Zahra gives her a gentle smile. “Thank you, I will.” Her eyes slide to me and back at Enya. “Don’t be too hard on him.” The corner of her lip twitches as she grabs her bag and says her goodbyes to all of us before heading out.
“Let’s go home,” Enya states and stalks by me.
Maybe she’s still pissed but I can’t help to feel a burst of satisfaction by the way she calls my house home.
Before we can head for the door, Emery is in her face. “Heya, Enya. You wouldn’t have any other roommates or girly friends, would you? I’m rooting for you, you know. I should be the first one to get a test run. Well, second, because clearly Lucio was the first, whatever. Do you? Can I?”
“Funny man.” Enya chuckles and smacks his chest. Her face turns serious as she says, “Thank you, Emery. It means a lot. Even if my mother was part of this clan and with everything that happened, I do feel welcome here. It’s all new and strange, but the words you just gave me have everything to do with making me feel at home here. I’m sure Vaughn’s first priority will be to fight for the option for you to have a mate. And if I can help in any way, I will, okay? But it’s not like I have some secret stash hidden away or something.”
Emery leans in and says, “Just remember, my name is at the top of the list.”
“Enough,” I snap.
Emery shrugs and gives Enya a wink before he starts to whistle and heads for the bar.
“Asshole,” I mutter and reach for the door, holding it open for Enya.
“He means well,” Enya chuckles.
“He’s too eager, though I’m thankful for his support. He was the first one to speak after I explained everything to all my brothers.”
Enya shoots a glance my way but doesn’t say anything. I open the door to my house, our house now, and wait for her to enter before closing up behind us.
“How did it go in church? Did you really explain everything? Or some?” She sits down on the couch and I take a seat on the chair across from her.
“I gave them all the information we had. I would never lie to you and I would never lie to my brothers. There’s a reason the president of the MC is also clan leader. I have a whole MC at my back if something is up and I need the right people to give me advice or to be ready to face whatever comes our way. The strongest males of our clan are members and this also means more than half are my brothers and know what goes on in our clan.”
I stand up and start to pace, suddenly feeling restless. “Maybe they took it too well. There was a long silence after I explained and like I said, Emery was the first to speak but it was a twist of what he said to you. Cyril explained some too. I just…I don’t know.”
“You have to give them the time to process. Besides, it shows character to throw all the facts on the table. Like you said, you’ve been open and honest. I imagine these people have a good head on their shoulders and will understand what is going on and how you bring them into this and not shut them out. It’s what Typhon did, right? He was a dictator I’m guessing? Shoving his own thoughts and vision down other people’s throat and expecting them to follow him blindly? That’s not who you are, Vaughn. I might barely know you, but from what I’ve seen you’re a strong leader who will face everything with his chin held high and an honest heart along with a fresh state of mind. If I’m getting this from the mere few days in your company…your brothers will have your back because they’ve known you for decades.”
I stop midstride to stare at her. “Before you entered my life, I was resolute and didn’t let any woman speak to me until I spoke to her first. Let alone have them stand up to me or call me out on something. Do you understand what I’m getting at here?”
Enya shrugs and mutters, “You were an asshole, I got the whole special treatment the day we met, remember? Maybe everything that happened with the fertility issues had an effect on this too. Oh, no. Wait,” she gasps. “I know…it’s the whole doom part, you not being an asshole anymore but someone with feelings and a whole different perspective on the opposite sex.”
She snorts and I get the undeniable itch to redden her ass.
Enya strolls toward me and tips her head to connect her gaze with mine. “Being a ruthless leader where the people involved have been carved by traditions is hardly something to judge, Vaughn. Besides, you’ve explained so much and how your parents started a change. Even if Typhon brought a stop to it, you’re the one who took over and set the course again your parents envisioned. Look at the small changes you made possible. The small wins this clan took by the exchange program you put in motion. Vernon is grateful, I’m sure. Did you hear Orion complain? Nessie? I spoke to her while you guys were in church. She loves it here and the whole ‘don’t speak unless spoken to’ is something that’s rooted into the whole Dragon breed since it’s even worse with her old clan. Hell, you gave Wella a man’s job. Well, it’s clearly not a man’s job, but what I meant to say is…it’s progress. Rushing things is never good, slow progress is still progress.”
I only manage to nod at her words. Everything is still fucked up and going nowhere if you ask me. “Typhon is still missing,” I grunt. Another frustrating fact.
Enya nods. “I’d rather have him in my face than missing. And why now? It’s weird.”
“Prospects checked the perimeter, they’ve found nothing. Lucio went by his house but nothing seems out of place. The guy just vanished,” I tell her.
Believe me, I know someone can’t vanish into thin air. I checked the map, concentrated on finding Typhon but I didn’t even get a backfire telling me he’s dead, so yes, the guy simply vanished.
“No one just vanishes, Vaughn,” she murmurs. “Did you hear back from Alastair yet?”
I shake my head. “I need to call him back on how to handle the missing human. I don’t have anything to do with Porter going missing and neither do you. Needless to say, you’re not missing and are still very much alive; I don’t see a problem at hand I need to handle or talk to Alastair about.”
Enya rolls her eyes. “He doesn’t know that. You need to call. Communicate and work together.”
“Dragons always handle their own business,” I snap.
“Yeah, well, times are changing. And I don’t need to mention you’ve already made a few changes, so this shouldn’t be such a big step. You said it yourself how they are the ones who will come to clear stuff up.” She crosses her arms in front of her chest. “Reach out or I will.”
I lean down into her personal space. “Or you will? Are you threatening me?” I raise my voice when more anger hits me. “Me? Your mate. The fucking president of the Dragons MC. Your clan leader.”
She doesn’t even flinch and replies in a mocking tone, “Are you done reciting all your titles? Because I’m pretty sure asshole and egocentric Neanderthal weren’t listed and you need to add those too.”
“Show some respect,” I growl angrily. Deep down I know she’s right but all of this is weighing down on my shoulders.
Her hands are perched on her sweet curves. “I’m trying to keep things real between us. And respect earned is respect given, so stop snarling at me.”
We’re staring at each other and I know she has a point but she has to understand mine too. Knocking on the door rips us from our stare down contest.
I stalk to the door and open it. “What?” I snarl in the face of the prospect I sent out to explore outside of the perimeter to see if Porter’s car was somewhere around here.
“Pres. Can I have a minute?” the prospect says.
I glance over my shoulder at Enya who is wearing a concerned look and regret hits me hard.
“Wait here, I’ll be out in a moment,” I tell the prospect and release a deep breath before I close the door and stroll to Enya.
She lets me cup the side of her face and I take the opportunity to feather my lips over hers.
“Communicate and work together. We need to learn some of that too,” I murmur.
She releases a snort and my heart skips a beat when I hear her sof
t voice as she says, “Yeah.”
“Wait for me here. I need to handle something but I’ll be right back, okay? I gave you Alastair’s number along with Vike’s. You can call and maybe talk to your sisters, then tell me all about it when I get back.”
Excitement flares in her gaze and it’s just what I was going for.
“Hurry back,” she murmurs and places a quick kiss on my lips before she pulls her phone from her pocket.
A chuckle leaves my lips and I shake my head. I can’t understand the intensity of our heated argument and how we switched from that to easy chitchat.
I glance one more time over my shoulder before closing the door behind me. The prospect is standing next to Lucio.
“We might have a problem,” my VP states. “We found Porter’s car, and there’s blood too.”
Fuck.
Chapter Ten
***Enya***
“I can’t remember anything other than being in the woods and hurting all over. That’s how Bertie found me since I landed near her cabin.”
“You’re lucky she found you,” Tria says.
“I really wished we found you sooner,” Dio adds.
I’ve been talking to the twins for the last twenty minutes. I called Alastair first and told him what I knew. My sister was away with my other sister, so I told him I’d call back. Right after I dialed Vike’s number, but I hardly talked to the guy because Tria quickly took hold of her mate’s phone and put it on speaker so me, Dio, and Tria could talk.
Turns out, I have five sisters. Well, that we know of. Our father was screwed up and wanted to create strong Supernatural offspring. He used hexbags to impregnate a Vampire, resulting in Tessera. A Dragon, that’s me. A Fae twin who turned out to be part Phoenix too so Tria and Dio also have other Supernatural qualities thrown into the mix along with it. And then there’s Eliana, she’s part witch along with her father’s Guardian blood. Oh, and Velma, she’s a full-blood Guardian.
I guess every family has its weird quirks but mine has a whole stash. Though, I have to say, these two sound sweet and we haven’t stopped talking, so I guess that’s a good thing. All of my sisters are mated with either a president or a VP. I guess it runs in the family to find a strong mate. Tria and Dio also mentioned a friend of theirs called Nixie. She’s a witch and part Vampire, mated to the VP of the Vampire charter. Her mother was the one who made all the hexbags.
“Well, I guess this is a better late than never situation, right?” I chuckle and glance at the door where I hear someone rasp his knuckles against the wood. “Hang on, someone is at the door.”
I jog to the door and open it up to find Dorn standing there. “Enya, Vaughn sent me to bring you to my father’s house. He found something you need to see.”
“Okay,” I tell him. “Hang on and let me grab my coat, okay?” I step back and grab my coat while I tell Dio and Tria, “I have to hang up now but we’ll talk and meet soon.”
“We heard, no worries, talk later,” Dio yells.
“Talk later,” Tria adds before I hang up.
I shrug my coat on and close the door behind me. “Lead the way.” I smile and get a radiant smile back from Dorn.
He points to the left and we both head that way. He keeps glancing at me and eventually I quip, “Did you want to say something?”
Dorn nods. “Thank you.”
This catches me by surprise and a slight chuckle slips over my lips before I ask, “Mind telling me why you’re thanking me?”
“You stood up for me. To my father. Told him in front of everyone what he did, called him out on it. You gave me strength. Made me see things differently. So, thank you.”
I reach out and squeeze his biceps. “No need to thank me, Dorn. It was just an observation I voiced. But good for you for seeing things differently.” I glance to the only house in front of us that’s surrounded by trees and bushes. “No lights on. Are you sure we’re supposed to meet Vaughn here?” I question as I glance back at Dorn.
I feel a sting on the side of my neck and slap my hand over the spot. Dorn mutters a soft, “I’m sorry,” before I feel the world tilt and arms that surround me while darkness falls.
My throat is dry and my eyes burn. Nausea surges up and I have to swallow the bile down that’s rising in my throat. My head throbs as I glance around me. I’m sitting on a chair; my hands are tied to the armrests and tape is strapped over them and my ankles are restrained the same way by the feel of it.
My eyes land on the floor where I see a body slumped against the wall. Underneath his vest his white shirt is soaked with red and his head leans forward but I recognize him anyway. Fear runs through me but it’s not me I’m worried about.
“Porter. Porter, come on, look at me. Porter,” I whisper-shout in an effort to draw his attention.
Anger runs through me and with it my nausea spikes again. Dammit, what was in the syringe Dorn poked me with? I glance down at my arm and try to focus on moving my arms to rip off the rope and tape. Come on, I’m a freaking Dragon, a little restraint shouldn’t be able to stop me.
Though every bit of strength is missing from my body. Again, what the hell did Dorn do to me? My hands clench into fists and blue fire starts to crackle around them. Wait. Did he somehow mute the Dragon part in me? This means the Guardian side must be still working, right?
Shit. Why in the hell did Vaughn ramble about Dragons, and not explain one word to me about a Guardian’s ability. Well, obviously blue fire is one of their abilities. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to make the blue fire appear anywhere else but surrounding my fists, and only when I’m angry.
My gaze slides to Porter. He needs help. I can hear his heart still beating, though it’s very faint. Damn, damn, damn, think! Envision. As if you’re standing in front of a mirror and seeing your own reflection. This will help you to switch appearances. That’s what Vaughn said when I needed to shift back.
Would it be as simple as that when I want to use the abilities I know I have inside me? Worth a try, right? I close my eyes and think about fire licking up my arms, burning down the ropes and tape so I’ll be free and can rip the rest off my ankles and save Porter. My eyes fly open and to my frustration I see nothing happened. Dammit.
I growl at myself and clench my fists, fire now swirling hot around them. “Climb up,” I order. “Up,” I spit in anger, wanting to see it spread. To my surprise it flashes forward and leaps back again. I try to fully focus and hiss underneath my breath, “Move.”
Blue fire instantly wraps around me and the smell of burning fabric surrounds me. I can move my arms, my legs, but the joy that comes with it doesn’t last long when I notice my clothes are on fire too. Rapidly shedding everything—easy to do when there’s almost nothing left—I’m now fully naked but free.
I rush over to Porter and check his pulse, it’s weak but it’s still there. He has a gaping wound over his belly and he’s passed out, probably due to the loss of blood. My mind is running with options about what I should do. I glance around me but the room is completely empty. There’s one window and that might be our only chance to escape.
I glance at the chair I was sitting on. There is a pile of small fragments of clothing next to it. Shit. No clothes, no phone, no nothing. My eyes lock on Porter and I know it’s crazy but I’m not about to save his life while being naked. Porter is wearing a vest over his shirt so I’m stealing that one. He’s half-shrugged out of it so it’s easy enough.
“Sorry,” I mutter as I pull it free from his body and quickly put it on.
I rush over to the window and only manage to open it a few inches before it’s stuck. A growl ripples from my chest and I use a bit more force to shove it upward and I’m happy to feel it slide open wide enough for a body to go through.
I jog back to Porter and lift him up. There’s no other way but to shove his legs through the window and slowly let him fall to the ground before I escape through it and swing him over my shoulder. I risk one glance back at the house but it’s still com
pletely dark.
Unease settles inside my veins. Why is it so easy to escape? Why did Dorn inject me with something and tie me up? Not kill Porter but leave him in the locked room with me? Is he really this careless? Stupid? Why? All these things run through my head as I jog to the building I visited earlier today.
The door is locked but the light is still on. I know Zahra must still be in here. I’ve talked to her when she took my blood, she mentioned not having a life and wanted to work on it right away. She’s always here working. I bet she’s still here, she needs to be.
I don’t think twice and kick against the door. Once. Twice. Luckily it bursts open and I can step inside. I can feel some of my strength has come back but not all of it. Whatever Dorn gave me is still making my head fuzzy and my body nauseous.
“Enya? What the hell?” Zahra gasps from my left. “Oh. What happened? Who is he? Come, bring him here.”
She points at a room across the hall and she dashes forward. I follow her and place Porter on a stretcher.
“Shit,” Zahra winces. “That doesn’t look good. Cyril isn’t here. He…this man…he’s…human?”
“Get me the things I need to give him a blood transfusion. I’ve done it before with Polina, I know I can do it again. Help me, Zahra. Now, dammit,” I snap and she jolts into action.
“We can’t do this,” she mutters but gets everything ready as I shove another gurney next to Porter.
“He’s dying, Zahra,” I tell her. “Look at his guts, they are practically spilling from his body. Aren’t Dragons put on this earth to help and protect the humans? Dorn did this. He stabbed me with a syringe and I woke up strapped to a chair with Porter here fighting for his life in a freaking corner of the room. We need to save him. Understood?”
Zahra nods warily and we don’t exchange any more words until the blood transfusion is all set and working.
“How much should he…how much?” Zahra asks.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “Not much. Well, when I did the same thing with Polina it was only seconds before—”
Dragons: Death by Reaper MC #4 Page 10
