Scales and Flames

by Catherine Banks

  “Just taking care of a problem. Now I'm all yours,” I say with a smile.

  “Oh, gag me, bro. I always thought you'd be more pleasant once you got laid, but don't make me sick,” Dave says as he enters the room.

  I keep my eyes on Leah. Just ignore him like he isn't even here. If you engage, he won't leave.

  Leah starts laughing, and Dave just shakes his head. Eventually, he walks out the door since we aren’t paying him any attention. “See?” I reply, waggling my eyebrows.

  She grabs one of the containers and starts eating. “Behave,” she giggles, pointing a French fry at me. I quickly eat it from her fingers, and she squeals.

  Jacob walks in a short while later, a little stunned by the scene. “Oh, hey guys.”

  “See, I told you he just needed to get laid,” Dave yells from his office down the hall.

  “As much fun as this is, I need to head back to work. I've been gone longer than I had planned. Stephanie may kill me,” she says, walking over and pecking me on the lips.

  “Love you, I'll pick you up from work. Okay?” I say.

  She smiles in response and struts out the door, knowing I'm watching her every step.

  “I'm so glad you've found someone. You deserve it,” Jacob says.

  “Me too, but we have a long road ahead. She is something important. Obviously to me, but also to our race. Her appearance proves that elders need to be removed,” I say solemnly.

  Jacob gives me a sad grin. “Don't worry. We will all have yours and Leah’s backs,” he vows.

  I clamp a hand down on his shoulder, then grab my food and head to the office. Leah gets off at three, so I need to get some work done.

  Nineteen

  Leah

  I get back to work and the diner is slammed, so I quickly grab my notepad and take orders.

  After an hour, I hear the doorbell ring, and look up to find my father staring right at me. What the hell is he doing here?

  He walks over to the booth I'm next to and grabs a menu. Stephanie walks over to take his order, but he just looks at her. “I'd like her to take my order,” he states, completely dismissing her.

  I act like I'm refilling a drink and say, “I'll be right there.”

  Stephanie walks over to me. “What the hell?”

  “Stephanie, call Brayden. That's my dad, and this isn't good,” I say quietly, and immediately walk away.

  I drop off the refill and head over to my father. “What can I get you?” I ask.

  “Oh, stop with this. You're coming with me now,” he says.

  “No, sorry. I'm working right now,” I answer.

  “If you don't leave right this second, without making a scene, Sean is going to be in some real pain,” he says.

  My eyes widen. Oh no, not my baby brother. How did Dad even find me? “Fine. Just… don't hurt him,” I say.

  He gets up and I follow, looking for Stephanie, but I can't find her anywhere. We walk out of the building, and an SUV with dark tinted windows is sitting there. He heads over to the passenger door, and holds it open for me, indicating I should get in.

  I do as he asks, and he follows right behind me. Immediately, I smell blood, and find Sean bound and gagged. Tears cloud my vision, but I know crying will only make things worse.

  The car begins moving, and all hope of Brayden saving me is left behind.

  “Leah, now why would you run out on your family? Did you not think I'd find you?” he asks.

  I stay silent, not wanting to give him any answers. “Did you not think I'd have my most prized possession followed?” he questions, waiting for an answer.

  Oh, crap. No, I didn't. That's why I felt like I was being watched that day. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. If I get hysterical, I won't be able to think straight.

  “How did you know to where to find me?” I ask.

  “Well, it took a little persuasion, but your brother finally broke.” He grins viciously. “Then the redhead at the construction company told me where you worked.”

  What the hell? I look over at Sean and take inventory. Much to my chagrin, I see he's missing two fingers on his left hand.

  “Why are you so cruel? We’re your children,” I whisper.

  He starts laughing maniacally. “At one point, I tried, but then someone showed me the truth about you beasts. I learned that your mother was a fucking dragon. Apparently a powerful one, that we must keep hidden. Finally, she got sick and died off,” he replies.

  “What do you mean, at one point you tried?” I ask.

  “I'm not your dad, Leah. Really? You aren't very smart. I met your mom shortly after Sean was born, and she lured me into loving her. You all aren't meant to shift. You all are an abomination,” he says.

  My entire life shatters. Everything was a lie. No wonder he didn't want to spend money on Mom’s treatments. He knew it wouldn't work.

  The car suddenly slows, and I see that we pulled up to a large boat. Several buff men start walking toward us, and my fake dad looks at me. “You're about to pay off a ton of my gambling debts. Luckily, they still want you. They say dragon shifters make the best lovers,” he sneers.

  The door opens, and the men are pulling me out of the car, and toward the boat. The car takes off, and I'm fighting tooth and nail. I know if I get on the boat, the chances of me escaping are slim to none.

  One finally grumbles, “Stop struggling. We are dragons too, so you won't be getting away. The elders have requested your presence, so be grateful.”

  Yeah, that doesn't sound good. Especially since I'm supposed to be leading a rebellion against them.

  As we are stepping on the boat, a large growl echoes through the air.

  “Oh, hell. She's mated with someone,” the guy on the left says.

  At that, my golden dragon swoops down from the sky and heads in our direction. Relief pulses through me as one of the guys grabs both of my arms and the other prepares to engage Brayden.

  The one in front shifts quickly into his beast form, but Brayden is already on him before he can take flight. They snap and bite, and the guy is bleeding from his wing.

  The one holding me starts dragging me to the ship, hollering for them to open the door. Brayden goes hysterical, and snaps the neck of the dragon he's fighting.

  “Oh, shit!” the one holding me exclaims.

  Before I realize what's happening, Brayden rams the guy and picks me up in his arms. I hear more roaring coming from the sky, and see that the clan is coming to protect me.

  Brayden flies up, and I project, He’s got my brother!

  What? He asks, caught off guard.

  Gwen told my dad where I worked. He came and told me he'd hurt my brother if I didn't leave. He cut his fingers off because of me, I explain, tears filling my eyes.

  Which way did they go, Leah?

  We are so high up in the air, I can see their car, and point. He starts flying in that direction, and a black dragon appears beside us. I can immediately sense it's Stephanie.

  He passes me off to her, and goes even faster. We follow behind and I watch him barrel into the car, making it swerve off the road. The car spins and slams to a sudden stop.

  My golden savior yanks the door off the car, and pulls my brother out. Leah, tell Stephanie to get your brother, and you all head back to the house.

  I repeat the message to Stephanie and luckily, she's strong enough to carry both of us. I know what Brayden plans to do and, after seeing what my dad is truly capable of, I leave him to it.

  We get back home, and Stephanie shifts back as I help Sean in the house. Tears are pouring down my cheeks as I untie him and see the shape he's in. I never should have left him.

  His pointer and middle fingers are gone, and he has tremors wreaking havoc on his body. “I'm so sorry, Leah. I didn't mean to tell him, but I was in so much pain, it slipped out. Please don't hate me!” he cries.

  I wrap my arms around him and hear Stephanie walk in. “No, I'm sorry. I should never have left. I wou
ld never have, if I had known he was going to do this to you,” I reply.

  “No, you should have. Those men surrounded me as soon as they realized you got on the bus. I'm glad you did. You wouldn't have been able to escape,” he explains.

  I look at his mangled hands. Stephanie squeezes my shoulder. “Now that he is here around the Falls, his fingers will grow back. One of the perks of being a dragon,” she states.

  I look up in surprise, and Sean’s eyes widen. “Wait, were you that dragon?” he asks.

  She nods her head.

  “But I wasn’t scared,” he continues.

  “It's because your dragon knew that I was there to help,” she answers.

  “Wait, my dragon? And my fingers will grow back?” he replies.

  I reach out and touch him. “Yes, we are both dragon shifters. Apparently, he wasn't our real father, and was only a stand-in.”

  “Thank God. I always thought I was an awful person for hating my own father,” he breathes.

  In that moment, Brayden bursts through the door.

  Twenty

  Brayden

  I killed him. That piece is shit was working for a large clan of dragons, and was selling her to the elders. My inner beast enjoyed putting him down.

  However, I need to see Leah now and make sure she's okay. I fly past the boat and see my brothers handling the situation.

  I get home, shift, and throw some clothes on. I rush through the door and immediately pull Leah in my arms. Then I notice her brother, watching the interaction. He is the spitting image of Leah, and is beaten up badly. He has some fingers missing, thanks to that piece of shit trying to find my mate. He's also looking at me very strangely, but wisely doesn't say a word.

  I loosen my grip slightly, so I can look her in the eyes. “Don't ever scare me like that again,” I beg.

  “Brayden, it was the elders. The elders want me,” she whispers.

  Oh, hell. Somehow, they know about her. “They are wanting to get to you before you rise into your role,” I hiss.

  My brothers walk in at this point. “Who is wanting Leah?” Dave asks.

  “The elders. We must get ready to fight. They are actually the ones bringing the war,” I declare.

  Leah stands up. “Brayden, you have to teach me. I didn't even think to change tonight. I'm not in sync with my animal side. If I'm really to be the fae dragon, I need your help. Make me who I need to be,” she states with conviction.

  As much as I want to protect her, I know that teaching her is ultimately the best way.

  “Whoa, Leah. What are you talking about? You've just gotten your first boyfriend, and now you're talking about going to war?” her brother asks, frowning.

  “I am her mate. She is mine, and it is our destiny,” I growl.

  Leah pulls away and walks over to him. “Sean, it’s true. Brayden is my mate and the leader of this clan. What those dragons are doing is wrong. We can't sit back and let them manipulate everyone,” she explains.

  He takes a deep breath and looks deep into my eyes. He nods his head, coming to some kind of conclusion.

  “Fine, then I'd like to shift and stand next to you all,” her brother declares.

  Alright, looks like I've got some whelps to train. “We'll start first thing in the morning,” I promise.

  All I know is nothing bad will happen to my mate. I'll make sure of it.

  The End

  ABOUT JEN L. GREY

  Jen L. Grey is a USA Today Bestselling Author who writes young adult paranormal, fantasy, and urban fantasy.

  Jen lives in Tennessee with her husband, two daughters, and toy Australian Shephard. Before she started writing, she was an avid reader and enjoyed being involved in the indie community. Her love for books eventually led her to writing and running a blog with one of her close friends. For more information, please visit her website and sign up for her newsletter.

  Read More from Jen L. Grey

  https://www.jenlgrey.com

  THE SEER’S DESTINY BY NICOLE KELLEY

  The Seer’s Destiny by Nicole Kelley

  Finding out she is half-seer, Nyla must face her new reality. Not knowing whether this is a blessing or a curse and discovering hidden secrets, she is determined to find answers. Her search leads her to a place of powerful magic and all things supernatural; a place called Vixen Falls. Nyla’s life will forever be changed when she meets the mysterious dragon shifter plaguing her every dream. This begins the journey to her destiny.

  The Seer’s Destiny © Copyright 2018 Nicole Kelley

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Created with Vellum

  Prologue

  Kyran

  11 years ago

  As I stride toward my office on the twentieth floor, headquarters for Acker Strategic, a sudden tingling wracks my entire body; it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. The sensation of goosebumps pebbling over my flesh overtakes me, all the way to the bone, embedded within me. I come to a stop in the doorway, allowing myself to adjust to this change. This revelation. I’ve spent the last two hundred and twenty-nine years of my existence unsure if I could ever find true happiness. With the duties my position holds, I’d be more likely to have an arranged mating.

  But now I know she exists; my true mate.

  Maura, my secretary, looks over at me with concern in her eyes.

  “Are you alright, sir?” she asks in a sultry voice.

  “Fine,” I reply, in a clipped tone. Yes, I sound like an asshole, but I didn’t amass this much power by being sweet.

  I continue into my corner office, with a far-off view of Vixen Falls, take a seat at my desk and start up my computer. Running a billion dollar financial planning company makes me a very busy, but wealthy, man. I’m pulling up my calendar to see what my day looks like, another full schedule, when my door flies open, and Callum walks in.

  “Good Morning, Ky.” He looks at his Bvlgari watch and glances back up at me. “Running late today.”

  He’s a fucking prick, but so am I. “It’s 7:00. I’m surprised you’re even in the office.” We each give as good as we get.

  He ignores my dig. “I’m heading to the club tonight, to check up on business. Will I see you there?”

  “Yeah, I need to.” It’s been too long and I need to start making time to appease my beast more regularly. When I raise my gaze to him, he’s scrolling through emails on his phone.

  His gaze meets mine, as if he can sense my stare.

  “What’s on your mind, brother?”

  Hiding my problems is easier for me. Hesitation weighs my pause, but he has been my friend since childhood. If I can’t trust him, then who can I trust? I fill him in about what I experienced this morning, and my concerns about the implications it could have.

  We sit in silence for a moment, both lost in our own thoughts, when he breaks the quiet.

  “Have you tried connecting with her?”

  Leaning back into my chair, I sigh. “There’s nothing there to connect with. I come up against an impenetrable mental block with every effort.”

  His eyebrows furrow. “What about using our connections with the witches?”

  Damn. Why d
idn’t I think about that? “That could work. I’ll have Maura set up a meeting with the coven leader. They owe me a favor.”

  One

  Nyla

  Present Day

  “No!”

  I scream into the quiet, empty room. A cool, bead of sweat trickles down my forehead as tremors and sobs wrack my body. The vision of a man, if I could call him that, being killed has been afflicting my nights for over a month now. Sleep is a distant memory I desperately crave. There’s no going back to sleep now, so I reach over and turn on the lamp. Its soft light giving the room a warm, relaxing glow. I glance at the clock, and see it’s almost time to get ready for work, but after such an intense dream I need to find my center. Meditation is my self-prescription to coping.

  Grabbing my purple mat from the corner between my dresser and wall, I unroll it on the hardwood floor, set the timer for thirty minutes, and assume the meditation pose.

  The timer blares its percussive ringtone, jarring me from my calm, relaxed state.

  What could my mother have meant? Her advice always seemed cryptic, at best. I can still hear her voice echoing in my head.

  Nyla, your dreams are sometimes more than what they seem. One day, you will understand.

  I stopped asking her what she meant after a few years because she never gave me anything more than that. It was frustrating, but now I just wish I had her here, cryptic advice and all.

  Surviving the loss of my mom six years ago was difficult. If it weren’t for my best friend, Lanie, I would probably be a recluse, other than going to work. We met in kindergarten and have been inseparable ever since. She told me, in that unfiltered way of a five-year-old, that there was something different about me and we would be best friends forever; so far, she has been accurate. We get together at least once a week…. which reminds me, I haven’t heard from her yet. I pull my phone out to text her, the time glows from the screen.