The leader of a dragon enchantment, Sweets,Quinn explained, her voice shaking with reverence.I had never seen one before, but I was always taught if you do see one, you need to start hella praying heaven will let you in when you come knocking soon.
The massive dragon’s voice spoke through my mind, but her growls cracked the brick of the nearby houses.
Who are you, what’s your business, and why did you dare to bring hunters to our enchantment?
I stepped forward, standing as tall as I could despite the pain of my still-healing wings. I did everything I could to radiate confidence and certainty, trying to keep my voice measured andsure as I said,My name is Brydgette Fallon Pierce, daughter of Doriana and Forrest Pierce.
One of the dragons hissed. I glanced in the direction of the noise and saw it was the blue and white dragon that had stolen Quinn. Able to see her face now, I noticed that her slitted eyes were a dark navy blue with golden edges as they widened. Confusion battled with recognition for which would cloud her features more, but she remained silent. I ignored the tickle in the back of my brain.
I decided to push on.The hunters mean you no harm. In fact, one of them is my mate.
The hackles of the surrounding dragons raised at this news. If they were shifted into their more human states, I was sure I would hear murmurs rippling through them. Behind me, I heard the others shuffle on their feet. Although these dragons could hear our conversation, the others couldn’t. The sight of the dragons tensing likely wasn’t a welcome one.
Don’t worry about them,mi libélulita, Quinn vocalized, her voice soft compared to the loud avalanche I had been hearing from the large dragon in front of me.You are doing great.
You’re hearing all of this, too?
For the most part. Things are getting kinda crowded in here, huh?She teased, making me swallow a snort. Pride and admiration trickled through our connection.Keep going.
My chest swelled. To the dragons, I said,We are here to give you a warning.
A hush fell over the other dragons. The Sire Dragon tilted her head, regal and terrifying, but with a genuine curiosity that softened the edge to her a little.A warning?
I nodded.Yes. A blood witch-fae-huntress tribrid and a rogue hunter are coming to attack this enchantment.
One of the dragons beside the Sire who had flown in with her scoffed, the sound coming out like a puffed roar. He was wide-shouldered and brassy-gold with leathery turquoise wings.And, why would a strangedragon care about this enchantment? How do we know you aren’t in collusion with those hunters?His growl landed hard on Quinn in particular.You clearly have some sort ofsoft spotfor the demons.
I made sure my growl was low and full of threat, my teeth still tinged with the blood of the golden dragon.You had better tread mighty carefully, sir. That’s myfatedmate. You saw what I did to your friend for threatening my uncle. You don’t want to know what I would do to you for threatening her.
Mhmm, rage looks so fucking hot on you, babe. Forgot to mention that earlier, too,Quinn said, our bond pulsing with a soft, steady hum of attraction and possessiveness that almost made my thoughts crash to a halt.
Her flirting would be the death of us all.
I turned my focus back to address the dragon that had spoken.But, to answer your question, I am not some strange dragon. I am not working with the hunters I’m warning you about.
Then, I summoned my chrysalis magic to return and encircle me in its light again. I shrank back to my five-foot frame. My scales receded to their patches across my tawny human skin. My horns, fangs, talons, wings, tails, and elven ears remained, just smaller to fit my human proportions. The chrysalis vanished, leaving me in my hybrid form. Thanks to Maisie’s magic, I was also very much dressed for once.
Loud enough for everyone to hear, I said before the Sire dragon that was even bigger now than before. “I care about this enchantment because my father would have.”
The same dragon that had hissed before did so again. This time, she followed it by stepping forward. A tornado enveloped her for a moment before it evaporated and left a beautiful young woman. She looked to be about my age, but it was hard toknow for sure, especially since she was a dragon-shifter. She was tall and curvy, just like me, with smooth, honey-toned skin. Her golden-blonde kinky curls were streaked with platinum highlights, windswept, and cascaded down her shoulders near her waist. Her once-dark navy blue eyes shifted to a mudpie-brown that was bright, albeit so very familiar.
Because they were just like my own.
This girl looked just like Pops.
With that realization, it was like someone dusted off a long-buried memory.
Her skin shimmered with lingering magic, but she didn’t have any tattoos for her wings and tail.
She didn’t need them.
They were glamored away.
Because she had been trained since she manifested on how to hide them away without needing additional magic to do it.
She had to be one of my cousins, butwhowas she?
“Your name…” The woman whispered, her voice just as sweet as it was calming. “Can you say it again?”
