by Leela Ash
Ariel shook her head.
“I can! I’m not useless! I…”
Let me come with you! I can help! I’m not useless!
She’d said those same words herself. To her parents – right before they left.
And died.
Ariel winced as that memory, still sharp as a razor, flooded back. Years later, the pain of their rejection had lost none of its sting. Yet, facing that same plea, she finally understood. They couldn’t take her into danger with them. Not because she was ‘useless.’ Because they loved her too much.
Deep inside, a knot in her heart loosened. One she’d never felt before.
Momma? Poppa? If you can hear me, I’m sorry. I see now why you left me.
There was, however, one thing she would do differently. She’d use gentle words to let her little girl down.
“Sydnee, listen.” Ariel kept her voice low. “I need you to take care of your brothers. Can you do that? They’re all alone right now. They’re probably scared to death.”
Okay, that was a fib. Trey and Brody were probably entranced by banana slugs and had completely forgotten that there was anything wrong. But if it took a small lie to get Sydnee to safety, then so be it.
Weeping silently, the girl nodded. One last kiss, one last hug, and she let Walker lead her off.
Chapter 15
Now came the hard part. Nobody was leaving a Dragon tied up, unattended. Ariel sat, catching her breath and fighting to calm her ragged heartbeat.
If only there was someone she could call on. It would take hours to summon Owen’s Flight and they didn’t have that much time. The local police could make it sooner, of course. Yet, what could they do against Shifters? Worse, the Fangs wouldn’t hesitate to kill police officers.
She couldn’t take that risk. With Walker unwilling to lend a hand, that left just her to save the day. In a fight, she wouldn’t stand any chance against the Fangs. Stealth was a different matter. Owen was probably trapped by some kind of magic. If she could sneak in and break that spell, squashing a Warren of Hares wouldn’t make a Dragon even break out in sweat.
If she could break the spell.
When her hands finally stopped trembling, she slipped back into the woods and circled around the Warren.
Unlike the barn, the farmhouse had a back door. Ariel crept up to it and peered through into an empty kitchen. The handle turned easily in her hand.
Odd. Why wouldn’t they lock…
Something breathed across her wrist, stirring the hairs on her arm.
Magic? Ariel froze, terrified that the spell would sound an alarm. Yet, nothing stirred inside and after a gut-wrenching moment, she scampered into the kitchen safely.
It was probably set to detect Shifters. Kin like me aren’t something a Witch Hare needs to worry about.
Or so they thought. She aimed to prove them wrong.
Inside, she paused at the door to the hallway and simply listened. What she heard made her heart sink.
Footsteps. Lots of them. The Warren was a hive of activity. Hares rushed about, scooping books, papers, and belongings into boxes. The kitchen seemed to be the only room that wasn’t being torn apart and stuffed into packing boxes.
How on earth could she get upstairs? She couldn’t sneak past that many people. Only thirteen Hares lived here; they’d recognize a trespasser the moment they laid eyes on her.
Fear rose, threatening to freeze her in place. Ariel swallowed it. She couldn’t lose her nerve. Owen’s life might depend upon it.
Maybe she’d never be a Dragon’s Mate… but she was a Dragon’s lover. And she would walk through hell itself to save him.
An old wall phone hung on the wall beside her. Seeing it gave her a plan. A dangerous, awful one… but it was her only hope.
Swiftly, she lifted the receiver and dialed three numbers.
Two rings, and then: “911, what is your emergency?”
She said nothing, giving the computer a chance to register her call.
“Hello?”
Ariel hung up. Then she raised the receiver again and listened.
Dial tone.
Carefully, she placed the receiver on the counter. 911 called you back if you hung up. If you said it was a mistake, that ended things. But if they couldn’t reach you…
She prayed she hadn’t just gotten some innocent police officer killed. She didn’t need them to rescue her, though. All she needed was a distraction.
The next fifteen minutes stretched out like hours. Time and again, she found herself on the brink of despair. They weren’t coming. They hadn’t gotten the Warren’s address. They’d lost the call.
At last, though, she heard the crunch of gravel in the drive. Worried murmurs, footsteps. Someone ran upstairs. A minute later, a familiar voice descended the stairs.
Clarissa Lange. “It’s probably that idiot nanny,” the Witch Queen said.
Adrenaline poured through her and it took every ounce of her will not to bolt out the kitchen door. How could they know she was here? How had she given herself away?
“She’s been calling him all morning,” Clarissa grumbled. “Silly little git probably asked the police to check on him. I’ll handle this.”
They didn’t know she was here! Knees weak with relief, Ariel grabbed the counter to hold herself up.
From outside, she heard Clarissa’s honey-coated tones. “Good morning, officers. Can I help you?”
That was her cue. With all Hares at windows, eyes glued on the police, she slipped into the hallway and up the stairs. Forgotten when the officers arrived, the door she sought lay open. Ariel stepped inside. Closed the door – and locked it.
As soon as she turned, she saw him.
Owen lay on the floor, a picture of agony. Every muscle in his lean body was stretched tight, as if caught in an unending cramp. Back arched, teeth bared in a grimace, he lay immobile.
“Owen!” She dropped to her knees beside him and laid her hand upon his shoulder. His skin burned, fever-hot, a temperature so high only a Dragon’s magical blood could bear it. No ropes or handcuffs bound him. Only the rigor of those agonized, wire-taut muscles. Yet, his eyes focused on her. His lips writhed, as if he sought to warn her or beg her to leave him. Not a sound escaped his pain.
“Sydnee’s safe and I’m going to help you,” she promised.
Brave words. But how?
Quickly, she patted Owen down, searching for anything that could be the focus of a spell. A thorn piercing his skin. An amulet hidden in his pocket. When that turned up nothing, she scanned the room. Most of it was torn apart and dumped into boxes. She yanked open Clarissa’s desk, hoping to find a voodoo doll or suspicious pouch. All she found was parchment stationery and golden pens.
One thing on the desk did catch her eye: two tea cups. Used.
Two…
Ariel sniffed one of them. It smelled of grass and odd herbs she couldn’t name.
Poison? She dug through a box half-filled with vials and bottles. They were all labeled, mostly in Latin which she couldn’t read. Not a one of them seemed to say anything useful like “Antidote.”
Time was running out. Ariel peeked out the window. The police were still there, chatting and laughing with Clarissa. Clearly, the queen had persuaded them that this was all a mistake. A half dozen of her Hares stood by her, looking sweet and innocent.
That meant there were another six still in the house.
Ariel weighed her options. She could scream for help. She didn’t doubt the police would try to save her – but she also knew the Hares would kill them. She couldn’t bring herself to shed innocent blood like that.
She couldn’t fight this many women. She had no help to call on. The only thing left was flight. Somehow, she had to escape, with Owen.
If she could carry him…
Ariel crouched beside her love, slipped her arms under his body, and tried to stand.
It was hopeless. She struggled, strained, called upon her Bear ancestors to lend her a fraction of th
eir strength. Yet, she could barely raise him off the floor.
Tears stung her eyes.
I’m sorry, my love. You need a true Bear, not a useless Kin like me.
At that first touch of despair, something stirred in her heart. A passionate, indomitable love that refused to break.
You’re not useless. You saved Sydnee. You can save him.
Crippling doubt withered, faced by that fiery emotion. Ariel blinked away her tears and forced herself to think.
If she couldn’t lift him, she needed to drag him. Grabbing Owen’s agonized body by the ankles, she threw herself backwards. To her delight, he slid heavily across the floor.
Okay, so I can move him. I can’t get him down the stairs and past six Witch Hares, though.
Now what? A Dragon would hurl himself into battle and slay every Hare on this property. A Bear would toss Owen over his shoulder and trot off to safety. Neither option worked for Kin like her.
But a Rat…
Walker would run away. If he couldn’t, he’d hide.
The closet at the end of the hall! They could hide there. And when Clarissa returned to find Owen gone, she’d probably panic. With good reason. Even an injured Dragon was a terrifying warrior.
With any luck, the Hares would flee. And, at worst, Owen’s Flight must be on its way by now. In just a couple hours, this place would be flooded with angry Dragons.
All she needed to do was hide. To be an honorary Rat, not a Bear. With a little luck, this would work.
Luck, however, was in short supply that day.
She had Owen halfway to the hall closet when the creak of a board warned her that the game was up.
Clarissa Lange stood on the stairs, staring at her. Surprise and anger warred on her elegant, beautiful face.
“The nanny. Trying to stage a rescue?” Incredulous laughter spilled out.
Ariel straightened and scanned the hall for a weapon. What she wouldn’t give for a nice marble statue or stray baseball bat! Again, luck deserted her. She balled her hands into fists.
“My Warren is under attack… by a nanny.” Still snickering, the Witch Queen strolled down the hall toward her. “What are you going to do? Send me to bed without my supper? Threaten to tell my parents how bad I’ve been? Take away my dessert?”
Oh, Ariel longed for a witty comeback. Some smart, snarky retort that would wipe the arrogant smile off that woman’s face.
And… she couldn’t think of anything. Clarissa had a point: she had no idea what she was going to do. All she knew was that she couldn’t leave Owen. Even if it cost her life, she would stay with him.
To the end.
At her feet, a violent spasm twisted Owen’s tortured body. His eyes rolled wildly as he fought the poison that held him helpless while danger stalked toward his lover. His rage, his desperate struggles, frightened even her.
How much worse would the fury of his Dragon be right now?
Too bad it was locked away inside him, unable to help.
Instinct, fierce and protective, made her step between him and the Hare. She’d shield him with her body, if that was the only hope that remained. “His Flight is on the way,” she said, not sure if she was lying or not.
Her enemy merely sniffed. “We’ll be gone long before they arrive. And you’ll be dead.”
Ariel had never hit anyone in her life. Seeing her tense, Clarissa paused well out of arm’s reach. Her nose wrinkled with disgust. “A fist fight? Please.”
From a pocket, she pulled a tiny gun, so small it almost looked like a toy. Despite its size, Ariel knew it could kill her.
A groan from near her feet drew both women’s eyes.
Owen had rolled onto his knees. Head hanging, torn by wrenching gasps, he fought to stand.
Ariel dropped to her knees beside him and brushed his sweat-drenched hair back. His body was a mirror of pain, every muscle stretched to its breaking point. Yet, his eyes stared straight ahead, fixed on nothing she could see.
“Elisi!” Clarissa called. “Get me zip ties, now!”
“You think a piece of plastic is going to hold back a Dragon?” Ariel sneered. “You’re doomed, all of you!” She didn’t really believe that; Owen could barely stand. But if she could scare the Witches off, maybe she’d survive. Hares weren’t known for their courage.
Yet, her threat didn’t ruffle Clarissa in the least. “They’re for you, not him.”
A hand slammed down on the railing beside her. Ariel jumped as Owen dragged himself to his feet. “Owen! Can you hear me?”
“He can hear you,” Clarissa said. “He can also hear this.”
A shot rang out, painfully loud in the small corridor. Ariel flinched, expecting to feel a bullet tear into her flesh. But the Hare had simply fired into the wall.
Why?
Now the gun swung toward her. “Next shot blows your nanny’s head off.”
Tremors swept through Owen as if the poison had suddenly doubled its efforts against him.
Suddenly, in a flash of insight, Ariel understood why the Hare was ‘toying’ with her.
Two cups. They both drank it. So that poison must only affect Dragons. The more he calls upon his Dragon’s power, the more it hurts him.
And nothing in this world roused a Dragon like a threat to its loved ones.
Ariel’s heart sank as she realized the truth. Far from saving Owen, she’d doomed him. The Hares would tie her up and torture her every time her love fought through the poison. Her pain would be the chains that bound him.
No. She’d rather die.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Ariel spun and darted toward the window. It was only a one-story fall, but if she dove head-first…
A shot rang out and agony tore through her calf. With a scream, Ariel collapsed to the floor.
“How valiant,” Clarissa sniffed. “Elisi! Where the hell are those zip ties?”
Ariel tried to struggle to her feet but her wounded leg gave way under her. She turned and found Clarissa looming over her. And Owen…
Owen wobbled to his feet behind the Witch.
One soft groan of pain escaped him. Clarissa whirled, eyes widening in shock. “Wait! Your nanny’s hurt! She’s bleeding! I’m going to kill her!”
Threat after threat spilled from her lips. Each one a dart that ought to pierce a Dragon’s heart and summon its full, uncontrollable rage.
Yet, Owen stood, tall and proud.
Through clenched teeth, he hissed, “A true Dragon is his own master.”
Then he drew back his fist and decked the stunned Witch Hare.
Chapter 16
That evening, Owen carried her through the front door.
Their home was filled with Dragons. Three tall, powerful men in tailored suits awaited them. A fourth, a more laid-back blonde with a Dragon tattoo curling around his bare arm, played with the kids out by the pool.
Ariel didn’t know any of them. A regal, dark haired man rose as they entered. Judging from the deference that the others showed him, he had to be Brandon Lorde, the Alpha of the First Flight.
“Welcome home, Miss McDunnah,” he said.
“Good news.” Owen lowered her gently onto the couch. “The bullet didn’t hit the bone or anything critical. A couple weeks of bed rest is all she needs.”
“I didn’t need to be carried in,” she confessed. “I have crutches in the car.”
“And I have arms,” Owen countered, drawing chuckles from his fellow Dragons. “You won’t be hobbling about on crutches while I have them.”
Trey spotted her first. “Ariel!” he shrieked. Both little boys scrambled out of the pool and shot toward her.
“No running by the pool!” she cried – at the exact moment that the poolside Dragon shouted the same thing.
Someone is a father! she thought with a laugh.
Trey and Brody hustled in. Behind them, trailed Sydnee. For once, there was no sign of the girl’s cell phone. The little boys launched themselves at her, and if their father hadn’t w
arned them off, they would have climbed all over her and her injured leg. Sydnee hung back shyly until Ariel scooted aside to make room for her. Then she nestled up against her, her desperate hug proof of how much she’d worried.
Gazing around the room, she felt her heart swell with joy. Surrounded by her family, guarded by a Flight of Dragons… the world could not be more perfect.
Introductions were made, names exchanged. The boys grew bored and headed back outside, trailed by the blonde Dragon. (Morland, she reminded herself. She needed to remember their names.) At some point, one of the men grilled a batch of steaks to a perfect, bloody medium rare. A dozen foil-wrapped potatoes and a six pack of beer rounded out the meal.
Later, once the children were put to bed, the talk turned to Shifter business. Something the kids weren’t old enough to hear.
“The Hares are safely in Shifter custody,” Lorde assured them. “Clarissa Lange was working with the Fangs of Apophis all along. She’ll be dealt with.” He didn’t spell out what he meant, but the grim nods of the other Dragons assured her that she didn’t need to worry about the queen again. “The others will be questioned. If they’ve joined the Fangs willingly, they’ll share Lange’s punishment.”
Lorde paused and took a sip of his beer. “If it’s true, your Rat’s testimony changes things. Previously, I hadn’t considered the possibility that a Shifter might serve the Fangs against their will. I need to think on this in more depth.
“Where is this Rat, by the way? I had hoped for an opportunity to speak to him.”
Both she and Owen had to smile at that. “Yeah, no,” her lover said. “He isn’t walking into the middle of five Dragons.”
“Once my leg is better, I’ll talk to him,” she promised. “I’m the least scary person in this room.”
The Alpha shook his head. “By that point, you’ll be gone. I’m giving Jackson a new assignment. Effective immediately.”
They had to leave Adeline? It hadn’t even been two months, yet already she’d grown fond of the little town. Well, at least the move hit in the summer. Before the kids went to school – and before Sydnee made more friends to abandon.
