Greg held up a hand and motioned in the direction of the ladies’ locker room. They all nodded, understanding. Hildy was approaching.
12
Deep voices in hushed tones floated on the air, as she emerged from the ladies’ restroom. Surprised they had one and more surprised with how well kept it was, she’d stayed in there getting her anger level in check and pacing to release some of the energy that flowed through her. No use getting riled up and having an embarrassing shift in front of her gracious hosts.
“We have to send notice now. There’s no way all this is a coincidence,” she heard Ajax saying.
Another voice that sounded like Lucien’s said, “I’ve already sent word to be on alert. If I must, I’ll call the others back here—after the holidays have passed. There’s no way this will happen, not if I’m here. I need all of you to beef up your security. And… I need you to do a cleansing ritual as soon as possible. I know I promised you we’d take the holidays off, but we still need to be on alert. Let me know once you’ve completed your cleansing process by the mid part of January.”
A chorus of voices spoke up. “Man, is it that bad? We just got done with a battle that should have weakened them and now this. Don’t they realize this is the time when people are focused on family, love and joy? Luc, are you sure about that information… do you sense it as well?”
“Yes, unfortunately I do,” Lucien said.
Another said, “I’ll do whatever I have to. There’s no way this generation needs to see the destruction that another event like this would bring. And now, with a possible Siren, this could be a sign that things are concluding with her presence. She’s working on our side, right?”
“That’s our hope and what I plan to find out.” Lucien must be their leader. He spoke with authority and appeared to hold a lot of the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. She watched from the darkened space next to a tall stand of free weights as they continued. The tone was serious and had that sense of urgency that made her itch to do something.
He spoke, keeping his volume down. It was a good thing she had excellent hearing or she wouldn’t have heard the next thing he said.
“That’s what I plan to find out. I didn’t expect to have the chance so soon, thus I’ll need to tread cautiously.”
Hildy emerged from the shadows wondering what this was about. Were they referring to her? If so, the part of her that liked adventure and intrigue had been sufficiently activated. She wanted in.
“Hey, guys, I couldn’t help hearing a bit of what you were discussing. Didn’t want to snoop but this sort of thing is very interesting and might be right up my alley. Care to share more?”
Ajax, Lucien and the one they called Gregori or Greg, looked at each other. Instead of Lucien speaking up, it was Greg.
“That is a good thing, because it would seem you’re a part of it already.” Then he motioned for some of the others to get a chair for her to join them. “Sorry to dampen your Christmas with this, but when Ajax told us he’d met you, we had to know if what he thought was true.”
The edge of the chair cut into the back of her thighs as Hildy leaned in, listening to his every word.
“Go on, don’t stop now. I need to know what you’re getting at. Ajax mentioned something about knowing what I was at the diner. I’d like to know whatever it is you all know about me, because I haven’t had much to go on. And to be honest, that’s the main reason I agreed to join him for dinner—that and the promise of pie.”
Everyone laughed at that. She sat back to wait for an answer.
Ajax spoke. “Hildy, it appears to me that you are a sacred soul. If what I saw the other night is part of your ability, you’re a Harpy and may become a Siren.”
“A what?”
“You know, a Siren, which could manifest as a Harpy, muse and in some cases a sphinx, crow or eagle,” Greg said, capturing Hildy’s attention.
“You know about my mutation?” Betrayal ignited in her as she searched, locating and throwing visual daggers at Ajax. “How could you tell them? I thought it was our secret. This isn’t cool Ajax, not one bit. I’m still trying to deal with it and you go and tell everyone that I’m a freak?” Stinging signs of tears pushed against her eyelids, as Hildy fought back the dam of pressure.
Not here and not in front of them. She’d get out of here and make it back home as soon as possible. Then she’d make sure she never had to see or hear from Ajax and his brothers again.
Lucien looked at her until she was forced by some invisible hand to direct her gaze toward him. Once he had her firmly locked in his sights, Hildy noticed the vibrant green of his eyes, as they seemed to ignite with a hidden flame.
“Hildy, I think it’s safe to speak for all of us when I say you’re nobody’s freak. The fact that you don’t know what you are is a travesty that we plan to rectify. If you’ll allow us to.” He offered her a smile that held no deception. “Not to put you completely on the spot, but how much do you know about your family and background?”
Heat swirled around her, warming and pricking her with it as Lucien continued to stare at her. She wanted to answer and still couldn’t. Hildy knew next to nothing about her family. It was embarrassing to reveal that she’d been a throw-away baby, left to fend for herself.
“Answer me… please?” he asked, almost coaxing the truth out of her.
Pressure released, making a popping sound in her ear. She had to answer him. The compulsion was too strong to resist. He’d be able to handle her truth; it was clear as day.
“I don’t know my family. When I was born, they left me at the baby drop off at a fire station. Then I was put into the system. I’m an orphan. At first, I thought I’d been given up because of my skin color, being black and female might have been why. But now I think it was more so because of my other side—you know?”
Ajax got up to exchange seats with the man on her right. She stayed still as he put an arm around her and pulled her into his side. He was touching her in front of his family. Touch was an iffy thing for her. Most of the time it made her want to attack and she had to work to keep the urge at bay. His touch and being held by him didn’t repulse her, nor did she feel embarrassed or shy that he did it so openly and freely. Instead it bolstered her ability to speak up, like an anchor.
“You’re safe with us. Nothing will happen to you here. And helping you to discover your background is a top priority we’d like to help you unravel—if you allow it,” Ajax said.
She loved the kindness of his gesture but didn’t want his pity. Not wanting to break out of his hold, but needing the space from the intimacy that always made her skin itch with discomfort, Hildy pushed away to sit up straighter in the chair.
“Thank you but it’s not necessary. I’m grown and on my own now. If my family had wanted me, they would have found a way to reach out by now. As it is, I’ve tried over the years to find out something and got nowhere. It’s sort of hard looking for someone who gave me up because I’m a freak. Hell, I don’t know if I have parents or was a lab experiment gone wrong.”
“Enough of that talk,” Matt said from the other side of the haphazard circle. “We are blessed of the gods and here for a purpose. It doesn’t matter if you’re neon green, you are a part of our world. Can’t speak for anyone outside these walls, but we see a strong, beautiful person. I’m pissed off that you’ve had to be on your own for so long. Please, Hildy, allow us to help you discover who you actually are, embrace your heritage and maybe find out who your family is?”
She wanted to believe what all of them said was true, but these were normal men, not hybrid freaks like her.
Lucien looked to his brother, Ajax, who still sat next to her. When he gave a nod, heat pulsed and vibrated off Ajax. Hildy went from comfortable to blazing hot in seconds.
“Please do it so she knows what we speak is truth,” Lucien said to Ajax.
Ajax held out his arm, pushed up his sleeve and focused. Hildy followed his line of sight to take in his muscular
appendage. Tanned flesh began to bubble and harden as his arm, all the way down to his fingertips, grew in thickness. When his fingernails changed into talons that resembled polished obsidian, a meek breath escaped Hildy. Ajax continued to hold his arm out, extended for all to see, as the hardened skin morphed into brilliant golden scales. It looked like a beautiful kaleidoscope of gold, brown and green hues intermingled to produce a shimmering tapestry.
“I… I don’t understand,” she said, hating the mumbling incoherence of her words. “What are you doing? Are you like me?”
“Yes and no,” Lucien answered. “Yes, we’re all able to shift into the other part of our nature like you, but unlike you, Ajax, my brothers, and I are dragons whereas Greg, Matt, and their other brothers—Drew and Sasha are gryphons. This is sacred knowledge that we do not share with others. I put tremendous trust in your ability to hold this knowledge, because of who you are. We are all part of a clan that includes your kind—the Sirens. Please accept our apologies for only now learning of your existence.”
“Dragons? And what’s a gryphon?” she asked, confused as she anxiously attempted to pull clues from mythology lessons learned in her formative years. “Would you fill me in on who is which?”
“We’ll fill you in on that later, for now we have to help you get the answers you need. A lot of lives depend on you knowing who you are and what your calling is.”
“Come on Luc, do a proper introduction,” the one named Matt said.
Lucien cut him a sharp look but obliged. Pointing to the cluster of men at the end of the table, he started on the left and worked his way around to the right of the table. “That’s Nolan Drake—third born dragon, Mathias or Matt Griffin—fourth born gryphon, Blaise Drake—fourth born dragon, the twins—Rylan and Kylan Drake—fifth and sixth born dragons, Gregori or Greg Griffin—first born gryphon, you know Ajax—our eighth born dragonling and me, Lucien Drake—first born dragon. My brothers, Ivan Drake—second born dragon and Eoin Drake—seventh born dragon, along with Drew and Sasha Griffin—second and third born gryphons aren’t here. The twelve of us make up the Dragofin Clan.”
“Wow—that’s a lot of dragons and gryphon,” Hildy said, trying to commit the faces and names to memory.
Lucien must have figured out what she was attempting to do. He said, “Don’t try to learn all the names of these guys tonight. If you need it, I’ll make sure they wear name tags to help you. For now, I’d like to talk more about your ability—as a Siren.”
“I can’t be a Siren. I’m not like any of the pictures of the beautiful women killing men with their voices on the cliffs of some sea. I’m here and more like an ugly, black, half-crow mix. Trust me, I’m not in the least bit cute when I shift.”
Lucien had a quick reply. “That is only a small part of who the Sirens are. Most of that is conjecture and tales made up by humans as bedtime stories. Sirens are indeed female. They are warriors who can fly and embark in great battle. They can also be the harbingers of death to those who have earned that fate. In addition to those qualities, some have the gift of the muse. Called muse Sirens, they’re able to use their voices to inspire, influence and even persuade others to return to a path of righteousness. Their mission is to course-correct, working with fate to make sure the least amount of harm or damage can prevail. Sirens come forth when the world is at its greatest turmoil. They help to restore the balance of good and evil. When too many souls have cried out for mercy, grace and provision they annihilate the tormenters and dark souls who inflict pain and suffering.”
“Whoa—that’s a lot.” Hildy felt the heat of stares watching her as he spoke. There was no way she could be any of that. He… they were way off.
“Lucien, I still think you and Ajax may have me confused with someone else. I don’t have any of those traits. Just because I can sprout wings doesn’t mean I can do all that stuff you just said.”
He smiled as he leaned in, emphasizing his next words. “And how do you know for certain you’re not one. Have you had a chance to see if any of what I say is true? As for being a true Siren, Hildy, what makes you so certain you aren’t one?” Lucien asked, a twinkle of wisdom flickering in his eyes. “Who told you that? As far as I can tell, you have the classic qualities of a Siren. The trait exhibits itself in various ways. Not to embarrass you, but what I’ve heard from accounts from both you and Ajax, you resemble more of a young Harpy now. You’re able to release wings and talons and your temper can be extremely short with some people,” he said, shifting his focus to Ajax. “Especially with my brother here, for instance.”
Lucien must be a psychic, because he described her to a tee. “Yeah, that’s right, especially about the part about Ajax. There’s something about him that makes me want to claw his eyes out. He can be a smug jerk, you know.”
“Yes, I know, but my youngest brother is a Dragonling and that is to be expected.” Lucien’s chuckle was warm and deep as it filled the space.
He still shook his head from the laugh as Hildy asked, “What’s a Dragonling? And why does him being one upset me so?”
“Oh, that. I’ll allow him to explain that to you later as well, when you two get a chance to talk. For now, I have to ask you something that might be a bit personal.”
“Sure, go ahead. You all seem to know way more about me than I do, so I’m game.”
“Are you a government assassin?” All sense of mirth had departed from Lucien’s powerful features as he held the air captive, awaiting her answer.
What had she gotten herself into? There was no way they should know any of this and especially not her job. She was going to whip Ajax’s ass for real when she got him alone.
Deciding to play it off, she said, “A what? Who gave you that idea?” The last part was directed at Ajax. The nut didn’t have the common decency to pretend like he hadn’t been flapping his gums to his brother and these men. “I’m a bird hybrid woman, just trying to find her way in this world.”
“Please don’t insult our intelligence like that. We’ve opened ourselves and identity to you. It would be respectful for you to do the same. The only reason you’re here right now, is because I lifted the shields to allow you to see and enter our space. I gave you that courtesy, based on Jax’s report. He thought you were worth the risk. Do you want to make him out to be wrong?”
Guilt and shame at being exposed crashed into her.
Don’t cry, don’t cry. That’s the wuss way. Be strong.
Hildy had to get it together or get out of here. She wanted to know as much as possible about herself, but the price of divulging her work with the agency might get all these guys into deep trouble.
Lucien wouldn’t let up with that stare tactic of his—and it worked. His voice was softer when he spoke again.
“Hildy, I don’t mean to put you on the spot, but there’s something else you need to know.”
A big wad of toilet paper was shoved in front of her face as Hildy looked up to see another one of Ajax’s brothers standing there offering it. These guys were super kind, too kind for the likes of her. She took the wad and nodded at the man. He gave her a reassuring smile before returning to his seat. It was then the first tear burned a traitorous trail down her cheek.
“What is it? I need to know whatever you can tell me. But first, let me say that you knowing anything about me and the work I do for the agency could put your lives in danger.”
“If I were you, I wouldn’t spend my time worrying about us,” Lucien said. “Instead, trust us enough to take care of ourselves. Now, once again, are you an assassin?”
13
It was time to put up or get out. She knew that without Lucien having to spell it out. “All right then. My official title is a retrieval expert. I work with a handler who gives me my assignments. Not all of them require me to kill. I prefer the ones that don’t, but I do my job and hope I’m making the world a little safer by doing so.”
“Do you know if your job is connected to a government agency or private?”
“Not for certain, but I always thought it was part of some hush-hush government arm.”
“I see. Since you thought Ajax might be an agent, am I to assume you don’t know your co-workers?”
She nodded, not liking how this was going. In their eyes, she might be working for anyone, including not-so-nice private firms. Not to mention how little she knew about her employers or how gullible she’d been, yet again.
“I know how this looks, but the agency is all I’ve ever known.”
“Why do you say that?”
“They were the ones who came and got me out of foster care when I started to, you know, show changes in my body.”
“You mean when your body had matured enough to start shifting?”
“Yeah, that’s a better way of putting it.”
“And no one was there to explain to you what was happening to you?”
“No. I thought I was abnormal. No one said what I could do or what I’d become was anything but outside the norm.”
“Wow, talk about some fucked up shit,” Ajax said, anger lacing his tone.
“Language, Jax,” Lucien said, scolding his youngest brother. “As for you, dear Hildy, I am truly sorry you had to go through that. How long have you been with the agency, as you call them?”
“The first time I shifted was soon after I turned ten. They came and got me right after that. No one would come near me and I was scared. They took me to a house out in the country. It was very nice, but I was the only one there with my teachers.”
“And how long were you there at that place?”
“Let me see,” she took a moment to mentally calculate the time, “I got there when I was ten and they offered me the job when I was twenty. So, I was there training for ten years and I’ve been doing these assignments for the last three, almost four years. Oh, I’ll be twenty-four next month. That’ll make my fourth year as an agent.”
Ajax's Harpy Holiday: Dragofin Mated: Book 1 (A Dragon-Gyphon Shifter Curvy Paranormal-Fantasy-Scifi Romance Series) (Dragonfin Clan Mated) Page 7
