Page 9 of Emergence of Fire
“You’re a Shifter. I knew I smelled you when I rushed down the hall.” Gale says behind me. Being an Air Dragon, his sense of smell is extraordinary and I look up to find the older woman smiling at him.
“I’m a Lioness.” Again, we stare at her in shock. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite. Anymore.” She cackles with glee.
“Before you ask, I had no idea that Cordelia is one of you. She smelled human to me until the other night. I don’t know what has changed but with you showing up forty-eight hours later, it lets me know that it must be something important. Are you something important boys?” She studies us as if she is ready to pass judgement on whatever we were about to say.
“We need to find her Miss.—”
“Oh honey, forgive this old broad. I’m Ms. Banks,” she says, cutting Torin off. He inclines his head and approaches the long couch beside her and sits down. Gale relaxes with an audible breath and joins him. I remain standing, always vigilant, watching my brothers’ backs.
“I’m Torin, this is Gale, and the one broody behind us is Adrian.” She nods her head in greeting and grabs her tea and sips it again.
“Like I was saying, we need to find her, Ms. Banks. The hall reeks of Dragon fire and she shouldn’t be able to do that,” Torin explains.
“She hasn’t even Emerged yet. So, how was it possible?” Gale questions next to him. I’m thinking the same thing.
“Her screams. I heard her screams. When she finally came out of the apartment she was fine though. I don’t know what happened, but her bed caught fire and by the looks of her pajamas, with her in it.” Ms. Banks tells us. We all exchange looks. Why was she screaming? What did she see?
“Where did she go, Ms. Banks?” Torin asks her. Ms. Banks look visibly shaken by what she heard and saw the other day. If she was affected this way, what must Cordelia be going through?
“Her aunt called right as the firemen were leaving and not long after she was knocking on my door to tell me she was going home.” Ms. Banks says. “I don’t know why I am telling you all her business, but you all seem genuinely worried about my girl. I’ve only known her for a few years, and after my mate passed, she has been the one constant in my life. Whatever is happening to her, I hope you can help.” She reaches over, grabs a notepad from her side table, jots something down, and tears the paper off it before she hands it to Torin. He looks at the paper, then back to Ms. Banks.
“You’re a treasure, Ms. Banks”, Torin says as he clutches the paper tight in his hands.
“Well, don’t make me regret it. Go, find and help her.” She says to all three of us, looking us all in the eyes. I love this woman. Definitely like my grandmother.
“We are her mates. It’s our life’s mission to protect her.” Gale finally says, breaking the silence.
“Is she who I think she is?” Ms. Banks asks in surprise. “It’s been thirty years since.” She stops and thinks. “Oh my, that poor girl.” She looks at us with tears in her eyes and I know that it has all fallen into place for her.
“She’s our mate and our Queen.” I finally say to her. I keep my words simple, no need to say more. Cordelia is the lifeblood of Arcadia and she doesn’t even know it—yet.
“Well, I hate to throw you out boys but you’ve got a mate to find.” Ms. Banks smiles up at us and warmly shoos us to the door. I find myself smiling as I nod my head in thanks and turn toward the door.
“Until we meet again, Ms. Banks.” Gale says as he crosses over to her and takes her hand. He bends and kisses it, and the old woman just melts.
“Oh, you are a keeper.” She winks, and Torin and Gale both laugh.
Charming assholes.
CHAPTERSEVEN
CORDELIA
Islept, and for once didn’t dream. I wake up refreshed, as if the events two nights ago hadn’t happened. The first night I arrived I was afraid to go to sleep, scared I would have to face the Dragon again. My Dragon. I stayed awake for as long as I could, asking as many questions as I could until finally Aunt Twyla dragged herself to bed. I watched the sunrise, and by midday I was so tired I don’t remember going to sleep. I spent the rest of the next day refusing to leave my room and face reality. My world has been turned upside down, and there is no going back. Today, I feel better.
I walk around in my unicorn onesie with a little extra bounce in my step. I almost feel normal after a good rest. Like maybe I should go home and fill the orders I need to ship out in a few days. My online soap and natural personal care products business, Drake’s Naturals,isn’t going to run itself, and it pays the bills. It is my baby, and I can’t fall behind. I am proud of what I created, and love being my own boss, I answer to no one. I took my college education, my knowledge of homeopathy, thanks to Aunt Twyla, and my business was born. Do I have much of a social life? No. Could I use a few girlfriends? Probably. The men who literally came and went in my life never managed to stick around long enough to establish a real relationship. I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure I am the poster child for “It’s not you, it’s me”. I am sure I passed up on some legitimate long-term love, but it never felt real to me, just forced. Maybe it was because the men who were meant to be in my life, haven’t arrived yet. I still don’t know how to process that along with all the other things I was shown and told.
My life is full, I am successful, and I can’t let that slip away from me. I need to control this situation like everything else in my life. I am going to do what I do best. I am going to work. Making my way downstairs with my laptop under my arm, the smell of coffee is like a homing beacon as I walk into the kitchen. I stop in my tracks as I watch the coffee pot float across the room followed by two coffee mugs. I skirt around the room until I make it to the dining table and ease into a chair. I place my laptop down and turn it on. I watch as Aunt Twyla floats things around the room, plates, toast, silverware as she prepares breakfast. She turns and smiles, bringing it all over to me. This is my new normal. I’m not supposed to freak out over this, but it is mildly disturbing.
“Good morning, Delia.” She smiles as it all settles on the table before me. “I’ve been practicing all morning. I needed to shake some of the dust off.” She laughs. “I think I’ve broken several of my good dishes already this morning.” She smiles again. “It was worth it. I never thought I would be—”
“I understand, Aunt Twyla. Although, it is strange to see shit flying around, I will get used to it,” I say as I grab a piece of bacon from my plate to munch on, and I pull up my online store. We eat in silence as I type away sending off invoices and finalizing orders. This is what my day is usually like, it is fulfilling. I can do this.
“Cordelia.” My Aunt calls my name and I hold up my hand as I finish sending an email about a fresh lavender order. As soon as I push send, I meet her eyes, and all I see is her concerned face staring back at me. “Cordelia, you can’t ignore this. I wish you could just sweep it all under the rug and we could go back to normal but we can’t. Things are about to change for you, drastically.” She reaches across the table and takes my hands in hers. I refuse to acknowledge I feel out of control when it’s one aspect of my life I pride myself on. I am scared, and there is so much uncertainty surrounding me and my future I want to run and hide. I guess burying myself in my work is helping me do that, it’s my happy place.
“Cordelia!” Aunt Twyla calls my name, snapping me out of my head. “I know how you’re feeling—”
“No, you don’t.” I shake my head and continue. “I saw everything they did to her; I saw every face. You know I’m not a vengeful person but damn it, I want to become one. I thought I was human! I’m not. I have a Dragon wanting to push its way out of me, that I can feel just underneath my skin. I’m not even from Earth! I know nothing about Arcadia. Yet, you called me a queen. To add the icing on the cake, I’m just supposed to welcome three strangers into my life with open arms and instantly fall in love with them. I’m sorry, but ignoring this is the best way I can hold on to what little sanity I have left.” I pause, is this what a hot flush feels like? If it is, I don’t ever want to go through menopause. I wipe away the sweat on my brow with the back of my hand and pick up where I left off. I shrug. “Who knows, maybe they haven’t felt me or whatever you said would bring them running. Maybe I just have to deal with a few fires, eye changes, and mega hot flushes.” I say to her, but going by the smirk on her face it seems she is ready to call bullshit on my lame assed excuse of a denial.
