgive or forget quickly. “You brought my son back to me. Please, I am sorry for attacking you. Please shift so that we may speak.”
“Niamh it’s okay. I’ll call on you if or when I need you. Relinquish control,” she let out a warning growl to those around us before allowing me to shift. There were gasps and murmurs through the crowd that had gathered, “Jax can you bring me my clothes please?”
“Sure thing Little Duck,” he replied, walking out of the basket and handing them to me. I slipped into them quickly as Esteban’s mother and pack watched me carefully.
“Your son is in rough shape. He needs your healer. We pulled what silver we could from his system and our healer helped dissipate the wolfsbane that was in his system.”
She called for a wolf, who I assumed was the healer, and they came forward as well as two of the warriors. “How did you pull the silver from him?”
I shrugged, “One of the many gifts from my goddess.”
She nodded her understanding, “Come, let’s speak in my office.” We walked the short distance to the pack house and followed her into her office. “What are your names and affiliations?” She asked directly.
“My name is Amaya Wardwell.”
She looked at Jax expectantly, “Alex Jackson, Prince of the American Packs, and second in line for alpha in the Pacific Moon Pack.”
“What does that make you, Ms Wardwell?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.
I chose to ignore the insinuating look, and answered the obvious question she was asking rather than the subtle one, “Princess of the Storm Dragons. What’s your name and title?”
“Marina Sáez, Alpha of the Twin Rivers Pack,” she gave us both a challenging stare daring us to say something about her title.
“Why did your pack attack me?”
“We don’t have the best relationship with dragons. We thought you were coming to destroy our buildings like the other one.”
“Yes and I packed myself a giant picnic to enjoy afterwards.” Jax snorted, “Unless the dragon is actually hostile you shouldn’t attack it. You could cause the human side to lose control. An out of control dragon can destroy more than one that’s completely in control. Mine definitely wanted to harm, if not kill, the people who had hurt her and she’s still not feeling too kindly toward you.”
She nodded, “It won’t happen again. You were held by hunters?”
“Yes. The hunters that held your son have been killed. I made them suffer and Joseph will suffer before he is killed as well, for his part in all of this.”
“We should get to spill his blood,” she said with a growl.
Jax and I kept our faces straight and calm but my voice came out as cold as ice, “He murdered my grandparents, my mother, and my aunt, his own mate. He decimated our numbers and kidnapped dozens of my clanmates to torture, murder, and starve just so he could play at being king. I am sorry for what destruction he brought down on your people, but he will be tried and punished according to dragon law by my father. If you try to stop that from happening, I will see to it you are held accountable. Vengeance will be had but not by your hand.”
She growled and I saw her wolf close to the surface, “Marina control your wolf,” Jax commanded her, pushing his dominance onto her.
She begrudgingly showed her neck in submission, “Do you plan to stay in Venezuela with your people?”
“No. We’re taking them home.”
“We? Are you two mates then?”
“No,” Jax and I said at the same time neither of us elaborated further. “If we’re done here, we have a lot to do and less and less time to do it.”
“Yes I believe we are done, since you aren’t willing to budge on your stance regarding your uncle.”
“No I won’t. It isn’t my call anyway. Thanks so much for your hospitality,” Jax snorted again and Marina sent me what I was sure was a withering glare to anyone else.
We walked out of the office and were greeted by two warriors. They escorted us back to the square and kept watch as I undressed and shifted. Niamh’s snowy white back was still painted red and brown with blood and dirt from the fall. We bent the dirt off and inspected the torn wing. “Seems okay?” Niamh more asked than asserted.
“Super. Loving the confidence,” I said back.
I bent the ground where we landed back to flat. “That was thoughtful,” Jax chimed in through the mind link.
“Yeah well moral high ground and all of that. Get in the basket already, I’m ready to get out of this place,” I linked back.
“Alright alright I’m going,” he got inside and I bent the door shut and the handle back on it. Soon enough we were on our way back to the village.
Author: Kailan Counahan 