He looked over at Molly, who was quickly putting on her shoes. She stood up and looked at all three men. “If you mean, do I know what’s going on, I do,” she said. “Shame on all of you for helping Adam lie to me.”
Vincent burst out laughing. “I think she’s going to be just fine.”
“You bet she is,” Adam said, smiling at her, his heart overflowing with love. “She’s one of us now.”
Michael raised his eyes brows and shook his head, but didn’t disagree. Instead, he said, “Then I guess we’d better figure out how we’re going to get Molly out of here.”
***Molly***
Molly was feeling a little overwhelmed again. The cave was full of impossibly big men who could all turn into fierce creatures if they wanted. She still had no idea how the shifting thing worked, and that didn’t help, but she knew with time, she’d get used to the idea. Knowing that distraction would help, she stoked the fire and put more water on to boil and started putting together something for them all to eat.
She listened as they talked, some of what they were saying going over her head, but after she’d made them all a plate and sat down with them, she was much calmer. As she began to understand what they were talking about, she wished that she hadn’t started listening so closely.
“So, what you’re telling me is that in only a few days, the demons have gotten not only stronger but smarter?” Adam asked, his face a mask of anger. “How is that even possible?”
Michael shook his head. “I don’t know; we’ve been so busy running around killing them we haven’t had time to figure that out,” he said. “Don’t forget we had to come looking for you two.”
“Speaking of which, shouldn’t we be talking about how we’re going to get Molly out of here?” Vincent said.
At the sound of her name, Molly looked around at the men. “Get me out?” she asked.
“We have to figure out a way to get you out of here. The second you step out of this cave, the demons will go after you, and once they get your scent, they won’t stop,” Gabriel said gently.
“We need a distraction,” Adam said, his face thoughtful. “No, what we need to do is lure them away. That’s it. We need to find something to lure them away long enough for Molly to get to the road.”
“Why can’t you just carry me like you did before?” she asked, looking at Adam.
“I can’t risk it. I was lucky that night; dragons weren’t made to carry people,” he said. “I think the only reason I didn’t drop you was because you were out cold.”
There was a long silence around the fire, then Gabriel said, “We could wait until morning; we should be safe enough in here, but something tells me darkness will help us.”
The thought of running around in the darkness knowing that there were demons looking for her nearly made her throw up, but she looked over at Adam and knew that he’d protect her. Taking a deep breath, she pushed away the fear and concentrated on the problem. Then it hit her.
“The demons will smell me, right?” she asked. “Like a hunting dog on a scent?”
They all nodded. “Then we need a decoy, something that smells like me,” she said.
“Your clothes,” Adam said, getting to his feet. “Where are the clothes you had on yesterday?”
She got up and pulled them out of her back pack and handed them to him. He held them up to his nose and took a deep breath. “Perfect, they smell just like you,” he said.
“So, what’s your plan?” Vincent asked.
“It’s simple,” Adam said. “As soon as it gets dark, the three of you will use Molly’s clothes to lead the demons away. As soon as it’s safe, Molly and I will make a run for the truck. When we’re safely there, we’ll honk the horn or something so you know we made it.”
Vincent rolled his eyes and said what Molly was thinking. “Oh, that sounds simple.”
“I think it could work,” Michael said, speaking up for the first time. “Gabriel and Vincent can take Molly’s clothes and lure the demons away. I’ll come up behind them and take them out one by one, and they won’t know I’m there until it too late.”
Molly was scared, but she knew that it was the best plan they had. “Just promise me that you’ll all be careful,” she said.
“Are you sure?” Adam asked.
She nodded. “It’s my plan, isn’t it?”
“Then let’s get this place cleaned up and go home,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “We have a life to get started.”
The was a chorus of groans, and she felt her cheeks turning pink but didn’t pull away when Adam’s mouth came down on hers. Instead, she let him kiss her, savoring the taste of him, the feel of his body pressed up against hers, until the sound of the three men coughing and clearing their throats penetrated the passion.
“If you two are done,” Gabriel said, “we should really get on with our escape.”
Molly pulled away from Adam, but she was grinning from ear to ear. “I’ll put some more water on to boil,” she said.
Between the four of them, they had the cave cleaned up in no time at all and found themselves waiting impatiently for darkness. They took turns pacing around the little cave, and what had seemed like a big space started to feel small to Molly. But when the sun finally set, she stared out the opening at the darkness, suddenly afraid of what was waiting for them outside.
Just before they were ready to put the plan into action, Adam took Molly by the hand and pulled her into a back corner of the cave. He took her in his arms and held her tightly for a long time. She understood without words what he was feeling and knew she felt the same way. When he finally looked down at her, his eyes were full of love and for an instant, she didn’t want to leave the cave.
“You have to promise me something, Molly,” he finally said, caressing her cheek with his thumb. “Promise me that if I tell you to run, you’ll head for the truck and not look back.”
She studied him for a second, knowing that it would be almost impossible to make that promise. “Adam, I don’t know,” she objected.
He grabbed her by the shoulders. “You have to promise, and you have to mean it,” he said. “I know it’s going to be one of the hardest things you’ve ever done, but I need to hear you promise. I can protect myself, but I can’t protect both of us, Molly; if a demon finds us, go to the truck and head for the farm. I’ll meet you there.”
“I promise, Adam, but you have to promise you that you’ll be there,” she said, throwing her arms around him and holding on as tightly as she could.
“I’ll be there, Molly, I promise,” he said.
Chapter Twenty
***Adam***
Adam watched Molly step slowly out of the cave and stand uncertainly just outside the entrance. Her chest was rising and falling quickly as she nervously stood there, looking back inside the cave every few minutes. He knew the moment that she heard the demon and wanted to call out to her, but Michael put a finger up to his lips, and they waited for a few seconds longer.
“That’s enough,” he finally said, and Molly scurried back into the cave.
He handed over the bundle of clothes, watching his friends slip out the entrance, and hoped that it was going to work. They stood in the darkness, holding the clothes up in the air, then slowly began to walk away from the cave in the opposite direction of the trail. Michael waited a few minutes, then crouched in the darkness looking out into the forest, then slipped outside.
They stood frozen, waiting for the signal, then jumped when the sound of an owl hooting filled the night air. Adam reached down and took her hand. “Are you ready?” he asked.
She nodded, then threw herself into his arms and buried her face in his chest. “I love you, Adam.”
He tilted her chin up. “I love you too, Molly; now let’s go home.”
The word home reverberated through her head, and despite the danger, she felt a wave of excitement fill her. When Adam pulled on her hand, she went with him willingly, breaking into a run as soon as she was fre
e of the cave, concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other.
It was hard to see the trail in the darkness, but with Adam’s help, Molly was able to make it down the mountain quickly. He’d just about convinced himself that the plan was going perfectly when the smell of rotten eggs filled his mouth and lungs. Stopping to look around the dark forest, he tried to trace the source of the smell, but before he could, the sound of a demon filled the night air.
Molly stopped and looked back at him, her face pale in the moonlight, and he went to her. “We talked about this, Molly; you know what to do,” he said, pulling her into his arms for a second. “Run for the truck. I’ll be right behind you. As soon as I know where it is, I can kill it. Now you have to go.”
***Molly***
Molly wasn’t sure she could make her feet move, but Adam shoved her, and with only one more backward glance, she took off through the forest. The sound of the demon faded, and she smelled the clean mountain air again, but she kept running, adrenaline pumping through her blood. Far away in the forest, she heard a scream of pain, and her feet froze, holding her breath, knowing she’d feel it if Adam was hurt.
Another piercing scream filled the air and the stench of sulfur floated to her on the breeze; reassured, she started back down the trail. But smell followed her, and it wasn’t long before she heard the sound of a demon behind her. She only looked over her shoulder once, then turned and ran even harder, determined not to let the demons win.
She made it to the truck, the pull of the demon just beginning to affect her, and hands shaking, shoved the key into the ignition. The demon was bumping up against the truck and clawing at the window, its form becoming more solid by the second, and she had to stifle the scream that threatened to escape. Sucking in one breath after another, she turned the key, threw the truck into gear, and stomped on the gas pedal.
Gravel flew as the tires spun, then caught traction, the back of the truck sliding sideways before straightening out, then she was flying down the road. The dirt road was a sliver path in the moonlight as the forest flew by her, but her thoughts were with the man she loved and the demon she wished she could kill.
It felt like a lifetime before she saw the dark outline of the farmhouse, and she nearly missed the turnoff in the darkness. When she pulled up in the yard, her heart sank; she’d been so sure that Adam would be waiting for her, but there was no sign of him. Jumping out of the truck, she ran for the house, shouting his name, afraid to stand still long enough to let her brain process the fear that surged through her.
She was no longer able to push the truth away, but then she saw a shadow in the night sky and hope sprang to life. Nearly falling down the stairs in her haste to get off the porch, her legs trembling, she ran back out into the yard and stared up towards the sky. Before long, the shadow became a winged beast, its blue feathers shimmering in the moonlight, the giant talons tucked up close to its body.
The dragon landed in the yard in front of her, Adam’s eyes looking out at her, and she ran to him. When he wrapped his giant wings around her, she felt all the love they shared binding them together, and tears began to stream down her face. Then she felt Adam’s strong arms around her, holding her tightly, and she nearly collapsed with relief.
“I love you, Molly,” he said, looking down at her. “The demons are gone for now, and it’s time to start that life we’ve been talking about.”
She smiled up at him. “I think we’ve both earned it, Adam,” she said, reaching up to stroke his cheek. “We’ve both been alone too long.”
He leaned down and covered her mouth with his, the passion between them igniting like dry tinder, and soon they were so lost in each other, they didn’t notice the three dragons that landed not far from them. When the dragons turned into men, they looked at each other and shook their heads.
“I suppose this is what we have to look forward to all the time now,” Michael said with a scowl on his face.
Adam stopped kissing Molly long enough to say, “Don’t forget that you’re next, old man.”
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Adam sat rigidly next to Molly on the uncomfortable bench, staring straight ahead. Behind him, shifters had begun filing in and filling the empty seats, but he was surrounded by his fellow guardians and didn’t let the whispers bother him. After days of being stared at and talked about, he was used to it, but he hoped Molly wasn’t letting it get to her.
He got his answer when she took his hand, gave it a squeeze, and smiled up at him. “It’s going to be fine,” she said. “Stop worrying; your plans always work out.”
Adam hoped that he was right, but he didn’t have time to worry about it any longer when the big door at the back of the room opened and the council walked in. One by one, they took their seats, their faces blank, except for the one man who he knew hated not only him but his family. Sebastian had a smug look on his face, but Adam knew that in only a few short minutes, that look would be gone.
When the council was seated, the secretary stood and announced, “We are gathered tonight to hear the council’s verdict on the marriage between the shifter Adam and the human Molly,” he said, then took his seat.
Sebastian cleared his throat, shuffled the papers in front of him, then cleared his throat again. Adam knew that he was doing it on purpose, that the infuriating man thought that he’d finally won, but he kept his face blank. Finally, the other council members began to look at him, so he rose to his feet.
Adam rose as well but put a hand on Molly’s shoulder when she started to join him. “The council has thought long and hard about the petition to validate your marriage to a human, and although it pains us greatly to reject it, we find that we must,” Sebastian said, barely hiding his smile of triumph.
The room exploded in a burst of chatter, but Adam raised his voice above the noise. “On what grounds do you reject my petition?” he demanded.
Sebastian slammed his fist down on the table. “Your family has served the alliance well over the years, and the council fears that if you mate with a human, that long history will end,” he said, practically grinning. “You must find a shifter to mate with and produce offspring. It is the only way to save your family legacy.”
“I see,” Adam said, his voice deadly calm. “And is that your only objection to my marriage to Molly?”
Sebastian puffed up his chest. “I think that should be reason enough,” he said. “We have given you our ruling, and the matter is closed. I suggest you go out and find yourself a mate, Adam. I would hate to see your birthday get here and you don’t have one. Of course, I’ll be more than happy to take over the farm if that happens. It was supposed to be my family’s after all.”
A low hiss went through the crowd. “I don’t think that will be necessary,” Adam said, pulling Molly to her feet. “You see, Molly has a little surprise for you.”
She turned to face him, her face tense, but managed to smile at him. He reached over and unhooked the clasp that held the long cloak she was wearing closed at her neck, then swung the cloak away to reveal the rounded bulge in her middle. Bringing her hands up to cover the bump, she stared at Sebastian, a look of pure hatred in her eyes, and he stumbled back a few steps.
He stood staring at Molly, too shocked to speak as the room exploded in excited chatter, then collapsed into his chair. “It can’t be,” he sputtered. “It’s just not possible.”
Adam took Molly’s hand and strode up to the council. “It is possible,” he said. “Now, if there aren’t any more objections, I believe it’s time for you to sign my marriage petition.”
He could feel Molly trembling next to him and squeezed her hand, then leaned over and whispered, “We’re almost there; hang in there.”
She nodded, and smiled up at him, then they felt the presence of the three most important people in their lives. Gabriel, Vincent, and Michael gathered behind them. “We are here to sign as witnesses, and to attest to the bond between Adam and Molly,” they recited i
n unison.
When the last signature was on the page, the room erupted in loud cheering and Adam turned to Molly. “Well, it’s official now; you’re stuck with me forever,” he said, grinning at her.
“I don’t think forever is long enough,” she said, slipping into his arms.
When his mouth came down on hers, the room erupted again, but they were instantly lost in each other, the steady beating of their hearts slowly becoming one.
Also By Serena Meadows
Fae of Ballantine
The Fae Prince (Book1)
The Fae Warrior (Book2)
Rescued by the Fae Prince (Book3)
Fae Mistaken (Book4)
Fae of Ballantine Box Set
Daddy Wolves of the Wild Series
Mountain Wolf’s Nanny (Book1)
Mountain Wolf’s Curse (Book2)
Mountain Wolf Playboy (Book3)
Mountain Wolf’s Courage (Book4)
Daddy Wolves of The Wild Box Set
Dragons Secret Society Series
A sinister mastermind and his coven of witches are determined to annihilate the world’s shifters, once and for all. Facing impossible opposition, courageous alphas and their clans fight claw and fang to protect their innocent kin. But the only antidote to death is new life, and the only force greater than evil, is love. In this heart-stopping series, virile alphas and their men must learn to seduce instead of slaughter and bare their hearts along with their weapons.
Dragon’s First Shift (Book1)
Dragon’s Forbidden Mate (Book2)
Dragon’s Flame (Book3)
Dragon’s Prophecy (Book4)
Dragons Secret Society Box Set
Wolves of Gypsum Creek Series
The tiny town of Gypsum Creek is home to a high number of brooding, sexy-as-sin men that disappear with each full moon. The heroes in this boxset of steamy, standalone stories will get your heart racing…and tongue wagging. But you’d better watch out. The howling has started, and no lady is safe when the wolves of Gypsum Creek go on the hunt.
Dragon Savior (Guardian Dragons 0f Prospect Falls Book 1) Page 12
