by Leela Ash
“I dreamed of you too. What we did? The Rite of Claiming? It was real.”
Blood drained from her face. Fearing she’d faint, he helped her over to a chair. “I have a lot of things I need to explain to you. They’re going to sound crazy, but I can prove them. Just hear me out.”
And then he talked. Of Shifters and the spirit realm of the Other Side, the source of magic. Of Wellsprings, the windows between the two worlds. Of his Flight and the work they did. When the conversation touched on the Fangs of Apophis, he grew vague. The First Flight had enemies… not all Shifters were good people. No sense frightening her more, though. Talk of black magic and Fallen Dragons could wait for another day.
Annie took it all in with an eerie calm. No horror, no fear, no confusion… nothing.
Shock, probably. “Are you okay?”
“It’s just…a lot to deal with.”
“I’m sure it is. That’s okay.”
“I know what I said in the dream, but…” Grief had returned to darken her beautiful face. “I’m not sure I believe in True Love. I don’t know if I actually do want a Mate.”
Michael leaned back in his chair, puffing up with mock indignation. “You’re kidding me, right? You’re not overjoyed that a complete stranger shows up and says you have to live with him forever because you shared a hot dream?”
Annie snorted and clamped a hand over her mouth as a sound, half laugh, half sob, broke free.
Damn, something was wrong. Something had broken deep inside her. His Dragon simmered with impatience.
A thing has upset our Mate. We should find it and destroy it.
Unfortunately, it was probably him that frightened her – and him destroying himself was not going to be useful. Patience, not might, would win in the end.
“Listen, Annie, I don’t expect you to elope with me today. Or next week, or next year. All I’m asking is this, will you let me get to know you? Will you give me a chance to prove that love really does exist? Life can be as wonderful as that dream we shared.”
His offer, heartfelt and sincere, horrified her. Annie gritted her teeth, eyes clamped shut. Shudders swept over her, and she choked out one word.
“No.”
A chill pierced his heart. “Why?”
“Because I don’t deserve you. I’m not a good person.”
Relief let him breathe again. She doubted herself, not him. “I don’t believe that. My Dragon wouldn’t have Claimed you if you didn’t have a good heart. If I have to prove that, along with my love, so be it.”
One tear trickled down her cheek. Then another and a third and suddenly, she was sobbing.
The sound drove his Dragon mad.
Help our Mate! Protect her!
On it, he thought back.
Michael knelt by her chair and, as he had in their dream, held his Mate and let her cry. Offering his presence, his warmth, as silent comfort.
Once again, she didn’t explain why she wept.
But he remembered how the dream had ended and took comfort in that. In time, with care, she would truly be his Mate.
Chapter 7
How could ‘villains’ be so nice?
Once she stopped crying, Michael begged her to meet his Flight. At the Stiles’ farm, they were immediately surrounded – by delighted, loving people. Men slapped Michael on the back. Women showered hugs on her. Laughter and jokes filled the room until all the ruckus set one of the babies crying.
This was a family gathering, not some diabolical lair.
Hannah’s mother couldn’t stop trying to feed her. “More coffee? No? What about tea? I’m so sorry I can’t offer you a proper breakfast. There isn’t much in the house, since we’re leaving soon. But I could send Danny out to the henhouse and roust up some eggs for you.”
“No, thank you, Mrs. Stiles, I…”
“Me! Me! Send me!” A sweet-faced little boy – Ethan? – leaped off his chair and waved his hand frantically. “I’ll get the eggs! Can I? Please?”
Darian, his father, ruffled the boy’s hair. “No, sport, Annie isn’t hungry.”
‘Annie.’ Hearing that name was like biting tinfoil. It was the poison pill in the midst of the feast. Shame set Dakota’s cheeks ablaze. All this love, all this friendship… and they didn’t know who she really was. Not even her ‘Mate.’ How could she tell them? Would they ever forgive her?
Especially since she feared, now, that the people who sent her were liars. Mates abounded. The two here, Tess and Hannah, had clearly not been devoured in any depraved rites. Heck, they didn’t even look nibbled-upon. Every Dragon gave her his wife’s phone number and urged her to call if she needed to talk.
So much for the ‘ritual murder’ rumor. Serial killers didn’t encourage you to chat with their victims.
Dakota pictured the Hare who recruited her. Cold, distant, unfriendly. Every time they spoke, she left shaking with anger and fear. But these people… They welcomed her, embraced her. Made her feel like she had a real family for the first time since Cally died.
Cally…
That thorn still lingered. Her sister was dead – and she needed to know the truth about her murder. So far no ‘Owen’ had been introduced. Just Finn, Brandon, and Darian.
Don’t leap to conclusions. Maybe he’s the one to blame, not all of these people.
So she sat among them, the lone iceberg in a sea of friendly faces. Slowly melting from the warmth of their love – yet still clinging to her icy pain.
Michael scooted next to her on the couch. “How are you holding up? We kind of a swarm when we’re all together. Probably a bit overwhelming.”
“No, it’s great.” That, at least, was honest. “I always envied big families. My parents were kind of distant, so it was just my sister and me.”
“What’s her name?”
“Cally.” Dakota drew a deep, unsteady breath. “Her name was Cally. She’s dead.”
Immediately he snapped to attention, completely focused on her. “What happened? Sickness?”
“No, she… I think she was murdered.”
A strange glow lit his eyes, transforming them into brilliant emeralds. “Tell me, please.”
That light, it was his Dragon, she realized. Furious that someone had hurt its ‘Mate.’ Ready to hunt down and punish the wrongdoer. Eager to protect her.
Lord, that wasn’t monstrous; the behavior of a creature that devoured its Mates. It was noble, heroic, enchanting.
Things she didn’t deserve.
“I can’t talk about it yet. Please,” she added, as he braced to disagree, “I promise I’ll tell you in time. Just not right now.”
Later. Once she’d figured out how to apologize for all of her lies.
“Take your time. I can wait.” His smile, so proud, so tender, made her feel like a worm. “But believe me, if someone hurt you, I’ll make them pay.”
Even if the criminal was a member of his Flight? His love might face a terrible test, soon.
Outside, tires crunched on gravel. Doors slammed. Deep voices – lots of them – rumbled indistinctly. Then the front door burst open and a man bounded into the room.
No, a Dragon. Though he was slightly smaller than the other members of his Flight, he had the same striking looks and bright eyes. Emerald green, the mirror of Michael’s, only these eyes glittered with humor. And unlike the more restrained suits that Michael, Brandon, and Darian wore, he sported a form-fitting t-shirt which flaunted his taut abs.
“Okay! Emergency Shifter farmhands picked up from the airport. I’ve introduced them to Mr. Stiles, he’s showing them around. What’s next? Wait.” He planted his hands on his hips and scanned the room, frowning. “Where’s Walker? He said he’d give us another shot. You guys didn’t scare him off again, did you?”
“I’m here.”
From a nook under the staircase, a man emerged. A hideous man, one that immediately set off alarms in Dakota’s head. Small and scrawny, with beady little eyes, he was the exact opposite of the majestic Dragons.
His thin lips were pinched tight and he glowered about the room with open disgust.
She didn’t know what the hell he was, but her gut warned her not to trust him.
“Why are you hiding under the stairs?” grumbled the slender Dragon. “Come sit down like a normal person.”
“I’m good.” He bared yellow teeth (in what might be intended as a smile) and retreated toward the nook.
“Okay. I get it. Standing in the middle of a room is probably not a Rat thing. Uh, not judging. Nope.” The new Dragon shook his head. “Lurk away, if it makes you comfortable.”
Rats. Ugh, yes, Michael had mentioned them. How horrible would that be, to Shift into something so repulsive? Dakota felt an irrational relief when her Mate eyed the creature suspiciously and slid a bit closer to her.
“Next question.” The newcomer pointed at her. “Who’s the new girl Farrell’s putting the moves on?”
“Hey!” Michael growled as the others chuckled. “This is my Mate!” Pride swirled through her as he pulled her close.
“You Claimed a Mate? Lady, I’d offer you my condolences. But if I did, they’d all start telling you what my poor Mate had to go through.”
More laughter, and even Dakota smiled. Dammit, she had to come clean with these people. Guilt was killing her.
Brandon Lorde did the introduction. “This is Annie Crane, who lives up the road. Farrell Claimed her last night and she’s just meeting the Flight. So, behave,” he added, with a stern look. “She’s gone through a lot today. Ms. Crane, this is Owen Jackson. Another member of our Flight.”
Owen Jackson.
Ringing filled Dakota’s ears.
The man who killed Cally.
Blood drained from her face as he stepped forward, holding his hand out.
He wanted her to shake his hand? The hand that had killed her sister?
Hold it together. Don’t fall apart now.
Wobbling, she rose to her feet. Michael caught her arm. “Are you okay? You’re really pale.”
“I’m fine.” She held her hand up.
Owen took it, his own smile fading as he studied her face.
His hand was warm. And dry.
Why did that surprise her, she wondered, as the edges of her vision turned dark.
No blood. There’s no blood on his hands.
A silly thought, since Cally died two years ago. Yet it did surprise her.
Everyone was staring at her. She was failing, her lies were unraveling.
Smile. Smile, dammit.
She tried. Her lips curled weakly. She should say something, act normal. But the room blurred, growing faint as black clouds filled her sight. Michael said something she couldn’t understand.
“I’m okay,” she assured him. “I’ll be fine.”
He didn’t seem to hear her. And suddenly, she wasn’t sure that her lips had even moved.
The room spun. She started to apologize, to tell them she needed to sit down. But her legs gave way and she collapsed before she could make a sound.
Dakota awoke, lying on a bed. Michael hovered over her, stroking her cheeks with a damp cloth.
“Hey.”
Relief lit his eyes. “How are you feeling? You gave us all a scare.”
“I’m okay, and I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For making a scene. For embarrassing you.”
“Stop.” He kissed her on the forehead. “You’ve been through a lot today. No one blames you for fainting. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I’ve been so busy showing you off I didn’t even notice how much the fuss bothered you.”
Still he was kind, despite her lies and deceit. When the truth came out, he would hate her. Dakota closed her eyes to hide the tears that burned in them.
“Would you like some water?”
“Please.”
He left her. Eyes tightly shut, she fought to control her guilt. Where was her rage now, the fury that had given her strength? Gone. Dead. Killed by the kindness of the First Flight.
Noises echoed through the house around her. Doors slamming, shouts, car engines. Something was happening.
A board creaked in the room. “Thanks,” she said as she opened her eyes. “I’m so thirsty.”
But it wasn’t Michael standing in the doorway.
It was that thing. That Rat.
“Ain’t you the calm one,” Walker sneered.
“What?” Dakota pushed herself onto her elbows, her nose wrinkling.
Thankfully, he didn’t come any closer. Just hovered by the hall, staring at her with those black eyes. “This morning, you find out about Dragons ‘n’ Shifters ‘n’ magic. Most women, that’d set ‘em off their feed. But not you. You cool as a cucumber. Like you heard this all before.”
Those beady eyes drilled into her, accusingly. Dakota tried to glare back – but the fact that he was right took the wind out of her. “I fainted. Isn’t that enough for you?”
“Didn’t faint when you come in. Jist when you met Jackson. Wonder why.”
The Rat knew. Somehow, he’d spotted her treachery. Please, no, she prayed. This couldn’t be how the truth came out. She needed time. Time to find a way to apologize to Michael. To make sure he didn’t hate her.
“Leave me alone,” she whispered.
“I see you,” he hissed back. “Don’t think I don’t. Something ain’t right. Fangs been at you?”
“What?” Before she could ask what that cryptic question meant, an outraged roar split the air.
“GET THE HELL AWAY FROM MY MATE!”
With a squeal, Walker collapsed. The air shivered, his body blurred… and suddenly, a rat the size of a large dog stood in the doorway.
Dakota screamed in horror at the sight, terrified that it would bolt under her bed. Instead, the thing fled down the hall, zigzagging as it ran.
“Are you all right?” Another creature burst into the room, a ‘man’ with scaly red skin, inch-long claws, and eyes filled with green flames. Dakota shrieked again before she recognized him.
“Michael?”
Caught between his human and Dragon forms, her Mate snarled through a mouth full of fangs. “Did he hurt you?”
“No, I’m fine. He didn’t…” Terrified, her words died away as she stared at his furious, inhuman features.
He truly was a Dragon. In real life, not just her dreams. A creature half man, half monster. Lulled by his kindness, it was easy to forget that. Now, staring at those wicked fangs, Dakota felt her doubts creep back. Michael’s kindness hid this, this lethal, dangerous predator. What lurked beneath the Flight’s welcome? Was it as dark and frightening as this?
Maybe her patrons weren’t entirely wrong.
Seeing her fear, Michael turned away. For long moments, he stood, reigning in his anger. When he turned, the face that looked upon her bore her lover’s handsome features once again. “Why was he bothering you?”
“I guess he doesn’t trust me or something. He asked if ‘the Fangs had been at’ me.”
“He WHAT?” Once more, his eyes burned. Two enormous canines stabbed down as those deadly teeth threatened to return. “How dare he question my Mate!”
Dakota flinched – both from the sight of those fangs and from shame. Little did he know that she deserved the Rat’s doubt. “What does that even mean?”
“You remember that I told you we had enemies? They call themselves the Fangs of Apophis. When Shifters won’t serve them willingly, they sometimes force obedience by kidnapping Kin, using blackmail, that sort of thing.”
Oh. Or tricking women desperate to know what really happened to their sisters?
Maybe the Fangs really had been ‘at’ her…
“So, he thinks I’m a traitor.”
“He won’t bother you again, I promise.” Anger still warmed him, but it was restrained now. Just enough to add a deep, lustrous light to his green eyes. “I’ll tell Jackson he needs to keep that thing on a leash. Dammit!”
Again, he fought his anger. This time
, he failed. “Jackson has this theory that most Rats serve the Fangs unwillingly. He may be right…but I can’t stand that Kind. Every time I look at this Walker, my gut tells me we’re wrong to trust him.”
Something cold and dark stirred in her heart at his words. So, Jackson was the only one who trusted the Rats? She, too, mistrusted the Rat (even if, in her case, he was right). Wasn’t it a coincidence that the Dragon accused of killing her sister worked with these murderous creatures?
Maybe she wasn’t a traitor. The hope, feeble as it was, raised her spirits. What if it wasn’t Dragons who were evil – just Jackson? Then her lies would save Michael, not betray him.
It was a seductive thought. Though the odds were good that she had made a terrible mistake.
Probably. Yet that twisted hope wouldn’t die. Uneasy, Dakota tried to change the subject. “What’s happening? I keep hearing cars and voices.”
“I was going to talk to you about that. Do you feel well enough to move?”
“I think I could walk, yes.”
“No, I mean move. You see, we’re evacuating the civilians. Hannah, her family, the kids.”
“Why?” Though she thought she knew – and dreaded – the answer.
“The Fangs have discovered this place. We’re expecting an attack and want to make sure the only people here are warriors. Dragons, Bears, and Tess.”
“Tess is a warrior?” Darian’s Mate wore biker leathers and tattoos, but surely a delicate woman like her wouldn’t truly fight?
“She’s an Adanai. It’s a strange Kind of Shifter. Long story for another day. Just think of her as a fairy.”
“A fairy.” A snicker slipped out before she could stop it.
“I know,” Michael admitted with a smile. “It sounds strange.”
“Sorry. Given how she dresses…well, now I have an image of ‘Biker Tinkerbell’ stuck in my head.”
He didn’t laugh. “The Adanai aren’t like that. They’re actually kind of nasty, if you ask me. Not Tess, though. She’s good people. Anyway, the reason I asked how you felt is that I’d like you to go with them, if you’re willing.”