Jason wasn’t helping them. There was no connection between them. He was simply after the treasure for himself. Maybe his bar was in trouble and he needed an injection of cash.
“Okay, Lorcan. Lead the way and I’ll lend what knowledge I can to help you find whatever it is you are looking for.” Jason pulled a heavy backpack onto his shoulders and locked the truck before he came to stand next to Lorcan.
Her son had a faraway look in his eyes, as if he could see right into the mountain. When they had first come here, Shannon had found it unnerving, now she was used to it. Jason looked unfazed by Lorcan’s behavior.
“This way.” Lorcan took a step forward with the certainty of youth. Jason indicated for Shannon to follow and he kept up the rear. She had to admit it, having the silver-haired man with them gave her some comfort. Although, she still wasn’t prepared to let her guard down. There was too much at risk.
I have trust issues, she thought with a wry smile.
Keeping her head down and her pace steady, she followed Lorcan, who didn’t utter a word as he walked, as if in a trance, along the trail that threaded its way into the mountains. As she settled into an even stride, Shannon began to appreciate her surroundings.
Under different circumstances, she’d love to come and explore the mountains at her leisure.
With Jason by her side. She shot a look over her shoulder and was greeted by an arched eyebrow. Could the man read her mind?
“How are you doing?” He looked so comfortable out here in his worn jeans and waterproof jacket.
“I’m okay.” She nodded and turned to face forward. “Do you know the mountains as well as you know the mountain roads?”
He chuckled. “I do. When I first moved to Bear Creek, before I had the idea for the bar, I used to take my pack and tromp around the mountains for days on end.”
“Sounds like you were running from something.” Shannon waited for him to answer.
He didn’t.
“When I was a child, my dad…his name is Nigel…used to disappear for weeks at a time, leaving my mom to raise me. It used to puzzle me that she didn’t seem to mind.” Shannon fell silent.
“Didn’t they get along?” Jason asked as he hurried a couple of steps forward so that he walked by her side along a wider part of the trail.
“They got along as well as my friends’ parents did. They never argued and when he came home, they always had a good relationship.” Shannon remembered how, as a child, she used to figure it was because her father never wanted a daughter. With Shannon in the house, he could never be at peace. “I used to think he was a restless soul.”
“But then you learned otherwise?” Jason asked gently.
“My mom never spoke about it. Not until she was dying.” Shannon’s voice trembled. “Only then did she tell me that my father had been a soldier. He’d joined the Army thinking he’d help people. He was young and full of ideas that the world could never live up to.”
“And so when he left the Army, he couldn’t settle.” Jason looked down at his boots as he walked along the trail. “That sounds like a very familiar story.”
“I expect it does to a lot of men and women.” She glanced sideways at him. “But you in particular?”
“Yeah.” He nodded.
“Is this one of those things you don’t want me to pry into?” The trail rose steeply in front of them and her leg muscles ached at the thought of climbing the mountain again. This was their fourth day of exploring the area that Lorcan said called him.
“It is.” He gave her a crooked smile. “I know what your dad was going through. I was a soldier. Part of my job was to help rebuild the towns and villages damaged by war.”
“That’s a very courageous job.” Shannon had no idea of the details surrounding her own father’s troubles. Only that they affected him in such a way that he never truly got over them. “But also very dangerous.”
“Someone had to help them.” He looked into the distance and fell silent.
“You must have made many friends.” Shannon watched as Lorcan suddenly stopped walking. “Everything okay, Lor?”
“I think we should go through a different valley.” He turned his head from left to right as if listening to something. “Maybe we could find a different way to reach the treasure.”
“Treasure, huh?” Jason asked although he didn’t sound surprised.
“That’s what we’re calling it, although we don’t know exactly what it is,” Shannon told him.
“That’s okay. You can call it whatever you want. I’ll still help you find it.” Jason looked up at the mountain side towering above them. “There’s a valley that runs parallel to the valley where the landslide occurred.” Jason pointed to the left of their original destination. “We could try up there.”
“I’m happy to leave this decision to you two. I have no super senses to tell me otherwise.” Did Jason have the same super senses? Would he admit it if he had?
“My senses don’t tell me anything other than there is a mountain of stone and rock up there.” Jason pointed to the peaks above. “But I also know there are lots of caves under the mountain.”
“We thought we’d found the cave yesterday,” Shannon admitted. “But we were wrong.”
“What you’re looking for could have been buried in a landslide.” Jason pointed along the ridge running between the two valleys. “The land slid down from the ridge and filled the valley to the right. A geologist friend of mine said there are written accounts of it. They say the landslide felt like an earthquake. Then a few months back we had a deluge of rain that flooded the creek. We had so much rain it loosened the soil on the ridge and more debris slid down, not just in this valley, but on other sections of the mountains, too.”
“Would the mud also have loosened the rock and silt underground?” Shannon asked. “There’s a chance there might have been a cave-in, right?”
“So the cave might be cut off?” Lorcan asked. “Because we’ve had a look around the place where I can sense the treasure, but we can’t reach it. We just found a wall of rock.” He looked kind of sheepish. “Unless I’m imagining the whole thing and my senses are playing tricks on me.”
“You’re not, I’m sure of it.” Jason sounded a little too sure and Shannon rounded on him, her hands on her hips, her chin thrust out in challenge. “The treasure you are looking for is up there.”
“How can you be so sure?” Shannon demanded.
Jason’s mouth twitched in amusement, making her temper heat up. “Because Lorcan can sense the treasure with such certainty.”
“Or he could be conjuring up this feeling inside which isn’t actually real.” She placed her hand over her heart. “There is so much at stake when it comes to finding this treasure. What if he’s just imagining it?”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Lorcan said petulantly.
“Hey, you were the one who said you might be imagining the whole thing!” Shannon protested.
“And I was expecting you to talk me down and tell me I had this.” Lorcan’s cheeks flamed red and the air seemed to shimmer around him.
“Hey!” Jason stepped forward, putting himself between Shannon and her son. “Just calm down.” He held his hands out as if to soothe Lorcan. “I’m certain you can sense the treasure.”
Jason half-turned and gave Shannon a warning look. Did he think Lorcan was a danger to her? Her stomach turned over. Jason had this all wrong, he was just being overprotective. All because he thought there was a bond between them.
“We’re fine,” Shannon assured him.
“Are you?” Jason asked pointedly.
“I’d never hurt my mom,” Lorcan insisted sharply. Then he inhaled deeply and let it out in a puff. “I get it, you want to drive a wedge between me and my mom.”
Jason relaxed and let his hands drop to his sides. “No, that’s the last thing I want to do.” He took a quick glance at Shannon as if trying to assess the situation further. As if trying to assess what exactly
she knew about her son.
“Lorcan is on the cusp of his first shift.” Shannon studied Jason’s expression.
“Ah, that’s what I thought.” Jason turned to face Lorcan. “I can help you with controlling it.”
“I don’t want to control it,” Lorcan said simply. “It’s a natural side of me and I just want to go with it.”
“Your first shift can be hard,” Jason warned. His lips were a thin line as he asked, “Has your father taught you about shifting?”
Lorcan’s eyes widened and his gaze darted toward Shannon. “No, he didn’t teach me about shifting. He didn’t teach me anything about anything.” The air around Lorcan was charged with static electricity and color rippled across his skin as his fists clenched.
Jason tensed but didn’t react. “I’m sorry. I thought you would know about what’s about to happen to you.” He let his shoulders droop and softened his body language so he would appear non-threatening. “I’d really like to help you, Lorcan.”
Lorcan blinked rapidly as he nodded. “I believe that might be a good idea.”
Shannon’s breathing quickened. Her son was scared. And there was nothing she could do to help him. This was completely beyond her maternal skill set.
They needed Jason. She needed Jason. All fears he was here for the treasure himself were gone as she watched the concern bloom across his features.
Fate had led them to these mountains. Fate had led Jason to them. Now she had to trust in fate. As her good friend had once told her to.
Chapter Nine – Jason
Lorcan was a wild card. Totally unpredictable as his inner beast fought to get free. As Jason sniffed the air, he was certain the beast inside Lorcan was a dragon. And a potential danger to himself and those around him. With his hands on his hips and his feet hip-width apart, Jason made an announcement that might prove unpopular. “We should abandon the search for the treasure today.”
“No!” Lorcan said sharply. “My grandpa is in danger. We’re in danger. We need to find the treasure.”
“Your grandpa?” He pivoted around and faced Shannon. “Your dad?”
“Yes, when the hunter came to the house for Lorcan’s treasure, my dad came up with a plan.” She took a shuddering breath. “He made sure the hunter overheard us talking and said that he knew where the treasure was. Then he left.”
“And these hunters followed?” Jason understood why a father would do such a thing for his family. “And you came to Bear Creek to find the real treasure?”
“That’s about it.” Shannon hugged herself as a cool breeze flowed down over the mountain. Rain would follow soon, Jason could smell it on the air. Air tainted with the scent of dragon.
“I still think that we should abandon the search. At least for a few hours.” He turned around and looked across the mountain slopes in the direction of a small house nestled into the mountainside. “There’s somewhere I’d like to take you. Some people I’d like you to meet.”
“No!” Shannon held up her hand as she sidestepped Jason and moved to Lorcan’s side. “We need to stick to the plan.”
“Mom?” Lorcan asked, sensing his mom’s sudden change of mood.
Jason sensed it, too. And had a fairly good idea where it stemmed from. “I’m not a hunter. I’m not after your treasure. I only want to help.”
“The only help we need is finding the treasure so we can hand it over to the hunters and get them out of our lives.” Shannon’s eyes glistened with tears. “I need to find it before my dad gets hurt.”
“I don’t think you understand what you are giving up. I don’t think you realize that Lorcan might not be able to give up his treasure. Not even for your dad.” Jason was taking a risk, if he antagonized Lorcan and pushed him too hard, he might shift right here, right now, and that would be a disaster. However, Jason had to make them see his idea was the best idea. “We need help. We need help from people who understand Lorcan.”
“You think we’re delusional, don’t you?” Shannon asked incredulously. “You don’t believe that Lorcan is anything but a young man with mental issues.”
“No,” Jason said adamantly. “I know exactly what Lorcan is. I knew from the first moment I smelled his scent.”
“His scent?” Shannon asked. “You can tell what he is from his scent?”
“Yes.” Jason took a chance and hoped he hadn’t gotten it terribly wrong. “He’s a dragon shifter.”
Shannon took a couple of steps backward and sat down heavily on a large boulder. “You know that for sure?”
“You didn’t?” Jason asked in confusion.
“Yes.” Shannon glanced at Lorcan’s ashen face. “And no.”
“We didn’t know for absolutely sure,” Lorcan added as he reached for his mom. Mother and son held hands tightly, their gaze locked together as Jason’s words sank in. “But I guess now we do.”
“I didn’t realize…” Jason couldn’t hide his own confusion. Surely Shannon knew Lorcan’s father was a dragon shifter.
“It’s a long story.” Shannon wiped her free hand across her eyes. All the fight seemed to have gone out of her.
“Come on.” Jason held out his hand to Shannon. “I have some people I want you to meet. They’ll be able to help you. I promise. And I’m here for you. Both of you.”
Shannon nodded and Jason pulled her to her feet. “We were so naive.”
“Mom...” Lorcan let go of Shannon’s hand and took a step away. “I’m sorry I’ve brought this down on you. On Grandpa.”
“Don’t be.” Shannon let go of Jason’s hand and hugged her son tightly. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“I would.” He buried his face in her neck. “If I could change anything it would be that you were my real mom.”
Jason staggered backward. “You’re not Lorcan’s mom?” He winced as the question popped out of his mouth. It wasn’t the right time to ask such a personal question.
“No.” Shannon shook her head. “At least I’m not his biological mom.” She cupped Lorcan’s face in her hands and raised his head, so their eyes locked together. “But in every other way, I hope you think of me as your real mom.”
“You are.” Tears filled Lorcan’s eyes, but he dashed them away. “You’re the only mom I know.”
Jason’s bear itched to break free and wrap his large bear paws around his mate and her son. But now wasn’t the time.
“I love you, Lor.” Shannon dropped a kiss on his head then raised her eyes to Jason. “Where do you want us to go?”
Jason ground his molars together. He’d sworn to keep Fiona’s secret. He’d sworn to never tell anyone about the dragon family. But this was different.
You are a man of your word, his bear reminded him. Even for our mate, we shouldn’t break that word.
His bear was right. “Will you trust me?” Jason asked. “I promise I won’t ever lie to you. Ever.”
Shannon gently turned her son’s face to hers. Something passed between them, and she nodded. “Okay.”
Jason turned around and looked back down the mountain. “We should get back to the truck and I’ll drive you there.” He set off without waiting for an answer. As he walked, he placed his hand on his pocket and traced the hard outline of his phone. He should call ahead. However, he wasn’t sure how the conversation with Fiona would go and as much as he’d promised to keep the dragons a secret, he was also bound to protect his mate. Which meant getting her the help she needed.
“This friend of yours...” Shannon raced to catch up with him and he slowed his pace just enough for her to match it without becoming too out of breath.
“Yes.” He gave Shannon a sideways glance. “She’ll give the best advice on your situation.”
“Will she?” His mate didn’t sound too sure. Or maybe her question was an insinuation. Did Shannon think he was involved with the woman they were going to see?
His bear guffawed, his shoulders shuddering with laughter.
“She’s a social worker who specializes in
placing shifter children with foster families.” He cocked his head toward Lorcan. “I assume Lorcan is an orphan.”
“So do I.” She gave a tight smile. “I knew his mother but not his father.”
“And your friend wasn’t a dragon shifter?” Jason wanted to get the story straight before he spoke to Fiona on their behalf.
“No.” She paused before she drew a deep breath and said, “After my mother died, my father hung around until I was old enough to take care of myself. At least take care of myself in his opinion.”
“You feel he betrayed you.” Jason tucked his thumbs into the straps of his pack as they walked.
“Betrayed is too strong a word. But he went away when I still needed him. My mom had been my rock, the one person I could depend on, and my father was a poor replacement. He’d be the first to admit it.” She arched an eyebrow. “In fact, he told me the exact thing more than once. I think he was hoping I’d let him off the hook and tell him he was doing such a bad job at parenting that he could leave for one of his adventures.”
“And you didn’t.” Jason gave a wry smile. “You made him take on his fatherly duties.”
“I suppose it sounds selfish, but I was so angry with him. I was angry that he’d left my mom to cope alone. I used to lie awake at night and wonder if it was the stress of raising me alone that contributed to her illness.” She shrugged. “We have a way of mixing stuff up in an attempt to find someone to blame for things that are no one’s fault. Not really.”
“We all prefer to find blame, even if it’s within ourselves.” His jaw tightened. “When I came to Bear Creek, I blamed myself for something that happened that wasn’t directly my fault.”
“But you shouldered the blame as my father did.” Shannon’s breath shuddered through her body. “I’m sorry for what happened to you.”
“A lot of people died.” His throat squeezed shut and he had to stop and force the breath back into his lungs.
“Are you okay?” Shannon placed her hand on the small of his back and rubbed it in a circle to comfort him.
Jason leaned down and put his hands on his knees. “I’ve never told anyone. Not since I came here.”
Jason - Silverback Redemption Page 7