by Eva Chase
“Mmhm?” An ache of need was already spreading up from low in my belly. “Then by all means, go ahead and make full use of them.”
The heat in his eyes turned blazing. “Oh, believe me, I will.”
He bent to kiss me as he slid back inside me, and we gave ourselves over to pleasure for just a little while longer.
After a quick detour back to my rooms to find a dress that didn’t look as if it’d recently been torn off in the throes of passion, I headed back through the mansion’s halls to see where I was needed. I couldn’t keep drifting along in the bliss of having finally consummated all of my mate-bonds for the rest of the day. The vampire threat hadn’t gone away just because West and I had gotten it on.
West’s kin and the others who’d taken shelter here were already hard at work laying down more firewood in the protective ring. Others had ventured farther away to scout out where the vampires might be holing up during the day. If they’d found temporary shelter somewhere, maybe we could turn the tables on them before night fell again.
If only it would be that easy. Somehow I doubted the bloodsuckers would have suddenly turned that careless.
I was just veering toward the common areas when the outline of a closed door snagged my attention from the corner of my eye. A jolt of anticipation I couldn’t explain shot through me. I turned
The hall around me faded away.
I was standing in front of a simple door, this one painted the same pale moss green as the walls on either side of it. A circle of dimples marked its surface just above my eye level. It had no knob, no handle. A faint ringing filled my ears, and the certainty rose up in my mind that I could open that door if I wanted to. That it was meant for me to open—for me and my kind.
A familiar smell, like sweet clover and sunbaked stone, wrapped around me. Home. Then vision washed away.
I stumbled backward, my still-sore back hitting the opposite wall.
The door I was looking at now, here in the canine estate, was light yellow-gold. It had a perfectly ordinary knob where a knob should be. But it had stirred something up in my memory—or maybe not my memory, but something deeper, that ran down through my dragon-shifter spirit. Excitement jittered through my nerves.
I’d come fully into my role. I was bonded with all four of my alphas, and through them with their kin. Maybe there’d been a lot more that came with being a dragon waiting for me than I’d ever even realized.
Maybe enough to stop the vampires attacks for good.
I spun away from the door and hurried the rest of the way into the common rooms. My gaze halted on the first attendant I saw. I caught her arm. “Can you find all the alphas and ask them to meet in our lounge? I need to see them immediately.”
She bobbed her head. “Right away, dragon shifter.”
I knew Nate was already in the lounge area that was just for me and my alphas to share. He’d left his healer room cot so he could make some calls to his kin without disturbing the other injured shifters.
When I burst into the room, he looked up from the armchair where he was sitting. His eyebrows rose. “Is everything okay, Ren?”
“I think so,” I said. “I think I might know where we can find some answers. Are you well enough to travel?”
Nate pushed himself slowly but steadily to his feet. “I am if that’s what we need to do. What happened?”
“I’m… not completely sure yet.”
Marco sauntered into the room, his stance casual but his indigo eyes sharply alert. West stalked in a moment later with Aaron close behind him.
As they all came to a halt around me, a tremor passed through the air. It quivered over my skin, stealing my breath just for a second. This was the first time my alphas and I had all been in the same space with our bonds confirmed. The power of it hummed between us, almost electric.
I obviously wasn’t the only one who could feel it. Marco smirked and cut his gaze toward West. “I take it you finally figured out how to remove your head from your ass.”
The wolf shifter bared his teeth a sliver, but he couldn’t seem to help smiling when his eyes rested on me. So this was what it really felt like, being the dragon shifter. Being the hub that held the shifter community together. The sensation was exhilarating and a little frightening at the same time.
“What’s going on, Serenity?” Aaron asked.
I groped after the impression that had made me call for them. “The dragon shifter estate. You’ve been there at some point, haven’t you? What color are the walls inside?”
My mates looked puzzled. “From what I can remember, they’re green,” Nate said. “Most of them, anyway. Why?”
“This feeling came over me just a few minutes ago,” I said. “Like the visions my mother left for me—or the one I had of how she died. I saw a door in what I think was the dragon shifter’s estate. It felt like home. And the color matches.”
“A door,” West repeated, giving me space to go on.
“I got the impression I’m meant to open it. Now that… Now that I’m completely bonded with all of you. That there’s something on the other side I need, something intended for every dragon shifter. What if it’s something that could help us against the vampires?”
The guys exchanged a glance. “That estate does hold secrets only the dragon shifters have ever understood,” Aaron said. “When I visited with the alpha who mentored me, there was a whole section of the house we weren’t allowed into. The records we have of the dragon shifter line have always been tenuous.”
“What are you suggesting, princess?” Marco said. “Time for a field trip?”
I nodded. “I have to go, to find out what’s there. The rest of you…”
“We’re coming,” West said firmly. “My lieutenants can keep our preparations going here, and lead our defenses if need be. Leaving you unguarded could be exactly what the vampires are waiting for. There’s a jet here. We can be at your estate by the early afternoon.”
That was all I’d needed to hear. I let out my breath. “Then let’s get on that plane.”
Chapter 11
Ren
Kylie draped herself across her seat on the private jet with a pleased sigh. “I could totally get used to this kind of luxury. Forget flying coach ever again.”
I laughed. “I think most of the time we’ll drive places. But the shifter cars I’ve been in have been pretty nice too. The jets are for emergencies.”
“Very, very comfortable emergencies,” my best friend declared, snuggling deeper into the smooth leather. “I’ve got no idea what those vampires could have been complaining about. Shifters know how to live right.”
There’d been no way I was leaving Kylie behind again, not with another vampire attack on the horizon. And it wasn’t as if she’d have let me anyway. I’d barely managed to tell her I’d decided I needed to visit the dragon shifter estate before she’d been grabbing the suitcase she’d brought from New York and announcing she was ready to go.
I thought she might even have convinced the attendants to haul that flame-thrower of hers into the cargo hold. But Aaron had looked over everything, and if he didn’t think it was likely to blow us up, I guessed I shouldn’t worry.
“There are some benefits to being in with the shifters, huh?” Felix said with a light grin. West had brought a few of his kin along for the ride to help set my former home in order after all those years of disuse. The fennec fox had settled himself into one of the seats across from us. At first I’d assumed his choice was a coincidence, but seeing the way his eyes gleamed watching Kylie, I wasn’t so sure anymore.
“Oh, I can think of lots of reasons to stick around,” Kylie said, grinning back. She ticked off her fingers. “Lots of feasts. Super comfy guest rooms. The company of my best friend, of course. And let’s not forget all the amazing eye candy.”
Had my bestie just… fluttered her eyelashes a little at Felix? And was he blushing? A hint of red had definitely colored the fox shifter’s cheeks. He swept back his tawny hair,
playing casual. “Sounds like you’re exactly where you need to be, then.”
“Oh, I’m sure of that.”
“We have a lot more fun when there aren’t vamps trying to massacre us. You should come back to the estate after we’ve crushed them.”
“And you’ll show me a good time?” Kylie said, her grin widening. Oh, she was absolutely flirting with him. I’d know that come get me smile anywhere.
“Felix, come here a second,” West called from closer to the front of the plane. The fox shifter made an apologetic grimace and hustled to see what his alpha wanted. I followed his path automatically, my gaze rising to meet West’s. My mate’s expression had been serious, but his eyes softened just a bit as he gave me a quick smile. And fuck if that wasn’t enough to make my heart flutter.
“Hmm,” Kylie said, waggling her eyebrows. “Is it just me, or is there more of a glow around you today? Any secrets you’re ready to share?”
Now I was blushing. I ducked my head as heat washed over my face. But I couldn’t stop a grin of my own from splitting my face.
And awful lot of things in our lives sucked right now—uh, some of them literally. But there wasn’t a bloodsucker in the world that could take away the joy of having all my mates around me. Knowing we were all here for each other.
“Later,” I said. “When we’ve got a little more privacy to chat.” No doubt West’s kin had already sensed the shift in atmosphere. It was kind of hard to tell if they were being more effusive toward me now when they’d been incredibly fawning from the start. But I’d caught a new sparkle in several eyes as we’d made our way through the mansion on our way out.
I was going to guess there’d be a whole lot of new canine kids running around about nine months from now, vampires or no. That didn’t mean I wanted to be talking about my encounter with West where any of them could hear me with those sharp shifter ears.
“Oooh. I knew it!” Kylie said. “You’re on fire, Ren. I mean, in a totally metaphorical, not at all dangerous sort of way.”
The flutter came back into my chest, like a flickering of flames. “It does kind of feel like that,” I had to admit.
“It’s about time. No more being jerked around. Just love, love, love.”
She said it in such a goofy singsong voice that I had to laugh again. That was why I loved her. For a few minutes, talking with her, I could forget all the other crap we still had to deal with.
At least, until Marco sank into the seat Felix had vacated, tucking his phone into his pocket. His mouth was set in his usual crooked smile, but his eyes were shadowed. Nate turned where he was sitting one seat over to see what the jaguar shifter had to say.
“A few of my people followed the vamps that came at my estate last night,” he said. He’d been talking to one of his lieutenants in Florida. “It appears they’ve holed up in a smaller city that’s closer to our territory than their usual haunt. Faster access for their next attack.”
“Can your kin take the attack to them?” I asked. “Use daylight to our advantage?”
Marco shook his head. “The building they’ve taken over is too secure. Every nook and cranny sealed, every door unmovable, even the garage section where they keep their vehicles. Either the vamps lucked out, or they’ve been planning for the possibility of taking on the shifter estates for long enough to do a custom job on the place.”
Aaron came over and leaned against the back of Marco’s seat. “My kin have seen something similar near the avian estate. The vampires are prepared for a long fight. And they know the estates are the key to winning.”
My pulse hiccupped. “So we can’t let them break through any of those walls. We’ll need all the firewood the kin can prepare, every shifter who’s able to fight ready to tackle any who make it to the walls… Can we get bulletproof vests for the guards to wear? Other safety equipment? Maybe we can’t use weapons ourselves, but there’s no law against protecting against them, right?”
Nate frowned. “That’ll only work when we stay in human form. But it couldn’t hurt to have that kind of gear on hand.”
Kylie perked up. “I’ve got an acquaintance whose brother works for a security supplies depot. He can totally hook us up.”
I shook my head with a wash of relief. “Of course you know someone.”
She wiggled her fingers. “I’m the most connected gal in NYC. You’d better believe it!”
All of these strategies were only stalling measures, though. “At least the vampires can’t hold a real siege. We’ll always have the option to scatter if the situation gets too dire, during the day when they won’t know where we’ve gone.”
“I don’t think we’ll keep morale very long if we abandon the estates,” Aaron said. “And I can’t imagine the vampires will leave a single building on them standing if we give them free access. But yes, if it comes to that…”
“And then what?” Marco said. “We scurry around through the wild as if we really are animals? We could get by like that, but it’d only be surviving. We aren’t just animals. We need to put down roots, to have our community. And our comforts.” He ran his hand over the padded arm of his seat.
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have suggested that.” It wouldn’t be the kind of victory a dragon shifter should be able to offer. I raked my fingers into my hair, my mouth twisting. “They rely on those trucks. I should have burned up some of the ones they had by the estate last night.”
“Ren.” Nate reached across the aisle to take my hand. He squeezed it gently, his warm brown eyes seeking out mine. “You did lots last night. So much more than any of the rest of us could manage on our own. You can’t beat yourself up for that. There were too many of the vamps, and they’re smart.”
“But we’ll find a way to beat them,” Marco said. “They’re contending with a fully-fledged dragon shifter and all four of her mates now.” His lips curled with what looked like a genuine smile. “You’ve got this, princess. And we’ve got your back.”
“We’ll need to give my kin a chance to set the house in order,” West said as we stepped out into the landing field. “A bunch from the closest canine settlement got here about an hour ago to get started, but it’s a big job.”
The underlings he’d brought along on the plane were already hustling down the path. Only a sliver of the house’s roof was visible from here. Enormous oaks and silver maples loomed between the building and our landing place.
“How long has it been since anyone’s come here?” I asked. Everywhere I looked struck a new chord of recognition in me: the long stretch of the landing field, the rustling leaves of the trees, the craggy peaks of the mountains to the north that spilled down into rolling green hills that surrounded the rest of the estate. All my nerves were twanging, even though it’d only been a minute since I’d stepped off the plane.
I sucked in a breath. The breeze held the delicate floral smell of clover. That was familiar too.
“We’ve taken turns sending kin by to do basic upkeep over the years,” Aaron said. “We didn’t want the place to fall into disrepair.” He rested his hand on the small of my back. “We trusted you’d be back. But it won’t feel all that homey yet. They’ll need to uncover the furniture, stock the kitchen, do a more thorough cleaning, all that.”
I stepped toward the trees. The hiss of the breeze moving through them sent a prickle down my back. Calling to my wings.
This was where I’d first learned about being a dragon. Where I’d first seen a dragon fly. My mother, gleaming bronze against the sky. My throat choked up.
“It doesn’t need any of that to feel like home,” I said. “It just is.”
I strode down the path the way the other shifters had gone. My mates drew up close behind me. I felt each of their presences by me: calm, eager, proud, and wary. And all of them here for me, trusting that I’d been right to bring us here.
I’d better make sure I justified that trust.
When we emerged from the short stretch of trees onto the plains of tall gras
s that surrounded the house, my breath caught in my throat. Kylie came to a halt beside me.
“Holy shit, Ren. That’s some house.”
It hardly even looked like a house. It was a castle, twin turrets on either side of the broad arched door, a parapet wall in between, the stones that constructed it painted stark white with red and gold trim around the door and window frames.
My mother’s voice trickled up through my memory, bright with amusement. A regular medieval fortress. Keeping us dragons safe instead of keeping the royalty safe from dragons. Our ancestor who commissioned this place had quite the sense of humor.
These fields, I’d run through with my sisters. Ducking low to let the grass cover us, springing up to surprise each other with a mock growl. Our dads would join in the games, slinking beneath the cover of the waving blades in their animal forms, waiting to make a gentle pounce. Only my bear shifter father had been too big to really hide. We’d clamber onto his back and send him lumbering after the others.
My gaze drifted to the thicker forest behind the house. Pines and cedars mingled with oaks and maples there. The shadows streaked darker between their trunks.
But not as dark as the night when we’d fled. The air sharp in my lungs, the branches whipping against my arms, pebbles rattling away under my scrambling feet. My mother’s hand clamped so tight around my fingers—
I yanked my eyes away. My heart was thudding.
“Ren?” West said, watching me. How much did he see? It hadn’t occurred to me that I might not get away with quite so much around those watchful green eyes now that he was no longer trying to convince himself he didn’t care.
I dragged in another breath, letting the clover smell and the summer warmth relax me. Focus on the present. Focus on the happy times before. Anything but that one night.
“I’m all right,” I said. “Come on, let’s get inside.”
The front hall was fine. The front hall was gorgeous. The pale moss-green walls I’d seen in my vision now snapped into clarity. A crystal globe dangled from the ceiling, that I knew could beam with light when darkness started to fall outside. The swooping doorways opened into wide, airy rooms with huge windows that would be letting the sunlight pour in.
