by Katie Reus
Dragon blood was powerful and could be used in a myriad of sick ways for power hungry monsters. Her brother’s kidnapping when he was a boy and subsequent sacrifice was a prime example. She couldn’t think of that though, it made her want to cry.
“Bo just texted, said he and Nyx are almost here and have something big to tell us. Might have a lead.” Bran didn’t look at her as he spoke, instead scanning the quiet parking lot.
The diner was across the street from the beach. She’d been there before and it normally had a decent amount of foot traffic but today it was quiet with only a couple customers.
Their server returned again with a half-full pot of coffee in her hand. Her long, espresso-colored hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she looked dead on her feet. Faint dark smudges were under her eyes, pulling at Keelin’s heartstrings. Especially since the human gave them a real smile that met her eyes. The girl looked to be maybe nineteen years old.
“Y’all need a refill?” she asked, looking between the two of them.
When her gaze focused on Keelin she got another flash of insight. Everything around her faded away as she saw the woman sitting in a nursery, feeding a baby maybe six months old a bottle. The room was small and she could hear what the woman was hearing, shouting from next door as if someone was having an argument. The woman looked at a digital clock on a dresser. It was two in the morning. And as loud as if they were her own thoughts she felt the woman’s fears; that she wouldn’t be able to pay the rent due in a few days, wouldn’t be able to continue paying for childcare and wondering why her once loving boyfriend had abandoned her when she got pregnant with their child—after she’d moved from another state to be with him. The girl wanted to call her parents and tell them about their grandchild, but was too afraid. They’d hated her boyfriend and she was ashamed that they’d been right.
“I’m okay,” Bran murmured to the server, breaking Keelin out of her spell and she murmured the same and glanced away as emotions overwhelmed her.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as the woman moved on to the next occupied booth, which was thankfully on the other side of diner.
Keelin swallowed hard and shook her head. “Got another vision. Just sad, not dark like the other two.” The woman’s problems made Keelin feel like an ass. She might have an over-protective family but there were certainly worse things. And no matter what, she had financial stability, something she understood that so many didn’t have. People like their server just trying to make ends meet. “How much money do you have on you?” she asked, digging into her purse and pulling out her wallet. She had about eight hundred dollars.
He raised an eyebrow. “I think about a grand but I can get more. What’s up?”
“We’re giving all our money to our waitress when we leave.”
“Okay.”
She frowned at him. “You’re not going to ask me why?”
He shrugged. “No.”
“Okay then.” Her brother would have grilled her. Heck, any male from her clan would have. “Can I ask you something?”
Nodding, his gaze flicked to the parking lot again. He was always so watchful, something she appreciated.
Even though she knew the booth behind them was empty she looked over her shoulder out of instinct. Still empty. “That vision I had of you and that other male. Will you tell me more about it?” It had been so dark and bloody, Bran’s rage so intense. She wanted to know more about his past. It didn’t matter that she told herself this thing between them was casual, she was falling harder and harder every second.
He scrubbed a hand over his face before setting it on her thigh. He rubbed up and down her leg almost absently. “Before I moved home to take over for my clan I worked in black ops for the government.”
She blinked. Okay, maybe she should have expected it considering the file she’d seen earlier. But she’d wondered if he’d stolen the file. Twisting slightly in her seat, she stared at him. “Seriously?”
A short nod. “Yep. They have a supernatural division.”
“I…can’t even say that I’m surprised. It makes sense that they know about supernaturals with all this technology.” After coming out of her Protective Hibernation she was still adjusting to everything. Smart phones made her feel stupid sometimes, but she still liked them.
A ghost of a smile played across his lips. “Pretty much. The male I killed was a traitor to not only this country, but his own kind. He was selling out supernaturals. I understand that political allegiances can change, but betraying shifters?” His jaw clenched tight. “That is unforgiveable.” The deadly bite to his words sent a shiver down her spine. Reaching out, he surprised her by gently cupping her cheek and stroking his thumb over her skin.
She fought off a shiver, this time a very good one. She loved it when he touched her.
After a long moment, he dropped his hand and his expression grew pained. “He’d been a friend. Or I thought he was. We all did. He was a bear shifter and my boss took it harder than all of us.”
“August?” She remembered what Nalani had said, though Keelin pushed thoughts of the other female away. It made her want to unleash her claws.
“Yeah. He’s a bear too and they’d been close so… I killed that fucker so August wouldn’t have to. It was a dark time in my life.”
She took the hand he’d dropped back into his lap and linked her fingers through his, pulling it into her lap and squeezing. “I’m sorry you had to do that.”
He lifted his shoulders in what he probably meant to be casual but he couldn’t hide the pain in his gaze. “Just one of those things.”
Killing a friend wasn’t something anyone should have to do but she didn’t say that aloud. She lifted his hand and kissed it. “Why did you tell me?” Because when she’d asked she’d thought he would deny answering her. It would have given her another reason to keep a wall between them. Now it appeared that Bran was determined to knock down any reason for her to keep resisting him.
“I trust you and… I think of you as an equal, no matter what you think. Am I going to be crazy fucking protective of you all the time?” The question came out as a sexy, possessive growl. “Yep,” he answered, continuing. He clearly wasn’t apologetic about it either. Which was annoyingly hot. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t respect you. I trust you to keep my secrets.”
Keelin squeezed his hand again, unable to find her voice. Even if she could she wasn’t sure what to say anyway. Damn this male. He was knocking down all of her defenses against him. The reasons she had for not wanting to mate were solid. She didn’t want her independence limited ever again.
But those were reasons for not wanting a mate in general. Bran wasn’t just anyone. The longer she was around him, the harder it was to put him in the category of Alpha asshole. Because he simply wasn’t one. Was he dominating and possessive? Oh yeah. But he actually listened to her. And now he’d told her something so huge about his past.
“Was it hard to leave your job?” When his parents had died he’d probably had the Alpha role thrust onto him. Kind of like how her own brother Conall had when she and their parents had gone into Protective Hibernation.
“Yeah.” His jaw tensed, his gaze so intense it was like he could see right through to her thoughts. “No one’s ever asked me that before.”
“Really?”
“Well, not many people know what I did before but even my brother didn’t ask. Everyone just assumed I’d take over and since there was no one else I stepped up.”
God, she just wanted to give him a big hug. But she didn’t want him to think she felt pity for him. There was no way she could ever pity this male.
“How are they dealing with your absence?”
“They’re fine. I’ve been in contact with Gavin and other warriors a couple times a day and unlike my father, I delegate. And honestly, I don’t give a shit about them right now.” Her eyes widened at his blunt remark, but he continued. “All I care about is you.”
Her mouth parted slightly a
t his words and she earned a low growl from him when she absently licked her lips.
“I want to kiss you so bad, but if I do, we’ll give the humans too much of a show,” he rasped out.
She only nodded because that was about all she could manage. If their lips touched, she knew she’d start glowing. That would be bad enough, but if Bran’s fire coated this place it would be complete pandemonium. After the way he’d shared part of his past she wanted to tell him more about herself. “When we all thought Drake died, my parents went into lockdown mode. Conall was only ten but they started training him hard to make sure he was able to always defend himself.”
Bran’s eyebrows pulled together. “But they didn’t train you?”
Annoyance surged up as she shook her head. They should have, but she’d been a ‘princess’. Looking back she couldn’t believe the way her mother had treated her. Not when the woman was so fierce herself. “No. They coddled me to the point that I wasn’t allowed to leave our land even in dragon form.”
“That’s…”
“Not good, I know.” He was clearly too nice to say anything disparaging but dragons needed to roam free, especially when they were young. It was part of their biological makeup. Hers had been stunted. “For so long I felt like I had no choice in anything, but the truth is, I’ve always had choices. I’m just now exercising my right to live on my own terms.” She hated that female she’d been and couldn’t imagine going back to living like that. She might not know what she wanted in life, but it wasn’t that. The last year out of her Hibernation had taught her a lot about herself.
With his free hand, he cupped her cheek again. His touch grounded her and made her senses go haywire at the same time. She had to consciously lock down her hunger for him so she wouldn’t accidentally start glowing.
“I don’t want to clip your wings,” he murmured. “Pun intended.”
A grin pulled at her lips even as his words struck her deep. That was her deepest fear, being stripped of who she was and given no freedom again. “I think I’m beginning to see that.” It was true. Which meant she needed to start looking at this relationship as having a future, not just something casual. That alone was scary. She’d never thought she wanted to be mated and now to have this perfect male pursuing her…
He dropped his hand suddenly and turned toward the window. “They’re here.”
Keelin followed his gaze and saw Bo and Nyx getting out of a sleek two-door black sports car. They both looked grim. A healthy dose of worry slid through her veins. Nyx was usually smiling and the fact that she was here was odd enough. When Bo had texted to let them know the female was coming it had been a surprise since they’d just been expecting him.
The little bell above the door jingled as they came inside, with Bo scanning the place the same way Bran had. Bo nodded when he saw them. To Keelin’s surprise, Bo had his hand on the small of Nyx’s back as they approached and only dropped it when they slid into the booth opposite her and Bran.
After the waitress took their drink orders Bran said, “Talk.”
Nyx’s eyes widened at his tone but Bo didn’t seem surprised at all. “Nyx has something to tell you. Something that’s not going to leave this fucking table.” He said it as a warning, clearly to both of them, but his focus was on Bran.
“Deal.” Bran didn’t hesitate in his response. When Bo looked at Keelin, Nyx nudged him.
“Keelin would never say anything,” her friend muttered before half-smiling at Keelin.
The statement made her think that this was about Nyx specifically. Keelin returned her friend’s smile. “Look, whatever’s going on, if there’s a threat to Nyx we’ll do anything we can to help.”
“It’s not that.” Nyx stopped talking as the waitress returned with two more coffees. Once Nyx had ordered a surprising amount of food for just herself, because Bo apparently wasn’t eating, the server left them in peace again. With no one sitting remotely close to them, they had privacy.
Keelin’s purse was against her thigh and she felt her phone buzzing in it, signaling an incoming text, but she ignored it. “Are you in trouble?”
“No, but Bo told me about the Akkadian demon thing. There are almost no beings with that kind of power except a god or demigod.”
Next to her Bran let out a low curse. “Fuck me.”
“Yeah, I had the same reaction. Can’t believe I didn’t think of it,” Bo muttered, clearly as disgusted with himself.
Keelin hadn’t thought of it either though. Demigods were so rare and gods weren’t even on this plane anymore. They didn’t like anyone but themselves. She felt her phone buzzing again, but kept ignoring it as Nyx continued.
The female bit her bottom lip nervously, looking back and forth between Bran and Keelin.
“Just say it.” Bo rubbed her back in another surprisingly intimate gesture.
Nyx sighed. “My mother is the goddess of chaos and my father is a fae prince.”
Bran and Keelin both went still, but Keelin spoke first. “You’re a demigod?” she whispered.
Looking miserable, Nyx nodded. “Yeah. Both my parents are horrible, horrible people. I have nothing to do with either of them, but…okay, let me back up a little. A couple weeks ago I sensed another demigod in the area for the first time. It was vague and brief and I’m not sure who the male is, but I know what I sensed. I sensed him again recently.”
“Where’d you feel him?” Bran asked.
“Bo’s place.”
“You remember the times and dates?” he continued, his tone all business.
“Well, yeah, I think. I was working when it happened both times.” Nyx looked unsure why he was asking and Keelin didn’t know either.
Bo started nodding, however, clearly understanding. “I keep backups of all video surveillance. We’ll head back there as soon as we eat.”
“It’s a good start,” Bran said.
“There’s more,” Nyx continued, her nervousness seeming to grow. “I could contact my mother for help. She’d be able to track the male to where he was, but like I said she’s a horrible being. She’ll demand a payment in return for her help—and it won’t be something you’ll want to give. Plus she’ll hate all of you. Bo on principal since he’s a half-demon but you two…” Nyx shook her head. “She actually might not even meet with you, Bran. I can sense your power so it might keep her away.”
Keelin nodded, understanding. Dragons were one of the few beings that could destroy a god. It wasn’t easy and she didn’t know of it ever happening in the last five or six thousand years, but it could theoretically happen. It would have to be an incredibly powerful dragon shifter though.
“Why can’t I sense yours?” Bran asked, saying what Keelin was thinking.
Supernatural beings often put off a pulse of sorts. It was the only way she could think to describe it. And Bran’s pulse of power was incredible, like a throb of energy rolling against her. Nyx’s on the other hand felt like a breeze on her skin.
Nyx’s cheeks flushed. “I keep it locked down. Easier that way if people think I’m just a random supernatural being.” She inhaled deeply then pushed out a long breath, glancing around almost nervously.
As she did, Keelin could feel an incredible pulse of the female’s power roll over her. And almost simultaneously a car alarm in the parking lot went off, the blare loud and obnoxious. At the same time one of the waitresses dropped a tray of drinks and the sound of glass shattering in the back of the kitchen filled the air as more dishes were destroyed.
Nyx grimaced and must have cloaked herself again because Keelin could no longer feel her power. “That’s another reason I keep everything locked down. I don’t have much control on my powers and things always seem to go haywire around me no matter what I do. And my mother refuses to train me. She thinks causing havoc and well, chaos, is wonderful. She thinks I should embrace the insanity of my heritage, even going so far as to call it a ‘gift’.” Nyx rolled her eyes, her annoyance clear.
Their server cho
se that moment to arrive with a plate of pancakes, sausage, hash browns and a side of fruit for Nyx. She smiled as she placed the food in front of Nyx. “We had a bit of an accident in the back and your plate is the only one unscathed.”
Nyx didn’t look surprised by that as she smiled and thanked the woman.
“Hey, how much money do you two have on you?” Keelin asked abruptly.
Bo and Nyx both appeared surprised but Bo shrugged. “Maybe a couple grand.”
“Five hundred, I think,” Nyx said.
She shouldn’t be surprised. Supernaturals tended to use cash in favor of credit cards. It was accepted everywhere and there was no chance of it being declined. And of course it was harder to be tracked if you paid for everything in cash. “Good. I would appreciate it if you’d give your money to our waitress when we leave. She needs the help. I’ll pay you guys back.”
Nyx shrugged. “It’s no problem. You don’t have to.”
Bo lifted his shoulders in the same casual way. “Same here. I’ll leave it.”
When they didn’t question her further, Keelin wanted to kiss both of them. Bo might try to pretend to be a badass demon—and he clearly was—but he also had a soft streak no matter how much he might want to hide it. “Thank you, guys.”
Next to her Bran squeezed her leg gently before wrapping his arm around her shoulders and kissing the top of her head. She leaned into his hold, loving his protective embrace.
Once they were done, they all cleared out, with Keelin leaving the stash of cash under Nyx’s empty plate along with a note urging the girl to call her parents. Keelin knew the girl would wonder about the note, but figured it didn’t matter. She wanted to nudge the human into getting help from her family. She waited in the parking lot, watching to make sure the woman got the money. When the server saw it, her eyes widened and she started crying as she put the cash into one of her pockets.
Feeling satisfied, Keelin looked over at Bran. “We can head out now.”